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Dryad Drey Hammock Review | Most Comfortable Hunting Saddle?

Jason Tome
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Dryad Drey Hammock Review | Most Comfortable Hunting Saddle?

This Dryad Drey review looks at comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, scent control, and build quality. The Drey is a not-so-well-known hunting saddle and it’s not like conventional saddles. This saddle uses a hammock as the saddle seat that is adjustable for serious comfort. I compared the Drey Hammock to 4 other top-selling saddles, you can find the other reviews linked below:

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

How I Tested The Dryad Drey

I bought the Dryad Drey with my own money to test it out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Drey. There are a few different options to choose from on the Dryad website. The exact gear I bought was the Hybrid Saddle/Treestand Hunting Kit which includes:

  • 1 Killdeer Harness
  • 1 Full full-sized hammock
  • 1 Hitch

I also bought an 8mm tether from them with 2 carabiners attached which are needed to hunt out of this saddle but is not included in the kit (which is good for those who want to create their own tether).

Dryad Drey Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

  • How Long I Felt Comfortable For
    • Back Support
    • Hip-Pinch
    • Knee Fatigue
    • Comfortable Enough to Nap?
  • Noise
  • Portability (to and from the stand)
  • Mobility (in the stand)
  • Adjustability
  • Scent Control
  • Build Quality

Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review

How The Drey Hammock System Works

The Drey system works by using a minimalistic harness (I bought the Killdeer harness) that is the main line of safety and security. This harness is what you will attach your lineman belt and your tree tether to.

The tree tether for the Drey is unique in that you’ll have two carabiners on it.

Once you get to hunting height and are ready to start hunting you will deploy the hammock. You will connect the hammock to a second carabiner located on your tree tether. This allows you to slowly release your full weight from your harness into your hammock.

The carabiner that is located on your harness remains attached but with no tension. This remains connected for safety. If the hammock were to ever fail you’ll still be safe.

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

Back Support

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Drey was a top contender. Out of the 5 saddles, it ranked 2 in comfort behind the JX3 Hybrid.

It was an extremely comfortable saddle, the main reason the JX3 Hybrid beat the Drey in comfort is that the JX3 removes all pressure from your knees with the metal frame against the tree. With the Drey, your knees will get sore if you don’t wear knee pads (like other saddles).

I also think the JX3 has slightly better comfort adjustability compared to the Drey.

That said, they are both extremely comfortable. The Drey can be deployed as a full-body cocoon that gives you excellent back support which is just as comfortable as the JX3. The only downside is that you’re not as mobile when you’re in the cocoon compared to the JX3.

Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Cocoon
Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Cocoon

Even Weight Distribution

The hammock fabric evenly distributes your weight so there are no pressure points that cause hip pinch or that will cause your legs to fall asleep. This is one of the best features of this saddle and is what allows you to use it for a long period of time without moving or getting uncomfortable.

I sat in this saddle for an hour without moving and felt completely fine to keep going. Usually, after about an hour I can tell what could be an issue for those longer 8-10 hour sits.

From what I can tell an all-day sit would be easy in this saddle. You’ll likely need to adjust but you’re not going to be fidgeting around with the Drey every 20-30 minutes trying to get it comfortable. You’ll be able to go for hours without moving.

Hip-Pinch

Hip-pinch was basically non-existent thanks to the hammock design. The hammock has no webbing that can press into your hips making it so comfy compared to many other saddles on the market.

Adjustable Straps and Tabs

There are some adjustments that can be made to the hammock. The first is the quick adjustable straps on the top of the hammock when it is deployed.

I found that this did not offer much added comfort though because it adds too much pressure along the tightened area. I prefer to leave this strap alone and keep it completely untightened.

There are also adjustable tabs at the bottom of the hammock, located near your knee area. These tabs help you to lengthen or shorten the hammock by rolling it back onto itself or by unrolling the hammock to lengthen.

These tabs are helpful for increasing comfort and I used them to get the hammock positioned on my body exactly how I wanted it. When I had to make adjustments I used the tabs to make those small adjustments.

Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle

Leaning vs. Sitting & Knee Fatigue

Leaning was very comfortable. There were no pinch points or the feeling that the hammock was going to cut off circulation. I got the feeling I could lean in this hammock all day without any problems.

Personally, I’m a sitter. I found sitting to be extraordinarily comfortable when your knees are placed against the tree. However, it takes some adjustments to make it comfortable if you’re trying to straddle the tree with your legs (legs on both sides of the tree). I found that the hammock likes to push your legs into the tree which can be uncomfortable.

I’ve found that pulling the hammock from under your legs back to your butt greatly reduces the leg stress. However, then you have less support from the hammock under your legs. I found it to still be quite comfortable like this though. That said, you might want to consider knee pads.

Comfortable Enough to Nap?

The Dryad Drey hammock is so comfortable you can easily nap in it. I’m 6’3″ and I have just enough fabric where I can put the hammock behind my head to create a headrest. This makes it even more comfortable than the JX3 Hybrid in this regard. That said, the headrest comfort is only marginal because you need to sort of balance your head on the taught portion of the saddle.

However, the support is top-notch everywhere else.

Noise

One downside to the Drey hammock is that it makes a slight noise when moving and when sticks graze it. On a silent day, it could be something that you need to consider when moving in the saddle.

When you’re using the saddle in a more conventional way when the saddle fabric is more bunched up it’s quiet. It’s mostly the areas of the hammock that are more taught that create noise.

Portability

This saddle may have the best comfort-to-compactness ratio of any saddle on the market. The compactness makes it easily portable for long distances. This makes it an excellent choice for mobile hunters.

Mobility

Mobility once in the saddle is just like any other saddle when it is being used like a conventional saddle.

However, when you’re in the cocoon mobility is restricted because your arms are inside the cocoon. This makes it hard to grab your bow quietly in a fast-paced scenario.

Adjustability

The hammock offers quite good adjustability. For example, as mentioned it is versatile in how you can wear it.

Additionally, there are little straps that can be tightened or loosened at the top of the hammock. Once deployed, you can adjust these straps for a little bit more comfort.

I’m hoping that in future iterations the Drey will be more adjustable throughout the saddle and not just this area at the top.

Cleaning & Scent Control

Cleaning this saddle is simple. To clean it I would just put the Killdeer harness and hammock in a bucket of scent-free detergent and let it air dry periodically.

It seems like it would dry faster than a conventional saddle because the fabric is so thin and breathable.

Build Quality

The Dryad Drey hammock system seems to be made very well from what I can tell. That said, the hammock fabric is thin and time will tell how well it will hold up to hunting abuse.

Luckily, if you do tear your hammock it is much cheaper to replace than a conventional saddle (it’s like half the price).

The Killdeer harness seems to be built durable with heavy-duty webbing and threading and expect that to last a very long time.

Dryad Drey Review Final Thoughts

Out of the 5 top-selling saddles I tested I chose to keep the Dryad Drey hammock system.

I was looking for the ultimate lightweight system that would give me similar comfort to the JX3 Hybrid that I’ve used for the last few seasons. I absolutely love the JX3 Hybrid because of the comfort and it has allowed me to stay on stand a lot longer. However, the weight and bulk of the JX3 made it difficult to get into some of my hunting areas effectively.

The Dryad Drey with its comfortable seat and back support at a fraction of the bulk and weight made it the right choice for me.

Hopefully, this Dryad Drey hammock review helped you decide if the Drey is right for you.

Check out my other saddle reviews here:

5 Best Boots For Deer Trackers | Boots For Tracking on Snow

Jason Tome
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5 Best Boots For Deer Trackers | Boots For Tracking on Snow

There are a few criteria that make some boots the best boots for deer trackers. I basically live in rubber boots as a professional wetland scientist, waterfowl hunter, and deer hunter located in the wet/snowy landscapes of Maine. Maine is also home to the best deer tracking in the U.S. For these reasons, I have a lot of experience choosing the right boots for tracking deer on snow.

Collectively, between the rubber boots I’ve tried for work and hunting (Lacrosse Footwear, Le Chameau, GumLeaf, Muck Boots, Bogs) and observing coworkers’ boot performance (Cabela’s, Dryshod, XtraTuf), I’ve been able to determine the best boots suited for tracking big woods bucks on snow.

