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DIY hunting accessories and equipment

posted Jan 14, 2010 5:32 PM by Michael Freeman   [ updated Feb 13, 2010 2:59 PM ]
For us, building our own "tools" or finding the most cost efficient way to do something has always been a necessity. We personally are trying to do so many things throughout the year, between hunting, fishing, trapping, and scouting, that it costs a small fortune to keep up to date and equipped with the essential tools of the trade. We couldn't
possibly make it through the year without cutting a few corners, and for us saving money doesn't always mean sacrificing functionality or quality. There is a plethora of junk products out there that are outrageously overpriced and that, with a trip to your local hardware store or electronics store, you can have for a fraction of the cost.

In this article we attempt to point out to our readers some of the projects that we've discovered over the Internet that almost everyone can do at home or in their garage. We didn't invent any of this stuff, but we've successfully built and regularly use most of them.


Hunting

What: Duck butt feeder - Youtube 

Source: BoogyManOutdoors (youtube) and Bloodydecks.com
Retail cost: 99-120$
DIY cost: Around 60$

Description: The duck butt feeder or pulsator is basically a bilge pump that is fastened to the bottom of the plastic duck butt with a hose that comes off of the bilge pump, creating air bubbles around the duck butt to create a realistic looking feeding duck. The system is powered off a small 12v battery with an inline flasher to turn it on and off. A nice addition for anyones decoy spread. We've provided an alternative URL for this project that includes plans on how to fully enclose the battery in a waterproof box so that it can be submerged with the duck butt pulsator.



What: Digital E-Caller for predators

Source: Nodak Outdoors
Retail cost: 99-700$
DIY cost: Around 40$

Description: The model we choose to build involved purchasing an inexpensive speaker from an online retailer (don't get the one from Radio Shack, follow the instructions in the forum), hooking that up to an amplifier from Radio Shack, and then plugging a cheap MP3 player (or iPod) into the amplifier to playback prerecorded sounds found off of the Internet (http://www.western-rivers.com/downloads.html). All of this stuff, except the MP3 player, are stuffed into a large 72 ounce "big-gulp" insulated beverage mug that we purchased at a gas station for 3$. Check out the forum for more info, this is one of our favorites and is extremely effective. We've also found that by replacing the 9volt battery with an 8-AA 12v battery pack cranks out higher volume for those windy days. This is an extremely effective tool to call in predators, but can also be used for crow, snow geese, or whatever else is legal in your state.

What: Digital E-Caller for Snow Geese

Source: Nodak Outdoors
Retail cost: 400$+
DIY cost: 100-200$ - depends on how thrifty you are in finding the parts (craigslist!)

Description: This system is similar to the previous e-caller, except with a whole lot more juice and typically built with 2 to 4 speakers. This system uses a cheap automotive CD player, 2 to 4 speakers, a deep-cycle marine battery, some lumber, and plexiglass. There aren't a whole lot of commercial units available to do this, so most of the systems being used by top guides and snow geese hunters are based on this or a very similar design.





What: Shooting sticks

Source: Varmint Al's website
Retail cost: 30-100$
DIY cost: 5-15$

Description: This one is pretty self-explanatory, Varmint Al has been making his own hunting gear for a long time and has figured out some of the tricks of the trade. Check out the link we've provided for more information. These aren't the perfect substitute for a bi-pod, but it's definitely one of the cheapest.











What: Scent cover

Source: We're not exactly sure where this originated, but we discovered it on ArcheryTalk.com
Retail cost: 12-20$
DIY cost: 5-20$ - many of the ingredients you may already have in your home.

Description: While we haven't personally created this concoction, yet, we will be giving it a go next fall. The companies selling this stuff would like us to believe that there is a lot of science involved in the creation of these products, we think its a bunch of smoke and mirrors. It wouldn't surprise us if this is as effective or better than some of the commercial offerings out there.



What: Wind checker

Source: Defined Outdoors
URL: http://www.definedoutdoors.com
Retail cost: 4-8$
DIY cost: Around 2$

Description: Again, this is another product that is extremely simple to make at home, and we're almost positive that it's the same thing as what you could buy from a retailer. It's simple, buy a box of baking soda, stick it in a bottle that has a nozzle on it that can be closed, and you're done. We're not exactly sure about the cost of baking soda, but you can make 4-5 bottles of this stuff for the price you'd pay for 1 store bought wind checker. Sorry Primos!

What: Predator decoy

Source: Varmint Al's website
URL: http://varmintal.com/ahunt.htm - (scroll down to the part about the decoy)
Retail cost: 20-100$
DIY cost: 7$

Description: This project is based off of the Weasel Ball pet toy, it's easy to make at home, and will help bring you success when hunting the wiley coyote. Decoys are extremely effective when used with predator calling and can help distract incoming predators while you close the deal.





Misc.

What: boot dryer - can also be used for gloves and waders

Source: Wildsnow.com and Instructables.com
Retail cost: 80-200$
DIY cost: 20-40$

Description: We discovered this wonderful project after being completely dejected while shopping for commercial boot dryers - 80$ for a piece of plastic with a fan in it that can dry a pair of boots and gloves? Pffft, this DIY tutorial gives you instructions on how to build your own boot/wader/gloves drying box that has 6 tubes to dry 3 pairs of boots or gloves on, and with slightly larger PVC piping, can be used to dry waders as well.



Conservation

What: duck boxes

Source: Ducks Unlimited
Retail cost: unknown
DIY cost: 2-5$

Description: Building duck boxes is a fun and inexpensive way to help preserve our water-fowling heritage. Ducks Unlimited  has done a great job with the plans and we suggest you visit the link we've provided above to get started.












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