Wasting money on useless gear

[Dave Lay]

I know a lot of guys think scent control is hogwash but I shot a nice 10 in Missouri who came straight up the draw my scent was blowing down.
I don't believe he just missed it.  Maybe he was just so caught up in looking for doe he wasn't as on guard.
I also hunted every weekend I wanted to this year in two states.  I can afford to hunt others but can't convince myself I have the freezer space or need another shoulder mount.
If you're older like me, but not old yet, and have made a good living, paid yourself out of debt and can afford extra, why not?
There are plenty of guys who don't have the luxuries I have.  I'm am so grateful that God has given me opportunity, ability, drive and strength to be successful in my career and now business but also in friendships.
I'm fortunate to own many ladder stands, tree stands, tripod stands, shell blinds and land in two states.
Most of the gear is bought on clearance at years end.  The land by watching and being ready when opportunity presents.  The blind platforms I actually designed and are now manufactured by and aluminum company.
All this on the salary of an industrial mechanic/welder/pipefitter/electrician.  I worked 60 plus hour weeks my whole life.  Bought two bass boats on winnings fishing weekend and week night tournaments.  Money and time I had fun at but see as a waste now.  But back then . . .
We only get one go around in life.  We all do the best we can. 
In hunting some have more opportunities than others.  Live in better hunting areas.  Some are more effective than others.  Some more lucky than others. 
But having a thread belittling others choices and approaches seems pretty petty to me.

   It’s great you can afford all that, congrats.
      But this thread isn’t belittling anyone’s choices, it’s just sharing thoughts on what they consider necessary or not, we all have our opinions and different situations where we may or may not need a certain item or not. In my case it’s multiple bows, do I need 4 bows ? No, any of my bows would do everything just fine. The others are just something to change up and tinker with . So as far as wasted money ? As far as being necessary, I’d say yes. Camo clothing, hunting turkeys without a blind I’m sure it’s a great help but I rarely hunt turkeys so for me it’s probably wasted money. Scent control ? I keep as clean as I can, wash my clothes in Unscented UV killer detergent and store them in a tub away from my other clothes, but that’s it and that honestly probably doesn’t make that much difference . So for me the sprays and such are wasted money. That doesn’t belittle anyone else, I just don’t choose to use it myself, and if I’m handicapping myself, that’s my choice
     

[MnFn]

It’s been said and seconded, but I have to add my thoughts.  I generally agree on camo and wear a lot of plaids, but to me one clear exception:  Sitka pants.  After three years of elk hunting in Colorado and having pants legs soaking wet for most of the day,
I bought a pair of their mountain pants (? Not sure of the name). They were great !  I wear them all the time when hunting. Very comfortable very tough pants.

[huntingcop]

I think finding camo and gear that works for you in the area where you are at makes it useful. I've been a bit of a gear junkie in the past as well, but I have found that many times with some clothing if you pay attention to the material you can find the exact same thing at wal-mart or another place for a fraction of the cost compared to some name brand stuff. However, there are many things where spending money on quality stuff pays off in the long run.
I agree that I have never had much luck with scent killer sprays, I've just always played the wind, but who knows maybe I have missed out. But I do use the scent killer deodorant, I've found it works well.

[Tim Reese]

My biggest problem is when I really like something I gotta have 2. Idk why but it’s a sickness. Lol. I have doubles of almost everything except knives which I have a ridiculous collection of. I need help!!!!! Lol.

[GCook]

Maybe you're right Dave.  I see that point in some of the posts. 

[Rob DiStefano]

Don't some of us just LOVE to buy gear???  Who hasn't been guilty of that?  The truth is as has been stated within posts in this thread with regards to bowhunting tackle.  The most important is practice, Practice, PRACTICE ... that is, once you have tackle basics that work consistently well for You. 

[Sam McMichael]

You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.

[Rob DiStefano]

You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.

And watch out for the bowhunter with one bow.   