Not all rubber boots are created equal. In this post, I share my best tips and suggestions when buying boots for tracking on snow so you get the most value out of your boots.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

Lacrosse Grange Boot (Affordable & Effective)

It’s tough to beat the Lacrosse Grange boots because no other companies have been able to develop an 18-inch tall boot this thin while allowing the boot to still be very durable. They’re so lightweight that you barely even notice them.

Another huge benefit of this boot is that they have an ankle-tight fit. This is important so that your heel does not slip up and down in the heel pocket (which causes blisters in other boot brands).

Additionally, they are very low profile and have a low center of gravity. This makes it hard to roll your ankle compared to other rubber boots that have taller traction. Because the traction is slim (almost non-existent) you can really feel the ground underneath your foot when hunting.

This allows you to walk much quieter in the woods because you can feel the sticks underneath your foot. For these reasons, the LaCrosse Grange boot is one of the best boots for deer trackers.

Best Budget Boot For Tracking Deer on Snow

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Best Rubber Hunting Boots
My go-to Rubber Hunting Boot. The Lacrosse Grange rubber boots are one of the best for lots of walking and being mobile.

GumLeaf Long Lasting High-Content Rubber Boot

The GumLeaf Field Wellys are handcrafted boots in Europe. They are made of 85% real rubber which prevents cracking and should last around 10+ years with proper care. Most other rubber boots on the market are mixed with a higher percentage of clay and only last 1-2 years before they crack. I bought the GumLeaf Field Welly boots because I was tired of my Lacrosse boots cracking after 1-2 years.

Additionally, the Lacrosse Grange boots (which I love) do not have good traction (really no traction at all). The GumLeaf Field Wellys have soft, flexible, Vibram sole which provides much better traction and keeps your feet from getting tired as easily. The sole is soft and pliable enough to still feel the environment underfoot like the Lacrosse Grange boots.

Also, these boots are almost exactly the same height as the 18″ Lacrosse boots, so you’re not really sacrificing any height.

I’ve liked these boots so much that I reached out to GumLeaf USA to see if I could get a discount for my viewers. If you enter coupon code “JTOTen” at checkout you’ll receive 10% off these boots.

You can read my full review of these boots here: GumLeaf Field Welly Review After Months of Heavy Use

GumLeaf Field Welly Boot Review

GumLeaf Field Wellys Best Rubber Boots For Hunting with High Rubber Content

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Lacrosse Burly Air Grip Foam Insulated Boot

Another excellent rubber hunting boot for tracking big woods bucks on snow is the Lacrosse Burly boot with Air Grips. These boots are foam insulated and provide a little more warmth and traction than the Grange boots.

These boots are a little heavier than the Grange boots because of the added insulation and traction. However, they are great boots for hunting in slightly colder conditions and if you’re tracking deer in mountainous terrain. The Air Grip traction on the bottom of these boots will stop you from slipping as easily going uphill compared to the Grange boots.

These boots have many similar characteristics to the Grange boots. For example, great durability, a tight ankle fit, is 18 inches tall, and low profile, and you can still feel the environment underfoot quite well with the air grips.

LaCrosse Burly Air Grip Boots For Tracking Deer on Snow

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Lacrosse Burly Air Grips Foam Insulated Rubber Hunting Boots

Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro – A Favorite Among Deer Trackers

The Alphaburly Pros are Lacrosse’s top-tier rubber hunting boots. These boots have some of the best reviews of any rubber boot. They offer great traction, and comfort, and have 3 levels of insulation. So, depending on which model you buy so you can stay warm no matter the weather or temperature. The heel of these boots is also snug keeping them on your feet and preventing blisters.

They are a little heavier of a boot and would compare more closely to the Burley Air Grip boots, I would use them in similar scenarios as those boots.

Testing The LaCrosse Alphaburley Pro Rubber Boots

Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro - A Favorite Among Deer Trackers

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Bogs Arcata Boots For Tracking Deer In Snow

Bogs Arcata rubber boots are the most comfortable rubber boots I have ever worn. They are extremely lightweight and have excellent traction for such a low-profile/low-center-of-gravity rubber boot. I was surprised about the low center of gravity because by looking at the photos you’d think the traction is tall. However, when you wear them your foot feels very close to the ground. Because they are a low center of gravity boot you won’t roll your ankle like other rubber boots with tall traction.

The traction is excellent for walking in the snow because there are a lot of deep ridges and grooves that create a lot of surface area when stepping on snow. This creates more traction, reducing slipping.

The one thing to consider is they are around 15 inches tall (which keeps them so lightweight). In my experience, if you can cross a stream in an 18″ boot you can find a place to cross in a 15″ boot.

These are by far the lightest boots in this buying guide. For this reason, they are great for tracking deer all day while reducing foot/leg fatigue. The combination of being lightweight, comfortable, and having great traction, makes it one of the best boots for deer trackers.

Bogs Arcata Boots For Tracking Deer In Snow
Lightweight, Comfortable, and Great Traction

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Bogs Arcata Neoprene Rubber Hunting Boots

My YouTube Video Reviewing These Boots:

Tracking Big Woods Bucks on Snow Articles:

Hopefully, you found this article on the best boots for deer trackers helpful. If you want to read more articles about tracking big woods bucks on snow, you can find them here. I cover everything from how-to’s, gear, tips & tricks…etc. A favorite is Gear for Tracking Bucks in Snow | Essentials For Big Woods Deer Hunting.

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CRUZR XC Review | Most Comfortable Hunting Saddle?

Jason Tome
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0
CRUZR XC Review | Most Comfortable Hunting Saddle?

This Cruzr XC review looks at comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, scent control, and build quality. The CRUZR XC has a reputation for being one of the most comfortable hunting saddles on the market, if not the most comfortable. I also compared the Cruzr XC to 4 other top-selling saddles, you can find those reviews linked below:

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

How I Tested The CRUZR XC

I bought the CRUZR XC with my own money to test it out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Cruzr XC. The review criteria are listed below.

CRUZR XC Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

  • How Long I Felt Comfortable For
    • Hip-Pinch
    • Back Strain
    • Knee Fatigue
    • Comfortable Enough to Take a Nap
  • Noise
  • Portability (to and from the stand)
  • Mobility (in the stand)
  • Adjustability
  • Scent Control
  • Build Quality

CRUZR XC Saddle Review

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

Back Support

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Cruzr XC was a top contender. Out of the 5 saddles, it ranked 3 in comfort behind the JX3 Hybrid and Dryad Drey hammock.

It was an extremely comfortable saddle, the only reason the Drey beat it is that the Drey has back support. If it wasn’t for the back support, the Cruzr XC would have been ranked #2. That said, as far as conventional saddles go, the Cruzr XC is the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever used.

So, if back support isn’t important to you then the Cruzr XC would be a more comfortable choice. Also, you can add back support to the Cruzr XC but I don’t think it would be as comfortable as the built-in hammock back support.

Even Weight Distribution

I was also happy to find out that the webbing on either side of the mesh seat does not take the brunt of your weight. Instead, your weight is evenly distributed into the mesh area of the saddle. This means that your leg circulation does not get cut off like on many other saddles. This is one of the best features of this saddle and is what allows you to use it for a long period of time without moving or getting uncomfortable.

I sat in this saddle for an hour without moving and felt completely fine to keep going. Usually, after about an hour I can feel what could be an issue for those longer 8-10 hour sits.

From what I can tell after sitting in the saddle for an hour is that an all-day sit would be comfortable. In those 8 hours, you’ll probably need to adjust but you’re not going to be fidgeting around with the saddle every 20-30 minutes trying to get it comfortable. You’ll be able to go for hours without moving.

Hip-Pinch

Hip-pinch was minimal thanks to the mesh design. The elimination of the hip pinch is a feature I was most impressed with. For a single-panel saddle to have such little hip pinch to the point where it wasn’t really noticeable is a huge win for the Cruzr XC.

Adjustable Bridge Position (Comfort Channels)

The adjustable bridge rope on the bridge loops played a vital role in the additional comfort of this saddle (see photo below).  This feature tilts your pelvis and this tilt is key. For example, if you’re saddle is tilted too far back your abs need to do a lot of work to keep you from tipping over backwards. But if you rotate forward it reduces ab strain and your muscles can relax.

