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:
Table of Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More Helpful Turkey Hunting Resources:
Find the best hunting optics gear faster by navigating to one of my more specific articles:
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.
Table of Contents
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.
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!
Table of Contents
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
The benefits of wool make it the best choice for hunters and outdoor life.
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!
Table of Contents
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
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 To Learn Year-Round Tactics
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 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.
Another top deer hunting book about tracking big bucks on snow
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.
Another Great Deer Hunting Books On The Benoit’s Deer Tracking Methods
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Table of Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
This post covers the best beginner compound bows for hunting for both youths and adults. These bows are excellent choices for the money and are also high-quality, making them a great value.
There’s no sense in spending a lot of money if you, a youngster, or someone you’re buying for is just getting into bowhunting. A first bow is supposed to be effective but not break the bank. That said, you don’t want to go too cheap or the bow or its parts might end up breaking or make the bow inaccurate, leading to frustration.
Fortunately, there are some great options on the market. I’ve listed some of the best beginner compound bows for hunting below.
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!
Table of Contents
Best Adult Beginner Compound Bows For Hunting
Bear Archery Cruzer G-2 RTH Compound Bow Package
The Bear G-2 has been one of the best-selling bows for beginners in the industry because it’s a ready-to-hunt (RTH) out-of-box budget compound bow package that has a smooth draw cycle, incredible adjustability, and just feels great in the hand. For these reasons, it’s won the hearts of both youth and adult beginner bowhunters.
It has an adjustable draw length of 12-30 inches and an adjustable draw weight of 5 to 70 lbs. This allows new bowhunters to grow with their bow as they progress. Also, Bear Archery is a reputable brand that has been creating bows for a long time.
As I write this post, you can still get the Cruzer G-2 at a very good price, however, Bear seems to be phasing the G-2 out and replacing it with the G-3, so get it while you can!
The G-3 is the next generation of the G-2. The G-3 has an adjustable draw length of 14-30 inches and an adjustable draw weight of 10 to 70 lbs making it slightly less adjustable than the G-2. However, the reduction in adjustability has given it improvements in performance. The most obvious is the 75% let-off, a +5% increase, making it easier for beginners to hold the bow back. All of the accessories are Trophy Ridge.
Bear makes another great adult beginner bow called the Resurgence. Like the Cruzer bows, it is read to hunt out of the box. It’s only slightly more expensive than the Cruzer G-3 but you get more for your money. For example, it has a cam system that lets it shoot faster (335 fps), and it has 80% let-off. The draw weights are a little less adjustable than less expensive bows, which is common to get improved performance. Depending on which bow you buy it can be adjusted from 45 to 60 or 55 to 70 lbs. The draw lengths can be adjusted from 25.5-31 inches.
This ready-to-hunt bow package was specifically designed to fit bowhunters of all ages. The draw length is adjustable from 14-30 inches and the draw weight is adjustable from 10-70 lbs. Taller hunters may benefit from a max draw length of 31 inches.
Diamond is another well-known bow company that makes great bows for beginners. Their Edge 320 is one of the best bows for beginners because of its adjustability. The draw length is adjustable from 15-31 inches, and the draw weight is adjustable from 7-70lbs. You can find this bow at about the same price as the Cruzer G-3.
The Diamond Prism is another great bow for youngsters and adults. The draw length is adjustable from 18-30 inches which fits the majority of hunters and the draw weight adjustable from 5-55 lbs. This bow can grow with the hunter and with these specs, it will fit both teenagers and adults.
This is one of the most popular hunting bows on Amazon because it’s cheap, adjustable, ready to hunt, and it works. It has an adjustable draw length of 18-31″ and an adjustable draw weight of 0-70 lbs.
The adjustability at this price point makes it one of the best hunting bows for the money. The 31″ max draw length is great for individuals with a longer wingspan. Most bows offer up to a 30″ draw length so it’s great to see a budget bow with a longer draw length.
I’m not sure about the build quality long term, I suggest buying from a reputable bow company.
These bows are not designed for adults, they are for youth bowhunters only. Bows in this category will likely need to be upgraded once the kids get older and outgrow their bows. These bows are perfect for kids who are younger than teenagers but are adjustable enough to last them through all or most of their teenage years.
These bows offer some better benefits than the highly adjustable bows for both you and adults. For example; they are smaller and lighter weight making them more manageable to hold for smaller and younger kids. Also, they’re generally cheaper for these reasons.
