Preferred Product List for Nebraska Trophy Bucks and Birds Mule Deer Hunt
The gear listed below is all based on personal experience and gear that either myself or a member of Streiffs Sporting Goods has personally used in the field. Please call me with any questions you might have and I will be happy to help out.
Gregory Ray 918 407 2586 or email greg@outdoor-connection.com
Footwear
The first category that we would like discuss is footwear. Proper footwear can make or break a hunt. Cold, wet feet make it uncomfortable to sit and glass. Sore, blistered feet make it difficult to quietly sneak or quickly get into position for the shot of a lifetime.
Leather Hiking Boots
Danner’s Montana boot is a great choice for this hunt. They are full leather, gore-tex lined waterproof boots. Their 400 grams of insulation should provide enough warmth on the cool mornings but not be too warm for a mid-day stalk. Through our experience, the Montana’s advanced lug design has been a hunt saver when navigating wet, slippery, uneven terrain. This boot will also provide the support you need for the varied conditions you will encounter on this hunt. Now, an item that can make a world of difference when wearing leather boots is a good gaiter system. We use and recommend the Kenetrek gaiters. Even though Danner Montana’s have a rock guard and are built with high quality components, a pair of gaiters will save on wear and tear on both your boots and your clothing!
Danner Website:
Retail: $229.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $206.99
Kenetrek Website:
http://www.kenetrek.com/products.asp?dept=13
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99
Camp Shoes
The Muck SUV hiker is our choice for a quality camp shoe that will keep you warm and dry walking around camp. These hikers easily slip on and off and are built well enough that you could wear them out in the field. They are also lightweight and easy to pack.
Muck Website:
http://www.muckbootcompany.com/products/SHS-MOBU
Retail: $79.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $71.99 MOBU Camo
Socks
As important as your boots are, your socks are equally important. The right socks will help regulate foot temperature and keep your feet warm even when damp. We strongly recommend a layering system similar to what we will recommend for your clothing. A good next to skin sock that wicks moisture is critical to this system working properly. For this layer we use and recommend the Danner Thermolite sock. It is antimicrobial throughout its construction so it will minimize odor development. Your next layer should be one of two socks: A midweight merino wool sock or a heavyweight merino wool sock. Merino wool will keep you warm even when wet and will not begin to smell after days of heavy use. We recommend that you bring some of each weight to be prepared for the various weather patterns you may encounter. A good choice for the midweight is the Danner Merino Wool Pronghorn. We have two recommendations on a heavyweight sock. One is the Danner Merino Wool Frontier Extreme. The other is the Filson Heavyweight Merino Wool Sock. Always remember – it never hurts to have an extra pair or two in case you get wet!
Danner Thermolite:
Retail: $9.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $7.99
Danner Pronghorn:
Retail: $14.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $11.99
Danner Frontier Extreme:
Retail: $18.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $14.99
Filson Heavyweight:
Retail: $24.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive price: $22.99
Danner Website:
http://www.danner.com/category/accessories/socks.do
Filson Website:
http://www.filson.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2092582&cp=2069836.2065000.2075119
Clothing
The next product grouping that we’d like to work on is clothing. Layering is the key to allowing a quality clothing “system” work. Each layer plays its own part. Based on the research we have done your average temperatures will range from about 28 degrees to 55 degrees in mid-November. Precipitation is normally light but you should be prepared for a wintry mix of snow or rain just in case. Average wind speeds were actually quite low for this area in November. However, in the open country you will be hunting the outer shell that we describe in this section will eventually prove invaluable as the potential for sharp, biting wind is good.
Next to Skin Layer
The first part of the system is the clothing that you will wear next to your skin. We have had tremendous success with 100% merino wool long underwear. It is the ultimate material for moisture wicking, insulation, and scent elimination. There are a lot of synthetic products on the market, most of which we have tested and been disappointed with. They are great for a day or two but just don’t remain scent free like wool. Our recommendation is a product made by Minus 33. We do not recommend the expedition weight for your hunt. The conditions are more suitable for the standard weight(230g) garments. They make the tops in crew neck http://minus33.com/minus33ls.htm, turtle neck http://minus33.com/minus33tneck.htm, or in ¼ zip http://minus33.com/minus33ziptops.htm.