[Wudstix]

I probably have too many knives.  The clothing I have the most of gets used the most.  Have four bows I use the most.  Two really.  Have several pairs of camo pants in a pattern I like so I'll have it for years.  Have a good pair of semi-compact binos that I use.   

[electricstart]

Really depends where ,when ,and how I hunt. I take what I feel is necessary for hunting and safety . Is T/P unnecessary yes but nice to have if you need it .Flashlight ,compass and knife same thing . 

[Doug S]

   I have wasted a lot of money on extra tags that became useless. Everything I could use for something.

[cacciatore]

I think most of us have the weak moments of buying stuff in the off season when we dream our hunting days and we think to improve our arsenals. During the hunting season it’s rare that we have spare time..

[mgf]

We do this for fun so nothing that you enjoy buying and owning is really a waste. In my case, there aren't usually any deer around in the places I can hunt so I could save by leaving out the bow and arrows. LOL. 

[dnovo]

To each there own. I have a couple sets of predator fleece jacket and plants in bought in the early 1990’s. Still going strong. I have 3 pairs of predator camo wolfskin pants. They’re about 5-10 years old and in great shape. Bought all of them here on classifieds for 1/2 price. Bought a new custom vest last year cause I get cold too easy anymore. I bought 3 longbows in the last 2 years. I wanted them. I’ll sell one of them soon. I don’t consider any of it wasted. Life’s too short for that. Let’s go hunting!!

[Eric Krewson]

I guess my downfall is buying wool, it was Filson at first, very nice stuff which I believe I could wear for a lifetime and never wear out. I started buying random wool off eBay, I bought heavy merino wool sweaters from thrift shops for never more than $3 each. The Sportsman Guide had East German wool military pans on sale, four pairs for $27 so I bought some. A great friend who lives up north where the thrift shops are full of wool gifted me with a heavy lined Woolrich plaid coat. 

I bought an Asble coat, nice but more of a shell than any serious protection from the cold.

I guess my wool obsession has ended, I found the German pants equal to or better than Filson, the $3 thrift shop sweaters better than any commercial "hunting sweaters", and the Woolrich coat which is actually a dress coat to be better than any hunting coat I have I bought from the hunting supplies retailers.

So, when I walk into the woods in an outfit that I may have $10 in I am just as comfortable as when I walked into the woods in my Filson outfit that I had close to $400 in.

[Pat B]

Sam.. "Who dies with the most toys wins"....but he's still dead!   
 I agree, Eric. When I first went to Colorado in 2006 I wanted to buy wool but couldn't afford it so I went to on line and found surplus German wool army pants for $9 for 2 pair. They were heavy wool, well made and very comfortable. The only problem was the length. Germans must all be tall and skinny. My wife took up the length and I was good to go. 

[McDave]

The biggest mistake I’ve made over the years has been buying bows based on their sex appeal instead of asking myself the question, “What am I going to use this bow for, and is it appropriate for that function?”  I've got too many bows on my wall that look great but will never be used for hunting because of not wanting to get them scratched, and will never be used for 3D, because the weight is too heavy.

[LookMomNoSights]

My biggest problem is when I really like something I gotta have 2. Idk why but it’s a sickness. Lol. I have doubles of almost everything except knives which I have a ridiculous collection of. I need help!!!!! Lol.

Because 2 is 1 and 1 is none......makes sense to me,  do I have this sickness as well ?

[GCook]

You guys got started in the 60's will remember the old adage, "Who dies with the most toys wins". I'm from the 60's.

Way I heard is "he who dies with the most toys is still dead".

[Sam Spade]

I really ran the gambit with scent control, the whole 9 yards.  Washing clothes, storing cloths, spraying cloths, even showering IN camp and putting on said cloths only to have a big boar hog smell a palmetto fron blade I brushed my leg with and tear the heck out of Dodge.

That wasn't the only time I was busted by wind taking all the precautions, but that was when it dawned on me that my time and money spent was worthless and futile. Luckily I never bought into the 'scent lock' scam.