Bear Archery Royale RTH Youth Compound Bow
This is one of Bear Archery’s bows designed specifically for youth hunters. It has an adjustable draw length of 12″-27″, adjustable weights of 5-50lbs, only 27″ inches axel-to-axel, and only 2.7 lbs without the accessories, making it one of the best bows for youngsters, especially for the price.
The PSE Mini Burner is another great option. It’s a small bow with a lot of adjustability for youth hunters. For example, the bow only weighs 2.5 lbs, the draw weight can be adjusted from 5-40 lbs so any young hunter can pull it back, and the draw length is adjustable from 16 – 26.5 inches. This is one of the best sub-300$ bows for youth hunters.
Diamond by Bowtech Atomic Youth Compound Bow Package
This is Diamond Archery’s bow is the ultimate youth bow for the youngest bowhunters. The draw length is adjustable from 12-24 inches making, so it fits the smallest of youth hunters. The draw weight is adjustable from 6 to 29 lbs, which makes it too light for deer hunting. But it’s a great bow for hunting smaller animals and introducing youngsters to bowhunting. The bow only weighs 1.9 lbs making it the lightest bow on this list. It’s only 24 inches axle to axle, also making it the shortest bow on this list.
To get the most for your money there are a few things to consider before purchasing your first bow to ensure you get the most out of it:
Adjustability
For a beginner, a highly adjustable bow is recommended because it will allow the bowhunter to grow with the bow and prevent the bowhunter from outgrowing the bow.
Draw Length
Youth bowhunters will want a bow that has a highly adjustable draw length because it will allow them to grow with the bow instead of outgrowing the bow and needing to buy a new bow.
Draw Weight
An adjustable draw weight is important for youth and adult hunters because as you become stronger you’ll want to increase your draw weight so you can shoot arrows faster, flatter, and more accurately. You’ll also want to be able to start at low poundage and work your way up to higher poundages gradually.
Bow Size (Length, Weight, and Width)
Take into consideration the size of the bow you’re buying. For example, if you’re hunting you might want a short, lightweight, and slim bow that is easy to carry through the brush.
Speed (to an extent)
Speed is important to an extent, but do not fixate on this as a new bowhunter and just buy the fastest bow in your price range. It is better to have a bow that feels good to use.
Draw Cycle Smoothness
The draw cycle has a lot to do with how a bow feels. A smooth drawing bow will feel better in the hand so it is important to try as many bows as you can out to see what you like best before buying a bow.
Let-off
Compound bows are great because they have let-off which reduces the lbs you hold back at full draw. This makes it easier to hold a bow back at full draw for longer periods, which is very helpful in hunting situations. Let off is the % of draw weight you are holding at full draw.
So, if you have a 50 lbs draw weight and you have an 80% let-off then you are only holding 10 lbs at full draw. A good let-off is helpful, especially for beginners.
Ready to Hunt Packages
Ready-to-hunt bowhunting packages are great for beginner bowhunters because you don’t have to spend time figuring out all of the accessories for a bow, the bow comes with them. This is a great way to get more for your money too.
As you improve as a bowhunter and learn more you can buy replacement accessories that are of higher quality. This is another great way compound bows grow with you.
Don’t Buy A Used Hunting Compound Bow (Beginners Only)
Many times new bowhunters will buy a used cool-looking bow from someone only to find out that the bow isn’t adjustable enough to fit them. I recommend buying new for your first bow and working with a pro shop to tune the bow and arrows specifically to your body. This way you’ll ensure the bow is shooting the way it is intended to for the most accuracy.
Don’t Buy Soley Based on Bow Specs
It’s important to get your hands on as many compound bows as possible and to try them out in the archery range before spending your money. Each bow will feel different to you. You want the bow that is most comfortable for you.
Print out this list of the best beginner compound bows and bring it with you to the archery shop near you. Try out as many as you can to see what you like best.
Even if you see a better deal online, go into the store and try them out. You’re not obligated to buy a bow after trying them out, so you can go back home and order the one you like best online. This way you’re making a more educated purchase.
When it comes to hunting in cold, wet, and unpredictable conditions, few materials perform as well as wool. For centuries, hunters, outdoorsmen, and military personnel have relied on wool for its unmatched insulation, breathability, and quietness in the field. Unlike synthetic materials, wool remains warm even when wet, wicks moisture naturally, and is incredibly durable—making it one of the best fabrics for serious hunters.
