Kit

[Samoset]

I've been spending a lot of time in the woods recently I've even had the blessing of putting a small doe on the ground and processing her for my family's meat supply over the next few months. 

With all that goes into a successful harvest you realize that certain items become your goto items for certain tasks.

 I'm going to use this thread to express with you all what I have found to work well for me. Theses items may not work for you this is simply what I use. 

The first thing I found myself missing a lot after sending it in for a warranty repair was my leatherman charge tti


As a craftsman a chef and a hunter I have carried a number of multi-tools this one reigns supreme in my opinion.

With the addition of the bit kit and bit extender I have all the appropriate bits to work on any rifle bow or any other peace of equipment I bring in the woods.

The two main blades are both very usable and serviceable the main clipoint is s30v  and sits in the hand well for a variety of work tasks. The utility blade is serrated with a gut hook at the top. It works well for a verity of tasks when it comes to splitting joints cutting pelvis bones and the gut hook works well enough that I use it while emptying the body caveity not to much for skinning but I have .

The only thing I would change on this tool is the eyeglass screwdriver I would like to have a leather punch with sewing hole in it.  But I have used it a number of times usually not wat it is intended for but it has been used.

The pliers and crimpers and cutters are top notch I've used them for a variety of tasks from working on electronics to building fencing and brush blinds with hard wire to grabbing hot things out of a fire.

The scissors are a top notch well made tool I usually use them a lot while in the backcountry from everything from first aid to personal hygiene on extended trips.  They have opened  countless packages and have never needed sharpening.

I use my tools hard on my original I broke the flat head screw driver , the gut hook of the tip of the utility blade, I even broke the can opener which has opened a many of cans.  However each tool I broke was my fault using them in ways the where not designed to be used.

I sent the tool in for repair and leatherman replaced it under warranty I was expecting to have to pay to have it repaired. Top notch if you ask me. If I ever loose mine I will be quick to buy another.

In a day or so when I have some time I'll share my opinions on another peace of kit I use.

Hope this information serves you well.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Samoset...I have got an older Leatherman that looks a lot like yours, except it does not have replaceable bits.    Good Post, Thank You.

Best Wishes & Good Hunting     -     Tom

[anti-squirrel]

I have an old SOG multi-tool that superseded my Leatherman when I was active duty on account of the knife blades were just superior steel and kept their edges.  But otherwise, I'm a firm believer that anytime somebody goes down a trail, a reliable multitool (Leatherman, SOG, or even a Gerber), at least one folder and at least one fixed blade need to be carried in conjunction with the multitool.

Having a good guthook is great, but I've also found the can-opener blade to be super-handy... Especially when I came back empty-handed.   

[Samoset]

After some really discouraging night time blood tracking. I started looking at different lights and techniques the early part of deer season here in ga doesn't support backing out till morning as temperatures often linger in the high 70s low 80's for hours into the night.  Our coyote population also means anything left on the ground will be questionable the next day.

I came across the primos hd blood hunter in some of my research.

Primos Bloodhunter HD Shadow Free Blood Tracking Light



Words can't express how skeptical I was at spending 60.00 on a flash light. I read a bunch of reviews there was even a few articles on blood tracking lights I read I just couldn't stomach spending 60 bucks on a light.

Long story short I i shot a nice meat doe from a tree stand at about 6:45 pm one evening  shot looked good everything felt like I was eating backstrap for dinner.

Gave her a little while to bed down and bleed out . Climbed out of my stand and started the tracking decent blood at first but I was loosing light. I got out the headlamp and flash lights that I had been using and stayed on blood for a while but it kept getting more and more sporadic and a lot harder to find. Eventually I was to a point I had to keep going back to my last blood and grid searching . Nothing

The next morning I'm back in the woods with a bottle of peroxide  I find a litttle more blood make a little more progress. Eventually around noon I find my carcas witch is half eaten by the yotes and covered in Flys my heart is in my stomach.

The temp never got below 70 last night and I walk up and put my finger inside the arrow hole and it's pretty much still warm to touch. I didnt feel comfortable trying to salvage the meat. As it has been about 16-18 hours out here.

I went home and decided I'd give this light a chance. I knew it wouldn't be a guarantee but I figured anything I could do to increase my chances at a sucessfull recovery was worth a shot.

I've had the oppurtunity to use this light twice now on a blood trail. And it's amazing both how well it works in making blood stand out and not destroying your night vision those two things in conjunction for me make it a no brainer .

In my opinion this light works as advertised . And you won't find me tracking blood in the woods at night without it. It has two power settings and for the most part I just use the low power setting . This thing is built like a tank and I see it lasting me a lifetime.

I hope this information finds you well.
As I find more time I will ad more of my opinions of the kit I carry into this thread.

