SIX NATIONS – The sumac is turning red and hunting season is now upon us. Hunters across the province are gathering their equipment in preparing for that first hunt.
Having the right gear can make your hunting experience even more enjoyable. Here is a list of items that can increase your enjoyment of the hunt or even improve your odds in the field.
1. Rangefinders
Knowing the distance to your target is very important especially when hunting deer or big game with centre fire rifles. A rangefinder is basically a monocular with a laser that calculates distance by pointing and pressing a button. Most experienced hunters can estimate ranges by plain sight but taking the guesswork out of the formula can net better results. Expect to pay at least $100 for a bargain rangefinder that may be more suitable for bow hunters and up to $500 for the top notch long distance ones. You can pick up the Bushnell Sport 850 for approximately $150.00 and it will get the job done.
2. Two-Way Radios
Even if you mainly hunt alone having a pair of two way radios is handy for safety reasons – you can leave one at your house or with a neighbor while you are back the bush. Or sometimes when you pick up a friend to help increase the odds you can lend one out to stay in communication out in the field. All you need is to tell your friends what channel you are on and if they are running on Indian time they can still be in touch once they catch up to hunt. You want to look for radios with good range and a long battery life. Weather proof is also a nice touch. We recommend the Cobra Floating GMRS/FRS 2-Way Handheld Radios which boast an impressive 59 km range, realtree camo and a built in flash light for the reasonable price of $99.99.
3. A good pair of boots
Maybe it’s just me but owning the right pair of boots makes all the difference and puts the excitement back into that 5AM wake up alarm. Some of my ol’ school friends swear by the $20 dollar rubber boots you can get from Canadian Tire and there’s nothing wrong with that. But for those of us who want something more there are a large variety of boots to choose from. The three main things to consider when buying boots is insulation, water proof level, and weight. These factors will depend on where you are hunting and what time of year you plan to hunt. Big game hunters tracking moose up north in January will need a different boot than Six Nations deer hunters out in October. I personally like an oiled leather boot with a good sock for maximum ankle support and flexibility. If I had the dough I would buy the Irish Setter Reserve – it’s a Goretex waterproof boot and insulated with 400g Thinsulate Ultra. It retails for a whopping $399.99 US which is around $520 Canadian – one can only wish.
4. All terrain vehicle
There are many different ways of hunting on reserve. Because of certain treaties Six Nations has with the Crown there is a seperate set of guidelines for Haudenosaunee people when they hunt.
Some of our people believe in walking the trails and fields and doing everything by man power. Others drive their trucks along the road to hunt, especially older people where mobility is an issue.
There is a large segment of hunters who use ATVs which are more commonly called Quads or four-wheelers.
When shopping for a quad you should have a price in mind to fit your budget but for those with larger pockets, Polaris makes a quad especially designed for hunting called the Sportsman 570 Hunter Edition.
This camoflauged beast comes with a Polaris HD winch, gun scabbard, rear rack extender, work lights, and hand/thumb warmers to make this the hardest working hunting ATV straight from the factory.
Grand River Power Sports in Brantford is selling this model for $9,800 and will deliver to the rez for tax immunity but they also have side by sides and many other models to choose from.
