Pac8541

Appreciate all the interest and PM's. Sold this to Bradaet about a half hour ago. Hop he kills something delicious with it!

This scope up for sale. Came with a rifle I bought and the magnification range is far more than I need. Specs: 6.5-20 mag range. 56mm objective. 1/10th moa adjustment in windage and elevation turrets (low profile, cap protected). Side parallax knob. Simple duplex reticle (NON-illuminated). 30mm tube. 14.6" OAL. 24oz total weight. Glass is in excellent condition, very good low light performance. This scope has Leupold's cut out section on the forward scope bell which enables it to be mounted lower to the rifle while still having a large objective lens. There's a tear in the rubber ring that surrounds the ocular lens but is cosmetic only; as an alternative, the rubber ring is attached to a screw-on collar that can be completely removed from the eyepiece. Comes with Talley ring set with "McMillan" stamped into the ring foot (unless you don't want them; if that's the case I'll keep them for the next optic). SOLD.

Giving the Cutthroat 150s a try this year, my hunt starts in 11 days. Got 'em razor sharp after stropping this evening. Cut my finger and didn't even notice until it wouldn't stop bleeding. Fly like darts too.

Foo Fighters. All of it.

I think cactusjack pretty much nailed everything I thought after reading your post. I will also agree with CouesWhitetail regarding a bivy. I went floorless this year and picked up a bivy to help protect my non-drydown, down bag. One of the best investments I made out of everything. I chose the Borah Gear Snowyside bivy which is waterproof nylon on the bottom and eVent on top. Saved my bag from condensation in a single wall Supertarp, saved my bag during the rather wicked storm that blew through the Monday before Thanksgiving, and added warmth to a 12* bag when temps got quite a bit colder than I expected. And relative to other eVent bivvies, this one was reasonably priced and super light. Only downside is the ridiculously small zipper pulls.

I'll add to the above with this: after spending 13 days living solo out of a tent in 22N and having nothing physically tangible to show for my efforts, I am convinced more than ever that these are among the most accurate and consistent broadheads I've ever shot. I spent many afternoons during the first week, a time when I was basically car camping, shooting my Rhinehart out to 60yds. That's the max my pins allow the way I have them set and really, my max given the slow speeds I'm shooting (relatively speaking). They just fly fantastically for me and I'm very pleased with them. I'm sure there are many, many broadheads out there that equal the performance but these hit all the boxes for me, everything that I find important. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Bought this based on a review that said it'd fit a Spot Hogg sight. It doesn't. The threaded part is slightly larger than the hole in my wrapped pin guard. At least I paid for 3-day shipping.... Brand new and unused. Replaced it already with an Accel light and I like the switch on this one better so if it fits your sight, its yours minus shipping and tax. $15. http://www.lancasterarchery.com/axion-adjustable-blue-sight-light.html

You're still getting the sharp edge on both sides of the broadhead. The bevel or ground part of each edge is only on one side of the blade so each edge winds up looking like a wedge instead of a pyramid. The benefit according to the Ashby reports is the spin or twisting motion that kind of grind imparts to the arrow. It acts like fletching, to a degree, both in flight and after impact with tissue and bone. Penetration and wound channel are both increased. On the other hand, Ray at VPA stated that they don't believe in them. He added that the bevel on only one side of the blade creates an imbalance of forces within the steel making it weaker overall relative to a double bevel head like theirs. He said its all hype and in no way can a single bevel head outperform their 2-blade penetrators. I have no reason to doubt the guy but wanted to see for myself, not that I'm going to destructively test them against each other. Ray said we'd never see a single bevel head with the VPA name on it but apparently we can with the RMS name. Both 150gr VPA head and this cutthroat fly great outta my bow. I just wanted to give this a try.

Honestly though, these things fly great out of my non-speedy Energy 35. They sharpen up fairly easily too, even with a rather old and imprecise Lansky sharpener. Total arrow weight is coming in at about 485 with very good FOC.

First time trying a single bevel and ran into these in particular after reading all the Ashby reports. That led to multiple searches on various forums which turned up the "Cutthroat" name repeatedly. I wound up in a long conversation with Tommy at RMS Gear and that, combined with a sort-of confirmation from Ray at VPA, turned up the fact that these are produced for RMS by VPA. I've been using VPA heads for a while now and love their 2-blades. Seemed like a no-brainer to go this route if I wanted to see if the single bevel thing lived up to the hype. I say all this because although I do think Aron Snyder is quite the stud hunter, I'm not some kind of fanboy where everything guys like he and Cameron Hanes needs to be absolutely replicated in my load out. They definitely know what time it is and offer a lot to learn but here's my deal: I pack and live out of Kifaru stuff, wear Kuiu, supplement with Wilderness Athlete, and walk in Scarpa. Wow... did that sound defensive. I may have a problem. Sorry jaymzth007.

