Western Hunter

Window mounts have been around for a long time, but the Outdoorsmans took them to the next level of quality and versatility. Most other units will mount securely to the window, but then they use a low quality head to which the scope is mounted. The Outdoorsmans already makes the best hunting tripod heads on the market, so they just made it easy to use one interchangeable head for both a window mount and a tripod. Genius, right? Step by step, hereâs how it works: 1) take an Outdoorsmans window mount base and attach the already included Quick Release Adapter to it; 2) if youâre using the new Micro Pan Head or the original Pan Head, their dovetail bases will attach directly to the Quick Release Adapter; if you use the pistol grip, youâll need a 3/8 Outdoorsmans Adapter Plate; 3) If you take a Quick Release Adapter and put it on your tripod, then you can use the same head on the Window Mount and Tripod. You donât actually have to use an Outdoorsmans head (although I highly advise it). If you want to use a different head, just give the guys a call and they can set you up with the right parts. Why a window mount: While a window mount might have a stigma attached to it, there are plenty of completely practical uses to them. I must admit I had never been a big user of window mounts. If Iâm bouncing down a dirt road, the only thing I usually wanted to do was get out of the truck and stretch my legs to glass, not just sit there and stare out of the window. Besides, I always kept my tripod and spotting scope handy, so it almost seemed lazy to not get out and use them. Then I hunted antelope in Wyoming last fall and I learned a valuable lesson about the benefits of a window mount. The season was already two weeks old by the time my son and I arrived, so the antelope were spread out and skittish. Cold air from the north was supercharged by a constant 25 mph wind and my Arizona blood was struggling to keep me warm. The âhillyâ terrain was etched by tons of ravines and cuts that were convenient places for antelope to hide. If I stopped the truck within eyesight of an antelope (which as you know is a long ways) they were immediately suspicious, and if I stepped out of the truck to set up my tripod, then they immediately ranâ¦.a long ways. By the time I was set up (after my cold hands fought with the tripod), the buck was too far to judge and the cold wind had everything shaking at 7.2 on the Richter Scale. It didnât take long to realize that if getting out of the truck and setting up in the wind is hurting your hunt, then donât do it (until itâs time to make the stalk). Hence the invention of the window mount, which essentially turns your rolled down window into a temporary tripod. Additionally, this is a great setup for cold winter days when viewing wintering wildlife, hunting coyotes, and spending the cold off-season glassing for sheds. Itâs also great for hot summer days to avoid sunburn. Finally, itâs a perfect way to reduce gear clutter in your truck! As with all Outdoorsmans products, theyâre they best quality possible, machined aluminum and made in the USA. Cost: $114.99. Contact: www.Outdoorsmans.com or 1-800-291-8065. View the full article

In todayâs hunting excursions more people are venturing out further off the beaten path in search of bigger challenges and hunts of a lifetime. There was a time when a couple of Talk-About radios would suffice, but now as hunting has evolved there are more technology options available to hunters to support safety, location, and keeping in touch. Hunting in the West has become a more populated activity, so it has become more common to have hunting partners sitting on two different ridge tops miles apart. The good news is there are cost effective options to stay in communication. Two-way radio communications has not been a widely covered solution in the hunting world. There is the Garmin Rhino with the GPS/radio combination, the Motorola Talk-About, and other GMRS frequency options. GMRS frequencies are general UHF frequencies set aside for non-commercial use. The challenge with these is that anyone and everyone can have them limiting privacy, as well as being more susceptible to interference. We are going to focus on commercial-grade radio options that will provide you as the hunter/outdoorsman the proper durability, water resistance, and quality you depend on out in the wilderness. Vertex EVX-531 There are two brands of two-way radios we tested with a commercial-grade rating, IP-57 rating, and the capabilities we see as valuable to hunters in both remote and congested areas. An IP-57 rating means that the radio, when all of the seals are properly maintained and in place, can roughly sit in a bucket of water (or up to 1m) for 30 minutes and still operate. It also defines the radio as being dust protected, but not entirely prevented. The first radio is the Motorola CP200D. This model has replaced the old âmainstayâ CP200, now offering digital capable models in both UHF and VHF. The second model tested is the Vertex EVX-531. Also a digital capable radio in VHF or UHF. Another reason we chose these two radios was due to their digital capability advantages. Motorola CP200D Digital technology in radios? Yes, thatâs correct. The main advantage of digital signal over analog is that the precise signal level of the digital signal is not vital. In other words, the digital signal is more immune to the imperfections of electronics which tend to reduce analog signals. Digital signals are also less impervious to noise. Because information is sent in a byte, as opposed to a data bit (0 or 1) it has a lower value of being affected by all levels of