I'm guessing most people carry cell phones with them when they hunt. I've been carrying one with me ever since I've had one. Most of the reason I take one is for safety sake since I hunt by myself on public land. I've been thinking about not carrying it lately. Part of the reason I hunt with traditional equipment is to get away from technology as much as practical. Seems like not carrying a cell phone would get me a little further along toward that goal. I'm still not sure because it would come in handy in case I would get hurt to the point I couldn't get myself out of the woods. I tell my wife where I'm hunting but she's never been there and wouldn't know exactly where to lead someone to find me. Many years ago when I was single and before cell phones I would just go hunting and half the time not tell anyone where I was. Got away with that without anything bad ever happening. Anyway I'm probably over thinking it which I am prone to do. Just wondering if there is anyone else out there that purposely doesn't carry a phone with them. By the way I hunt on a small public hunting area (1000 acres) surrounded by towns and people.
Go hunting. Turn your cell off and forget about it.
Yes people hunted for years without them, but better safer than sorry.
I keep mine on "vibrate" in my bely pack. It's the "dumbest" pre-paid Go Phone AT&T offers (under $10). I'm not a big phone user in the first place and that's what part of I'm escaping from when I hunt. Probably wouldn't notice if it ever did go off. But if I fall and break a leg it could come in handy . . . if there is any reception from that spot.
My brother fell 20 feet from a tree stand 10 years ago. The one thing that maybe saved his life or at least his ability to walk was the fact that he had his cell phone with him.
i carry mine with me.
I take mine always. Safety factor and I have a wife and daughter at home that I want to get their call if they need me. Hunting is second to them.
I take mine every time for safety but place it on vibrate in a camo case on the outside of my pack.
Don't hunt that far from home, but its a saftey factor. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Yep. You all are right. I'll carry it for safety sake. Like I said earlier, I think too hard about some things. Thanks for the replies.
I take mine all the time. I got a short hunt in this morning and forgot it. The whole time i was in my stand i kept thinkin about... what if I fall, i will have no way to get help.
take it for your family, if not for yourself
Always have mine for the reasons everyone above cited. Just makes good sense.
Can't pick up anything where I live and hunt. I use to carry one in Fl., but never turned it on unless I wanted to make a call...in or out of the woods.
Yes, you think to hard about these things. Will you walk to your hunting spot rather than drive your vehicle to be more traditional? I like to keep things simple too but I think you can do that pretty easily. I carry my cell phone, use a safety vest and a lifeline. All new products and I am glad to have them to keep me safer. I owe that at least to my wife.
The nice thing also is, if you are fortunate enough to arrow a deer, you can let your family know not to worry, and you will be running late.
My Droid phone is always with me & I'll keep it on vibrate when I get into the truck that morning.
Since I have the NIV Bible & some other e-books on it, it also serves as my reading material when the times are slow. Saves on carrying a small book with me.
It's nice to get away from the technology but it's better to have that safety device available when you need it.
I'm with others on here. I carry my cell phone with me when bowhunting, but it's turned off. I carry the cell for emergencies.
i carry mine just in case...never to text someone the deer are coming..
I carry mine since I started having heart problems. That and the fact that I never could teach my wife to read smoke signals :biglaugh:
Troy
I look at it like a safety harness. I won't get in a stand without one, and hope to the devil I never need it, BUT if I do it's there.
Enjoy texting my buds for nearly-live updates.
Yup, wife and kids want to know if Dad is okay out there. Sometimes I forward pics of deer to them too. They love it. So do I.
Texting beats the pants off walkie-talkies when you need to coordinate with other hunters. I finally got a signal where I hunt and it's been nice. I can also send a nice text to my wife to help ease the guilt. ;)
That said, I usually turn mine off until I want to use it.
I carry mine but it is normally set to silent or vibrate.
No reception in any western areas that we hunt..............no problem. :wavey:
Would not go in the woods without it,on vibrate in the easyest reachable pocket.
