If you want to get into whitetail deer hunting, but you do not know what the best deer hunting products are you will need to have a successful harvest fast.
The whitetail deer hunting industry does not fail to offer thousands of products and product variations that can overwhelm even an advanced hunter.
Which products are the best? What products do you need? How do you make the best financial choice when purchasing some of the more expensive hunting products?
The answer to all these questions is unique to each individual hunter. However, in this article, I will be covering the 11 categories of products that I believe every whitetail deer hunter needs and then I will be adding the 11 best hunting products. 1 Product from each of the 11 categories. (Note all these products are a relatively affordable option but still a good gear list with high-quality products).
Best Deer Hunting Clothes
Clothing has no specific “best choice.” As a hunter, you will need many different articles of clothing that will suit your needs based on the time of year and weather conditions.
Best Base Layer of Clothing
A base layer is the layer of clothing that you wear underneath your outside camo. This layer is one of the most important parts of staying comfortable, warm, and in the tree stand longer. I recommend wearing Under Amour as it is meant to keep you extremely warm.
The base layer also helps reduce the amount of wind that you feel coming through your outer layer.
P.S. Merino wool socks work great for keeping your feet warm as well.
Best Outer Layer of Clothing
There is no best outer layer when it comes to hunting whitetail deer. The outer layer of your choice will be based on budget (Pay more, get a better piece of hunting clothes).
However, you do not need to have all Sitka gear to be able to stay warm and harvest mature whitetails. In fact, I like a different camo pattern than what Sitka (geared towards western hunters anyway) has to offer and I will always choose a better camo pattern over the most expensive piece of clothing.
The specific camouflage pattern that I like better than all the others on the market.
The camo pattern is called Strata by TruTimber.
This pattern combines two different concepts of break-up camo and digital camo.
Giving the hunter the maximum amount of versatility at all times of the hunting season. If you are like me and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on camouflage clothing, Strata by TruTimber is the way to go!
Learn More >>> Disappear with the Best Camo Patterns for Whitetail Deer Hunting
Best Deer Hunting Weapons
The weapon that you bring into the woods to hunt with is the most important piece of gear that you will own. If you do not have a weapon, you do not have the chance to have a successful hunt.
This is why you should not go cheap when it comes to choosing a hunting weapon. It will be the best hunting investment you can make.
However, the specific choice of weapon is up to you as a hunter. I started at a young age hunting with a .410 shotgun in the lower half of Michigan.
Yet, as I got older and started to bow hunt, I fell in love with bow hunting. There are years when I do not even take my 20-gauge shotgun into the woods. I just love to bow hunt. That is my weapon of choice. It is all about personal preference.
There are many differences between bow hunting and gun hunting. Each type of hunting has positives and negatives. Let’s discuss some of them.
Best Bow Hunting Products
As a bow hunter, you will be challenged to a much harder degree. There is no dodging the fact that an archery hunter has less capability to shoot farther distances across large open areas.
Nevertheless, the challenge of bow hunting, in my opinion, brings one of the biggest satisfactions that hunting can offer. The up close and personal experiences that you will have with the animals that you are hunting will bring more adrenaline, patience, nerves, and excitement than gun hunting.
If you have ever thought about getting into bow hunting, I would highly recommend you give it a try.
Learn More >>> How to Start Bow Hunting in 10 Easy Steps
Learn More >>> The Mental and Physical Benefits of Archery
Bow hunting will also require you to get a few more products to be able to successfully bow hunt whitetail deer. You will need a bow release, arrows, bow sight, stabilizer, peep sight, extra releases, and a few other products. New hunters interested in bow hunting, do not fear having to spend thousands of dollars just to try bow hunting. You can buy a used bow and used products within an affordable price range from Facebook groups, craigslist, or other online platforms.
It is also worth noting that if you are an avid hunter, bow hunting will give you the longest deer season to hunt for whitetail deer ranging from early season to late season.
Learn More >>> Best Archery Releases
Learn More >>> Scott Archery Pursuit Archery Release Review
Learn More >>> Trophy Ridge React H4 Bow Sight Review
Gun Hunting
Gun hunting opens more opportunities to harvest deer over open fields and in big woods. A gun can shoot farther distances than a bow. It is just a fact. These prime gun hunting spots tend to be easy access for casual hunters.
This is not a bad or good aspect of hunting whitetail deer with a gun. It just means that the way that you hunt will be slightly different than if you choose a bow as your weapon.
I like to bring my shotgun specifically on the opening day of gun season and opening weekend. I do this because, during the opening day of the gun season, there will be a hunter orange/blaze orange army of hunters headed into the woods to hunt for whitetail deer.