noise. Digital signals also enable transmissions over longer distances, meaning you get more coverage and further transmission from a digital over an analog model. Current studies show a 20%+ greater transmission distance using digital technology. Digital signals use less bandwidth, meaning you can cram more information into the same space. Whew, that was a mouthful and probably more than you wanted to know, so letâs get down to capabilities and comparisons of the Motorola CP200D and Vertex EVX-531. There are specific criteria we looked for that we believe are benefits for the hunter, ensure safety, and provide you the quality you pay for. See the chart below: Capability/Option/InfoMotorola CP200DVertex EVX-531# of channels1632VHF or UHF optionYes, both VHF & UHFYes both VHF & UHFIP-57 ratingIP-54 rated,splashproofUp to 3â for 30 minutesDigitally CapableYes both analog &digtalmodelsOne model capable of both analog and digitalBattery LifeHigh Cap Battery, 18.5hrsdigital, 14.5hrsanalog15.8hrsdigital, 12hrsanalogVariety of AccessoriesYes, many different earpiecesLimited # of earpieces# of Programmable Keys23Emergency Alert AbilityTransmit Interrupt featureYesWeight13.2 ounces9.9 ouncesBelt clip includedYesYesChannel scan capableYesYesWhisper modeNoYesFCC Licensing RequiredYesYesTransmit InterruptYesYes in emergency alertDigital Battery Life40% more than analog40% more than analogWarranty2yrmanufacturerâs warranty3yrmanufacturerâs warrantyMSRP$568.33$457.00 Now before we get too far, we want to make sure as our valued readers and supporters that you are aware of certain restrictions of using radios when hunting. Some states completely restrict the use of radios for hunting purposes of any kind. Please consult the local Game and Fish offices in the states you are going to be hunting in for their individual rules and regulations. Certain hunting and conservation organizations also restrict the use of radios while hunting in regards to the submittal of a trophy for measurement and award or recognition. Make sure you know the rules and regulations of the organizations you are part of. So what are the benefits of using two-way radios for hunting and outdoors excursions? Great question, let us answer that in kind. First and foremost is the issue of safety. Whether you are hunting with your kids, with a group of friends, or youâre a guide with clients, there is not always cellular coverage in the places you venture into. Two-way radios provide a quick easy solution to reach someone in your party easily and effectively. If you are in thick cover with multiple hunting partners, radios can also help you quickly locate someone and know if it is safe to take a shot. Safety should always be our first priority while out hunting. No game is worth someone getting wounded or even worse. The next benefit is the ability to coordinate and plan while out hunting. Have you ever harvested game and then found yourself in a situation that no one you are with is near you and you canât reach them on the cell phone or by voice? Not an uncommon predicament. If youâre dealing with an elk down and help is available, itâs certainly more efficient in contacting them on a radio to guide them in to where you are at. How about being 20 miles from the closest paved road, you have a flat tire, and thereâs no cell coverage. But, you have a buddy in a vehicle further up the road from you and he canât see you. Radios are the primary solution for such a challenge. Do you ever do any shed hunting? Shed hunting has become much more popular today, and is often an activity in which people are working together in teams to cover more ground. Two-way radios are a perfect solution for coordinating your search patterns and keeping in contact. Coordinating long distance stalks or the retrieval of downed game across a deep canyon can be another positive in using two-way radios. Often times as you close in on your target the terrain suddenly looks drastically different than from when you first started your stalk. If you have a buddy in a vantage point that communicate clearly and quietly with you along the way it can cut a lot of time off closing the gap. For retrieval of game it can cut time off as well with crossing difficult terrain. How about mountain lion hunting? Have you ever done it? If not, I highly recommend it as itâs as big of a rush in the outdoors as Iâve ever experienced. When hunting for mountain lions having radio communications has always been an advantage and benefit. It is not difficult to find yourself 10 miles away from where you started and separated from members in your group. Coordinating a plan to get back, being able to provide quick support, and having a piece of mind often only comes from two-way radios and not cell phones. An important fact to remember when considering the use of commercial grade two way radios is that the FCC does require licensing for commercial frequencies. Licensing your frequencies will run you somewhere in the realm of $300 for 1-6 channels that provide you personal frequencies other members of the general public cannot listen on. This is done with the use of DPL or PL codes in the programming of commercial grade radios. This is not a feature you can take advantage of in GRMS frequencies, such as those in the Motorola Talk-About. Remember that the GRMS frequencies are a free public use set of frequencies that anyone can use in UHF. If you value privacy in your communications, commercial grade radios are a superior option. Finally, letâs discuss the difference between VHF and UHF frequencies. VHF stands for very high frequency. This signal travels further and bounces better. This tends to