Cruzr XC Bridge Loops
The bridge rope can be adjusted on the bridge loops to tilt the saddle so that it tilts your pelvis forward or backward.

Back Strain

Back strain was present because there is no back support (as with most saddles). However, I have my own back support band and I tried it with the XC and found that helped immensely to alleviate back strain. With back support, this saddle is hard to beat in comfort and is an excellent saddle for all-day hunts.

Knee fatigue was experienced in this saddle (like most saddles) and knee pads would be useful. However, because of the adjustable bridge loop, you can tilt your pelvis so that most of your weight is in the saddle and not forward into your knees against the tree. This helps take some pressure off your knees.

Single-Panel with Pleat Extensions

One of the best features of this saddle when it comes to comfort is its pleats that allow the saddle to be lengthened or shortened depending on your preferences. When you want to make the saddle smaller the pleats fold in on themselves and when you want to extend the saddle to make a bigger seat you pull the pleats apart.

I found extending the pleats was extra useful when sitting because the larger seat helped distribute my weight better and made sitting more enjoyable. This pleat system is one of the main reasons this single-panel saddle is so comfortable

Extending The Pleats of the Cruzr XC Hunting Saddle
Extending The Pleats of the Cruzr XC Hunting Saddle
Cruzr XC Mesh with No Hip Pinch
Adjustable Pleats

Leaning vs Sitting

Both leaning and sitting were very comfortable in the Cruzr XC I had no issues with either. The bridge adjustments (comfort channels) combined with the extending pleats make this saddle comfortable for leaners or sitters. I am a sitter and this saddle was the most comfortable single-panel saddle for sitting I’ve used by far.

Leaning in the Cruzr XC Saddle Sitting in the Cruzr XC Saddle

Noise

The Cruzr XC was a very quiet saddle and had the best comfort-to-noise ratio. Some of the more comfortable saddles like the Dryad Drey and JX3 Hybrid were more comfortable but weren’t quite as stealthy as the Cruzr XC.

There is basically nothing to make noise of the XC because it is completely fabric except for the buckles for leg and waist straps (which all saddles have).

Portability, Mobility, Adjustability

One of the best qualities of this saddle is its compactness. The minimalistic design makes it low-profile and a great option for portability and mobility because it can pack up small. Mobile hunters will really like this saddle for getting into remote places easily and quietly.

As mentioned, the saddle is very adjustable with the adjustable bridge position (comfort channels) and the pleat extensions.

The compact design combined with the simple yet effective adjustability of this saddle makes it one of the best saddles on the market.

Scent Control

Since this saddle is minimalistic it doesn’t hold a lot of scent compared to other saddles that have more fabric surface area.

The design also makes it easy to clean in a tub of scent-free detergent and won’t take long to dry.

Build Quality

I was impressed with the overall build quality of the Cruzr XC. The straps are strong and secure and the stitching is excellent. I only used the XC for about 30 days so I haven’t used it through an entire season but I have a good feeling it will last for many years based on the quality of the stitching and fabric.

Final Thoughts

The Cruzr XC is one of my favorite saddles at the time of this review. In my experience, there is not a more comfortable conventional saddle on the market (double-panel or single-panel).

It’s minimalistic, lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use, making it an excellent option for mobile hunters that are looking for more comfort.

Hopefully, this Cruzr XC review was helped you decide if the Cruzr XC is right for you. If you’re looking for even more comfort, the JX3 Hybrid and Dryad Drey Hybrid are fantastic as well. I’ve reviewed these saddles too, you can find those reviews below:

Tethrd ESS Saddle Review (Hands-on) | Comfort, Noise,…

Jason Tome
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0
Tethrd ESS Saddle Review (Hands-on) | Comfort, Noise,…

This Tethrd ESS saddle review is 1 of 5 saddles I bought to determine which saddle is the best for hunting. The criteria I used to rank this saddle (and the others) were comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, and scent control.

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

How I Tested The Tethrd ESS

I bought the Tethrd ESS with my own money to test out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Tethrd ESS. The review criteria are listed below.

Tethrd ESS Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

  • How Long I Felt Comfortable For
    • Hip-Pinch
    • Back Strain
    • Knee Fatigue
    • Comfortable Enough to Take a Nap
  • Noise
  • Portability (to and from the stand)
  • Mobility (in the stand)
  • Adjustability
  • Scent Control
  • Build Quality

Tethrd ESS Saddle Review

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Tethrd ESS was not a very comfortable saddle. Out of the 5 saddles, I ranked it #4 in comfort.

I was comfortable for maybe 45 minutes before the soreness and pinching started to become noticeable.

After researching different ways to use this saddle and trying them all I couldn’t get the saddle to be comfortable. I figured the two-panel system would allow for better comfort but after testing it wasn’t as good as I expected.

Hip-pinch, back strain, and knee fatigue were experienced in this saddle and it was not comfortable enough to take a nap in, even with back support.

Double-Panels

Moving the double panels helped slightly to increase comfort because when I got sore spots I could adjust their locations. However, I had to do it often so I was moving around a lot.

Although the straps are large and are weight-bearing I found that they did not work as well as the mesh on the Cruzer XC for distributing weight. The ESS straps were cutting off blood flow in my legs and hips. I opened the bridge up a lot to reduce the hip pinch and it helped a little.

When I tried moving one set of panels to support my lower back, it was much too tight and was choking my kidneys so that was basically a non-option.

I think comfort channels on the bridge would help people at least rotate their pelvis in a way that would increase comfort and reduce stress to a degree.

For these reasons, there was a lot of fiddle factor when trying to get comfortable and stay comfortable.

Leaning vs Sitting

Leaning in this saddle was probably the most comfortable. When it came to sitting, which I like the most, I had too much pressure on my legs and hips. There was no way to position the panels to make them comfortable for long-term sitting.

After wearing the ESS for a while I decided to put the XC back on to see if I was just getting fatigued or if the XC was actually more comfortable. It was clear that I was able to feel immediate relief once I put the Cruzr XC on.

Tethrd ESS Leaning Position
Leaning in the ESS was the most comfortable
Tethrd ESS Sitting Position
Lots of hip pinch when sitting in the ESS

Noise

The bridge loops are two big metal d-rings that help bring your hips to an equilibrium/level when shooting at angles. However, they are located in front of you so they bump into things like climbing sticks and buckles when moving and they are noisy.

Although the metal d-rings are an interesting concept, I think they should be replaced with a fabric bridge that has comfort channels. It may help both comfort and noise to a degree.

Tethrd ESS Metal Bridge D-Rings
Tethrd ESS Metal Bridge D-Rings

Portability, Mobility, Adjustability

One of the best qualities of this saddle is that it is made using just a few seatbelt-sized straps. The minimalistic design makes it low-profile and a great option for portability and mobility because it can pack up small.

There is adjustability with the bridge length and the double-panel system, but as I mentioned comfort was not ideal even with these adjustments.

Tethrd ESS Saddle Review - hands on

Scent Control

Since this saddle is minimalistic it doesn’t hold a lot of scent compared to other saddles that have more fabric surface area.

The design also makes it easy to clean in a tub of scent-free detergent and won’t take long to dry.

Build Quality

I was impressed with the overall build quality of the Tethrd ESS. The straps are strong and secure and the stitching is excellent. Granted, I only used the ESS for about 30 days so I haven’t used it through a whole season but I get the feeling that this saddle would last a long time.

Final Thoughts

Although the Tethrd ESS is not the most comfortable saddle, the minimalistic design is something to consider if you’re looking for something very easy to pack in and out if you’re willing to sacrifice comfort.

Though, if I’m being honest, in my opinion, there are other saddles I have reviewed (linked below) that are just about as minimalistic and are more comfortable.

Hopefully, you found this Tethrd ESS saddle review helpful. If you’re interested in reviews of the other saddles, you can find them here:

Maven RF.1 Review | Maven’s Best Hunting Rangefinder

Jason Tome
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Maven RF.1 Review | Maven’s Best Hunting Rangefinder

This hands-on Maven RF.1 review dives into Maven’s best rangefinder to determine if it is worth the money. Build quality, price, glass quality, display, illumination, weight, battery life, ease of use, button layout, range… and more were examined.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

Maven RF.1 Review – What I Liked

Direct-to Consumer Pricing

Maven sells their products direct to the consumer, which allows them to bypass the retail model of selling products which makes products more expensive.