This causes the deer to become extremely pressured and frantic. With the pressure the deer will be running around looking for safety, you may get a good opportunity to harvest a whitetail deer.
Learn More >>> How to Hunt Opening Day of Gun Season
Learn More >>> 3 Gun Season Mistakes to Avoid
Now that you have a better idea of the weapon options that you have as a whitetail deer hunter, I want to tell you what the best weapons for deer hunting are for both bow hunters and gun hunters.
Best Weapon for a Bow Hunter
There are many options for bowhunters and truly the best product for you will depend on your experience, budget, and what type of bowhunting you want to do. In this section, we will cover each type of experience and budget that may fit you.
Best Bow for Serious Bow Hunters
When it comes to archery hunting, there are three top brands that are the real deal in the archery industry. The three brands of compound bows are Matthews, Prime Archery, Hoyt, and PSE. I currently shoot the 2019 PSE Evoke 31.
Best Bow for Beginner Bow Hunters
As far as beginning to archery hunt with a compound bow, a great start would be getting a “ready to hunt” bow package from Bear Archery. These bow packages come with all the necessary attachments for a compound bow at the most reasonable price. Bear Archery is also a great bow for a beginner because it is highly effective and can come with the necessary draw lengths for a full-grown man (30-inch draw length is normal maximum) and they are priced at a great value.
Learn More >>> 7 Beginner Tips on Archery
Best Crossbow for Deer Hunters
As a crossbow hunter, you have the luxury of using a gun-like bow for the entirety of bow hunting season. The best part of having a crossbow is that you can use it just like a gun which makes it much easier to harvest a whitetail deer.
With a crossbow, you take out the aspect of drawing back, holding at full draw for the perfect moment, and having to focus on many of the aspects of shooting a compound bow.
The top-performing crossbow on the market currently is made by TenPoint. They are a leader in creating the most compact and fastest crossbows for deer hunters.
This bow has many desirable features like the arrow range that you can ethically shoot a deer, ease of use, and eliminating the need for a discharge bag for your arrow after a hunt without a harvest.
Best Gun for Gun Hunting
As a gun hunter, you first have to check your State’s laws. I say this because in Michigan there are different boundaries where different guns are allowed. For example, in the lower half of the lower peninsula, you cannot use a deer rifle cartridge to hunt whitetail deer.
In the upper half of the lower peninsula and the upper peninsula, you can use a shotgun or deer rifle. To get around these laws, you can use a 450 Bushmaster which has a cartridge and shoots like a rifle but is usable anywhere.
I believe that this is the best choice for almost all hunters because it allows for versatility. If you choose to gun hunt, you will also want to get a quality rifle scope for your big game adventures.
Learn More >>> 3 Best Calibers for Whitetail Deer Hunting
Best Whitetail Deer Calling System
A calling system is part of my deer hunting gear essentials for whitetail hunters. Especially bowhunters that go through more whitetail phase changes during the hunting season. A good calling system only needs to be a rattling product and a grunt tube (preferably with different volumes and sounds).
The reason that a hunter will want to have a grunt tube with different tones and sounds is that different deer make different noises. Kind of like how a father, mother, and baby have different tones and different volumes.
A good rattling device is necessary for creating the most realistic fake fight between bucks. As many hunters do not use the rattling noise properly, mature bucks over time have become keen on the fake rattling. That is why it is important to get the most realistic-sounding rattling antlers and learn how to use them effectively.
Best Grunt Tube for Deer Hunters
My favorite grunt tube to use during all times of the hunting season is the Extinguisher by The Deer Society. This grunt tube features a completely integrated slide bar for buck grunts, doe grunts, and fawn bleats.
The Extinguisher also has a flexible tube with a rubber outing to ensure that you can direct the grunt in the direction needed and remain as quiet as possible. I prefer the Extinguisher because it is slim, quiet, and has everything you need to call whitetail deer within shooting range.
The Best Rattling Product for Deer Hunters
As whitetail deer hunters, we have many options when it comes to choosing rattling antlers. The three main choices are a rattling bag, artificial rattling antlers, and building your own rattling antlers using the shed antlers you have found.
I believe the best choice for a rattling product is artificial rattling antlers. These may be a bit bulkier than a rattling bag; however, you can create more realistic sounds by manipulating the way that you use them.
My choice for artificial rattling antlers is the Black Rack by The Deer Society. These artificial antlers are the most compact for packing in a good hunting pack with lots of pockets. They also create realistic sounds that a big buck will react to when used properly.