be the better option in flat land or small rolling hills in which distance matters most. UHF stands for ultra-high frequency. UHF will provide you a strong penetrating signal. When hunting in canyons, thick cover, and more extremely varying terrain then UHF will provide you the superior option. Our own testing and experience has shown that UHF is a better option unless you really have the need to talk at much longer distances like 10 miles. With either set of frequencies the distance you can achieve in transmission is still determined by a combination of radio frequency interference, terrain, component quality, and objects deflecting the signals. We hope you enjoyed the information weâve provided on this topic. Two-way radios have been used in hunting for a long time, but it has always been an under-discussed topic. The reality is that most of us are able to take advantage of this technology to improve the quality of our hunts, create a safer situation, and have a peace on of mind when hunting with other friends or family. For more information on communication solutions for hunting, please contact Cody Goff at Air Comm at 602-329-1773, or cody@aircomm.com. Special thanks to Chris Denham with Western Hunter for helping me test these options of radios with him out in hunting situations and for providing his expertise in what criteria can best benefit the hunting community. View the full article

One of the most successful ways to bow hunt mule deer hunt is by stalking within bow range. In recent years, one tactic that is gaining in popularity is hunting them from blinds. This tactic works especially well, when hunting on private land. A few years ago, I hunted mule deer in Colorado in a unit that has seen deer numbers drop significantly. What started out as a trophy hunt quickly turned into a meat hunt. Although we were having a hard time finding bucks in many of the areas we had planned to hunt, we found a few deer hanging out in an old apple orchard we had permission to hunt. The problem with the apple orchard was there wasnât any good cover where a bowhunter could hide. Because of that, we decided to put up a pop-up blind and see what would happen. Whitetail bucks are often very spooky when a pop-up blind is first put up. It can take days or weeks before they will walk within bow range of it during daylight hours. That is not the case with mule deer. Within a couple hours of putting out the blind, deer were walking right up to it. The first night I hunted the blind, I had several small bucks and several does walk within shooting range. The several days leading up to this day were fruitless, so I decided as light started to fade to take a small buck because I had never shot a mule deer before. I have hunted that apple orchard many times over the years and for the most part, the deer pay no attention to the blind. Matt Guedes, who has killed many monster mule deer bucks including one over 200 inches, says killing mule deer from a blind is a great option. âA few years ago, my son and I hunted over an alfalfa field and he shot a Pope & Young buck from a blind,â said Guedes. âEarly in the season before bucks lose their velvet is a great time to hunt from blinds over food sources. Even the big bucks are fairly easy to pattern and they will walk right past a blind. It is a great option for kids or when you are hunting in an area with limited cover.â If hunting from a ground blind sounds like something you may want to do, check out the new bale blinds from Redneck Hunting Blinds(www.redneckblinds.com). They look just like a round bale, have enough room for a couple hunters and a camera man, and the deer pay no attention to them. âDeer that live near alfalfa fields pay no attention to bales of hay so hunting from a bale blind is a great option,â Guedes said. If you need a blind that is extremely portable, one of my favorite options is the Double Bull Shack Attack(www.primos.com). This hub-style blind is designed for one or two people and because of the odd shape, deer donât seem to pay attention to it the way they do blinds that are shaped like a large square. Regardless if you are hunting in an apple orchard, a hay field or even off the beaten path, hunting mule deer from a blind can be fun and effective, especially when there isnât any ground cover in the area you are hunting. Give it a try this fall and see for yourself how much fun it can be. About the author: Tracy Breen is a full time outdoor writer, consultant and game dinner speaker who often discuss how he overcomes cerebral palsy. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com View the full article

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS! CHEYENNE, Wyoming — The inaugural Wyoming Super Tag raffle lived up to its expectations. All the winners of the big game raffle harvested animals with some being record-book and others very close. Wyoming joined other western states in 2014 in initiating a hunting license raffle for its premier big game and trophy game species. A total of 13 licenses were available with one license each for bighorn sheep, shiras moose, elk, mountain goat, mule deer or white-tail deer, wild bison, antelope, mountain lion, wolf (no longer available due to a recent court decision related to the Endangered Species Act), and black bear. Additionally, in a separate âTrifectaâ raffle, one lucky winner could choose any three licenses among those being offered. The raffle, available again in 2015, is open to both residents and non-residents. Ben Carruthers, purchased just one ticket to win the 2014 Super Tag Trifecta raffle. Carruthers, along with his father, spent 30 days in Wyoming hunting mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose, taking one of each, including a mountain goat with 10-inch horns. âThis was definitely an experience that will provide a lifetime of memories,â Carruthers said. All Super Tag winners are able to hunt any open area for the species they selected except for moose (hunt areas with 10 or fewer licenses are not eligible) and bighorn sheep (hunt areas with 8 or fewer licenses are not eligible). Winners also retain all preference points accumulated for their chosen species. Adding to the allure of Super Tags, moose and sheep winners are exempt from the mandatory five-year waiting periods before re-applying for a license, and the once-in-a- lifetime license restrictions for wild bison and mountain goat licenses are also waived. The most sought after Super Tag in 2014 was bighorn sheep. Evanston, Wyoming hunter Randall Johnston bought the lucky ticket. âIt was an amazing trip,â he said. âWe saw over 100 rams.â On October 28th, after 17 days of hunting, which included encounters with 19 grizzly bears and eight inches of snow, he bagged a ram sporting horns 36 inches long with 15-inch bases. Bison Super Tag winner Daniel Hauck had one of the most exciting hunts. With an hour of daylight remaining on his first day, the Riverton archer turned around from enjoying a Teton/Snake River vista and there was a lone bull at about 1,000 yards. âLuckily there was enough timber and cover that I was able to quickly close the distance to 51 yards.â Three arrows later, he was standing over a bull that officially scored 111 2/8, which ranks second in this Pope and Young scoring period. The bison has a good chance of ranking in the organizationâs all-time top 20. Winning a Super Tag license is like a Wyoming Governorâs License â but a lot more affordable than the tags generally auctioned by organizations to benefit wildlife and conservation says Super Tag winner Jay Hensley, who took an impressive 49-inch shiras moose. Super Tag raffle tickets are just $10, Super Tag Trifecta $30. Tickets are available January 2 to July 1 and must be purchased through the Wyoming Game and Fish Departmentâs Electronic License System (Purchase Super Tag Tickets Here). Winners will be notified by July 15. Raffle winners must follow all applicable dates, regulations, and laws for selected hunt areas and must purchase all applicable licenses and/or stamps before hunting. For more information about the raffle visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website (Get More Information Here) or call of email Glenn Pauley (glenn.pauley@wyo.gov, 307-777-4673). CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS! View the full article

By Chris Denham – Originally Published in Western Hunter, Summer 2012. I honestly canât remember a more anticipated new product than the Swarovski EL Range laser rangefinding binocular. Sportsmen have been begging for this product from Swarovski for almost 20 years! Finally, Big Green has delivered. Two Important Functions A laser rangefinding binocular is expected to serve two functions: 1) to deliver accurate range measurements; and 2) more importantly, to serve as your primary optical tool. Realistically, if a laser rangefinder were to quit working, I could continue to hunt and simply limit my shots to reliable distances. Conversely, if my binocular was to fail, Iâd pull out all the stops to find a replacement. Thus, the optical performance of the EL Range (or any laser rangefinding binocular) is the most important component and was the first thing I focused on. The EL Range is in the same family of products as the EL Swarovision, so I wasnât disappointed; the image was spectacular. The Swarobright prism coating, combined with Swarodur and Swarotop lens coating, deliver a pure color rendition and tons of light. Specs and Practical Use Remarkably, the EL Range weighs only 32.1 oz., just 2.5 oz. heavier than the 10×42 EL Swarovision. In all other measurements and dimensions, both products are identical, so if you love your ELs, youâll love the EL Range. The only noticeable difference is the âbumpâ on the underside of each barrel that houses the hardware and software for the rangefinder. These âprotrusionsâ actually force your thumbs into a forward and natural position. The actuation button for the laser itself is on the top, inside portion of the left barrel. Since Iâm a right-handed bowhunter (meaning I carry my bow in my left hand), the button would sure be easier to reach if it was on the right side, but with some creative handholds, I can still reach it. Swarovski makes a tripod adapter, but I prefer the Outdoorsmans installed stud system, because itâs machined from solid aluminum; thus itâs much stronger and lighter. With the EL Range solidly mounted on the tripod, you can appreciate the edge-to-edge clarity of the 330â field of view. I wonât waste space telling you how good the image quality is; suffice it to say itâs everything youâd expect from Swarovski. The operation and function of the laser is different than competitive models. First, the aiming circle and distance read-out appear in separate barrels â the red LED aiming circle appears in the right eye and the distance in the left. This necessitates a dioptric adjustment ring on each ocular lens, allowing you to focus both the readout and aiming circle. On the inside of the left barrel, just under the focus knob, is a mode button that allows you to scroll through the setup menu. The first option is to choose from five different brightness levels. This might seem like overkill, but when hunting in the Southwest, itâs a big deal. When you combine the intensity and volume of