Homemade Hunting Equipment

Homemade hunting equipment can be customized to your hunting style.

Many accessories are available to today's hunter, but these accessories can add up in price. Homemade versions are not only more affordable but provide a unique opportunity to customize equipment to match your individual hunting style. Hunters can be very innovative, and the choices for homemade equipment are endless. Examples of a few pieces of essential equipment for any hunter are a wind checker, trail markers and pull-up rope.

Things You'll Need

• 35 mm film canister
• Cotton balls
• Clothes pins
• Reflective tape
• 3/8 inch nylon rope
• Carabiner

Instructions

1. Cut a small hole in the bottom of a 35 mm film canister and fill it with cotton balls. Punch two small holes in the side of the canister and weave a small rope or shoestring through so you can attach the canister to your pack or belt. Use the canister as a wind checker as you pull small pieces of cotton from the canister to check wind direction.

2. Cut the reflective tape into small strips measuring 1/2 inch by 3 inches. Place the strips of tape on both sides of clothes pins. The reflective clothes pins will serve as trail markers. Place the reflective clothes pins on the trail leading into and out of a stand location. Use enough trail markers, based on the density of vegetation, so you can always see a marker from any position on the trail.

3. Buy 30 feet of 3/8 inch nylon rope and tie a knot on both ends around a carabiner. Burn the edges of the rope to prevent fraying. The carabiners are used in the field to quickly and securely hook your equipment to the rope. Look for rope in camouflage, green or brown to match the colors of the woods. Using a pull-up rope when hunting out of a treestand is a great way to safely and effectively bring your gear from the ground to the stand.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different measurements and specifics on the equipment.

• Field test the equipment several times before the season.

• Always use homemade equipment with caution.

References

• Bowhunter
• Petersen's Bowhunting