D@mnit!!

I have the same rod in a 9' 6wt, I'd be happy to trade. Lemme know what you think.

A little exploratory surgery this morning looking for a water leak has left me with about a 2'X3' hole in my kitchen ceiling right around a can light. Anyone do this kind of work or know someone good? Not an emergency but I'd like to get it patched up.

The last 2 yrs I've chosen to hike and fish up and down the Dolores River Valley and its tributaries, with short detours to the Animas and San Juan. I've documented each of those here previously and shared the photos which I hope hasn't come across as pretentious. These specific trips are priceless for me and I thank God for granting me not only the physical ability to do it but also a loving and understanding woman who supports the spiritual nature of it. This year I ventured out a bit more, hitting Cascade Creek off the Animas and a smaller creek that was recommended by a guide friend in the area. Both were significant distances outside of my "home waters" but well worth the effort. Day 1 I rode the train south out of Silverton and jumped off at the Cascade stop. I spent 4 days in that canyon covering a total of 16 miles and making some risky moves down steep slopes to tag the irresistible pools at the bottom. The exposure, environment, and circumstances made it epic: solitary, remote, and used as an overall strength test of my body following a shoulder replacement 5 months prior. Four days later I was hiking back out to meet the train back to Silverton and a move to the next piece of water. Catching the train was in itself epic after misunderstanding the schedule I was given when I bought the ticket. Barely made it, sh!t hanging out of my pack, no shirt on, and losing the lower section of a trekking pole in the process. Awesome show for the passengers... not so much for me. Travelled through Ouray, Ridgway, and into Telluride where the town was filling up for another damned festival and concert. I've learned to avoid that town over the weekends in the summer and this one caught me off guard. What a cluster. Pitched camp at 10200 south of town and weathered a good storm over the weekend with lots of wind and rain. The supertarp performed spectacularly. Hit a couple more creeks/rivers including the San Miguel and Dolores but the best one by far of the whole trip was on a tip I'd gotten from a guide buddy in Telluride last summer. Gonna keep that to myself but it was exactly why I do this every fall: gin clear water, 8000+ feet in elevation, gorgeous cutties stacked in low water pools and taking dries like it was there job (I guess it kinda is). Headed south through Dolores on Tues the 4th; still one of the toughest decisions I make all year. The only casualty this year was a broken tip on a glass 3wt. Thankfully it was a day after I fished that rod all day long. One day in the near future I'll be headed south to visit instead of the other way round. Terrific trip and one I will cherish for the rest of my life due to some unique details about this run that harken back to my youth. Gear list: Kifaru Argali pack, guide lid, and assorted pockets. Kifaru Supertarp and annex. Borah Gear Snowyside bivy sack. Scott M884 4wt and F2 723 3wt rods. Abel Super 3N and Ross Colorado LT reels. Rio Light Line on both. Firtslite Corrugate guide pants, Uncompahgre vest, Dobson boxers, and Triad socks. Kuiu Chugach rain gear, Kenai jacket, and gaitors. Black Diamond trekking poles. Primus micro lantern. DeLorme inReach Explorer. Scarpa boots. Wilderness Athlete drink mixes and Altitude Advantage. 1994 Jeep YJ with 260K miles on the original engine!

Here's some photos of the Argali: nothing in it, all 6 side compression straps tight, and the fold down snow collar buckled to the vertical straps. Access to the interior, whether to retrieve gear or stuff it inside is as simple as releasing these side release buckles. Doing so allows the bag to expand immediately. You can then adjust the tightness of the straps when you're done. It gets very flat. I left the belt pouches on in the photos because that's how I plan to run it in day hunt mode. As far as hanging a bladder, there isn't a dedicated loop in the pack nor is there a pouch that comes with it for that purpose. However, I have a water bladder pouch from an old Zulu and Pointman that attaches like the chamber pockets: the 3-bar slider that fits through the plastic thingies at the top. I used that for a bladder when I take one. A hanging meat bag works the same way and I'm considering using it inside the pack WHEN I kill something beginning 11 Nov.

