Ten Essentials Every Sportsman Must Have

Alright…let’s play a little game.   Let’s assume that you must pick ten items of gear that are crucial in your overall arsenal of items you take to the woods or the lake.   Now I’m not saying that you’re going to be dressed in street clothes instead of camo, in a jon boat instead of a nice bass boat, or even shooting a rifle when you should obviously be totin’ a shotgun.   Nope, I’m talking about identifying no more than ten items of sportsman’s gear where you want a specific item and there is not much compromise or it might ruin the experience.   Consider these first few examples and I think you’ll begin to get the picture:

1.  Binoculars.   No sportsman should spend time out in the woods without some good glass.   And I’m not talking about some cheap pair of binocs you picked up at the neighborhood big box store either.   I’m serious in my belief that you should spend nearly as much money on some binoculars as you’ve spent on that firearm.   No kidding!   When it comes to binoculars you cannot compromise on quality…and that’s why I generally reach for my Steiners.   I’ve got two pair of these rugged pieces and they have served me well now for over a dozen years.   Absolutely no eye strain and worth their weight in gold for both fishing (watching what the other boats are catching) and hunting.

2.  Knife.   Probably one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment that a sportsman might carry…yet one of the most important.   If I was to choose just one knife for all sportsman uses (even though I admit that one single knife is not ideal) I would pick the Buck Folding Ranger #110.   It’s a solid, well-built Buck110knife suitable for nearly every task it might encounter…and it’s built to last a lifetime.   If you purchase it right when Buck has a rebate, the street price minus the rebate is usually about $20 to $25.   An absolute steal!!   The only concession I would possibly make to this knife is carrying one of the multi-tools such as the Leatherman.

3.  Boots.   There are many good boot companies out there…but I have always had the best luck with Danner.   Danner makes a quality boot that fits even my hard-to-fit paws.   Nothing can ruin a hunt quicker than sore feet…and when it comes to finding a quality boot a sportsman has to look no further than to Danner.   Of course, I understand that many other respectable companies also make quality boots…and most sportsmen need to find a pair and stick with it.   In fact, the springtime is the perfect time to get new boots and start breaking them in for next fall’s hunting season.   Again, a quality boot is something each sportsman must pick very carefully.

Magellan1004.  GPS.   Ten years ago this spot would have been taken by a magnetic compass…and I will probably be chided by some old die-hards for leaving it off my list as an old necessary stand-by.   Truth is, Global Positioning Satellite units are becoming more dependable all the time.   And yes, they are dependable to the point you CAN trust your life with them.   Just carry extra batteries and there is generally no problem.   Besides, I know a lot of old so-called woodsmen who carried compasses and didn’t understand the first thing about the proper use of them.   At least with certain GPS units…they are becoming more dummy-proof every year.   Personally, I’ve had good luck with Magellan, but I know Garmin and some of the other brands can be a bit more user friendly.

5.  Fishing Line.   You can spend thousands of dollars and countless hours getting to your fishing destination only to have the day ruined because the line Ripcordyou were using failed to live up to its expectations.   Use good line and check it often.   Fishing line is some of the most abused of all of our gear, yet for many sportsmen they do not diligently pay attention to that thread connecting you with your fish.   I’ve graduated from using monofilament line a few years ago and after some getting used to…I wouldn’t go back.   Test several different lines and discover which line best suits your needs.   For me it is one of the high-tech new fibers.

6.  Digital Camera.   How many times have you been walking in the woods and found something that was just incredible?   For that matter, when was the last time you were fishing with a buddy and neither one of you remembered to grab a camera before leaving home?   Truth is…a pocket camera is not going to put more game or fish in your freezer, but it will provide lasting memories that can be shared over and over with your buddies for many years to come.   Just last week I was driving to the bank when I glanced over and not more than 60 feet from the side of the road was a mature Bald Eagle sitting majestically atop a dead deer laying in a field.   I pulled the truck over…the eagle took one look at me…and then resumed its gluttonous activities.   All this while I cussed under my breath I didn’t have my digital camera in the glovebox of my truck.   There are so many good cameras on the market I hesitate to even make a recommendation…but a good place to narrow the search is with guides like Consumer Reports.

7.  Safety Equipment.   If you’re tree stand hunting…it means a harness-style safety (fall) restraint.   If it’s fishing than it’s a properly fitted personal flotation device (PFD).   If it’s on the shooting range than it’s shooting glasses and proper hearing protection.   No matter what you are doing outdoors there is probably a safety device that you are either required by law to wear or that common sense dictates that you should be using.   Don’t just own it…put it to use so that when circumstances create a danger in your life you have the necessary protection to avert a bad situation.   All of this also should include a quality first-aid kit that you have either purchased or made for yourself.

8.  Duct Tape.   Need I say anything more?   This multipurpose product has saved many a day making temporary mends until the sportsman gets back home.   Check out a previous blog entry made about this fabulous product.

9.  Lake Map and/or Fish Finder (sonar unit).   As a fisherman you can only be successful if you’re in the right spot at the right time.   The right time might depend largely on luck, but the right spot depends mostly on the sportsman using his equipment to determine “fishy” locations.   The gear certainly varies depending on the type and style of fishing a sportsman might be doing…but if you’re on a lake this equipment is almost critical to achieve success.

10.  Pest Repellent.   Few things can distract more from an outdoors experience than being constantly pestered by bugs.   Mosquitos, gnats, black flies, chiggers, horse flies, deer ticks, etc.   They all bite and they all can make your time spent outdoors downright miserable…and possibly even dangerous.   A small bottle of repellent in your pocket or tacklebox can certainly save the day.   Furthermore, you’ll never know when the substance is going to come in handy.

What about you…what’s on your list of sportsman’s gear essentials?   Did I miss something that is blatantly obvious?   Let me know.

© 2006 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.