Since Maven sells directly to the consumer there is no price mark-up, allowing them to sell you better optics at lower prices.

Durability and Rubberized Grip

The Maven RF.1 feels great in the hand. It’s lightweight (10 oz) yet feels very durable due to the rubberized coatings on top of the magnesium/aluminum frame material that makes it feel like it can handle the shock if accidentally dropped. The rubber coatings also provide an excellent grip.

Maven RF.1 Rubberized Grip
Maven RF.1 Rubberized Grip

Toggling Menu Options and Settings

The dial on the side of the Maven RF.1 makes toggling menu options and settings a breeze and is something I really like about this rangefinder. However, there are some cons to this dial which we will cover below.

Maven RF.1 Dial and Menu Toggle
Maven RF.1 Review: Dial and Menu Toggle

Eye Focus Ring / Diopter Adjustments / Glass Quality

There is an adjustable focus ring so that you can dial this rangefinder to your eye perfectly so you can see clearly.

For even better viewing there’s an adjustable diopter. This helps keep the rangefinder at the perfect distance from your eye. Hunters with glasses will especially like this feature.

These features with the excellent glass quality make the RF.1 very crisp and clear. Compared to my old, cheap, rangefinder, there is a big difference in optic quality, making it easier to find your target.

Maven RF.1 Eye Focus Ring and Diopter Adjustments
Maven RF.1 Eye Focus Ring and Diopter Adjustments

Battery and Battery Life

The battery is also easily accessible and is a tool-less design so it’s easily replaced. This rangefinder’s battery will last >3500 range cycles, which is what you would expect in a quality rangefinder.

Tripod Mounting Threads

Tripod threads are very handy for long-distance shooters because having a stable platform to ensure you’re ranging accurately at those long distances is key. The threads are found on the bottom of the rangefinder for easy mounting.

Maven RF.1 Tripod Attachment Threads
Maven RF.1 Tripod Attachment Threads

Reticle Brightness Dial

There is a brightness dial to adjust brightness depending on your situation. This is essential for both low-light and bright hunting situations to ensure you can get an accurate read on your target no matter the conditions.

Forest (FOR) Mode vs Field Mode (FLD)

This rangefinder has two modes Forest (FOR) Mode and Field Mode (FLD). To increase ranging accuracy this rangefinder will change the way it measures distances depending on which setting you choose.

FLD

When set to FLD mode it will range the closest object. You would want this in a field so you don’t end up ranging something further in the background behind the target.

FOR

When set to FOR mode it will range the furthest target when holding down the button. You’d want this feature if there were obstacles in the way of your target, like the brush in a forest setting. This way you can be sure you’re ranging the target and not the brush in front of the target.

Angle Compensation

The Maven RF.1 does have angle compensation which is important for having the most accuracy when bowhunting and rifle hunting at closer ranges (within ~400 yards).

Line of Sight (LOS)

The RF.1 also has a line of sight mode which is great for longer shots ~400 yards+ where a more precise/manual calculation is needed for the most accurate shots with a firearm.

Change Reticle

Another cool feature of this rangefinder is that you can change the reticle. This is helpful for ranging at different distances. For example, you can choose a more precise reticle for longer ranging applications and vice versa.

Yards and Meters Toggle

The ability to toggle between yards and meters is a great feature because people use different metrics for shooting. The ability to toggle between both makes is a more usable rangefinder to a wider variety of hunters and shooters.

Max Ranges of the Maven RF.1

  • The RF.1 max reflective range is 4500 yards.
  • The RF.1 can range trees out to 3000 yards.
  • The RF.1 can range deer out to 2700 yards.

This rangefinder is by far the best at ranging at long distances when compared to other top rangefinders on the market, especially for the price.

For example, in my article about the top rangefinders, you will see that the next runner-up for distance is the Sig Sauer KILO5K which can range deer at 2000 yards, and it costs almost 200$ more than the Maven RF.1.

Maven RF.1 Rangefinder

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Maven RF.1 – Things to Consider

Usability

Overall, the usability of this rangefinder is great but I had a few considerations to note. First, the one-handed operation of the brightness and ranging buttons at the same time is tricky.

I felt like I needed to use both hands when I wanted to change the brightness of the reticle. This is not an issue unless you forgot that your brightness is maxed out and then try to range an animal at the first minutes of legal shooting time…it will blind you.

I found myself needing to use both hands to turn the brightness down because my thumb is not able to move the brightness knob very well with one-handed operation.

Left Handed vs Right Handed Use

Additionally, to my knowledge, there is no left-handed version of this rangefinder which means it will definitely be a two-handed operation if you’re trying to make any brightness changes when trying to range.

Knob Bulk

Additionally, keep in mind that the small knob on the rangefinder does stick out a bit and it can get caught on things. However, the knob is pretty slick for making brightness changes and toggling the menu system, so there is a trade-off there.

Maven RF.1 Final Thoughts

For the price, the Maven RF.1 is hard to beat. It has impressive specs compared to other top rangefinders on the market that have much higher price points, making it a great value.

If you’re in the market for a new rangefinder you can’t go wrong with the Maven RF.1.

Maven RF.1 Owners Manual

Hopefully, you found this Maven RF.1 review helpful. If you’re looking for more information on the Maven RF.1 rangefinder you can download the manual here. You can also find more information about this rangefinder on Maven’s website.

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Best Red Dot Scopes For Turkey Shotguns

Jason Tome
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Best Red Dot Scopes For Turkey Shotguns

These are the best red dot scopes for your turkey shotgun. Red dot scopes are a top option for better accuracy and longer range when turkey hunting because they will:

  • Center your shotgun pattern for more bbs on target
  • A centered shotgun pattern also increases accuracy
  • Improves range due to bbs on target and accuracy
  • helps prevent missing due to parallax

How To Choose a Turkey Shotgun Scope

Since you’ll likely be shooting turkeys within 50 yards you don’t need a big or high-magnification scope. For this reason, the scopes below are Low Power Variable Optics (LPVO). All scopes on this list have a minimum magnification of 1x for quick target acquisition.

This is really all you need for turkey hunting but you will have the option to zoom from 1x to 4x for all of these scopes.

Best Red Dot Scopes For Turkey Shotgun

I have compiled a list of the top turkey-hunting red dot sights and summarized the key points of each one so you can determine which will be best for you:

Vortex Crossfire II 1-4X24 Budget Red Dot LPVO Scope

The Vortex Crossfire II is one of the best red dot scopes for a turkey shotgun. It’s one of the most well-known scopes on the market because of its low price, excellent reviews, and industry-leading warranty. You can buy this scope in different magnification ranges including this low-powered 1-4×24.

This scope is illuminated with a V-Brite reticle and has multiple illumination brightness options. If the battery dies on the Crossfire II it can still be used because regular crosshairs will replace the illuminated red dot.

The Crossfire II has poorer sharpness and a pickier eye box than more expensive models. However, for the price, you can’t complain.

Best Budget Vortex Red Dot Turkey Hunting Scope

Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24 Budget Red Dot LPVO Scope

The Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24 is another great red dot scope for a turkey shotgun if you’re on a budget. It’s a unique 1-4x when compared to the other short-range scopes on this list because it has an exposed tactical turret. This scope has a great eye box and a very true 1x magnification.

This scope is illuminated and has multiple illumination brightness options. It can still be used if the battery dies because black crosshairs will replace the illuminated red crosshairs.

Best Athlon Red Dot Turkey Hunting Scope

Burris RT-6 1-6×24 Red Dot Turkey Hunting Scope

This scope has the capability of reaching 6x magnification, making it very versatile for longer-range shooting than a 1-4×24. For this reason, it could be used more than just turkey hunting too.

This is a great value 1-6x turkey hunting scope because the other 1-6x short-range scopes cost significantly more. This scope is illuminated and has multiple illumination brightness options.

If the battery dies it can still be used because the illuminated red circle and dot will just turn black like a regular scope. It appears that this scope only comes with the “Ballistic 5x” reticle, I wish more options were available.