As I sit here late tonight, sipping my favorite scotch whisky and going through photos (again) of my recent fall fishing trip to the San Juans, I find myself contemplating a lot of the equipment that is new to me this year. I posted photos and a brief trip report in the "Fishing" forum and included a gear list. Most of that was new this year, purchased after identifying shortcomings from last year's trip and my late hunt last Nov. I've been gearing up for both trips again this year, all year long. I was fortunate to draw the same hunt again this Nov and used this fishing trip as a shakedown run for living out of a tent again about a month from now. This is not intended as a review, as if I'm someone special. I'm not. Just a regular blue collar guy who chooses to prioritize his wants/needs according to my budget and how much time I have to save for each adventure. But, my hope here is that anyone on the fence about a piece of gear that I've taken a risk on will hopefully find this helpful before dropping a big chunk of hard earned money. Not many of us see it flowing like water. Kifaru Supertarp: I've been a Kifaru guy for a very long time. Used their packs in combat 10 yrs ago, took one through multiple military and police schools over the years, and trust their products without question. I've wanted to try a floorless shelter having never done so before so this year I pulled the trigger. In a word: spectacular. While I sacrificed some headroom over my 2 person Black Diamond tent, I came to realize the amount I enjoyed in the tent was roughly equal to what I get out of the Supertarp; its just all at one end. I'm not a big/tall guy: 508 and 170lbs. I still found my head brushing the fabric in the ST on a regular basis. Even though all the headroom is at the door end, the amount of interior space has probably quadrupled over my tent. The actual amount of square footage in a ST depends on how you pitch it. I pitched my all the way to the ground every night because it was a bit cold and there was rain in the forecast just about every afternoon. With the canyons I was in, I wanted the protection from channeled wind. My final 3 nights were at 10200' and exposed. The winds I experienced there were nothing short of epic. I left my wind meter at home but I'd estimate sustained 30+ mph with gusts to 50. Other than it pushing through where the annex meets the side of the tarp (where there is no attachment between the 2 anyway), I was completely secure inside and had no collapsing or billowing inside. And this is with it pitched with the annex windward. I didn't stake at every loop hoping to get some ventilation. That worked for the most part but I still got condensation inside. I'm not sure that's entirely avoidable unless I pitch the edges well off the ground. Seam sealed the whole deal prior to leaving and apparently I did a good job because nothing got in. I was particularly amazed at how fast and easily it went up. Finding a flat enough and large enough piece of ground took far more time than pitching. The annex (doorway) is pretty awesome in that its not an integral part of the shelter. This allows you to leave it behind if you don't need it. But, the opening is still pretty small particularly since the whole thing needs a pole or stick to support that end of the tent. Crawling in and out is still required and feels cramped. If I were to add a stove to this equation that would restrict entry/exit to one side of the tarp. I found this issue the most noticeable of any possible downfalls in its use. Pros: super light weight, highly versatile, VERY stable in the wind, totally waterproof, very simple and easy to pitch quickly. FYI: the Supertarp, annex, bivy sack, and 10 stakes all fit nicely in a large Kifaru belt pouch. Cons: Condensation is guaranteed if pitched to the ground, limited headroom, door feels a bit small with a pole supporting the tent in the center of the opening, still requires crawling into and out of. Kifaru Argali pack, Guide Lid, and Duplex Hunting frame: This purchase was an upgrade from last year where I ran a last gen duplex frame and Nomad pack. I wanted something simpler and less strappy and this pretty much hit the proverbial nail squarely. Its a big pack with 7000cu.in. inside but I found last Aug during another backpack fishing trip that I needed every cubic inch of what the Nomad had to offer when packing waders and boots. This was the tipping point for me in the Argali vs. the Markhor. Its lightweight relative to other Kifaru bags but with that comes sacrifice and compromise. The Argali is a downsized seabag: no zippers, pouches, or slots. Its a top-loader only which wasn't a big deal to me having been a Marine my whole life and living out of a seabag for extended periods of time. The top of the bag closes with a drawstring but has buckles sewn in to fold over and use as a lid. The compression straps are very well designed in that they don't compress the front of the bag so much as the sides. Compression across the front still happens but by placing the buckles along the sides of the frame, it allows me to capture fly rod tubes and trekking poles without it affecting the whole bag as much. Well thought out, rugged, and very functional. Not much more I can ask of a backpack. The Guide Lid was a tough decision for me. I didn't think I would need an additional 1200cu.in. over the Argali but, man am I glad I did. This thing made the perfect day pack for a day's long hike from one part of a river to the next. It held my rain gear, lunch, and a full sized nalgene bottle every time I wandered