Growing up in the South, I never saw any hunters using trekking poles in the woods. So, when I moved out of the state and my new buddies were packing gear for a hunting trip, I was the only one who didn’t have any hunter trekking poles.

Well, that was about 10 years ago and now I am converted to the greatness of using trekking poles – especially when you’re out hunting in the snow or in the mountains. They can be a real blessing to have out there sometimes.

Top 10 Trekking Poles for Hunting 2015 - 2016

Photo	Model	Shaft	Grip	Weight
	Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles	aluminum	rubber	1 lb. 4 oz.
	Leki Corklite Antishock Trekking Poles	aluminum	cork/rubber	1 lb. 2.9 oz.
	Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles	carbon	foam	10 oz.
	Kelty Range 2.0 Trekking Poles	aluminum	cork/rubber	1 lb. 4 oz.
	Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles	aluminum	foam	1 lb. 1 oz.
	Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles	carbon	foam	13.4 oz.
	Black Diamond Alpine Ergo Cork Trekking Poles	carbon/ aluminum	cork	1 lb 3.9 oz
	PaceMaker "Journey" Antishock Trekking Poles	aluminum	cork	1 lb. 3 oz.
	Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles	aluminum	foam	1 lb. 4 oz.
	York Nordic PRO Collapsible 4 Piece Trekking / Walking Poles	aluminum	rubber	1 lb. 4 oz.

These are what we here at Outdoorsman Time believe are the best hunter trekking poles for the money right now. Just to remind you – the aluminum shaft models are more durable as they can take a beating and keep on working like they’re supposed to. And the carbon shaft models are more lightweight but if you kick them or bang them up, then they will crack and not be able to be used any longer. For that reason, we recommend aluminum models for most hunters.

Why Hunters Should Use Trekking Poles

Now before you scoff and tell me that you don’t need to be dragging around no walking sticks or trekking poles while you’re out hunting, let me tell you why you are dead wrong about this.

Low impact – Here’s the thing, I’m not as young as I used to be and the same is probably true for you. And when you’re stalking around in the wilderness with your hunting pack and gear, then you end up putting a lot of impact on your knees. This is especially true if you’re on some steep inclines or really hard ground. And joint pain around the knees after a long day of hunting is no fun. But – if you use trekking poles, then they take some of that impact off your knees, ankles and joints. I know it sounds kind of crazy and like some mumbo jumbo, but I’ve used these things myself and can tell you first hand that they work by redistributing the brunt force of the weight, which reduces the impact on your body.

Better balance – When you’re tracking game over terrain that is unfamiliar, you can stumble or fall. But how often do you see that hunting dog of yours do the same? That’s cause having four points of support on the ground results in better balance. So, using trekking poles out there helps you keep your balance on terrain that is uneven, steep and just unfamiliar to you. And, it’s just a bonus that it reduces muscle strain as well.

Safety – It goes without saying that you can use the poles to test the stability of the ground before you make your steps. But their safety use goes even beyond that. Say you get hurt out in the field- the poles make great makeshift splits. Or, say a wild animal attacks you – these things have pointy ends that you can use for self defense.

Are you the type of hunter who puts that hunting knife to good use during the season? If so, you want to make sure that you take good care of it and sharpen it at the end of each hunting season. As you may already know, this is something that you can do one your own at home. However, you have to take care and do it the right way or you might end up making your knife edge brittle so that it gets chipped or cracked easily in later use.

You can sharpen the blade yourself freehand style with a good bench stone. There’s even a good chance that you’ve seen someone do this before. However, what you might not know is that there is a fine line when it comes to doing this right and damaging the knife. In fact, if you have an old crappy knife, then I suggest giving it a try first. If not, buy a couple of cheap ones from the local store to do a trial run with before you even attempt sharpening your main knife.

Probably the most important thing that you need to know about DIY hunting knife sharping is that you need to stick with the same angle. You definitely do not want to be rolling your knife across the stone cause you’ll just end up causing damage to it. Instead, you need to keep a constant angle between the sharpening stone and the blade of your knife to end up with a blade so sharp that you could shave with it!