[Bicycleman]

In early season, insect repellent comes along - later (after first frost) it stays home.  And I always have about a half dozen plastic bags (shopping bags from Lowe's or Super One).  The shopping bags are used to carry the game home, protect the scope in the event of a shower, etc.  I carry a sheath knife; but it is rarely used (until I get home and clean the game.)

[BenjiHunter]

I don't go anywhere with out my Leatherman.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Nice, Yours looks nearly identical to my Leatherman Wave. 
Only difference I see is the textured grip but the tools are identical.

[desmobob]

Another Hooray! for the Leatherman.  I have an older Wave, a current Wave, and a Wingman.  The Wingman stays in the car, one Wave stays in the boat, and the other Wave goes with me on outdoor adventures.  Great tools!

As a bow hunter with common red/green color blindness, blood tracking can be a challenge for me.  I'm interested in the light Samoset mentioned!

Tight groups,
Bob

[Samoset]

I failed to mention two crucial parts of the leatherman in my initial post .

 One would be the file I use this thing on everything from sharpening hooks and knives to machetes you can also use the top of it to file threw things like bolts and screws but that takes a while. it is a excellent part of the overall tool

The second would be the wood saw it's a excellent little saw and has seen hours of use trimming random branches while on the ground or in a tree stand or at camp for kindling chores a bit agressive for cutting bone but I've done it a number of times .

The wave is very similar to the charge with the exception of the guthook, s30v main blade and the titanium handles .

[Samoset]

Another Hooray! for the Leatherman.  I have an older Wave, a current Wave, and a Wingman.  The Wingman stays in the car, one Wave stays in the boat, and the other Wave goes with me on outdoor adventures.  Great tools!

As a bow hunter with common red/green color blindness, blood tracking can be a challenge for me.  I'm interested in the light Samoset mentioned!

Tight groups,
Bob

Bob I don't know how the light would fair for you. It may help it's designed to make green leaves and brush and brown leaves fade and then make red pop. For me it works very well. If you have an amazon account you could ask if anyone with your same color blind condition uses the light  And how it works for them

[Hoosier Daddy]

Ypu are correct!
I had to get my Wave out of the truck where it lives and check, no gut hook.

My best utility flash light is at work so I cant wont show it until Monday but it is a LED / Red Laser / UV / and LED Red Laser combo.... friggin awesome light given to me by a vendor.

Free is good.... right?

[Habanero69er]

I have a Wave also. I carry it with me most of the time. I also have a UltraFire 501A with an ultraviolet bulb for spotting blood, urine or any protein based material.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultrafire-G37-WF-501A-UV-1-5w-395nm-Ultraviolet-LED-Flashlight-Torch-/372068323351?hash=item56a1001017

[Samoset]

I spent a good amount of time in the woods wearing old army camo or stuff scavenged from discounts bins or second hand stores. I wanted something vesitile that packed down small and had good reviews this is what I found.

ASAT Vanish Pro 3D System Poly/Nylon Lg ASAT



In warm weather this stuff rocks as I have hunted in shorts and a tshirt under this mesh suit. In colder weather there is plenty of room for layers.

At first when it arrived I was skeptical on how effective this pattern would be . I mean it has great reviews but looking at it I was like nah this can't work.

Well I ate crow quite literally because the first time I every wore it I bagged three nice crows after numerous unsuccessful hunts.

I've seen more wildlife wearing this suit than any previous combination I've ever tried . I've had deer bed down 8yrds from me while I was sitting next to a tree. I've Had a Owel land on a branch next to me in tree stand seamingly unaware of my pressence .

At first I didn't think I would be able to handle the face mask but now I'm glad I don't paint my face any longer.

A buddy of mine sold me on this stuff and I'm glad he did for what I need it just plain works.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Thanks for the link!
Not that I need the 3-D camo but at the bottom of that page was one of their Boonie hats, mine is getting kinda tattered.

[desmobob]

The wave is very similar to the charge with the exception of the guthook, s30v main blade and the titanium handles .

I'm pretty sure my old, original Wave has 154CM knife blades.  My new one does not (or at least they're not marked as such).

Tight groups,
Bob

[Smaug2]

Yes, a good multi-tool is a must-have. I went hunting this past week, and I bought my Victorinox Workchamp. (link) Cleaned 9 squirrels with it, opened a few beers and bottles of wine. Used the scissors to open some packages and trim my nails too. (and the file to clean off the "points" left by the straight scissors) One particularly nice thing about it is that it has both inline #1 and #2 Phillips drivers. No competition for a bit kit and extension.

You've got me thinking about bringing my Charge Al (link) next time. It's the aluminum-handled version of your TTi, and with 154cm main blade instead of S30v. That skinning blade would come in handy, and the bit kit extension and drivers would come in handy for any gun-related issues. I tell you what though, I'm also going to bring a small fixed blade knife, as they are a LOT easier to clean guts and blood out of than a folding knife/tool.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Here is the light I was saying was here at work.

http://www.streamlight.com/en/products/detail/index/multi-ops