I’m a small-framed bowhunter with a beat-up Subaru and a stubborn streak. I hunt public land. I camp out of Rubbermaid bins. And yes, I love a good spreadsheet. That’s why I signed up for Do It Yourself Hunter, the paid site, not a random forum. I wanted real help with maps, plans, and checklists. I used it on three trips this past year. I’ve got the sore feet to prove it. If you want the unfiltered version—mud, maps, and real talk—I laid the whole story out in a separate field report over at Service Center Team.
So, did it help? Short answer: mostly yes. Long answer? Pull up a chair. This gets fun.
What This Thing Is (and what it isn’t)
It’s a subscription site with videos, state pages, gear lists, and map pins you can load into OnX or BaseMap. There are hunt plans too. Think step-by-step, but not hand-holding. More like, “Here’s a path. Now go.”
No, it won’t make elk walk to your tent. And it won’t fix your shooting form. But it gave me a plan when my brain felt like trail mix.
Trip 1: Colorado OTC Elk — Wind, Thermals, and One Loud Squirrel
I followed their “early September elk” plan. I used their e-scouting steps with OnX and Google Earth. I marked two north-facing slopes, a water pocket, and a bench for midday beds. The site’s video on thermals clicked for me. Warm air goes up, cool air falls. Simple, but I needed that reminder.
Day 1: I called too much, like a talk-show host. A bull barked back and then faded. The plan said, “Call less; move smart.” So I did. Day 2, I slipped in at gray light. I hung back 60 yards. I let the herd settle, then did a soft cow call. The bull came silent. I never shot—he winded me at the last second. My heart went nuts. But the setup was right, and that was a win. You know what? I’ll take that.
One tiny thing I loved: their checklist made me pack Leukotape — if you’ve never used it, check out this trail-tested deep dive. I taped a hot spot on my heel at camp. No blister. Saved my hunt.
Trip 2: Nebraska Public Turkey — A River Bend and a Cheap Decoy
Their turkey page had roost patterns and mid-morning moves. I pulled their sample map pins and tweaked them. I walked a river bend with cottonwoods. Soft yelps. A tom circled wide. I used a $15 foam hen decoy with a bent stake—very classy. The plan said, “Angle your decoy a bit off your setup.” That shifted his line. He came in quiet, like a ghost in sneakers. I filled my tag. Clean and quick.
DIY gear rabbit holes seem to follow me; earlier this year I even cobbled together a home grow tent and shared what actually worked for anyone chasing fresh greens between seasons.
Also, their legal summary flagged a small no-hunting strip near a trail lot. The OnX line looked fuzzy, but the site note warned me. That little note kept me from a ticket. Big deal for me.
Trip 3: Ohio Whitetail — Saddles, Scrapes, and Cold Hands
I’m new to saddles. The site had a simple “first sits” video. It explained wind cones and buck travel in plain words. No chest thumping. Early November, I set up on the downwind side of a pinch with a mock scrape nearby. A young buck cruised by at 9:47 a.m. I let him walk. Later, a heavier deer dogged the same line, nose down. I fumbled a glove and spooked him. My bad. Still, the plan put me in the right tree on the right day. That matters.
Oh, and their hot tip about mid-day sits in light pressure areas? That was real. I saw two does at noon, which never happens for me.
Speaking of road miles, my whitetail loop had me crossing central Pennsylvania’s I-99 corridor during the rut. If you tag out early and want a low-key, hunter-friendly overnight that won’t judge the mud on your boots, drop a pin on Tryst Altoona—the page spells out late-check-in options, secure parking, and budget-minded room rates so you can crash, regroup, and be back on the road before first light.
Stuff I Liked
- The checklists are clean. Not bloated. I stopped forgetting small things, like stove fuel and spare headlamp batteries.
- The videos explain terms fast. Thermals. Draw odds. Glassing angles. No fluff.
- The state pages feel current enough. Seasons, tag notes, and little “watch out” bits, like tricky access roads after rain.
- The map pins saved me two days of guesswork. I still moved them, but it gave me a start.
If you geek out on tactical breakdowns, case studies, and gear experiments the way I do, take a spin through Just Bang’s hunting blog—its straight-shooting articles deliver additional DIY strategies, budget gear reviews, and season-specific playbooks that can sharpen your next hunt before you ever leave the driveway.
Stuff That Bugged Me
- Offline videos stuttered on my phone. I had to re-download in town. Not fun at 5 a.m. in a gas station lot.
- Some map pins felt generic, like “north slope = elk.” True, but too broad in thick timber. I had to refine.
- A few gear recs leaned pricey. Great packs, sure. But I ran a used Kifaru frame and a Walmart cooler. It worked.
- One state draw note felt dated by a year. Not a deal breaker, but I cross-checked with the state site and goHunt.
Small Digression: Women’s Fit, Please
I’m 5’4”. Short torso. The pack fit tips helped, but I’d love more advice for small frames and lighter pull weights. Calling with a big bugle tube also gets awkward for me. A little more “small hunter” content would be gold.
What I’d Tell a Friend
- Use the plan, then trust your eyes. Fresh sign beats an old pin every time.
- Call less. Move more. The elk video says it. It’s right.
- Print the checklist. Put it in a gallon bag. Mark it with a Sharpie at camp.
- Download maps twice. Phone and GPS. Airplane mode eats less battery.
- Expect to “fail” day 1. You’re learning the land. That’s the hunt.
Real Gear I Used (that paired well)
- OnX for lines and notes; Google Earth for slope and shade.
- Vortex Diamondback 10×42. Not fancy. Clear enough.
- Phelps EZ cow call and a small bugle tube.
- A saddle setup with a simple two-step aider and lineman’s rope. Keep it tidy.
- Leukotape and a tiny blister kit — GearJunkie even calls it the "friction blister answer". Boring, but it saves trips.
Because I can’t leave well enough alone, I also pieced together a backyard watering setup to keep my veggies alive while I’m off chasing tags—yes, it actually works and it cost less than a tag refund.
If any of that gear fails mid-season, the Service Center Team can turn around repairs faster than most big-box warranty loops.
Price and Value
I paid for the year. After three hunts, I got my money’s worth. Could you piece this info from free YouTube? Some of it, sure. But here it’s organized. Less noise, more go. For a busy parent like me, that counts.
The Verdict
Do It Yourself Hunter won’t hunt for you. It will cut the noise, point you at smart spots, and keep your pack honest. I made better plans, wasted less gas, and sat better trees. I still blew stalks. I still learned the hard way. But my days felt tight, not random.
Would I renew? Yes. I already did. And I kept the tape in my kit—because sore heels don’t care how tough you act.
You going this season? Print your list. Trust the wind. And when that squirrel screams at you for no reason—smile. You’re close.