Best Burris Red Dot Turkey Hunting Scope

Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6X24 Red Dot Scope

The Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6×24 is arguably the best of the best LPVO scope on the market for the money. It does command a higher price but it’s well worth the money because of how much value you get.

For example, it has a true 1x magnification, industry-leading warranty, crisp and clear glass, true daylight bright illumination, and excellent reviews it earns its spot as one of the best short-range LPVO turkey hunting red dot scopes for the money.

This scope is so good it is often said to undermine Vortex’s Razor Series 1-6×24 LPVO scope (which are +/- 2000$). The Vortex Viper is much better than the Vortex Strike Eagle, so if you can save your money, buy on sale, or buy used, it is worth it. Making it one of the best red dot scopes for a turkey shotgun.

Best Vortex Red Dot Turkey Hunting Scope

Trijicon TR24 AccuPoint Illuminated 1-4×24 Scope

The Trijicon TR24 has been around for a long time and is a popular LPVO scope and features a very true 1x magnification. It’s been out for over 10 years and is still going strong.

One of the most unique features of this rifle scope is that it uses AccuPoint fiber optics to illuminate the reticle, this means it does not need batteries to function. During the daytime, it’s illuminated by fiber optics, during low-light conditions tritium illuminates the reticle.

This is also the lightest weight LPVO scope in this review. For the money, it’s tough to beat especially because its price has decreased in more recent years since the next generation TR-25 1-6×24 has come out.

Best Trijicon LPVO Turkey Hunting Red Dot Scope

Trijicon TR24 Close-Range LPVO Reticles and Crosshairs

More Helpful Turkey Hunting Resources:

Find the best hunting optics gear faster by navigating to one of my more specific articles:

Turkey Hunting Gear and Tips

Brands To Avoid When Buying Hunting Scopes

  • Nikon (they stopped producing rifle scopes)
  • Cheap off-brand Amazon scopes (not worth the money)

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The Best Time To Hunt Turkeys For Beginners

Jason Tome
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The Best Time To Hunt Turkeys For Beginners

There is no “best” time to hunt turkeys, however, some times are more fun/exciting than other times depending on the time of year and time of day. You can become skilled at turkey hunting at all times of the day and during the spring and fall turkey hunting season.

That said if you’re a beginner looking to put the odds in your favor there are some times of the day that are the most fun and exciting to hunt as I’ll explain below.

Spring Is The Best Time of Year to Hunt Turkeys For Beginners

The most fun and exciting time to hunt turkeys is in the spring during the breeding season. This is because toms and jakes are territorial and are trying to show off for the hens. This is why you see male turkey tails fanned out in the springtime.

This is the best time of year to hunt turkeys for beginners because they will come into calls and decoys. During the fall they are less likely to do this because the breeding season is over.

Best Time of Day To Hunt Spring Turkeys

Turkeys come off the roost at sunrise, so the best time of day to hunt spring turkeys is from sunrise to around 9-10 am. This is when toms and jakes are on the ground and actively gobbling. They’re also rested from the night so they are eager to be social and breed.

This timeframe is great for beginner turkey hunters because it gives beginners confidence when they can hear turkeys, even if they can’t see them. This helps beginners want to hunt longer which leads to more success.

Afternoon Spring Turkey Hunting

Although your best odds are the early hours of the morning, it is deceptively still good turkey hunting for the rest of the day. The reason the morning seems so much better is that it’s more exciting because you can hear the birds gobbling.

Just because turkeys aren’t gobbling like they were in the early morning hours doesn’t mean that they’re not moving. Toms and jakes are actively searching for hens since it’s the breeding season.

After the birds come down out of their roost and have some breakfast they’ll be on the move again. It’s not uncommon for turkeys to come into your decoys without making a peep and you’ll be stupified when you pick your head up and see a turkey standing in your decoys while you’re eating lunch.

A big benefit of hunting in the afternoon is that a lot of turkey hunters give up after the early morning fun, leaving you with less competition.

If you have the ability to turkey hunt all day long I highly suggest it. By doing this You will develop a knack for how to hunt turkeys at all times of the day.

This is an example of a successful turkey hunt in the afternoon after we messed up the early morning action:

Evening Spring Turkey Hunting

If you’re in a state that allows turkey hunting all day long then the evening is another great time to capitalize on shooting a turkey. If you know where turkeys roost then you know that they’re going to be heading for their roost at night. Set up a short distance from their roost in a direction you think they’ll be coming from.

Should You Hunt Fall Turkeys As A Beginner?

Fall turkey hunting is a little tricker because birds are not as vocal or susceptible to calling or decoying since the breeding season is over. But fall turkey hunting is still a lot of fun, you just have to have a different game plan than you did in the springtime.

If you hunt turkeys a lot in the fall you will gain experience and develop a knack for where they like to spend time. So fall is still an excellent time to hunt turkeys for beginners but springtime is definitely more exciting.

Best Time of Day To Hunt Fall Turkeys

Turkeys still roost, so if you know where they’ll be roosting you can sneak in and get close just like you would in the spring when they’re gobbling. You’ll just want to ensure you set up in a travel corridor because they likely won’t come to your calling.

Travel corridors in general are excellent places to hunt turkeys in the fall and are great places to hunt in the early morning and in the evening when turkeys are coming and going from their roosts. The idea is to get between their roost and their preferred food source.

I try to do this in the springtime too, but it is even more important in the fall due to it being harder to entice a turkey to come to you since the breeding season is over.

Conclusion

The best time to hunt turkeys is anytime you can get in the woods. This is because you get good at hunting turkeys at any time of year and any time of day.

It boils down to how much experience you have hunting turkeys at different times of the year. There is always a way to put the odds in your favor.

That said, in my opinion, there are more fun and exciting times to hunt turkeys than others. For me, that would an early morning spring turkey hunt. I’m sure most turkey hunters would agree.

More Turkey Hunting Resources For Beginners:

Common Stores That Carry Wool Clothes

Some great places to find turkey hunting gear include:

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20 Properties of Wool and the Benefits of Wearing It

Jason Tome
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20 Properties of Wool and the Benefits of Wearing It

Wool is one of mother nature’s greatest natural materials. Below I explain the properties and benefits of wool so you can get informed on why wool is so amazing. That way you can take advantage of this amazing material too.

I’ve been wearing wool for years and have firsthand experience with its amazing properties. The properties and benefits of wool may seem like they’re too good to be true, but they’re not. I’ve linked to reputable sources so you can research for yourself.

One of the best things about wool is that once you buy wool you don’t have to blindly rely on science to tell you it’s a great material. You will beyond any doubt actually notice the properties and benefits firsthand. Once you do you won’t go back to inferior materials again.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

The Amazing Properties and Benefits of Wool

1. Wool Provides Natural UV Protection

According to americanwool.org wool is much better at protecting you from the sun. It was said to be UPF 30+ in most cases, but I’m sure it depends on how thick the wool blend is. However, this means that wool is much better at protecting you from the sun than cotton and most synthetics.

2. Wool Is Hypoallergenic

This study, published as Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy did not find any support that wool is an allergen. This means it is a great choice for individuals who suffer from allergies.

Virgin Wool From Sheep
Virgin Wool From Sheep

3. Wool Dries Fast

One of the best properties of wool is that it dries fast. Unlike some materials, like cotton, which traps moisture, wool wicks moisture which facilitates evaporation.

4. Wool Is Water-Resistant

Not only does wool dry fast, but it is also water-resistant. Wool will bead water on its surface, which can be brushed off, just like a rain jacket. Eventually, the wool will get soaked and will get wet but it keeps you drier longer than other materials.

You can also submerge wool in water for a short period of time (like if you fall in a stream) and you will still be quite dry. The outer part of your wool clothing might be wet but the inner part will still be dry. Its water-resistant properties kept it from soaking completely through.

Wool Fiber Structure
Wool Fiber Structure – Image From Here

5. Wool Is Warm Even When It Gets Wet

One of wool’s extraordinary properties is its ability to stay warm when it is wet. It still provides great insulation and protection from the elements if you get soaked. No other material is as good as wool when it’s wet. 

Surprising wool can absorb 30% of its weight in water and not feel wet because of the fiber characteristics and still retain 80% of its insulating value.