Retail: $39.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $29.99.
Bottoms are cut one way. Again, the standard weight(230g) is what we recommend for your hunt. We recommend you start with an XL in both the top and bottom of this set.
http://www.minus33.com/minus33bottoms.htm
Retail: $29.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $26.99
Insulation Layer/Outer Layer
Sitka’s 90% top and bottoms are our choice for this type of hunt. They are quiet, durable, wick moisture, and will keep you dry if you do encounter light precipitation. This layer is called 90% for a reason: you will wear this 90% of the time, whether it is as an outer layer or an insulation layer.
Sitka Website: http://www.sitkagear.com/Products.aspx?cat=22.
Jacket Retail: $249.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $224.99
Pant Retail: $229.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $206.99
Another great option for those cooler mornings is the Sitka Celsius layer. This layer provides added insulating properties above and beyond what the 90% will. We see you wearing this layer over your 90% if you have to sit for long periods of time or if the weather is below 40 degrees for the day. Remember, it will still be important to use your wind blocking(the next section) layer if the wind comes up as neither the 90% nor the Celsius are built for this.
Sitka Website: http://www.sitkagear.com/Product.aspx?cat=38
Parka Retail: $299.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $269.99
Bib Retail: $249.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $224.99
We also believe in the insulating properties of a vest. A good vest will provide warmth to the core part of our body while allowing for more mobility in the arms when you need it most.
Our recommendation is: The Sitka Kelvin Vest http://www.sitkagear.com/Product.aspx?cat=278
Retail: $149.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $134.99
Waterproof, Wind Blocking Layer
This is undoubtedly the key to allowing your clothing system to work when the weather gets bad. This outer layer should be built to withstand the elements while allowing the next to skin and insulation layer to work. This does not have to be a heavy layer. When you are layered properly this should actually be lightweight clothing that will keep the rain and wind off of you. You will need a garment that is 100% waterproof and windproof, including taped seams and waterproof zippers. There is nothing worse than having to spend a day in the field wet and cold. We have had the best experiences with the Sitka Stormfront Lite top and bottom. These garments are not only lightweight and durable but will keep you dry under any condition and block the wind extremely well.
http://www.sitkagear.com/Product.aspx?cat=236.
Jacket Retail: $369.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $332.99
Pant Retail: $269.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $242.99
This is how we would plan on layering for your hunt:
- Next to Skin Layer
- Insulation Layer with vest
- Protection Layer
- 100% waterproof, wind blocking layer
i. If the weather is favorable we would start with the waterproof/wind blocking layer in our packs and ready to go should the conditions worsen.
Gloves and Hats
A basic camo ball cap will work well for most of your time in the field. We’re sure you have plenty of these but will be sending one down for you free of charge. When it gets cold a stocking hat is handy to keep your head and ears warm. If you don’t have one of these let us know and we’ll send one of those to you as well. When it is raining it is best to rely on your rain jacket’s hood to keep dry.
Gloves can be a little tricky. Big and bulky will keep you warm but make it difficult to make the shot when you need to. Too thin and your fingers will freeze. Most hunters still wear one pair of gloves at a time. We have had a lot of luck layering our gloves like our clothing. On the cooler mornings and days it will be helpful to wear a thin glove inside a heavier insulating glove. We wear the Under Armour liner glove under either a heavy or light insulating glove. This liner glove does wonders to wick moisture away from your skin to keep your hands feeling dry and warm no matter what. This also allows us to quickly “shed” a heavier glove to handle a weapon with ease for the shot of a lifetime. A good heavyweight glove is the Under Armour Coldgear Glove – this glove performs as well as any water resistant glove we have seen. It is pretty warm, though, and would be too much if it is 45 or 50 degrees. We see you using this glove when you’re glassing for Mule Deer on those cool, 30 degree mornings. A good lightly insulated glove is the Manzella Wind Pro glove – this glove will provide some protection from water but will not be 100% waterproof. We see you wearing this glove most of the time.