Wow!!!! I never would have thought so many people would be afraid of their own shadows! I hunt in part for the solitude it afford me and I take the chances that any other "hunter" would take when doing so. I had a heart attack last year elk hunting and had to get out of some tough country on my own. Couldn't have called anyone if I had a phone since I hunt in country not serviced by those damn things. I am self sufficient and love it. Try it you might like it. FRJ
I always have mine on me, keep it on silent, for safety sake and to stay in communication with my hunting partners when we are all out.
I always have mine and have it on vib. I can't see not having it just in case. I don't worry about what if, but can't see not taking and easy precaution. It makes my old dad and the wife feel much better. I hunt from trees, and I am not so young anymore. That makes a big different in their comfort level. They never worry if I am ground hunting.
I also use if for my alarm clock, watch, camera, video camera, GPS and so on. All of which are handy to have out hunting. I also have a lot of bible version on it so I can catch up on reading or prep for teaching when things are slow. Then there is the occasional peek to see what you are all up to on TG.
It is really handy to use to call to a friend to meet me in the field for some tracking and dragging. I don't hunt with anyone close to me. We are typically miles apart. When the pre-rut and rut are going, and we are setting longer hours, we sometime send short text like "saw a 6pt at 8". Kind of cool I think to know what your friends are seeing and when deer are moving for them. It gives me hope deer will be moving around me.
QuoteOriginally posted by YORNOC:
Yup, wife and kids want to know if Dad is okay out there. Sometimes I forward pics of deer to them too. They love it. So do I.
My kids are elementary age so they love to get those e-mail shots of deer, coons, squirrels and such along with hunting updates. Makes them feel part of the hunt. Soon they will be going out.
It's just becoming part of my regular equipment now,solely for the camera...
I've never carried one so don't even know if it will work where I hunt but I think they are a very good thing in case of an emergency.I hunt alone and often no one knows exactly where I am.I have been meaning to change that and reading this thread will do it.A lot of people in trouble have been saved by cell phones.I just think it's a good thing.If you aren't coordinating hunting efforts(which would be illegal here)it isn't changing the way you hunt,so don't sweat that little bit of technology.It just may save your life or someone else's.
QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
Go hunting. Turn your cell off and forget about it.
Yes people hunted for years without them, but better safer than sorry.
There it is!
My sediments exactly!!!
I carry it turned off, it's for an emergency and to call the ole lady when am done and headed home so she isn't worrying about me.
I always have mine, but I do not like to talk on the phone, even when I'm not hunting.
I will say that I had a ladder stand colloaspe out from under me and I'm glad I was able to get help only because of my phone.
It's funny how people pick and choose technology use while hunting. You can get bashed pretty quick if you use a Ozonics.
"Part of the reason I hunt with traditional equipment"
Heck, if you're wanting to be traditional, shave with a straight razor like I do.....it'd be safer than hunting without a cell phone.
QuoteOriginally posted by B/W lvr:
Wow!!!! I never would have thought so many people would be afraid of their own shadows! I hunt in part for the solitude it afford me and I take the chances that any other "hunter" would take when doing so. I had a heart attack last year elk hunting and had to get out of some tough country on my own. Couldn't have called anyone if I had a phone since I hunt in country not serviced by those damn things. I am self sufficient and love it. Try it you might like it. FRJ
???? Huh? Seriously?
If I did not have mine my wife would not have been able to get hold of me in my stand to let me know her father was passing away and I never would have made it to the hospital in time to be there when he passed.
You can talk tradition, self-sufficiency, and no technology all you want. Problems arise when you let technology control you NOT when you use it to your benefit.
QuoteOriginally posted by BOWMARKS:
Would not go in the woods without it,on vibrate in the easyest reachable pocket.
Yup! Longbow, wooden arrows, back quiver, wool plaid, HSS harness, and cell phone. Being trad is tough when you are dead. Be trad but be safe! :readit:
Same here, turned off and packed away. Wife would skin me alive if I didn't take it with me.