One interesting way wool is able to stay warm when wet is through a chemical reaction with water. Wool is a hygroscopic insulator which basically means the wool is trying to reach equilibrium with the external environment when it gets wet. To do this a chemical reaction takes place between water/water vapor and wool.

It’s been said that the amount of heat that wool can produce using these chemical reactions is similar to an electric blanket running for eight hours. 

6. Wool Has Antibacterial & Antimicrobial Properties

Because of the structure of the wool fibers wool is antimicrobial and antibacterial. This means wool can defend against bacteria and microbes. Why is this important? That brings me to the next property of wool below:

7. Wool Is Odor Resistant

Odor is primarily the build-up of microbial and bacterial activity. Because wool is antimicrobial and antibacterial it doesn’t smell and does not need to be washed nearly as often as other materials to stay clean.

Wool Socks and Wool Boot Liners For Keeping Feet Warm While Hunting
The odor-resistant properties of wool make it a great choice for footwear and for keeping your feet warm in cold weather.

8. Wool Is Stain-Resistant

Although wool can be stained, it is stain-resistant because of the structure of the wool fibers. A wool fiber is made up of scales, like the shingles of a house, which keep the liquids or spills on top of the wool fibers so it is easily cleaned off before it penetrates deeper into the wool. Just be sure to clean the spill as soon as possible.

9. Wool Is Self-Cleaning

If you’ve ever walked through bushes that have hitchhikers you know how frustrating it can be to get them out of your clothing. Wool has an awesome ability to slowly work these hitchhikers out on its own. It may take a few days of wearing the garment before they all fall out but at least you don’t have to pick them out! 

10. Wool Is Easy to Care For

Since wool is odor-resistant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, stain-resistant, and self-cleaning it requires very little washing compared to other materials. When it comes time to wash wool different types of wool require different washing methods such as; dry-clean only, hand-wash only, and machine wash. Just don’t dry it because it will likely shrink.

11. Wool Is Insulating and Warm In Cold-Weather

Wool is a top clothing choice for outdoorsmen because of its insulating capabilities. The structure of wool fibers creates a lot of air pockets. These air pockets within the wool fibers are what heat up and provide insulation and warmth, this is how insulation works.

Fool Fiber Structure
Wool Fiber Structure. Photo from SmartWool.

12. Wool Is Breathable and Cool In Warm-Weather

Even though wool is great insulation for cold weather, it’s just as effective in warm weather due to its breathability, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying capabilities. This makes it a better option than cotton and linen.

13. Wool Can Be Worn All Season Long

As you may have already surmised, wool is a great material/fabric to use all year long. This is because the properties of wool are extremely versatile and are great for any weather condition you throw at it. A thin wool layer is perfect for hot weather.

14. Wool Is Durable

The flexibility of wool is what makes it so durable. The flexibility is due to the coil spring shape of the wool fibers. One fiber of wool can be bent approximately 20,000 times before breaking. This makes them abrasion and tear-resistant. For comparison, cotton can only be bent +/- 3000 times.

15. Wool Is Wrinkle-Resistant

Because wool fibers are coiled at the microscopic level, it is able to spring back into shape after being bent. For this reason, it is strong and naturally resistant to wrinkling.

16. Wool Is a Very Quiet Fabric

Wool is a very quiet fabric, which is an important aspect of hunting and outdoor clothing. It’s also an excellent sound absorber and dampener and can reduce noise by 55%.

17. Wool Isn’t Reflective

Another great aspect of wool is that it is not reflective, which makes it another great material for hunting and outdoor clothing.

Wool Hunting Jacket Fibers - Raw Virgin Wool
Wool Jacket Fibers – Virgin Wool

18. Wool Is Fire-Resistant

A unique property of wool is that it is fire-resistant. This is great if you are sitting by the fire because you don’t have to worry about sparks on your clothing. Additionally, the smell of smoke will dissipate from the wool in a couple of days without the need to be washed.

This also makes it a great material for safety and putting out fires because it is self-extinguishing. Meaning it ceases to burn once the source of the fire is removed.

19. It’s Natural, Renewable, Biodegradable, and Recyclable

Wool is also a 100% natural, renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable resource. This makes wool an environmentally friendly choice.

20. The High Warmth-to-Weight Ratio of Wool

Wool is very warm for how lightweight it is.

L.L. Bean Maine Guide Wool Jacket (Uninsulated)
The benefits of wool make it the best choice for hunters and outdoor life.

More Wool Clothing Resources:

Common Stores That Carry Wool Clothes

Some great places to find wool hunting jackets include:

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Best Deer Hunting Books By Top Whitetail Hunting Gurus

Jason Tome
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Best Deer Hunting Books By Top Whitetail Hunting Gurus

In this post, I cover the 10 best deer hunting books in 2025 to improve as a deer hunter. The books I have listed below will give you a truly eye-opening understanding of what it takes to figure out, find, and consistently take big bucks.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

Best All-Time Deer Hunting Books

What I find interesting is that the hunters in the books below have adapted to their conditions and mastered personal techniques, creating their own styles of hunting to achieve success.

The books below describe three over-arching styles of consistently taking big bucks; tracking in snow, habitat manipulation, and extreme preparation/scouting.

From reading these books you’ll not only get lifetimes’ worth of knowledge from the best deer hunters in the world, but you’ll be able to mix and match their different styles of hunting to create your own style.

Different Styles, Same Success

Although the three overarching styles are quite different, there are similarities. It is important to pay close attention as you read these books and be aware of the similarities they share.

There is a reason they have all come to the same conclusions after a lifetime of hunting big bucks (it works).

A lot of my hunting style incorporates a mixture of all these hunters. Armed with the knowledge of the experiences and tactics of these big buck-killing gurus has made me so much deadlier in the woods.

Even when unsuccessful, I leave the woods feeling like I put the odds in my favor as much as possible for that particular day. Prior to reading these books, I was just hoping to get lucky, a recipe for failure.

Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails – John & Chris Eberhart

John Eberhart is one of the most well-known deer hunters in the world and has an impressive resume for taking big bucks in Michigan despite Michigan having one of the most highly pressured deer in the U.S. 

In his book, he states how big bucks react to hunting pressure:

Hunting Pressure and Mature Bucks Insights

Once you understand the concepts laid out in this book, finding mature bucks becomes easier. They’re found where other hunters don’t go.

He also goes into how to use other hunters, which he calls “deer deflectors”, to your advantage.

John talks about scrapes, rubs, staging areas…etc but while explaining how hunting pressure alters that activity.

You’ll be absolutely amazed at the work involved with consistently taking mature bucks in highly pressured areas. It will expand your mindset as to what you are currently doing, compared to what it actually takes to shoot big bucks in pressured areas.

Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails By John & Chris Eberhart - One of the Best Deer Hunting Books
Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails By John & Chris Eberhart – One of the Best Deer Hunting Books

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Precision Bowhunting – John and Chris Eberhart

Whitetail Breakdown Month By Month

This is another great book by the Eberharts. Instead of talking solely about pressured bucks, John and Chris break the book down into a month-by-month format. This really helps the reader understand what whitetails are thinking all year long.

By understanding this big picture, you are able to anticipate what deer are doing throughout the year. This is a big advantage because not only does it help you hunt more effectively, but scout like a pro as well.

Bowhunting Preparation

In addition to learning what whitetails are doing throughout the year, John and Chris talk about what they personally do throughout the year to prepare for the upcoming season.

Being able to follow the Eberharts through an entire year of scouting, preparation, and hunting gives readers invaluable knowledge.

Consistently Kill Mature Pressured Bucks With A Bow

This book hands-down improved my hunting the most. I used this book as my deer hunting bible for years. I’d pick this book up before hunting season for years to make sure I knew the best times to hunt certain treestands. I still pick it up on occasion for specific questions that I might have. For these reasons, it is one of the best deer hunting books available.

If you want to know which of these 10 books will give you the most bang for your buck (pun intended) it is hands down these two books by the Eberharts.

Precision Bowhunting By John & Chris Eberhart - One of the Best Deer Hunting Books
Precision Bowhunting By John & Chris Eberhart – One of the Best Deer Hunting Books To Learn Year-Round Tactics

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How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life – Larry Benoit

Larry Benoit was and still is one of the most famous deer hunters of all time. Larry and his family almost always shot giant bucks every year. These bucks would almost always dress out 200+ lbs.