But with so many wool hunting jackets on the market, how do you choose the right one? In this guide, I’ve handpicked the best wool jackets for hunting, from lighter-weight jackets to heavy-weight insulated parkas. These jackets offer the warmth, stealth, and durability you need.
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!
Table of Contents
Why Trust My Recommendations?
I’m a Maine hunting guide, and Maine guides and outdoorsmen have relied on wool in the cold winter months for generations. I know firsthand what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to staying warm, dry, and undetected in the field.
8 Amazing Properties of Wool For Hunters
Water-resistant
Great moisture-wicking abilities (dries fast)
Odor-resistant (antimicrobial-resistant)
Temperature Regulation (warm when it is wet, breathable & cool when it’s hot)
Incredibly Quiet Fabric
Very Breathable
Excellent Insulator
Strong
Wool is one of Mother Nature’s greatest natural materials for hunting clothing
Best Wool Jackets For Hunting
FirstLight Sawtooth Hybrid
This jacket is made out of merino wool. It’s lightweight and great for early-season hunts or as a layering garment for cold weather. This jacket is body-mapped, which means it has synthetic insulation in key areas to preserve warmth at your core and no insulation in areas that are important for breathability. It comes in many different colors and camo patterns.
Silent Predator Timber Wolf Uninsulated Jacket
Silent Predator is a company based in Canada and they make camouflage wool hunting jackets. You can order custom sizing for their wool clothes, having perfectly fitting clothes is a great perk when hunting.
The timber wolf jacket is uninsulated which I prefer because you get the full benefits of the wool. These jackets are made of tightly knitted 90% virgin wool which helps them be more water-repellent.
Photo From Silent Predator Website
Silent Predator Insulated Wool Tree Stand Hoodie Jacket
Another great product by Silent Predator is their Tree Stand Hoodie. This hoodie has all the benefits of a wool jacket but with a hood. I like a hood for keeping the elements off my neck. These hoodies are insulated with wool, so they are excellent for all weather conditions. These hoodies are also made of tightly knitted 90% virgin wool.
Photo From Silent Predator Website
Silent Predator Insulated Whitetail Parka
For really cold weather Silent Predator also makes an insulated Whitetail Parka. The high collar and hood greatly reduce the elements from making you cold. This jacket is insulated with wool poly, so they are excellent for all weather conditions. There is a waterproof membrane that covers the shoulder area. This jacket is made of tightly knitted 90% virgin wool.
Photo From Silent Predator Website
L.L. Bean Maine Guide Wool Jacket (Uninsulated)
Because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee L.L. Bean makes excellent quality clothing. The Maine guide wool jacket is a favorite among Mainers and Maine hunting guides because of the versatility of wool for all weather conditions. This jacket is made of 85% wool and 15% nylon. The added nylon makes it more durable.
L.L. Bean Maine Guide Insulated Wool Jacket
This is the same jacket as above but this one has PrimaLoft Silver Lining insulation. Primaloft is one of the best insulation, even better than wool. The only downside is that it does not perform as well when it gets wet. That said, the PrimaLoft adds a layer of windproofing which will keep you much warmer on cold windy days since wool is not windproof by itself. This jacket is 85% wool and 15% nylon.
L.L. Bean Insulated Wool Parka Jacket
This is a heavy-weight wool hunting jacket with Primaloft insulation. Primaloft is one of the best insulation types on the market, even better than wool. It also adds a layer of windproofing which will keep you much warmer on cold windy days. Wool is not windproof on its own so the added Primaloft will help a lot for warmth. Primaloft is also lighter than wool. However, the only downside is that the primaloft does not perform as well when it gets wet.
Johnson’s Woolen Mills 100% Wool Hunting Coat
Johnson’s Woolen Mills is a reputable brand that has been around for a long time. The exterior of this jacket is 100% wool and the interior is insulated with tricot lining. This is one of the best heavyweight wool jackets for hunting.
Johnson’s Woolen Mills Wool Mackinaw Jacket
This is an even heavier-duty wool hunting jacket by Johnson’s Woolen Mills. This jacket is insulated and comes with a detachable hood and reinforced collar for extra warmth. This is an excellent wool hunting jacket for mostly stationary hunting, like treestand hunting.
Stormy Kromer Mackinaw Wool Hunting Jacket
Stormer Kromer makes a nice wool jacket as well. This Mackinaw is made of 26oz 100% virgin wool and is uninsulated. The biggest difference with this jacket compared to the other uninsulated models is that there are 6 pockets. This jacket has excellent reviews everywhere you look.