Some hunters like to use ceramic sticks to maintain the sharpness once they have used a stone to get it to the desired level. But here’s the thing – you still need to use that same angle when using one of those. I really cannot stress enough how important it is that you maintain consistency with your sharpening angle.

I think a lot of hunters out there underestimate how important it is to keep a well kept hunting knife in your pack.

If you prefer to see someone else actually doing it, take a look at the video below. I found it on YouTube and you can actually see a guy sharpening his hunting knife the proper way. Pay close attention to the consistency in the angles.

If you do not do your hunting alone, then you might want to look into getting some good two-way radios for hunting. With some of these, you can easily stay in touch with your entire hunting party no matter how far away from each other you might be while out on the hunt. So, if you have been looking for a great way to keep in touch with the rest of the hunters in your party, then this is it my friend.

What To Look For In Hunting Two-Way Radios?

Before you head out and buy the first set of two-way radios that you see, hold up a minute and learn what you need to look for. This isn’t as simple as popping into the local electronics shop or hunting shop. Nope. You need to have gear that will serve you well while you’re out in the field, otherwise it’s just a waste of money.

Here’s some of the things that you’ll want to consider when doing your shopping:

• Range
• Battery life
• Headset support
• Camo design
• NOAA weather info
• Waterproof or water-resistant

Range is definitely one of the most important things that you’ll need to check – especially if you hunt in very large spaces. A longer range also means stronger signals, which is something that you need if you hunt in places with a lot of thick brush that can cause signal blockage or dead spots. I suggest looking for at least a one mile range for the best results.

Long battery life is probably the second most important thing to consider. If you’re like most hunters, then you will be out there for most of the day. So you either need a set of two-way radios with a super long battery life or some that take AA or AAA batteries that you can easily carry along with you. Or, consider some that you can charge in your vehicle if it will be close by.

Since you do not want any noise spooking the prey, you have got to find some two-ways that support headsets. Even better if they do wireless Bluetooth so that you don’t have any cords in the way.

And if you’re going all in with your camouflage, then you might want to look for some handheld radios that have a camo paint job to keep you looking all incognito out there. This isn’t really a requirement though unless you want it to be.

Another good, but not necessary, feature is a unit that gives you NOAA weather information at your fingertips. Again, not a dealbreaker but always nice to have in hunting gear since the weather can often change at a moment’s notice.

Finally, since there is a good chance that you’ll be out hunting in the rain, definitely go with some two ways that are waterproof or water resistant so that they won’t get damaged when you’re caught out in downpour.

Top Two-Way Radios for Hunting Reviewed

Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio

Motorola is probably one of the most trusted brands when it comes to these things. And for good reason, they have a long history of making electronics communications devices. That’s just one of the reasons that I recommend the Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio pair for hunters.

Though I’m not a huge fan of the bright yellow color, I will say that it does make these things super easy to find in your pack!

Here’s what I like about it: I like that they are made by a brand that I trust and that they have a very affordable low price. I also like that they have a pretty good range. They are also very easy to use, even kids and teens can use these things! I also like that they are dual power, which is helpful for long days out in the field.

Here’s what I don’t like about it: the MR355 models have a longer range than these, plus the MR355s run on AA batteries instead of the AAA batteries that this one does. I’d much prefer AA batteries, but that might just be me. I also wish the battery life was longer – I’ve been getting about 10 hours or so from mine.

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Cobra HH450 Camo Handheld VHF/GMRS Floating Radio

Looking for something that is a bit more high end that you can not only take out hunting, but also out on your boat, your RV, camping or any other outdoor activity? If so, then I suggest that you check out the Cobra HH450 Camo Handheld VHF/GMRS Floating Radio.

You can order these in the pictured camo or in black. I think that Cobra makes some pretty good radios, and I like this model a lot.