Under Armour Website: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/mens/sports/hunting/accessories/gloves.
Retail on the Under Armour Camo Liner Glove: $21.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $19.99
Retail on the Under Armour Coldgear Glove: $59.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $53.99
Manzella Website: http://www.manzella.com/productresults.aspx?marketsegment=field&category_code=mens&warmth_rating_code=warmer&glovefinder=false.
*I see that they do not list the Wind Pro glove – It is close to the Bow Stalker. Again, we want to make sure you get what works best for you – if you choose to purchase these gloves and would like to try something else we will take them back with no questions asked.
Retail: $24.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $22.49
Optics, Pack, and Accessories
“On each side of the valley is the Nebraska Sandhills, the place trophy mule deer call home. They glass the open hills in the morning and search the cedar filled canyons for bedding mule deer in the afternoons. Their evening hunts take place on alfalfa pivots or other food plots; this is a great chance to harvest your big mule deer buck.”
This except was taken from an Outdoor Connection Report on your outfitter. It is important to know that you could spend considerable time “glassing” for your trophy before you get set up for a shot. With this in mind, high quality optics will not only allow you to see more clearly but will also add to the enjoyment of your trip as you will experience less eye fatigue and be alert and ready when the moment of truth arrives.
Binoculars
A high quality set of binoculars that we recommend are made by Leupold. The Golden Ring 10×42HD’s provide a crisp, clear picture in the lowest of light conditions. They are also built to stand up to everything you will ever throw at them and backed by Leupold’s Lifetime Warranty. You can view these at http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/binoculars/.
Retail: $799.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $719.99
It is always a good idea to carry your binoculars on a bino system. If you don’t know what this is you can view it at http://www.crookedhorn.com/cms/shop.html?page=shop.browse&category_id=12&vmcchk=1.
The bino system will keep your binoculars at your chest and ready for whenever you may need them. They will also eliminate a lot of the weight you would feel while carrying binoculars with a standard neck strap. The bino system is an inexpensive way to make a huge difference on your hunt.
Retail: $24.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $22.49
Spotting Scope
A good spotting scope can make a huge difference when trying to size up a mule deer at long distances. It can also save you a lot of time because it will allow you to zoom in and see fine details more than any binocular will do. We use Swarovski spotting scopes. Quite simply, Swarovski offers the best optics available. You will not find brighter, crisper, clearer, or more durable optics than those made by Swarovski. We recommend the STS-80 scope for this hunt. The straight body will allow you to comfortably sit and “glass” game and the 80mm objective end will ensure that you get plenty of quality light transmission for those low light situations.
We also recommend the 20x-60x eyepiece for this spotting scope. This eyepiece will allow you the flexibility to utilize the spotting scope in a variety of situations for not only this hunt but future hunts as well.
You can view these products at http://www.swarovskioptik.us/en_us/products/48
Your price on the set is $2419.99 Regular Retail is $2869.99
Please spend a little time on Swarovski’s website – you may also be interested in things such as camera adapters or a soft case to protect your investment. If you are interested in any of these items just let me know and I’ll get you your Outdoor Connection discounted price.
We recommend a Vanguard Tripod for your use on this trip. The one that we use is adjustable from 11 to 19 inches and weighs only 29 ounces so it is easily packed in an Eberlestock pack(discussed later). It has a bubble level and a 3 way pan head for precision. You price on this tripod is $44.99. Regular retail is $49.99.