The Filson Mackinaw is made out of 100% virgin wool and comes in a few different colors. This jacket was designed and patented for foresters and timber cruisers in the wet and rainy state of Oregon. Because of the effectiveness of this jacket in a variety of weather conditions, it quickly became a staple for the U.S. Forest Service. Since then hunters and outdoorsmen have adopted this jacket because of the benefits of wool in wet and cold conditions.
This wool hunting jacket does not have the same % wool as the other jackets on this list but it is worth mentioning. The outer shell is made of 60% recycled wool and 40% acrylic polyester nylon viscose. The inner part of the jacket is polyester sherpa. The performance of this jacket would not be as good as the other jackets. Especially in wet conditions. However, it is still a great budget wool jacket option and is better than a jacket with no wool.
In my experience, raw virgin wool seems to be the superior choice for wool hunting jackets. Raw wool is coarser, more durable, and seems to have more loft than merino wool. This keeps snow and rain beaded up at the surface of the jacket, which can be brushed off for a while until it eventually saturates during periods of long exposure in wet conditions.
Merino wool is great for undergarments like socks, glove liners, and thermal layers because they are softer and less durable. This makes merino wool perfect for layering.
This is everything you need to know about how to keep your feet warm while hunting in winter and cold weather. The right gear, footwear, and preparations are essential for foot warmth when temperatures drop. Some of the very best products for keeping your feet warm in these conditions are provided below.
Keeping your feet warm while hunting is also an art. You can have all of the best gear in the world, but if you’re not preparing correctly you could be setting the stage for cold feet. This post will give you tips to greatly increase your foot warmth while hunting.
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!
If you’re struggling to keep your feet warm while hunting, this post is for you:
Table of Contents
10 Quick Tips For Keeping Your Feet Warm While Hunting
Sweat and water are your enemies, bring an extra pair of socks if your feet get sweaty.
Keep your wool plush and fluff it if it gets compressed. This increases insulation effectiveness.
Eating high-calorie foods such as high carbs and high fats before or during a hunt will help keep you warm. Think pasta with fats like butter, pesto, oil…etc.
Separate your feet from your treestand platform or ground with an insulating pad.
The Importance of Wool For Warm Feet
Wool is one of mother nature’s greatest natural materials. Wool is water-resistant, moisture-wicking, odor resistant, stays warm when wet, breathable and cool when hot, silent, has excellent insulating properties, and is durable.
For this reason, wool is one of the best materials for keeping your feet warm while hunting in cold weather.
Accessories For Keeping Your Feet Warm When Hunting
Heavyweight Wool Socks (Above Calf)
The first thing to address is the type of sock you’re wearing. If you’re wearing cotton you can basically forget having warm feet.
If you’re serious about having warm feet wool socks are a crucial first link in the chain towards having warm feet while hunting. A long heavyweight sock that covers your calf will help bring the most warmth to your feet.
One of the best tips for keeping your feet warm while hunting is to use wool insoles. If you’re using regular insoles that came with your boots, you’re likely leaving a lot of feet warmth on the table. A wool insole separates your feet further from the ground and outside elements. You also get all of the benefits of wool.
When you pair your wool socks with wool insoles you have a nice cushion of wool material surrounding your foot and separating you from the elements. This traps heat and prevents cold from getting to your feet as quickly. Not to mention they’re much comfier than insoles that come with boots.
These are extra thick (13mm) 100% wool insoles. The extra thickness makes them even better for keeping your feet warm in winter and cold weather hunting conditions than the insoles above. They’re made of 80% virgin wool and 20% recycled wool.
Another one of the best ways to keep your feet warm while hunting is by using boot liners. If you already have boot liners that came with your boots make sure they have a high content of wool. If they don’t, it would greatly help your foot warmth by purchasing boot liners that are made primarily of wool like the ones below.
Now that you have wool socks and wool insoles we can start talking about boots. The warmest hunting boots for cold weather are going to be heavily insulated and waterproof. One of the absolute warmest boots for hunters is Baffin’s Titan boot.
The Baffin Titan rubber boots are comfort-rated to -148ºF (-100ºC). They are perfect for hardcore hunters who hunt stationary for long periods of time (like in a treestand) in the cold winter weather months. Also, they are waterproof, breathable, scent-free, and have thick removable liners for extra insulation and warmth. They’re waterproof too so you can be sure your feet stay dry, which is essential for hunting in cold weather. For how warm they are, they are not that heavy.