I highly recommend getting the entire Deer Society Calling System of the Extinguisher and the Black Rack.
Best Trail Camera / Game Camera
Let the heated debate begin. Cellular trail cameras or traditional trail cameras? I do not believe there is a wrong answer to this debate. I believe that both types of trail cameras have their own place in the trail camera market.
Trail cameras that use an SD card and require continuous checking, are a risk to your hunting success in highly pressured areas such as public lands or land shared by many people. When you walk through an area, you are leaving scent in the woods and specifically in areas that you most likely hope to hunt.
When hunting for mature bucks, just a whiff of a human scent can cause that buck to go almost completely nocturnal and severely decrease your odds of harvesting your target buck.
This is why if you are hunting in a heavily hunted area, I believe that cellular trail cameras are a better and more efficient way to receive real-time photos of whitetails without leaving scent in your hunting spot.
However, if you are hunting a piece of private land that you know like the back of your hand, then a normal game camera will do exactly what you need. Plus, you will not be missing out on much information because you have hunted that land prior. The best way to check these trail cameras is to have an extra SD card the first time you hunt that area.
As you are leaving, switch the SD cards and check your pictures when you get out of the woods. Depending on when you put these trail cameras in the woods, you should check your main spots once or twice a hunting season.
The Best Budget Trail Camera
If I had to choose a single trail camera that was under 100 dollars. I would choose Stealth Cam. These trail cameras offer good photos at a great price. They also have many settings to ensure that you are capturing your deer herd just how you would like.
The Best Cellular Trail Camera
I have never used cellular cameras in my hunting plan yet, I have only heard amazing things about the SpyPoint. They offer a good coverage plan and get a great signal even deep into the woods.
Best Stands/blinds/chairs for Deer Hunting
A hunter doesn’t necessarily NEED an elevation product to hunt whitetail deer. However, having a tree stand, ground blind, box blind, or even a chair can make hunting much more comfortable and can increase your chances of success.
No single tree stand will be perfect in every situation. This is because some tree stands are better for mobile hunting, and some are better for setting up and leaving in the woods. However, if you are looking for a singular tree stand for all your deer hunting adventures, then I would recommend getting a Lone Wolf Custom Gear Stand.
Lone Wolf Custom Gear Stands are designed to be the best mobile hunting setups on the market. They are compact, light, and easy to use. They offer many different sizes to fit your needs. I use the Lone Wolf Custom Gear 0.5 Public Land Stand.
These stands can be used for all your hunting with extra work to set them up and take them down every time you hunt. You can go from location to location without having to worry about getting your stands stolen or people hunting in your locations.
I use this stand for almost all my hunting because it is a one-time purchase and will save me money in the long run.
Learn More >>> Lone Wolf Custom Gear 0.5 Public Land Stand Review
As the population of mobile-style hunters is increasing, this tree stand is one of the best gear recommendations that I can give to you.
Best Binoculars for Deer Hunting
While whitetail deer hunting, you most likely will not be looking more than half a mile at a deer. This means that you do not need a spotting scope or an extremely expensive pair of binoculars.
The Vortex Diamondbacks are a great option with stability, accuracy, clarity, and a great lifetime warranty. I also use the Vortex Bino Pack to always have easy access to my optical system.
Best Gutting Kit after a Successful Harvest
A successful harvest does not end when an ethical and lethal shot is made. It ends once the meat that you harvested is served as a steak on the dinner table with your friends and family. To get to eat that deliciously lean meat, you will need to field dress or gut your deer. This requires a sharp stainless steel knife at the bare minimum.
However, a nice gutting kit will include a sharp stainless steel knife, a sharp gut-hook knife, and gloves to keep your hands as clean as possible (if you do not want your hands to be bloody, I personally do not care).
I like using the gutting kit from Outdoor Edge. The kit comes with extremely sharp blades that also have replacement blades to ensure that your blades are ready for every harvest. I also recommend getting a Butt Out 2 by Hunters Specialties to make the process of cleaning out the anus much easier and more time efficient.
After you are done gutting your deer, you can leave the guts, heart, lungs, liver, and any other excess insides in the woods. The leftovers will act as food for turkey vouchers, coyotes, crows, and many other small game animals.
Lastly, you will need to perform deer drags for each harvest, I love and recommend using a Jet Sled to drag all your deer out.
Learn More >>> How to Gut a Whitetail (Step-by-Step)
P.S. If you are looking to shoot some coyotes on your property, hunting over a gut pile at night is a great way to do it.
Best Scent Control System to Eliminate Human Odor
Scent control is a topic that all hunters that want to be successful need to take into consideration. Deer’s noses are their number one indicator of predators in the woods. They can smell more efficiently than a hound dog used by police officers.