sunlight with light-colored landscape, it can be impossible to see some LED readouts. At the same time, if the LED is too bright during lowlight or in dark timber, it can be very annoying. All that being said, one option is the automatic brightness setting, allowing the computer to set the optimal brightness. So far it has worked flawlessly. Rangefinder Performance One push of the top button simultaneously turns on the aiming circle, emits the laser, and displays the distance, with a range of 33-1500 yards. The decision to start the range at 33 yards (30 meters) has been the subject of debate. There are undoubtedly some bowhunters, especially tree-stand whitetail hunters, who need to know exact yardages below this, but with the velocity of the modern compound bow, 95% of the time most western bowhunters arenât worried about the difference between 26 and 31 yards. Please note that I said 95% and not 100%! Having been in this business since the first laser rangefinders were introduced, Iâve been involved in many âaccuracy testsâ. In the early days (15 years ago), this was a relevant question, with many units unable to deliver consistent readings on anything but the most reflective targets. Over time, those second-tier products disappeared. Today, as long as you stick with the most reputable brands, youâll find that each offers an extremely accurate product. One Somewhat Harmless Nuance Ten years ago rangefinders were dedicated to meters or yards. The EL Range can be converted from meters to yards in the program menu. Apparently the EL Range actually measures in meters and the software converts it to yards. A glitch in this process was pointed out to me and I was able to replicate the issue. Certain numbers wonât appear in the readout, such as 64 yards. Dan Evans at Trophy Taker first brought this to my attention and offered an explanation. During extreme testing at precisely measured yardages, Dan discovered it was 100% accurate at every ten yards exactly, but in between the ten-yard increments, the one number wouldnât appear. Danâs conclusion is that the on-board computer is set to be exact on ten-yard marks, but during the conversion process, itâs forced to jump one number in between. To the rifle hunter, this is trivial; even most bowhunters wonât worry, but to a competitive archer, this can present a problem. The most obvious solution is to just use the EL Range on the meters and sight your bow in accordingly. Itâs my guess that Swarovski will offer a remedy sooner rather than later. Angle Compensator The EL Range has an internal angle-compensating program and it works exactly the way it should; it displays the corrected shooting distance based on the angle and distance of the shot. Once activated, the actual straight-line distance to the target is displayed; just below, the corrected shooting distance is also displayed. This is the perfect system when combined with a ballistic turret or ballistic reticule; you simply make your adjustments based on the corrected distance and shoot. View the full article

<p>By: TRACY BREEN</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Master-Target-turkey.jpg" rel="lightbox[14789]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14790 size-medium" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Master-Target-turkey-265x300.jpg" alt="Master Target turkey" width="265" height="300" /></a>Turkey time is here and chasing longbeards with archery tackle can be fun and challenging. Success and failure while bowhunting turkeys sometimes comes down to the broadhead on the end of your arrow. It is always my goal to use a head with a large cutting diameter so if my aim is off a little, I still go home with a turkey. The vitals on a turkey are extremely small so using a large head increases your odds of success. Many of todayâs top mechanical heads are a turkeyâs worst nightmare. Many of them are marketed for big game hunting, but they work well on turkeys.<br />There are several companies that make turkey heads designed for bringing down Mr. Tom. Below are a few of my favorite broadheads to use when turkey hunting</p> <p style="text-align: center;">GRIM REAPER WHITETAIL SPECIAL</p> <p> <a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/whitetail-special.jpeg" rel="lightbox[14789]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14794 size-medium" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/whitetail-special-300x160.jpeg" alt="whitetail special" width="300" height="160" /></a> The Whitetail Special from Grim Reaper could also be called the Turkey Special. This mechanical head comes with 3-blades that when open, create a large 2-inch hole. Most 2-inch heads only offer two blades. The Whitetail Special offers three, which will provide even more cutting surface which is often needed when turkey hunting. This head has a cut-on-contact tip which will quickly penetrate and drop a tom in his tracks. This head is available in 100 grains. Learn more at <a href="http://www.grimreaperbroadheads.com">www.grimreaperbroadheads.com</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> MUZZY M.O.R.E.