But more than that, they did it in the most unique way, by tracking big bucks in the snow. Tracking bucks in the snow is pretty isolated to New England. This is because there’s adequate snow during deer season and deer numbers are somewhat low. This makes following a track easier than in areas with high deer populations.

This book covers everything from getting into shape, gear for tracking deer in snow, scouting, deer sign, the art of reading deer tracks in the snow, and more. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to start tracking big bucks in the big woods.

How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life – Larry Benoit
One of The Best Deer Hunting Books About Tracking Big Bucks on Snow

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Big Bucks the Benoit Way – Bryce M. Towsley

This is another fantastic book on the Benoit family, except this time it is from the point of view of the writer Bryce M. Towsley. There is a first and second edition of this book.

I’ve read them both and they are both great reads. I liked these books because it’s based on the author’s perspective, which is one of a new deer tracker being trained by the Benoits.

This is a very helpful perspective for new trackers because they are able to glean an understanding of what it takes to track big bucks in the big woods. Bryce does a great job portraying the learning curve associated with tracking big bucks in the big woods very accurately.

Big Bucks the Benoit Way – Bryce M. Towsley
Another top deer hunting book about tracking big bucks on snow

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Benoit Bucks – Bryce M. Towsley

Tracking Bucks On Snow In The Big Woods

Yes, I have a third book about the Benoit family because their concepts are that important to understand, especially if you’re new to tracking bucks in the big woods.

This is another informative book by Bryce. This time, instead of diving into the art of tracking as he did the Big Bucks the Benoit Way, each chapter is dedicated to each individual Benoit.

Different Styles of Tracking On Snow

This is a very helpful perspective to have because each Benoit has their unique style of shooting these massive northern deer. By learning their styles you’ll be able to try out and fine-tune your style to figure out what works best for you.

Hunt Smarter Not Harder

The book also talks about how the styles of each Benoit have changed due to old age. Basically, they hunt smarter, not harder. If you’re a young tracker this is powerful information because you can catapult your tracking career by hunting smarter at a younger age.

Benoit Bucks – Bryce M. Towsley is one of the best deer hunting books
Another Great Deer Hunting Books On The Benoit’s Deer Tracking Methods

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Hal Blood – Hunting Big Woods Bucks: Secrets of Tracking and Stalking Whitetails

System For Success In The Big Woods

Hal Blood is a master guide in Maine and has been tracking big Maine bucks for many years. His enthusiasm to track big bucks himself and for other hunters throughout his guiding career has allowed him to create a “system for success” as he calls it.

In this book, he describes the methods he uses to consistently take big bucks in the big woods of Maine.

Put The Odds In Your Favor In The Big Woods

Although tracking big bucks is the main topic in this book it also talks about how to maximize success in the big woods in other ways. These ways include the best times to stand hunt, when to still hunt, and when to track.

Basically, it’s a guide to putting the odds in your favor in the big woods where only small pockets of deer are found.

Gear and Conquering Fear of Big Woods

In the book, Hal describes the gear he uses and that has proven to work through his long career as a Maine guide. Having the proper gear in the big woods is important because it can be dangerous being so far from civilization in the cold climate of northern Maine during deer season.

Hunters often are afraid of the big woods because of how vast it is and their fear of getting lost. He also describes how to have the right gear so that you can put your fears to rest.

Hal Blood – Hunting Big Woods Bucks: Secrets of Tracking and Stalking Whitetails is one of the best deer hunting books

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Hal Blood – Tracking Whitetail Bucks

Hal wrote another book that was published in 2017. This book is different than the previously mentioned book because it doesn’t teach you directly how to track bucks in the big woods.

Instead, Hal recalls all of the bucks he’s shot over the years and writes about the stories involved in taking each of those bucks. Each chapter is broken down by the name he gave to the bucks he shot. In each chapter, he unravels the story of how he was able to take each buck.

Learning Through Storytelling

Although this book does not directly teach you how to track big woods bucks, you passively learn a lot through storytelling. It is tough to explain to someone how to track, even to other hunters who have never tried it.

There’s a lot that can only be learned through experience. That being said, I believe our brains learn better through storytelling than any other way.

For example, you will understand when to implement certain strategies and why Hal implements them when he does by using the specific examples in his book as he tells the story.

For this reason, there is a lot of tips and tactics that can be extracted from this book and is highly recommended. This book can be found on Hal’s website BigWoodsBucks.com.Hal Blood – Tracking Whitetail Bucks is one of the best deer hunting books

Steve Bartylla – White-tailed Deer Management and Habitat Management

Whitetail Habitat Management

Habitat managers have a unique ability to see how deer react to certain applications over time. Through trial and error, habitat managers figure out what does and doesn’t work on deer. This is based on property layout, design, and hunting applications.

Habitat managers are different than your average hunter because the average hunter will often struggle by making the same mistakes year after year. Whereas it is the habitat manager’s job to learn to implement strategies that work.

Steve has figured out what does and does not work and does a fantastic job going through the steps that it takes to manage deer and deer habitat.

Applicable To Public Land

Even if you’re not interested in managing deer on your own property reading this book is one of the best things you can do to improve your success on public or private lands.

By taking the principles that Steve addresses on his client’s parcels and applying that knowledge to the areas you hunt you can determine if a property is worth hunting.

Basically, you want to find hunting grounds that already have all or most of the features that Steve is trying to build on each of his client’s parcels.

Being able to pick out these spots on public land will give you a huge advantage over other hunters because it will put you closer to the action.

Big Bucks Aren’t Everywhere

By reading Steve’s book you will understand what Steve is looking for to maximize the potential of a client’s property. If you can re-create what Steve is looking for on public lands, you can bet that is where the big bucks are going to be located.

There are certain criteria that need to be met in order for big bucks to inhabit an area. Big bucks aren’t found everywhere, and there is a reason for this.

Steve does a great job explaining where the big bucks will be found, and how to create the habitat that makes big bucks move into an area.

Putting The Odds In Your Favor

I think the most important thing I learned from Steve Bartylla is that it’s all about the odds when deer hunting. You can only predict what’s going to happen on a given day to a certain percentage, but you can stack your odds by doing certain things at certain times to give yourself the highest percentage possible to be successful. This is just as true as a whitetail deer and habitat manager or hunting public lands.

Steve Bartylla – White-tailed Deer Management and Habitat Management is one of the best deer hunting books

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Jeff Sturgis – Whitetail Success by Design

Deer Habitat Improvements

When learning about a new topic I always like to take into consideration multiple opinions because it allows me to articulate similarities and differences in style.

Jeff, like Steve Bartylla, is a whitetail habitat manager. Jeff has been designing whitetail properties for years. A lot of what they teach in their books is similar but they are different in some ways as well.

The main reason for reading this book would be to learn how to manage deer on your own property or properties.

That being said, I’ve learned a lot about how whitetails relate to their habitat, what they eat, what makes them feel safe, how pressure affects movement, proper treestand placement…etc.

Applies To Public Land

Like Steve’s book above, this has made me much more effective when hunting on public and private lands. Because Jeff manages properties of all sizes, and across many areas of the U.S. he has incredible amounts of experience on whitetail behavior.

Reading Jeff’s book will guide you in understanding what type of habitat big bucks are found in, and more importantly, why they are found in these areas. Jeff also has one of the most, if not the most read whitetail blogs in the world which can be found on his website www.WhitetailHabitatSolutions.com/blog where he has an abundance of information.

Jeff Sturgis – Whitetail Success by Design is one of the best deer hunting books

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Mapping Trophy Bucks – Brad Herndon

This book was a great read because it was full of diagrams and examples which made the reading experience fun and effortless. Without the diagrams and examples, it would have been hard to digest and interpret what Brad was talking about because there is a lot of information packed into it.

Terrain Features

A lot of this book is about teaching readers how deer use terrain features to their advantage and goes into detail on how to hunt deer using saddles, ridges, and funnels to your advantage.

He even has a whole vocabulary dedicated to the different types of terrain, which he defines at the beginning of the book in order to explain himself to the fullest extent.