Rangefinder
When the moment of truth arrives a rangefinder will eliminate any doubt as to how far a Mule Deer is from you. A couple of things to think about: 1. A laser rangefinder will work far better than one that needs a reflective surface to obtain a distance reading – especially at long distances. 2. A rangefinder with a scan feature will allow you to quickly scan an area or follow a moving animal. This is especially helpful when trying to give distance readings to a hunting partner.
Our number one recommendation for a rangefinder to take on this trip is the Leupold RX1000. You can view this rangefinder at http://www.leupold.com/hunting-and-shooting/products/rangefinders/rx-1000-compact-rangefinders/rx-1000-compact-digital-laser-rangefinder/.
Retail: $399.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $359.99
Pack
Eberlestock’s packs are at the top of their class in build, fit, and functionality. The Just One J34 pack is the new, improved version of the pack that Greg uses – the Original Just One. Starting at 2300 cubic inches, this pack will expand to 4600. The J34 weighs just 6.14 pounds so it is something you will carry with ease all day. It also has an improved internal aluminum frame system that will support plenty of weight should you ever need to pack anything heavy. This pack is the perfect size to carry everything you will need for a day trip – from a set of dry clothes to your spotting scope and tripod. Other important items are a rain fly and hydration bladder. You can view this pack at http://www.eberlestock.com/J34%20Just%20One.htm.
Pack Retail: $279.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $249.99
Rain Fly Retail: $26.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $24.29
Hydration System Retail: $19.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price $17.99
Accessories
All too often, it is the little things that make the difference on a hunt like this. A good shooting gun will have you in the field with a ton of confidence. However, when it is windy, cold, and you are out of breath, a bipod will help to steady you as you prepare to make the shot of a lifetime. Our goal is to make sure that you are aware of all the accessories, tricks, and tips that we have learned though years of hunting around the world!
Gun Case
It is important that your weapon arrives at your destination in the same condition it was when you took your last few shots at the range. There is nothing worse than being on a hunt like this and questioning whether or not you gun is still sighted in. We recommend the Pelican 1750 Weapons case. We use Pelican cases for protecting a variety of goods; cameras, gps devices, spotting scopes, licenses. They are waterproof, crushproof, have pressure release valves, are airline approved, and come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can view this case at http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1750.
Your Price: $269.99 Regular Retail: $299.99
Shooting Sticks
Another accessory recommendation is something that we’ve identified as being important to us on our open area Midwest hunts – a set of shooting sticks. Our recommendation is the Vanguard B-62 bi-pod. This pod extends up to 62”, has a 360 degree rotating head, weighs less than 1.5lbs., and is built to stand up to everything you will put it through. In addition, it has removable rubber tips that expose a carbide tip so you can use it as a walking stick or to set up for a shot on slick ground. You can view this pod at http://www.vanguardworld.com/gfa/product3.php?sort3=177.
Retail: $49.99 Outdoor Connection Exclusive Price: $44.99
Flashlights/Headlights
A good flashlight is a must on any hunt you are doing. Our recommended brand is Sure Fire. Their lights stand up to everything and are extremely bright. The light we would use for this hunt is the 6P black. It has an all aluminum frame with a bright, 80 lumen, LED lamp for long life. You can view this light at http://www.surefire.com/6P-Led. You will not find a brighter, more durable light for the money.
Your Price: $71.99 Regular Retail: $79.99
We recommended a headlight with for nighttime tracking jobs. We use the Browning Tactical Hunter Nitro. At a possible high output of 135 lumens you will see one hundred yards. You can view this at http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/family.asp?webflag_=030H&catalog_=H.
Your Price: $42.99 Regular Retail: $49.99
We have found it useful to have a cap light for the evenings. This allows for your hands to be free to do work around camp, read, or whatever you choose. The headlamp previously discussed will be too bright. The light we recommend is a simple Browning Cap Light that clips on the brim of your hat. Your price on one of these is $8.09.
