See the Best Gear for Deer Hunting

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Depending on where you live, deer season is either right around the corner or it’s already here. Either way, there’s still time to load up on new gear to make this season your best one yet. Whether you’re in the market for a new gun or bow or are looking for a scope or your next favorite knife, you’ll find something in this roundup to enhance your time spent in the deer woods this fall.

Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner

Benchmade might call this handsome fixed-blade knife a skinner, but trust us when we say it’s up for any game processing task, as well as any number of camp chores. The 4.2-inch drop-point blade is made of laser-cut S90V stainless, a steel that can take a beating yet retain its edge for a good long while between touch-ups. The handle scales are Richlite, a durable, multi-layer paper composite material (not wood) that just gets better with time. The Saddle Mountain Skinner comes with an orange-and-black Boltaron thermoplastic sheath for safe-keeping between cutting duties. MSRP: $280

Riton 5 Primal 3–18x50

With a generous magnification range, a light-hungry objective lens and an excellent first-focal-plane reticle, Riton’s 5 Primal is an extremely versatile scope for a wide range of deer hunting venues, from the beanfields to the timber. The reticle, which features six red illumination intensities, appears as a simple duplex reticle at low power for quick target acquisition at close range. At high power, an array of holdovers and hashmarks are revealed to enable long-range shots no matter the wind conditions. The 2-pound scope is built on a robust 34 mm tube and features Riton’s High Density glass (boasting an advertised light transmission of 99.5 percent) and the brand’s patent-pending Dual Throw Lever System for quick magnification adjustments. MSRP: $999.99

Savage Axis 2

The Axis 2 represents one of the best bargains in the centerfire deer rifle market. Its ergonomic stock comes to bear quickly and easily, enabling confidence in your shot no matter the distance. The Axis 2 also features Savage’s excellent bladed Accu-Trigger, which is user-adjustable from 2.5 to 6 pounds. A redesigned, diamond-shaped bolt handle knob allows for superb user control no matter the conditions. The rifle features a detachable box magazine and a two-piece Weaver-style scope base. It’s available in full-size and compact models (both right- and left-handed), a variety of colors and a wide range of popular chamberings, including .223 Rem., .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 and straight-walled calibers like .350 and .400 Legend. MSRP: $489

Polaris Ranger XP 1000 NorthStar

Whether you’re looking for a UTV to help with habitat work or just need a rig to get around your hunting property, the Ranger XP 1000 NorthStar is built to get the job done. It has an 82-horsepower ProStar engine than provides a whopping 2,500 pounds of towing capacity. Its wireless remote-operated 4,500-pound winch system features a synthetic rope, which won’t rust like a steel cable will. The 29-inch, 8-ply Pro Armor X-Terrain tires provide 14 inches of ground clearance. Depending on the trim package you select (there are three), creature comforts include a full-glass tip-out windshield, heating and air conditioning, powered front windows, a JBL audio system, a 7-inch display, a rear camera, USB charging ports and more. Each trim package comes in both 3- and 6-seat models. MSRP: $27,999–$35,999

Nosler Whitetail Country

This centerfire ammo line is offered in eight popular whitetail calibers: 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win., .30-06, .30-30 Win., .350 Legend and .45-70 Govt. The latter two are loaded with Nosler’s Straight-Wall bullet, which is designed for reliable, deadly expansion at the slower velocities characteristic of those calibers. The other six feature Nosler’s boat-tail Solid Base bullet, with a tapered jacket and heavy base that enable excellent penetration and expansion at extended ranges. The Solid Base bullet loaded in the .30-30 round features a round-nose profile, while the other Solid Base loads feature a bullet with a Spitzer profile. MSRP: $34.95–$39.95/20 rounds

First Lite Navigator

When it comes to comfort on stand, a quality mid-layer that can also serve as an outer layer is essential. Especially early in the season, when frosty mornings can give way to warm afternoons, a garment like the Navigator Hoody can help keep you focused on the task at hand without having to shed layers. The Navigator’s stretch-woven fabric is designed to turn back wind and weather while remaining quiet and allowing for ample freedom of movement. Meanwhile, a fleece lining both traps warmth while you’re sitting on stand and expels it while you’re moving. A fleece-lined kangaroo pocket keeps your trigger finger warm and ready to work. MSRP: $200

Bowtech Virtue

Weighing a wispy 3.7 pounds, the Virtue is as bombproof as it is lightweight. Much of the weight savings is attributed to the AeroMag magnesium riser, which is lighter than aluminum yet stronger and stiffer. Additionally, titanium fasteners help shave ounces while providing strength and durability. On top of all that, a Cerakote finish promises resistance to scratches, nicks and gouges as well as weather. The Virtue is available in 50-, 60- and 70-pound draw weights, has a 32-inch axle-to-axle length, an adjustable draw length of 25 to 30 inches, a brace height of 6.19 inches and a top speed of 341 feet per second. Cam and timing adjustments are DIY thanks to the brand’s innovative DeadLock and TimeLock technologies. MSRP: $1,999

SpyPoint Flex Dark

The Flex Dark has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern cellular trail camera, though perhaps the most compelling feature (and the reason for the word “dark” in the name) is the ability to switch between low-glow and no-glow LEDs right from the SpyPoint app. Among the app’s other features are Buck Tracker AI for filtering photos and videos, and a GPS locator so you always know where your camera is. The 40-megapixel Flex Dark is capable of recording 1080p video, has a .3-second trigger speed and a detection range out to 100 feet. Dual-SIM technology enables the camera to automatically connect to whatever cellular network is strongest on your property. A version that includes an integrated solar panel, the Flex-S Dark, is also available. MSRP: $119.99

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• This article was featured in the September 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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