</p> <p> Muzzy has a new turkey head called the M.O.R.E. that comes with some cool features not found on<a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Muzzy-MORE_3-Blade_open-copy.jpg" rel="lightbox[14789]"><img class="alignright wp-image-14791 " src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Muzzy-MORE_3-Blade_open-copy-165x300.jpg" alt="image description" width="129" height="235" /></a> most broadheads. For starters, the blades can be folded when not in use so the head is easier to transport in a quiver unlike many turkey heads. The head has three .051-thick blades that are built to devastate a gobbler. The blades are offset which is said to result in a more aerodynamic head, so it flies better. This fixed-blade head has a 3-inch cutting diameter. This head is available in 125-grains. Learn more at <a href="http://www.muzzy.com">www.muzzy.com</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">SOLID D-CAP</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Solid-d-cap.jpg" rel="lightbox[14789]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14792 size-medium" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Solid-d-cap-300x143.jpg" alt="Solid d-cap" width="300" height="143" /></a> The D-Cap broadhead from Solid Broadheads is a heavy duty 3-blade broadhead that is built out of stainless steel and has a 4-inch cutting diameter that will quickly bring down a gobbler, especially if you shoot him in the head. This head has a single bevel and can be reused. If going after longbeards with a bow is something you enjoy and plan to do much of, consider this head. This head is a whopping 200-grains which will provide extra kinetic energy. Learn more at <a href="http://www.solid-broadheads.com">www.solid-broadheads.com<span style="text-decoration: underline;">.</span></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;">TROPHY TAKER ULMER EDGE</p> <p> The Ulmer Edge mechanical broadhead from Trophy Taker is best known for being a top notch big game head but it also works well on turkeys. (See the picture of Jerod Lyle from Trophy Taker in this article).<a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TT-Item-7205-125-Gr-Ulmer-Edge-2-Inch-Cut-Deployed-JPEG.jpg" rel="lightbox[14789]"><img class="alignright wp-image-14793 size-medium" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TT-Item-7205-125-Gr-Ulmer-Edge-2-Inch-Cut-Deployed-JPEG-214x300.jpg" alt="TT Item 7205- 125 Gr Ulmer Edge- 2 Inch Cut- Deployed- JPEG" width="214" height="300" /></a> The Ulmer Edge that offers a 2-inch cutting diameter is a great turkey head. Because it flies like a field point and offers a large cutting diameter, it is extremely accurate in flight and extremely deadly. Best of all, the head has a blade retention system so with the twist of an Allen wrench, the blades wonât deploy so this head can be used as a practice head. When it is time to go hunting, reverse the Allen nut with a wrench and you are ready to hunt. This head is available in 100- and 125-grains. <a href="http://www.trophytaker.com">www.trophytaker.com</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">About the Author:</span> Tracy Breen is a full-time outdoor writer and marketing consultant in the outdoor industry. Learn more about him at <a href="http://www.tracybreen.com">www.tracybreen.com</a>.</p> View the full article

<p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Exo-Title.png" rel="lightbox[14498]"><img class=" size-large wp-image-14499 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Exo-Title-1024x53.png" alt="Exo-Title" width="1024" height="53" /></a><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-1.png" rel="lightbox[14498]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14500" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-1.png" alt="EXO-1" width="234" height="233" /></a>Steve Speck is an elk hunter from Idaho who also owns S&S Archery. His fascination with hunting gear led him to create Solid Broadhead Company, and now Exo Mountain Gear. Exo launched its first hunting pack â the 3500 â last year to some exciting reviews from backcountry hunting minimalists, and now the 5500 is brand new off the line (available this July). The 5500 is geared toward pushing the fine line between being as functional as absolutely possible and as light as possible.</p> <p><strong>Frame/suspension:</strong> The Skeleton frame is a lightweight internal frame with a formed titanium rod centerpiece, which is extremely sturdy for its slim presence and which is contoured to allow for more head clearance. It is designed to be used completely separate from the bag for meat hauling when necessary, including its own set of compression straps, and is also integrated for use with the bag with the meat between the bag and frame. The bottom is adjustable in length between the bag and frame, and the top has a thin âsleeveâ that fits down over the shoulders of the frame, similar to the Mystery Ranch Metcalf. A meat-hauling Cordura load shelf supports the meat in this scenario.</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-2.png" rel="lightbox[14498]"><img class=" wp-image-14501 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-2.png" alt="EXO-2" width="278" height="226" /></a>The suspension has a very slick, micro-adjustable torso system. It features three different hip belt sizes and a very thick lumbar support pad. Also, the frame is modular so that it can be used for both the 3500 and 5500 model bags.</p> <p><strong>Bag:</strong> Made of 500D Cordura and X-Pac material, the bag is fairly water-resistant. It also features a waterproof main bag interior.<a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Layer-21.png" rel="lightbox[14498]"><img class=" wp-image-14502 alignright" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Layer-21-1024x499.png" alt="Layer-21" width="394" height="192" /></a></p> <p>It compresses well, with 14 total compression straps to keep loads tight. It also has bottom loop straps for a sleeping bag, etc. The compression strap near the bottom side pocket can lace under the side pocket so that you can compress or tighten a load without cinching down on your rifle or spotting scope. It also features daisy chain loops for an infinite number of tie points.