Rut Essentials for Long Sits
Rut Essentials for Long Sits
Sweet November, as they say, is finally here! If you are like me, you’ve likely already taken to the woods with your archery equipment in hand. However, if you’ve been saving up days for the magical Iowa rut, then you have a lot to be excited about. Here are a few things that I encourage you to keep handy in your pack as you take to the timber this Iowa archery season!
Calls
Any time you check my hunting pack you are always going to find a few staple items. Among those items are a good grunt call. Cruising bucks can be coaxed into archery range often with the subtle grunt of a good call. The rut is not the only time I’ve used this device either. Deer are vocal animals by nature. It can work in many times of the season but typically works well during the month of November. Soft grunts can work to draw attention whereas aggressive grunts can potentially draw them in from a long way.
Also along the lines of deer calls: rattling antlers. Whether you’re a traditionalist and take your favorite pair of shed antlers to use as rattling antlers OR you like to use a store-bought device it is a preference. However, I encourage you to take advantage of a cruising bucks frustrations by provoking him into range by using the sound of two bucks standing off!
Range Finder
This might not be a super high priority for many but for me it’s a must: a rangefinder. I have grown to become very reliant on a range finder helping me to determine the exact distance of anything I’m about to shoot. Sure, there are times when you have to take an educated guess. It’s my feeling, though, that I should use every tool available to try to make a quick and ethical kill on an animal. I like to take time to range certain trees, bushes, etc. beforehand just in case I don’t have the opportunity in the heat of the moment to range the deer I’m about to take.
Extras
Taking “extras” of certain items could cover a bevy of things and circumstances. I like to keep a few of each of the following items as extras in my pack for different reasons: release aid, gloves, and a hat.
My reasoning for taking an extra release aid is in the event my preferred option malfunctions or falls from the tree stand. I cannot operate my bow efficiently without a release so I would rather be doubly prepared.
I like to take extra gloves and hats just in case the weather shifts. Also, I’ve loaned out these items to hunters who have tagged along and perhaps forgot theirs. These you can do without if you have a good bead on the weather. I like to keep them in all year, though, so I don’t have to think about it again. I like to have on-hand some Liittle Debbies, a bottle of water, a pocket knife, and a wind checking device.
Ratchet Strap, Rope, and an EZ Hanger
I largely do my archery hunting from elevated platforms in trees: tree stands. If you don’t find yourself in this situation then these items can easily be omitted. However, because of my propensity to be in a tree I like to be sure I have an extra ratchet strap, a thin rope, and an ez hanger. Most of my stands are often set up in advance with ALL of these items. However, I’ve come to find out one of a squirrels favorite meals is a ratchet strap that is holding my treestand to a tree. Therefore, these items become necessary. The rope is handy for many different situations. The EZ hanger keeps my hands free and safe while in the stand. Be aware of where you are hunting and if screw in devices are allowed. You might have to look into a strap on mechanism instead of the screw in.
Also, don’t forget your tag, license and pen. In Iowa, we are required to tag and check in deer that we harvest. Therefore, don’t forget your tag! I like to place mine in a ziplock bag with an extra pen and leave it in my pack for the year. You’ll need a pocket knife to notch the tag but you’ve got to remember the tag above all else.
Toilet Paper
Finally, you have to remember that when nature calls you need to be prepared. Don’t head back to your truck with only one sock. Remember to grab a small bit of tissue or toilet paper. This actually serves many functions. Honestly, I prefer a pack of Woodsman Wipes from Dead Down Wind or any other type of unscented wipe. In that case, if you need to clean up bloody hands from a harvest or anything in between you will be covered.
Fall is here and you are headed to the woods. Don’t forget some of these essentials as you look to put your tag around an antler this Fall.
by Noel Gandy
November 2023