I have mine on vibrate. Family trumps hunting if they really need me(they know to call only if they really need me). I also went through the ice one year hunting and almost froze to death, a cell phone would have come in real handy back then.
I always have mine- it doubles as a camera- video camera- and walkie talkie to communicate silently w others I'm hunting with.
TIM B
As a safety aid -great! When used as a hunting aid-no! Illegal when used as a hunting aid in my state!
QuoteOriginally posted by vermonster13:
I have mine on vibrate. Family trumps hunting if they really need me(they know to call only if they really need me). I also went through the ice one year hunting and almost froze to death, a cell phone would have come in real handy back then.
Unfortunately in your state you only have coverage about 1/3 of the time. :D
i also take mine and set it on vibrate. carry it with me for safety reasons, and if the wife or kids need to get a hold of me.
QuoteOriginally posted by vermonster13:
I also went through the ice one year hunting and almost froze to death, a cell phone would have come in real handy back then.
I keep a double lock zip lock bag in my waterfowl hunting and fishing stuff for this type thing.
I always carry my cellphome when hunting. A friend fell out of his stand and was injured severly and his phone was in his truck. Luckily his family knew where he was hunting on a small piece of property and they got to him shortly after dark. He completely recovered. One of my other buddies called me at 8:45 AM and I was onstand, being quiet and alert. He said "man I hate I messed up your hunt". I told no biggie, I have already killed all the deer I am going to today. Maybe tomorrow
Mine stays in the truck..............
Communication, manipulation of communication and technological advancements in communication were all part of hunting long before the bow and arrow was...
Guy I work with bought me an I-phone. He said I had to have it. Have to admit Ihave become addicted to the thing. I carry mine for safety as I hunt alone, and my wife would kill me if she didn't think I had it on me. Most of the places I hunt do not have cell phone reception except for the ridge tops. I guess I could drag myself up there if I really got hurt...
The thing that kills me about the thing is the mapping app from Cabelas. I am a map and compass guy, but the topo map from recon hunt is way too easy to use. I finally stopped using it because I was not paying attention to the terrain to keep track of my location. It was doing all the work for me, and I felt like it was making me dumb, as if I were eating twinkies instead something healthy. That said, if I was ever to get confused, it sure would come in handy.
Archery season falls in the middle of college football season and I am usually in the woods rather than in front of the TV on game day. Therefore, I find myself frequently monitoring scoring updates or connecting to live broadcasts of my beloved Fighting Texas Aggies via earbuds (usually only when I am hunting in a tent blind, however). As college football season wanes, I upload a good book on the Kindle app for my iPhone. The phone is simply more portable in the stand than a bulky book and is a lot easier to stow in the event a deer walks out.
Heck, there is nothing "untraditional" about pleasant distractions. I still take plenty of time to soak in the natural surroundings from the stand. The phone comes into play during the slow periods of mid-day when others, possessing fewer collective distractions in the blind might be tempted to seek the comforts of camp for the distractions lurking there.
As my grandmother used to say, "to each his own said the lady as she kissed the cow."
I have a pay as you go phone- I leave it on vibrate/ silent or off depending on the day- I have 2 youngsters. I would use it for emergency( a friend of my stepdad fell out of his treestand a number of years ago-precell phone era-got paralyzed and sat at the base of the tree for a number of hours). Hopefully I have to call home after the hunt to tell them I will be late dragging out a deer. Otherwise, I do not use the phone much.
Several years ago, before cell phones, I got into a quick sand bog while hunting alone. That day I had help from above. A phone is extra insurance. Plus I can call a friend to help if I bag a buck.
Dave.
Probably not traditional but I hunt for the fun of it and like to communicate with friends via txt. I think txt is the best thing for hunting since..... I will txt with friends hunting in different states and other parts of the state. Just part of the fun for us.