If your feet are still cold another option is an outer boot insulator. These insulators trap and retain heat and deflect the cold. This extra layer of insulation can really help keep your feet warm in frigid weather.
Toe warmers are another one of my go-to options for keeping my feet warm while hunting on cold days. They’re so easy to pop in a boot and they’ll work all day long. Toe warmers burn hotter than hand warmers because they have larger pores to accept more oxygen.
I often use hand warmers in my boots. They are not as warm as toe warmers but they are warm enough for me in most instances. Hand warmers let less oxygen into them so they don’t burn as hot because they are designed to be worn in an oxygen-rich environment, unlike toe warmers which need more oxygen because there is less available oxygen down in the bottom of a boot.
Another trick you can try is placing body warmers on your legs around your calves. This will warm blood so when it reaches your toes it will be warmer.
I’ll often bring a hot beverage with me. Something hydrating is key because being dehydrated can cause poor circulation and cold feet. For this reason, I’ll drink hot water. Hot water is also relatively scent-free. It does a great job of taking the edge off on those coldest days while hunting.
Insulate Your Feet From the Ground or Treestand Platform
Separate your feet from your treestand platform or ground with an insulating pad, this will slow down the cold transfer speed to your feet. Even a small amount of material can go a long way, especially if your feet are directly in snow or on metal.
The best headlamps for hunting make a hunter’s life easier and more efficient by keeping hands free, enabling you to focus on the task at hand. Not all headlamps are created equal for hunters. Some headlamps will make your life easier, and others won’t.
The type of hunting you do will determine the best headlamp features for you. This post covers the best headlamps for a variety of different types of hunting and hunting situations so you can make the most educated purchase for you.
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!
Table of Contents
List of Best Headlamp Features Covered In This Review:
Durability
Waterproofing
Battery type
Battery life
Light color
Brightness
Weight
Bulk
Memory
Direct access to colored lights
Battery lockout
Low-battery indicator
Best Hunting Headlamp Features To Look For
A headlamp is easily one of the most useful tools for hunters. However, if you choose the wrong headlamp you might find yourself more frustrated than not. This post will help ensure you choose the right headlamp with the best features for the types of hunting you do.
Durable
Don’t skimp on a cheap headlamp if you rely on headlamps to get you out of the woods. Cheaper headlamps aren’t durable and are more likely to malfunction. They also don’t have features that make them easy to use for hunters. The best headlamps for hunting will be able to withstand some light to moderate abuse and have features that make them easy to use.
Waterproof
Hunters shouldn’t even consider buying a non-waterproof headlamp. A waterproof is a necessity for hunters because the weather can change unexpectedly. Also, it’s common to hunt in bad weather and the last thing you want to have to happen is to break your headlamp in a rainstorm and you have to find your way back in the dark.
Battery Type (Rechargeable vs Non-rechargeable)
Non-rechargeable headlamps are generally better than rechargeable headlamps for hunting. This is because a headlamp that uses batteries, like AAA, can be replaced if you carry extra batteries with you. When you use a rechargeable headlamp you’re out of luck unless you bring a power bank and a charging cord. This can be dangerous if you’re trying to get out of remote areas.
Light Color Toggle (Blue, Red, Green)
Although red and green headlamp colors help to avoid detection, they are not invisible to animals. Animals can see these lights, just not as well as white light. A bright red light is still quite obvious to animals. That said, red lights on headlamps usually have fewer lumens, so they are less bright than white lights, making them great for sneaking into your hunting spots undetected.
The main purpose of green and red lights is to preserve your night vision. This way you can still see in the dark in your peripherals outside of the red beam. A red light will also stop you from ruining the night vision of other hunters you’re hunting with and talking to.
Adjustable Brightness/ Lumens
When you’re hunting it’s important not to spook game even if it’s before or after legal shooting light. A bright light bouncing around on your noggin will let every animal in the vicinity know where you are or at least reduce your odds of a successful hunt. For this reason, an adjustable brightness is important, even for nighttime modes like red and green color.
Weight/Bulk
Bulk and weight are important factors to consider when choosing a headlamp for hunting. You don’t want a big and bulky headlamp that will get caught up in branches on your walk into your hunting area. And a heavy headlamp will bob up and down more on your head which can be annoying.
Additionally, hunters generally use headlamps for a small portion of the time when hunting. It’s basically for getting to and from hunting spots after legal shooting light. For this reason, a headlamp is an essential piece of gear but it is only used a small portion of the time. When not in use it is nice to have a small compact headlamp that you can put in your pocket or into a backpack easily.