There is no single product that is the best product for scent control. Rather, having the best routine of scent control practices will help you eliminate human odor starting with a shower and ending when you get in the tree stand.
Without a proper scent control system, you are far more likely to turn mature bucks nocturnal at the first or second hint of human odor they get a whiff of. This is especially prevalent on cold weather hunts when the deer’s sense of smell is heightened due to the crisp cool air.
The other beautiful aspect of scent control is that if you can get a group of does to walk near your stand and stay calm, this will increase the probability that more deer will feel comfortable around your stand.
One of the reasons that I will be switching my scent control routine to a more in-depth routine is that I want to have the best products on the market to increase my chances of harvesting a mature buck on public land.
This upcoming year, I will be using the Phaze System by The Deer Society.
The Phaze System by The Deer Society
Phaze 1: Scent-Free Body Wash
Phaze 1: Scent-Free Shampoo
Phaze 1: Scent-Free Conditioner
Phaze 2: Scent-Free Laundry Detergent
Phaze 3: Scent-Free Field Foam
The reason that I am choosing the Phaze System is because of their salon-grade quality products that are easier than many products on my sensitive skin. I also really like the idea of having field foam to apply to your face, hands, neck, and hair to reduce the number of particles escaping from your skin while on the stand.
If you are looking for the best gifts for a deer hunter, the Phaze 3: Scent-Free Field Foam is a great underrated product.
Lastly, before I head out to my hunting location, I like to spray my gear with Scent Killer Gold. This helped to eliminate any foreign odors that my gear may have picked up since my last hunt.
A unique scent control product that I discovered this past winter was the Scent Crusher Ozone Go Max. The Ozone Crusher is a car plug-in device that emits ozone and helps eliminate the scent from your car from the months before.
Learn More >>> 21 Best Scent Killers for Deer Hunters
Best Whitetail Deer Supplements
Deer supplements often are directly related to trying to grow bigger bucks in the area that you hunt. However, this is not the only reason to use deer supplements.
A doe needs the proper nutrients to have healthy pregnancies and healthy fawns. The supplement of nutrients can help the does and increase the overall health of the deer herd in your area.
Bucks will most likely grow bigger antlers within a few years of using deer supplements on your hunting property as well. Yet, the antler growth is not directly related to the mineral or deer supplements. Having the proper food sources for deer all year long also plays a big role in overall herd health.
This leads us right to the reason that food plots, when done properly, can be an extremely effective way to grow the bucks, make a healthier herd, and consistently shoot deer.
Food Plots
Food plots can be a great way to manipulate mature bucks, keep the deer herd healthy throughout the winter, and be a great spot for summer scouting. There are many different types of food plots to use depending on your hunting property needs.
As an example, if you are interested in holding deer in the winter, you will need a winter food plot.
I must admit, I am not a great resource yet for advice on food plots. I plan to become more knowledgeable on the topic in the future when I own my own land. I do want to share my experience with food plots and how they can be beneficial.
Ambush Plots
An ambush plot is a small food plot near the main food source that has good ground cover for security surrounding the plot. These types of plots will be used as staging areas for mature bucks. They will be able to watch the main food source and ensure that it is safe to enter.
The one year that I planted a food plot in the corner of the woods surrounded by standing corn, I had the biggest 9 points that I have ever seen walk through the food plot. Sadly, I was just getting into my stand and did not get a shot. That’s my bad for not getting into the stand well before the first light.
Learn More >>> Best Whitetail Deer Attractants
Best Whitetail Deer Hunting Apps
Hunting mobile apps have become all the rage in the past 5 years as satellite imagery, topographic maps, and land ownership information has become more accessible to the public. Yet, the truth about all these apps is that they are not the end all be all to hunting whitetail deer.
If you are a public land whitetail hunter or looking for new private land to hunt, then a hunting app is exactly what you need.
There are three hunting apps that are on the market that I believe stand out as leaders in the market today. They are ONX, Huntstand, and Huntwise. These apps offer everything you need for mapping and land information; however, there is one that I believe stands out as the best whitetail deer hunting app on the market.
Learn More >>> 3 Best Whitetail Deer Hunting Apps
Conclusion of the 11 Best Deer Hunting Products
As this article comes to an end, I want to acknowledge that these products do not harvest deer, you do! The 10 best deer hunting products that were listed in this article will only further your success or shorten the learning curve of how to effectively hunt whitetail deer.
Always remember there is no shortcut when it comes to consistently harvesting whitetail deer. It takes hard work and dedication.
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