Because most of my hunting is alone I have at least one close friend or family member who knows where all my stands are and where I will be that day/night. For some places we have a sort of pact that my friend will check on me if he has not heard anything an hour or so after dark. Just a good safety tool that is very easy to carry.
On that note - if you have it with you keep it "on" you. Not real useful if you are laying under your tree all buggered up with the phone hanging back up there, tucked away in your pack.
Have fun and be safe
Bob Urban
I carry my I-Phone on vibrate.
It is a safety issue, plus the I-Phone has some great GPS apps + a compass. This eliminated the need to carry multiple items. Also it is very nice to be able to snap pictures quickly and quietly during the hunt.
I live in highly mountainous terrain so when I break both my legs and need to call someone all I have to do is climb a mountain to its highest point to get coverage. And if one mountain doesn't work, just try another. And so on. :knothead:
I carry mine on silent in my pocket. A friend had a heart attack in his stand several years ago and my wife insists I take mine with me, especially since I am hunting alone about half the time 4 hours from home.
I always take my cell phone. Luckily, we get pretty good coverage over the whole ranch. You never know when you're gona need it.
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TX you need to find a crooked tree for that stand to work in. Joking aside I hope you come out of that one OK. We wear new and improved safety hanesses, which are not trad, because they are safe and smart; why not take a cell phone with you. i used to take a yahtzee game to keep me entertained, now it is angry birds on the ipod.
I use mine to keep track of time and for the camera.
It stays on vibrate.
I use mine while hunting. Since this is my first "smart" phone I've been using the app for maps. I can see topo of my hunting area and I can measure how far away from houses I am so that I stay leagaly 450 feet away.
I like the fact that if I need help if I get hurt or if I need help getting a deer out of the woods I can call for some help and like wise for any of my hunting friends.
I almost hunt alone and giving a call home to let them know I'm out of the woods and on my way home keeps the family from worrying.
I always bring the cell phone along. Even if I do an 18th century style hunt, it's in the bag. I'll either keep it on vibrate mode or I use a ringtone that I made with turkey hen yelping and gobblers replying! :D
I have mine on vibrate. It is nice to call home and tell the wife im going to be a little late because I have to get a deer out of the woods!
Now THAT makes sense! I was tracking a lady's wounded buck when I hear this elk 10 feet behind me. Scared the daylights out of me. Her cell phone ring signal. Way too out of place. But a turkey call - I'm liking the idea.
My wife makes me carry mine in case I get hurt. It doesn't do me any good though, no service where I hunt. I use it for the clock.
QuoteOriginally posted by finkm1:
I have mine on vibrate. It is nice to call home and tell the wife im going to be a little late because I have to get a deer out of the woods!
X2
I also use mine to text my buddies to see if they're hunting at the same time as I am. Sometimes we send pics from our view of our hunting spots too. And if I'm real lucky, I'll send a pic of my deer when I find it at the end of a short blood trail. :)
I carry mine and keep it on vibrate. I can keep in touch with my employees while they work and I play! Texting is a boon!
I keep mine on profile #1 while huntin(vibrate), # 2 while workin, gotta keep your priorities in line! LOL
Like TJ said, if my family needs me, I wanna know right now.
Also if you need help draggin, that ain't all bad either!
I carry mine all the time, for several things. First, obviously for safety. When hunting with my wife and/or son, we keep each other updated as to how things are going, seeing or not seeing deer etc.
I used to ring book along for long sits on stand, and hated the movement of turning pages etc. Now I download a book and can read, I always have the camera for pics/video, and was ale to watch my Tigers playoff baseball. Typically I just use it to read a book, or check in with each other. I dont answer calls. It can also double as a low level flashlight walking in after dark if I just need a short bit of light to navigate around something etc.
Now if they just made one with a built in gutting knife, drag strap and broadhead sharpener, I could just about ditch my fanny pack all together.