</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-Sidebar-4.png" rel="lightbox[14498]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14503" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/EXO-Sidebar-4.png" alt="EXO-Sidebar-4" width="245" height="218" /></a>It has full-length spotting scope/tripod style pockets, and low side pockets and a front pocket made of stretchy material to adapt to awkward or bulky items. The main bag has top and front zipper access, and on the zipper access there is a small mesh interior pocket that folds out for quick access.</p> <p>The lid is a floating style to adjust to extended height and is adjustable on all four corners (the 3500 bag did not have this option).</p> <p><strong>Color/camo options:</strong> Coyote brown, foliage green, ASAT.</p> <p><strong>Best qualities: </strong>Functional yet very lightweight; fairly weatherproof; compression straps directly on frame for meat hauling; designed to put meat securely between frame and bag; 3 stretchy external pockets.</p> <p><strong>Could be better:</strong> Great weight savings does have a cost, and this frame is not as beefy as some others in review; no dedicated rifle/bow holder, though youâll be able to purchase one; could use slightly more padding.</p> <p><strong>Cost:</strong> $499. <strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="http://www.exomountaingear.com">www.exomountaingear.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Recommended accessories:</strong> Coming soon: hip belt pouch – $14.99; meat shelf to be used without main pack bag – $29.99; bow carrier – $29.99; water bladder carrier – $29.99; rain cover – $19.99; mesh pocket – $5.99.</p> <p><strong>Similar Exo Mountain Gear to consider:</strong> 3500 – $449; 3500 bag only – $219; 5500 bag only – $269.99.</p> <p> </p> View the full article

<p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Blacks-Creek-Title1.png" rel="lightbox[14492]"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-14497" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Blacks-Creek-Title1-1024x44.png" alt="Blacks-Creek-Title" width="1024" height="44" /></a></p> <p><img class="alignleft wp-image-14494" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Creek-1.png" alt="Creek-1" width="372" height="392" />Blacks Creek has always made a decent pack, but they reinvented themselves for the better with the Remedy 7 line. This line is truly a smart and well-thought-out pack line for serious and practical hunters. The Solution is just one of three that all are interchangeable with the same frame.</p> <p><strong>Frame/suspension:</strong> The âGripâ frame is composed of two vertical and two horizontal stays. It separates from the pack bag and is designed to act specifically as a meat hauler, with or without the bag. It has a meat shelf (Cordura flap), two vertical compression wings on the sides, and three horizontal compression straps that help tightly secure the load. The bag can then be reattached to the outside, keeping the meat closer to the body.</p> <p>The suspension has an adjustable butterfly harness designed to distribute the weight evenly across your upper back. Padding for the shoulder straps and hip belt is ample and comfortable for heavy loads. The waist beltâs reverse cinch design is also very well done â a superior concept.<img class=" wp-image-14495 alignright" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Creek-2.png" alt="Creek-2" width="309" height="397" /></p> <p>The 4.5-lb. frame is specifically designed to be interchangeable with the pack bags for the Answer (2000 c.i.), Alternative (3000 c.i.), and Solution (4800 c.i.) – a huge benefit and cost savings if you want multiple bag sizes.</p> <p><strong>Bag: </strong>Quality materials are used throughout the construction process, including 1000D Cordura, YKK zippers, and military-grade hardware. Several compression straps are handy to tightly secure any load.</p> <p>The main compartment is accessible from the top and front, and has a drawstring shroud for vertical expansion. Itâs topped by a detachable lid. Below the main bag is a sleeping bag compartment with a built-in stuff sack.</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Creek-3.png" rel="lightbox[14492]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14496" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Creek-3.png" alt="Creek-3" width="233" height="411" /></a>A detachable 3-pocket bag serves as makeshift day pack. On the sides, two vertical optics pockets have full-length zipper access and expandable shrouds for longer items. A dropdown weapon scabbard is also provided.</p> <p><strong>Color/camo options:</strong> Coyote brown</p> <p><strong>Best qualities: </strong>System enabling pack to detach from frame is well thought out. Frame functions very well as meat hauler and is completely interchangeable with several other Blacks Creek pack bags; suspension system is comfortable and adjusts well; great organizational capabilities; built smart from hunting functionality standpoint; lots of compression straps to keep load tight.</p> <p><strong>Could be better:</strong> Personally not a fan of the built-in sleeping bag stuff sack; more color/camo options would be nice; some âfatâ could be trimmed and cut the weight a bit – one of heavier packs in review.</p> <p><strong>Cost:</strong> $500. <strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="http://www.blacks-creek.com">www.blacks-creek.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Recommended accessories: </strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Grip Frame</span> (if purchased separately) – $250; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Knickknack Hip Sack</span> (8-oz. hip pouch w/ 1 pocket and 4 additional sleeves.) Set of 2 – $49.99; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Shoulder Pad Xtras</span>: 3-oz. padded sleeves that reinforce shoulder straps for heavy loads – $29.99. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Rain Fly:</span> 4.4-oz. nylon ripstop (use Large for Solution) – $29.99.</p> <p><strong>Similar Blacks Creek options to consider:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Answer</span> (2000-c.i. bag only) – $200; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Alternative</span> (3000-c.i bag only) – $225.</p> View the full article