The Sure Fire 6P light runs on the same batteries as the Browning Tactical Hunter headlamp so you won’t have to worry about different batteries for different lights – simple is better in this case! Our recommendation is to buy a bulk pack of batteries to carry in your pack at all times. This way you don’t have loose batteries floating around. One dozen batteries come in a small 2” by 2” box that takes up little space, weighs very little, and costs $21. This way you will always have a headlight and a flashlight that has batteries to power them. You can view this bulk pack at http://www.surefire.com/12-Pack-Batteries.
Scent Control
Cleanliness and scent control are important when spending many days out in the field, especially when deer hunting as their senses are very keen. Here are a few items that have been useful to us on our hunts.
It is a good idea to carry some unscented deodorant. Robinson Outdoors makes a great product. http://www.scentblocker.com/osc/product_info.php?products_id=79&osCsid=968eae3bc880f8c9eb757b83127d34cf&cPath=22_52. This will cost you $5.39.
Body Bath Towels are very useful when you don’t have time to clean up or have just finished cleaning a moose. http://www.scentblocker.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=22_50&products_id=230&osCsid=968eae3bc880f8c9eb757b83127d34cf. These are $6.29.
Personally, we carry the Dead Down Wind Scent Prevent Kit http://www.deaddownwind.com/store/product/scentprevent-kit-1020.cfm. This kit makes it possible to cover everything scent related. This kit costs $40.49.
Knife
If you are planning on helping your guide prepare an animal should you have success you will need the proper cutlery. A gutting and skinning knife would be the most useful to you. Our recommendation is the Browning Micarta Big Game knife. You can view this knife at http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail.asp?value=049G&cat_id=322&type_id=642.
Your price: $98.99 Regular Retail: $109.99
A knife sharpener is absolutely necessary as you are sure to dull your blades through the gutting, skinning, and caping process. We urge you to use one that has two grits, coarse and fine, so that you can fix a badly damaged edge. A DMT diamond stone works great for this and will pack lightly and easily. You can view this sharpener at http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diafold.htm. Your price is $26.99.
Gutting gloves are a must have – they will keep you clean and dry through the whole process. Shoulder length gloves worn underneath and wrist length surgical glove work the best. A pack with both sets in it is $1.79. We would carry at least two sets with.
Orange tracking tape is handy for several reasons. Most commonly it is used for following a blood trail. It can also be used to mark certain points for reference. For instance, if you shoot an animal and begin the process of looking for a trail in thick cover it is often helpful to look back at where you shot from. With some orange trail tape on a tree there will be no question as to where you started from. One 150 foot roll will cost you $2.24.
Anytime you are hunting it is a great idea to carry a lens pen with you so that you can clean and clear your optics. This is never more true than on a hunt like this as you will rely heavily on your optics to spot Mule Deer. Believe me, it is very frustrating when you’re in a situation where you are fully prepared to make the shot of a lifetime and not able to get the animal in your scope because it is dirty or foggy. A Leupold lens pen will cost you $8.99.
Compass/First Aid
No matter what you are doing outdoors it is smart to carry a compass with you. We use the Brunton compasses http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=92. Your price on this specific one is $17.99. It is not only great for navigation but also handy in case of an emergency with the mirror on it.
A simple First Aid Kit can go a long way should you encounter some problems while out in the field. We always carry waterproof kits so that we can leave it in our pack and know that it will be ready should we need it. Your price on the one we carry is $14.99 and includes everything you would need.
It is our hope that you find the information we provided to be useful. Once you have had a chance to look this over and do some research of your own we would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please remember, there are many choices in the categories we have discussed. The aforementioned products are our recommendations based on the joint effort of Streiff Sporting Goods and our customers, Outdoor Connection agents and clients who have been to this destination, the folks at Nebraska Trophy Bucks and Birds, and our supporting manufacturers.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to help you prepare for this exciting hunt! Feel free to contact me at Streiff Sporting Goods for any of your product needs or questions. I can be reached at (800)817-2590 or at nickm@streiffs.com.
Nick Marvin