QuoteOriginally posted by razorback:
TX you need to find a crooked tree for that stand to work in. Joking aside I hope you come out of that one OK. We wear new and improved safety hanesses, which are not trad, because they are safe and smart; why not take a cell phone with you. i used to take a yahtzee game to keep me entertained, now it is angry birds on the ipod.
Was a hunting partner of mine. He came out safe and sound. Thanks for asking.
I used to never worry about a safety harness. Dumb, I know. I've been wearing one this year (I got married). Those pics just reinforce that it can happen anytime.
I am not an addict like so many to the need for instant gratification of sharing something with someone. I carry one turned off in my pack. It's a throw away tracfone just in case I need help. I can't imagine wanting to to talk(or text) to someone from my tree stand.
I wish I had a signal in most of the places I hunt. My wife worries about me when I'm gone for a few days at a time. It would be comforting to let her know I'm still alive. Plus the safety factor since I hunt alone in some fairly remote areas. I always give her a location where the vehicle will be parked.
I know you want to get away from the technology, but getting hurt or lost, or in any kind of bad situation isn't worth it . Avoid it and think about your safety first. A phone is always good to have with you!!
Satphone.
tradition is great but stupid is dumb. i'll never hunt without a cell phone (with fully charged battery!) - just good safety insurance. think about yer loved ones, if not for yourself.
Keep mine with me...family is more important!
I always carry a cell for safety. I agree with Bob and others here, tradition is great. But you can over think it. I also carry a good pair of Binos, a GPS, Bear Spray and a Handgun ( I hunt where they live ). I plan on hunting many more days, with my grand kids and my Long Bows. Always Safety.
Mason is old enough now that we hunt further apart and the rule is we text each other once we are up the tree and settled in. Comforting knowing your son is enjoying another hunt with the old man and he is okay.
It is the best back up tool I own.
Camera
compass
topo - satellite maps
GPS receiver
Flashlight
alarm clock - watch
Hunt and weather forecaster
simple communicator between hunt buddies
It's nice to have the current radar at the tip of your fingers too!!
TIM B
Last year I got a call from a friend asking me how my babygirl was? I said fine when I left thismorning about 4:00 a.m. I checked on them and they were sound asleep...He replyed back to me our Kaci was in the hospital...She had to get staples in the back of her head that morning from falling off a chair and hitting the corner of our hutch and my wife was in such a hurry to get her to the Dr.s she forgot to call me and let me know ...Thanks to my friends for comeing over to help my wife and the other for calling me about what was happening..I never packed up so fast and headed out of the woods as fast as I did that morning..Cellphones in the vibrate mode are good to have I don't care how traditional you want to be...That is really the main reason I like a cellphone period...Oh and I also like it if my buddy calls to tell me a deer is heading my way so don't come out yet!
I carry mine all the time for the insurance.
Getting a IPHONE4S anybody have hunting apps for me? Nevwer had a smart phone. PM me if you do.
have it on vibrate mode. love interacting with buddies on everybodys situation. . behind the safety harness, its the number one "save yo arse" tool.... whether trad or not i'm going to have one in the tree/ground
Hello ... Hello ... "There is nothing wrong with your credit right now but press one at this time to see how to lower your interest rate."
Do not forget to go on the National do not call list and register your numbers.
I do carry one (contact with loved ones when to far for a hug etc.) and have it off until the hunt is done. It just would happen that you go to answer a call and you miss the seconds you needed to draw on the one appearing out of nowhere. I pray that all the calls you get are just notifications of all good things.
I always carry mine. I hunt alone a lot & it makes my wife happy. Had a couple of times it came in handy. Once my cat fell quite ill & my wife got ahold of me on the way to the vets. The other time I was hunting public land & trying to track down a Buck I jumped into a swamp. Well, I got turned around & could not find my way out. Took out the cell & mapped directions to a store about 4 miles away. The first leg of the driving directions was from where I was to the road. Followed the phone to the road.