Memory
Memory is a headlamp’s ability to remember the last setting it was on when it is turned on again from being off. This is helpful when there are different light colors and you don’t want to toggle through all of the colors to find the one you are looking for.
Direct Access to Colored Lights
Direct access to a colored light means that instead of toggling through all of the light colors to get to the color you want, there is a dedicated button that allows you to immediately access the light you want.
For example, having direct access to a red light will make it so you don’t shine a bright white light every time you want to use your red light. This helps prevent spooking animals.
Battery Lockout
Battery lockout is a helpful feature because it prevents your headlamp from accidentally turning on in your bag or pocket. This can be an important feature for those who rely heavily on their headlamps for getting out of the woods.
Low Light Indicator
Having a low light indicator is an important feature for a hunting headlamp because knowing when your headlamp is going to die allows you to plan ahead and get the batteries replaced so your headlamp doesn’t die when you need it most.
Best Headlamps For Hunting
Black Diamond Spot 350 Lumen Best Value Hunting Headlamp
Black Diamond makes some of the best headlamps for the money. For under 40$ you get just about everything someone would be looking for in a headlamp. This headlamp has 3 lights, a bright main light, a flood light, and a red light. All of these lights are dimmable. Also, it has memory so it will remember the settings you used last.
The Spot uses 3 AAA batteries. There is a battery lock option so it doesn’t accidentally turn on. The easy-to-read battery life indicator is excellent. The battery life is also great and will last 3.75 hours at max brightness and up to 200 hours at low brightness. The touch panel on the side conveniently toggles max brightness for all three lights.
It’s waterproof down to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes and weighs 2.93 oz.
The Black Diamond Storm headlamp is similar to the Black Diamond Spot headlamp in function, but with a few additional features. It has red, green, and blue light settings, and takes four replaceable AAA batteries. This allows the storm to run longer with high brightness settings. The video below does a great job explaining the features:
Petzl is a well-known company that makes excellent headlamps. The Tikka 300 is 2.89 oz and has 3 white light modes, low (6 lumens, 160 hours), medium (100 lumens, 12 hours), and high (300) lumens. One button is used to toggle through these brightness levels. To access the red light you press and hold the button. A cool feature of Petzl is you can use 3 AAA batteries or you can buy a rechargeable battery pack.
The Tactikka + 350 has all of the same features as the Tactikka 300, plus a few more. The differences include 50 extra lumens for added brightness and more light color options. For example, you get red, green, and blue lights. To access these lights you just hold down a single button as the headlamp it toggles through the different colors.
L.L. Bean has an excellent 100% satisfaction guarantee for up to 1 year which is an excellent indicator of how much they believe in the quality of their products. This headlamp does not have a red light but does have a green light for night vision. The green light comes on first before the white light so you preserve your night vision. This makes it one of the best hunting headlamps with green light.
The Trailblazer’s brightness settings are very adjustable. The 420 spotlight setting is dimmable to 25 lumens. The 50-lumen white flood light setting is dimmable to 10 lumens. This is not a rechargeable headlamp, it uses 3 AAA batteries which are included, and will last up to 110 hours. It is waterproof up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Biolite 200 Lumen Lightest Weight Headlamp
This is a minimal and simple one-button headlamp that just about does it all. It has an articulating light, 12-hour last-setting memory, and dimmable red and white brightness.
The battery is rechargeable only and lasts 3 hours at max brightness but will last 40 hours at low brightness. It has a low battery indicator and the battery has a lock mode so it won’t accidentally get turned on when you don’t want it to.
This is one of the lightest and most portable headlamps on the market at 1.76 oz, the tradeoff is the IPX4 waterproof rating which means it can only withstand light rain.
Fenix headlamps are great for hunters because they offer a lot of lumens in a small lightweight 2.75 oz package. With this Fenix HM50R, you get 700 lumens, direct access to the red light, and a battery lockout feature. It’s easy to operate with a one-button operation.
The CR123A battery life is quite good, you get 65 hours on 5 lumens red light, 42 hours at 30 lumens, 8 hours on 130 lumens, 3 hours at 400 lumens, and one hour at 700 lumens. The battery is rechargeable only but can fully charge in 1.5 hours. You can check the battery life too so you know when the headlamp is running low.