Here’s what I like about it: when you use these out in the field, it is very crisp and clear. I didn’t experience any static or difficulty understanding my buddies. I love how quickly the battery charges, which is perfect for those extra long days and weekends hunting. And, this thing is waterproof, which is good for being out in the rain or taking out on your boat.

Here’s what I don’t like about it: the mic does seem to be sensitive to wind, which can be a problem if you live in an area where you expect it to be windy when you’re out. It also doesn’t seem super rugged, but I haven’t dropped it to confirm that. I also wish that the range was bigger – I’ve gotten about four to five miles on flat land.

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Motorola MS355R Review

Probably the best value two-way hunting radios for the money is the Motorola MS355R FRS Waterproof Two-Way – 35 Mile Radio pack.

This set of two-way hunting radios meets all of the criteria above as well as some things that I didn’t even know that I wanted out of two-way radios until I saw these! Plus, these are very affordable two-way radios for hunting. And ya gotta love that camo design!

You get an amazing 35-mile range with these, which is perfect for hunting on large plots of land. And the battery life is good – plus they take AAA batteries for you to easily replace while you’re still out there.

The exterior has a camo pattern, which is good for people who prefer that in their hunting gear. And you can get NOAA weather alerts on this hunting radio!

These radios come with earbuds so that you don’t have to let the sound echo throughout the forest – or use your own headset.

Not only is this model waterproof, but it actually floats if you accidentally drop it in the water! Supposedly, it can last up to 1.5 minutes being submerged in water and still work for you! That’s pretty cool.

I also really like that this model is designed to comfortably fit in your hand so that you don’t get fatigue from holding it all day. It also has some non-slip ridges so that wet or sweaty hands won’t cause you to drop it while you’re hunting.

Unfortunately, it does not come with a carrying case for each radio but you do get a belt clip for each one. Of course, a belt clip is more practical for most hunters.

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Midland GXT1050VP4 Review

Another great option is the Midland GXT1050VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio pair. Midland has a great reputation when it comes to these things and this model is no exception. These are very comparable to the Motorola set above with the biggest difference being the price. These are similar in price, so if you need some good, cheap two-way radios for hunting then this is another good choice.

Since this Midland set is so close to the Motorola set above, let me share with you the differences between these two models to help you make a decision on which best meets your needs out in the field.

Motorola MR355R vs Midland GXT1050 Comparison

• Weight: The Motorola weighs less by just over an ounce
• Size: The Motorola has a better ergonomic shape, which means that it fits more comfortably in your hand
• Usability: The Motorola is more user-friendly when it comes to changing settings on the unit. Took me a little longer to figure out everything on the Midland
• Top Features: The Motorola has a built-in emergency light, which is a nice feature. The Midland has more channels, a loud SOS emergency siren feature and just more overall features like direct call.
• Range: In real life situations, the range for each of these is close to a mile with the Motorola offering just a slight bit more range
• Battery life: Similar but the Midland seems to drain just a little faster

As you can see, there is not a lot of difference between the two models, which makes either a great choice for hunting two-way radios for your hunting party.

 

Why Use Two-Way Radios When Hunting?

When you are out there staking out a deer or other prey, you could be on land that covers thousands of acres. What if you need help with some field dressing? Or what if one your hunting buddies needs help dragging out a deer that he’s just shot? Cell phones are not always reliable in the great outdoors, which is why you need a two-way radio.

These things also get a pretty good range on them, so you don’t have to worry about being far away from your hunting buddies cause you’ll be able to reach them at any time as long as you all have two-way radios.

Even better, using some of these won’t disturb the hunting environment like the ringing of a cell phone. Just think about how mad you’d be if you have a deer in your sights right when your buddy calls your cell phone and the ringing spooks the deer. I’d be so freaking mad if that happened to me!

Using these also gives you peace of mind if you take your kids out hunting with you. At any time you will be able to check in and make sure that everything okay while still giving them space to have fun hunting on their own.

It’s really the perfect way to keep in touch with all your hunting buddies while you’re each in your stands waiting for the next big one to come into your sights.