off. Whatever empty space existed in it while on my pack was sucked up by the vertical compression straps that secured the lid. Very versatile and probably the best decision I made with regard to the overall pack configuration. Had the previous generation Duplex frame with the Nomad, this version is an improvement. I don't know that its that much better than an older generation to warrant replacement, but it is better. The torso pads are a bit softer and more comfortable over the long haul. The ability to move the load lifters will, I'm sure, prove to be a benefit although for this trip it wasn't necessary. Shoulder strap adjustment for torso length is much easier than previous models. The belt fits like they all have: outstanding. I don't believe there is a better frame for hauling weight than this one but admittedly, I have no experience with Kuiu, Stone Glacier, or any of the other high end hunting packs. I just don't know how it could get better. Pros: Argali - Less expensive relative to other Kifaru bags, enormous capacity, light weight, simple design, integral lid, great side compression straps. Guide Lid - great versatility, very useful design, good fit and lines that compliment the pack, not too big. Duplex Hunting Frame - More comfortable than previous generations, unmatched load hauling ability, best belt in the business, modular and able to adapt to different missions. Cons: Argali - top loader only, at 7000cu.in. you might be tempted to fill the whole thing regardless of trip requirements. Guide Lid - on the verge of too much volume, physically large and can overpower a smaller pack or half-filled larger pack. Duplex Hunting Frame - expensive, heavier than other options. Borah Gear Snowyside bivy: Picked this up because I was paranoid about condensation with my down bag. Its fully waterproof on one side, eVent fabric on the other. Zips across the width then down one side a couple feet. The first couple nights I put my sleeping pad inside but slept on top of the bivy, figuring I could slip inside if necessary. The rest of the trip I put the bag inside and used the bivy the way its supposed to be used. Totally loved this thing. Its super light, totally waterproof on the bottom, and uses the current front runner in breathability on its top. It was very comfortable and added a few degrees to the warmth of my bag. There were nights it got into the 20's and that was a big benefit, even with a 12* bag. I asked a bunch of questions via email with John at Borah Gear and he was super helpful and got it to me within 2 weeks of ordering. The bivy is long and wide even though I ordered the regular sized bag. My sleeping pad was swimming in it and slid around a lot. While I may try doing something with velcro to affix the pad to the bivy in the future, it was also nice to have the room inside with my sleeping bag to bend my knees and move around. I found that staking the bivy to the ground prevented some of the bivy's migration throughout the night. Stitching is first rate but I did manage to split one seam in a very minor fashion when trying to move the whole thing while I was inside. No big deal, I think anything would have suffered the same damage based on the way I was scooting around. Pros: Super light weight, decent price relative to other options, good value given the event fabric when compared to others using the same, zero condensation inside the bivy, zero leakage or wet through on the bottom, GREAT customer service. Cons: Slippery inside and out causing both pad to slide around inside and bag to migrate throughout the night, zipper pulls are super small requiring 550 cord to make it more convenient. Firstlite Corrugate Guide Pants and Dobson Aerowool boxers: The only thing I didn't like about the pants, at least initially, was the color. I was stuck with the pine color because tan was sold out and I didn't want camouflage. Unless I'm in the woods, I feel a bit silly wearing this color. Its super green; not at all an olive drab or ranger green. If I lay down in center field I'm gonna look legless. LOVE the pocket layout. The cargo pockets on each leg were awesome and secure. I'm truly a 32x30 but generally like my pants a bit long and ordered the medium size. The fit was pretty much perfect allowing it to stack on my boots a bit, not ride up to my calf while climbing, yet stay out of the water/mud when walking. Very good stretch in the fabric and water beads off it too. Temperature-wise I can see these getting a bit warm in higher temps. They were thicker than I expected but with highs in the 60's the week I was there, I never found them sweaty. Summer time in Phx I'd say these are a no-go. The hand pockets are deep which keeps things from falling out. And style is pretty bad a$$; when I get a tan pair or 2 I'll pretty much be wearing these nonstop. Dobson boxers - I bought these in a size small after hearing all the negativity about mediums (which is my normal size) being too big in the butt and legs. I wear boxer briefs for a reason and its not to have them feel like true boxers. My junk sticking to my leg constantly is annoying as heck. The small fit me perfectly. As previously mentioned, my waist is roughly a 32 and I'm neither built like a powerlifter nor a marathoner in the thighs. I'm pretty average. Downsizing proved to be the right move. Plenty of stretch will accommodate whatever changes my body goes through over the next year or more. The Aerowool fabric is fantastic, better than the Red Desert boxer in my opinion. Its lighter weight and dries faster. Wilderness Athlete: I used these products