The Fenix HM70R 1600 is one of the brightest headlamps for hunting and has the best battery life. This is one of the best headlamps for hunters who don’t care as much about weight and stealthiness and are more interested in brightness. This could be a good option for waterfowl hunters for navigating in a boat at night. You don’t have to run this headlamp at max brightness either and it will work great at lower lumens.
It will last 2 hours at the highest setting of 1600 lumens, up to 100 hours at the lowest 30 lumens white light, and all the way to 400 hours at the lowest red light setting of 5 lumens using a 21700 battery.
Brighter does not mean better when it comes to hunting headlamps. A 200-lumen headlamp is plenty. To navigate in the dark you don’t need many lumens, 50 lumens is comfortable for most people in the woods and will allow you to see +/- 20 yards easily. Most headlamps have adjustable brightness settings so you can use your headlamp at lower lumens but still have the option to crank up the brightness to much higher lumens when needed.
Are Bright Headlamps Good For Hunting?
Brighter headlamps are not necessarily better for hunting. Brighter headlamps will reduce the battery life greatly or you will need a bigger heavier and bulkier headlamp with a bigger battery to sustain higher brightness levels for longer periods. So there are trade-offs with getting a brighter headlamp.
Are Cheap Headlamps Worth The Money?
Don’t skimp on a good headlamp because cheap ones will break or not work properly when you need it most. Many hunters rely on headlamps to get them out of the woods after shooting hours. A dependable headlamp is worth the money for your safety.
There are budget headlamps made by reputable manufacturers that would be okay to purchase, some of them are listed in this post. However, I would not buy cheap off-brand headlamps because their quality will be questionable.
Let’s talk about some of the best upland hunting boots for bird hunters. There are different types of upland birds and different boots will cater to different needs. Some hunters will do best with rubber boots, some with tall leather boots, and others with mountain-style boots for those mountain birds.
First, we’ll dive into what to look for when buying upland hunting boots and then we’ll jump right into the boots themselves, so lets get started.
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!
Table of Contents
What To Look For When Buying Upland Hunting Boots
Waterproof/Water-resistant
Since you’re hunting upland birds you might not need the most waterproof boots on the market. A water-resistant boot might be all you need.
That being said, at least where I hunt, I’m always glad I’m wearing a waterproof boot when I’m hunting because I inevitably find some water I have to walk through. Also, dew in tall grass can be very wet and will soak through boots that are not waterproof or resistant.
Cover Ankles
Boots that cover your ankles are going to help protect your angles from prickly bushes, thick vegetation, and grasses. It will also keep debris and water from vegetation from getting down your boot as easily.
Lightweight
Upland bird hunting requires a lot of walking. A lightweight boot will help keep your legs from getting tired so you can hunt more comfortably for long hours.
Durability
Upland bird hunters beat the crap out of their boots because of the thick vegetation and the miles they put on their boots when hunting. A durable boot is essential for getting the most for your money.
Insulation
Upland bird hunters are generally on the move at a medium-paced walk all day. With this amount of movement, upland bird hunters really don’t need any insulation in their boots. If it’s above 40º there is no need for insulation. Once temps drop into the 30ºs you might want a 400g insulated boot if you don’t move much. Once temps are in the 20ºs a 400g boot is a good option. Depending on your activity an 800g boot might be better, especially if there’s snow. There is a trade-off between warmth and weight. The more insulation you have the heavier your boots will be and the faster you’ll get tired, so keep that in mind.
Best Rubber Boots For Upland Bird Hunting
GumLeaf Field Welly Boot (High Rubber Content)
The GumLeaf Field Wellys are handcrafted boots in Europe and are made of 85% real rubber which prevents cracking. I’ve used these boots for over a year now and the rubber is holding up well against cracking. However, the softer and more supple rubber is less durable than boots with higher clay/plastic content. They are still more durable than neoprene though.
That said, they are one of the most comfortable full-rubber boots that I’ve worn, their Vibram sole is very cushioning for long days on your feet. For me, the extra comfort is worth the reduction in durability.
It’s tough to beat the Lacrosse Grange boots for a rubber boot. No other companies have been able to develop an 18-inch tall boot this thin, durable, and low-profile. They’re so lightweight that you barely even notice them coming in at 4.5 lbs per pair.
Another huge benefit of this boot is that they have an ankle-tight fit so that your heel does not slip up and down in the heel pocket (which causes blisters in other boots).
Their only downside is that they lack traction and although quite comfortable for all-day hunting/exploring, they have some foot fatigue due to the lack of traction and arch support. This is where the Gumleaf Field Welly’s shine over the Grange’s.
