Wood or stag knife handles are pretty, but handles of Kraton or a similar high-tech rubber are better for fieldwork on game. You can grip a rubber handle securely and tightly, even in wet or bloody conditions. This ensures better cuts on an animal, and there’s less chance a blade will slip and slice your finger. For all-around field care, a stainless-steel blade with a slight drop-point design is excellent. Whether you prefer a fixed-blade or folder, try one with a “gut hook” (picture) which works great for field-dressing a deer. Most people buy knives online these days, but for serious deer hunting I recommend you go to Cabela’s or Bass Pro and hand-test several blades before you buy. Some [...]

In recent years, I’ve spent a little extra money to upgrade all my hunting gear, and I hunt better and safer for it. The housing of the Fenix HM65R headlamp I now use for deer hunting is built of a serious quality, black magnesium alloy. It’s strong, lightweight, and even waterproof to 2m. The 2 lights—a large spot with clear lens and a smaller flood with diffuser lens—have individual on/off buttons, and can be used independently, which is practical in most hunting situations. With an easy press of a button, you can engage 4 output levels on the spotlight; at the highest output, it’s a published 1000 lumens of light, which in layman’s term is very, very bright. Three flood [...]