for the first time this trip and selected the Hydrate and Recover and Energy and Focus drink mixes along with Altitude Advantage. I'm no stranger to nutritional supplements and most have more than a little skepticism attached to them from my perspective. I was absolutely blown away by the difference these made. I have never felt the same energy levels, sustained output, and daily recovery like I have with these products. I felt better throughout the day and through each night than I ever have before. Totally sold on them. Not only did I have more energy but my legs felt noticeably stronger from one day to the next. It tastes great so I drank more water, more frequently. And due to that, my deuces didn't feel like I was trying to birth a dusty softball every time I squatted. I actually stayed regular during 8 days on the road! The fact that they're a local company makes a difference to me and I met with and had some long conversations with the people at their business before purchasing. Great crew up there: honest, humble, truly invested in their product and how it performs. And I love their name. Other companies in this niche, whom I won't name, may have equally good products and this may not be rocket science but I don't care for company names that appear to capitalize on a certain cool factor associated with badassedness in an entirely different environment. One that they obviously have no experience in. Or, maybe I'm unfairly making assumptions. Whatever. I dig the Wilderness Athlete stuff and will be using it continuously from now on. DeLorme inReach Explorer: Last Sept I was 9 miles up a canyon when I took a header over the handlebars of my bike, with a 30lb pack on and on single track along the edge of very steep slope. Had I not landed exactly the way I did, I'd have tumbled catastrophically about 200' to the river and wound up far worse off than the mouse I got under my right eye. It was at that moment that I realized that my personal survival is actually important, not only to me but to my wife and 7 kids. I bought the DeLorme specifically with that in mind. I am by no means an expert in this device having only used it these 8 days but it provided a means of communication previously impossible. The peace of mind for both my wife and I was worth the cost. It allowed me to let her know where I was and how I was doing, inform a safety net of friends in the event I crashed and burned, and provided the ability to text from locations completely devoid of cell service during nerve wracking weather. My buddies followed my track when I wanted them to and were able to accompany me to a small degree. It was comforting to know I had these capabilities and somewhat lessened the consequences of taking minor risks. I was considering the Spot previously, glad I waited and picked this up. Ross Colorado LT fly reel: Certainly not hunting related but I know there's a bunch of you out there who fly fish. I've got more than a few reels: 2 Hatch, an Abel, an old Cortland CG Graphite, a Hardy Sunbeam, and a very small Ross Evolution LT. This one is the latest addition to the stable and it's quickly become one of my favorites. Click/pawl drag and ultra simplicity make it an absolute joy to fish. Its stunningly gorgeous and aesthetically, matches my small water rods perfectly, better than even the Abel 3N I have on my glass 3wt. My favorite fishing is small water where fish don't get much larger than 12", the elevation is high, and the water clear as crystal. Its under these circumstances that bombproof drag mechanisms and high line retrieve rates actually become a distraction. Simplicity is king and this reel embodies all the reasons I go where I go, and the frequency with which I do it. My NEXT reel with be another one of these, for anything 5wt and under. I honestly want to replace my custom overpriced Abel on the rod that one resides on; it is just that superb. I know this post was rather long and perhaps, even unnecessary. But these are some of the questions I needed answered before buying things like the Supertarp, the bivy, and DeLorme. It took a bit of time to either wait for answers or search the unending list of threads across multiple forums which always left me without the specific info I was seeking. The better we can make these decisions, the less distracted and conflicted we are, and the more we enjoy the limited amount of time outside we all have. Hope this helps someone and lessens the stress. Now go somewhere where the air is clean and smells like trees and running water...

About 3 yrs old, tried/tested only; unused personally or professionally otherwise. Fully functional, no damage. $60, shipping add $5 (PP "friends and family" or +3%)

Huge apologies to ej20 since he was the first to respond here but, this is spf to PelePepas. He and I had a pm conversation over a month ago and I told him I'd look for this. Stumbled upon it yesterday and feel it's the right thing to do to honor what I told him in Sept. Sorry for the curve in this pitch. I honestly didn't think about it until seeing his pm while responding to others.

I could use the same recommendation, East Valley. '06 Jeep Commander.

This link must track your IP address cuz I just tried it with 2 different email addresses and got the following message: "We're sorry, this offer is for first time customers only." ...which is BS because I've spent well over $1K in the last 18 months so I've actually EARNED the 20% off.

Thinking about fletching up a dozen with the Gateway 2" razor feathers. Are they better/worse? What are the consequences compared to vanes?