Additionally, they are very low profile so it’s much harder to roll your ankle in these rubber boots than most other rubber boots that have taller traction. For these reasons, the Grange boot is by far one of the best rubber boots if you’re going to be putting a lot of miles on your feet.
The Lacrosse Grange rubber boots are the best for lots of walking and being mobile.
Another excellent rubber hunting boot is the Lacrosse Burly Boot with Air Grips. These boots are foam-insulated and provide a little more warmth at the cost of weight than the Grange boots. They are great boots for someone hunting once temps start to dip and make a great step up from the Grange boots or Field Welly’s once temps drop.
They also make great winter hunting boots because the air grips offer good snow traction. The Burleys have many similar characteristics to the Grange boots such as durability, tight ankle fit, 18 inches tall, and a low-profile outsole. You can feel the environment underfoot with the air grips quite well.
These boots have a flexible outsole design that allows hunters to feel the environment underfoot to be as quiet as possible. Tightening the lacing forms the leather to your leg ensuring a snug fit and preventing blisters. They are one of the best boots for dry environments.
It will keep dew from tall grasses from soaking the legs on early morning hunts. However, this boot is best in dry environments. Although marketed as waterproof, they are not. They are water-resistant at best.
As a born and raised Mainer, I know a lot of people with these boots and everyone says how poor they work in the water. If you’re going to be using them in wet environments I highly suggest coating them with some type of waterproofing to help repel water. It seems like they usually leak at the stitching just above the rubber bottoms.
Original L.L. Bean Boot. 16-inches in height.
Danner Sharptail
Danner is a well-known boot company because they’ve been making quality boots since 1912. One of their best upland hunting boots is the Sharptail model. This boot is made from leather and sturdy nylon to handle rough country and is 100% waterproof with a Gore-Tex liner. Its sleek design is great for long-distance walking and only weighs 3.19 lbs which is one of the lightest boots in this review.
The Wingshooter model has been around since the 1950s and is one of the all-time favorites for upland bird hunters. Technology has come a long way and yet these boots still remain in the top ranks as one the best upland hunting boots. Their UltraDry technology in addition to being fully leather helps them stay waterproof. These boots weigh in at 3.56 lbs.
The Oboz Bridger boots are not specifically designed for hunting. The main benefit of these boots for upland bird hunting is their weight, or lack thereof, coming in at 2.39 lbs per pair. This makes them the lightest boots in this review. They are also waterproof, very comfortable, and supportive making them a great option for upland bird hunting. They are only slightly shorter than the other boots in this comparison. When buying these make sure that a lower-cut boot makes sense for the type of hunting you do. If you can get away with a lower-cut boot you’ll enjoy how light they are.
Gaiters are a lightweight way to keep sticks, snow, and other debris out of your boot and keep bushes and thorns from chewing up your boots and pants. They can be especially helpful if you’re wearing a lower-cut boot but want dew/water protection up to your knees. Gaiters aren’t right for everyone but they are worth considering.
Leather Conditioner
Leather boots will lose their ability to be waterproof over time if not properly maintained. It is suggested to keep leather boots treated often with leather conditioner. This keeps leather hydrated so that the leather does not start to crack, keeping them waterproof for longer.
Leather boots will start to crack if not treated. Treating your leather boots will save you a lot of money in the long run, especially if you’re buying expensive hunting boots.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading, hopefully this helped you narrow down your choices on what upland rubber boots will be best for you. If you have more questions you can reach me on social media:
![Best Rain Gear For Hunting – Top 12 Rain Jackets & Pants [2025]](https://jasontomeoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Best-Rain-Gear-For-Hunting-768x432.jpg "Best Rain Gear For Hunting – Top 12 Rain Jackets & Pants [2025]")
![10 Best Beginner Compound Bows For Hunting [2025]](https://jasontomeoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Best-Compound-Bows-For-Beginners-768x432.png "10 Best Beginner Compound Bows For Hunting [2025]")
![8 Best Headlamps For Hunting [2025]](https://jasontomeoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Best-Headlamps-For-Hunting-768x432.jpg "8 Best Headlamps For Hunting [2025]")
![6 Best Upland Hunting Boots For Bird Hunters [2025]](https://jasontomeoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Best-Upland-Hunting-Boots-For-Bird-Hunters-768x432.png "6 Best Upland Hunting Boots For Bird Hunters [2025]")