Wind & Thermals

Brad does a great job explaining how to hunt mountain/hill bucks, there aren’t many books out there on the subject. Understanding wind and thermals in all scenarios is important, but they can be especially tricky in the mountains. Brad does a good job explaining how they work.

Mapping

This book is a little old-school because it talks about using paper maps as tools. However, it gave me the idea to start using Google Earth to map bucks even more effectively. I wrote an earlier article on this if you want to learn how to scout deer using Google Earth: 15 Best Tips for Scouting Deer Using Google Earth.

Mapping Trophy Bucks- Brad Herndon is one of the best deer hunting books

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BONUS: Dan Infault – The Hunting Beast

Bedding Areas

Dan has been one of the biggest influences on my style of hunting as well. Dan does a great job teaching about bedding areas; where they are and how to hunt them. Hunting bedding areas is in my opinion, is the best way to take big bucks consistently.

Dan mentions time and time again that in order to kill mature bucks you have to sneak into the 100-yard bubble around a buck’s bed in order to shoot him in daylight.

Swamp Bucks

This is quite a claim that I had never heard before, nevertheless, his wall of bucks surpasses most, and from hunting bedding areas myself I have seen more buck activity than I ever imagined was possible in the areas I hunt.

Although Dan prefers to hunt swamp bucks, he has a lot of good information on how to hunt deer in steeper terrain as well.

The Hunting Beast Forum

Although not an author of a book Dan is the owner of one of the best, if not the best online forum for hunting whitetails. His forum is called The Hunting Beast.

The information contained in the forum is just as helpful as any one of the books listed above, you just have to do a little more digging to find what you’re looking for.

Final Thoughts on the Best Books For Deer Hunters

These books will give you all the knowledge you need to consistently take bigger bucks in your area. For this reason, they are the best deer hunting books.

That being said, they will not give you the hands-on experience you need to fully understand what these master hunters are talking about.

You may inherently understand the concepts they are talking about at a surface level. But it’s not until you implement their work ethic and strategy into your own hunting that you will be able to fully grasp what is inside these books.

For this reason, these books should be read multiple times. I would recommend reading your favorite before and after each hunting season. When you read these books again at the end of the season you should have some “oh yeahhh, now I get it” and “damn I should have tried that” reactions.

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Best Rain Gear For Hunting – Top 12 Rain Jackets & Pants [2025]

Jason Tome
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Best Rain Gear For Hunting – Top 12 Rain Jackets & Pants [2025]

The best rain gear for hunting will be able to stay waterproof throughout the hunt to keep you dry and warm.

This post covers the best budget rain gear, the best overall rain gear, and the best value rain gear on the market so you’ll easily be able to narrow down the right hunting rain gear for you.

When choosing rain gear for hunting there are a couple of things to think about to get the most for your money.

  • Breathability (or lack thereof)
  • Taped Seams (Windproof vs Waterproof)
  • Insulation
  • Activity Level

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!

Best Rain Jackets & Coats For Hunting

Riverswest Midweight Abush Jacket

Riverswest was created in one of the rainest states in the U.S. This company was born due to the lack of quality hunting rain gear on the market.

Riverswest is one of the best rain gear because they are completely waterproof and will keep you dry from daylight to dark. They won’t seep or get waterlogged over time because they don’t use breathable materials like Gore-Tex. This is a good thing because it keeps you dry and completely windproof all day long.

 

Riverswest Midweight Abush Jacket

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Badlands Exo Rain Jacket For Hunting

Badlands is another company that makes excellent hunting rain gear. Their amazing warranty is one of their biggest appeals. They have so much faith in their products that they’ll replace or fix them for free forever. This rain jacket gets great reviews everywhere you can find it.

Badlands Exo Rain Jacket For Hunting

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Badlands Pyre Insulated Rain Jacket

This Badlands jacket is for cold weather because it is insulated. It uses Primaloft insulation which is very high-quality insulation. This combined with Badlands’ amazing warranty makes it one of the best cold-weather rain jackets on the market.

Badlands Pyre Insulated Rain Jacket

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First Lite Vapor Stormlight Ultralight Backcountry Hunting Rain Jacket

The First Lite Vapor is one of the lightest-weight hunting rain jackets on the market. This makes an excellent rain jacket when you’re putting a lot of miles on in the backcountry and need something light to throw in your backpack for rainy conditions.

First Lite Vapor Stormlight Ultralight Backcountry Hunting Rain Jacket

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Scentlok Vapour Midweight Waterproof Hunting Jacket

ScentLok is unique because they use activated carbon technology in their clothing which is highly odor absorbent.

So, this in combination with their high-quality apparel at an affordable price makes it one of the best rain jackets for the money on the market.

Scentlok Vapour Midweight Waterproof Hunting Jacket

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Scentlok Hydrotherm V2 Heavyweight Rain Jacket For Hunting

The Hydrotherm V2 is one of the best heavyweight hunting rain jackets on the market because it uses activated carbon technology which adsorbs odors.

Additionally, it’s very affordable for the size of the rain jacket. This is one of the best value heavyweight rain jackets for deer hunting.

Scentlok Hydrotherm V2 Heavyweight Rain Jacket For Hunting

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RedHead Silent Flex Budget Rain Jacket For Hunting

Silent Flex rain jacket is the least expensive rain jacket on this list. At this price point, you get a lot for your money and it has excellent reviews.

However, you get what you pay for so this jacket might not last as long as the more expensive models on this list.

RedHead Silent Flex Budget Rain Jacket For Hunting

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KUIU Yukon Rain Jacket

The Kuiu Yukon was designed for the harshest rain conditions. These jackets are great for serious hunters in rainy environments or full-time guides. This hunting rain jacket has some of the best reviews of any rain jacket on the market.

KUIU Yukon Rain Jacket
Image From KUIU

Best Rain Pants For Hunting

Riverswest Midweight Fleece Adirondack Hunting Pant

These rain pants are seam sealed for 100% waterproofing and windproofing. They’re soft and quiet due to their fleece interior and exterior.

Also, the fleece is also improved in these pants to be even more waterproof than regular fleece. This brand makes durable hunting rain pants to prevent punctures when hunting.

Riverswest Midweight Fleece Adirondack Hunting Pant

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Riverswest Ranger Heavyweight Rain Pants For Hunting

Riverswest also has some of the best cold-weather rain pants. Like all of the Riverswest rain gear, these rain pants are quiet due to internal and external fleece, extremely waterproof, and very durable. This makes them one of the best rain pants on the market and at a great price.

Riverswest Ranger Heavyweight Rain Pants For Hunting

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ScentLok Vapour Midweight Hunting Rain Pants

The ScentLok Vapour rain pants are one of the best midweight hunting rain pants on the market because their waterproof, use activated carbon technology (which adsorbs odors), it’s affordable, and durable.

Because of the extra benefit of having odor adsorption, this is one of the best-value rain pants for hunting on the market.

ScentLok Vapour Midweight Waterproof Camo Pants - Hunting Clothes for Men

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Badlands EXO Rain Pants For Hunting

As I mentioned, Badlands has an amazing warranty which is one of their biggest appeals.

Also, they have so much faith in their products that they’ll replace or fix them for free, forever. These rain pants get great reviews everywhere you can find them. These pair great with the EXO rain jacket above.

Badlands Exo Waterproof Packable Outer Shell Hunting Pant - Approach Camo

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Should Rain Gear Be Breathable?

Be careful buying breathable fabrics. Some of them might be okay, I haven’t tried all of them so do your research. But in my experience non-breathable fabrics won’t let water in like breathable “waterproof” fabrics will. The tradeoff is that they don’t let water out.

Breathable materials will eventually cause water to be able to seep into the jacket, this is why pretty much every rain jacket on the market with Gore-Tex has poor reviews.

That said, I’ll take my chances with a bit of sweat versus getting drenched in a rainstorm.

What Does It Mean When Waterproof Clothing Seams Are Taped?

Taped seams mean that waterproof tape has been applied to the areas where the stitching has occurred (at the seams).

Also, make sure your waterproof clothing has taped seams otherwise it is not truly waterproof, even if it uses waterproof materials.

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Welcome to Jason Tome Outdoors. I am a Professional Ecologist, Registered Maine Hunting Guide who writes and films helpful and authentic outdoor lifestyle content for those interested in the outdoors.

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