<p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Outdoorsman-Title1.png" rel="lightbox[14482]"><img class=" wp-image-14490 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Outdoorsman-Title1-1024x59.png" alt="Outdoorsman-Title" width="972" height="56" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-1.png" rel="lightbox[14482]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14484" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-1.png" alt="Optics-1" width="294" height="413" /></a></p> <p>The creation of this pack system revolved around a conversation by a group of hunters who wanted to create a pack that a hunter would want to use â practical, quality, and functional. They desired a pack with the structure and load handling of an external frame but that shifted and rode like an internal. Soon, the Outdoorsmans Pack System was born.</p> <p>This is a pack that Iâve used extensively on several backcountry hunts. Iâve packed a 7-day camp with it many times and also hauled heavy meat loads and it does the job well.</p> <p><strong>Frame/suspension:</strong> One of the big selling points for this pack is the carbon-fiber reinforced polypropylene frame, which has a good natural give and flex to it. It also has a natural curvature to it that allows it to ride closer to the body and maintain a feel more like an internal frame. Itâs one of the few packs in this review that uses a true external frame.<img class=" wp-image-14485 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-Main-Photo-1024x725.png" alt="Optics-Main-Photo" width="526" height="372" /></p> <p>Beyond the structural importance of the frame, there are three key components that I find helpful: 1) there is a v-notch rifle shooting rest at top center; 2) each side has a small post that sticks up about an inch â just enough to hang your rifle sling on so you donât have to either pack it on your shoulder or lash it to your pack. This little seemingly minor item is in fact so handy and constantly used that I rate it extremely high on my personal wish list in a pack. 3) There is a small solid load shelf incorporated directly into the pack frame, ensuring extra support for your pack bag and better structure for packing awkward meat loads.</p> <p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-2.png" rel="lightbox[14482]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14486" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-2.png" alt="Optics---2" width="278" height="360" /></a></p> <p>The suspension system features an adjustable torso height via shifting the tabs up or down on the grid system of the frame. Padding in the shoulder straps and hip belt is adequate and ventilation is exceptional.</p> <p>For July 2015, an upgrade will be that you can now separate the bag further from the frame via adjustable-length buckles so that meat can be hauled between the bag and frame. Contact the Outdoorsmans for details.</p> <p><strong>Bag: </strong>The pack bag is constructed of very quiet ballistic cloth and Cordura. The interior of the main compartment is also completely waterproof and washes easily.</p> <p><img class=" wp-image-14487 alignright" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-3-1024x522.png" alt="Optics---3" width="326" height="166" />The bag has 11 total pockets for good organization, including full-length side pockets for a spotting scope and tripod. It also has a dedicated rifle and bow sling pouch.</p> <p>Other features include horizontal compression straps, a pull-out blaze orange flap, and locations for two hydration bladders. The bag compresses well and is completely removable if you want to use the frame only for packing meat.</p> <p><strong>Color/camo options:</strong> True Timber, MultiCam, and Coyote Brown.</p> <p><strong><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-Sidebar-1.png" rel="lightbox[14482]"><img class="alignleft wp-image-14488" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-Sidebar-1.png" alt="Optics-Sidebar---1" width="195" height="231" /></a>Best qualities:</strong> Quality materials; external frame carries load well and provides great load structure; post for rifle sling is a huge bonus; good organizational capabilities; solid load shelf; rifle/bow holder.</p> <p><strong>Could be better:</strong> shoulder straps could be slightly thicker; compression/cinch straps directly on the<img class=" wp-image-14489 alignright" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Optics-Sidebar-2.png" alt="Optics-Sidebar---2" width="197" height="354" /> frame for use separately without bag would be nice.</p> <p><strong>Cost:</strong> $399. <strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="http://www.outdoorsmans.com">www.outdoorsmans.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Recommended accessories: </strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Accessory </span>Pod (1500 c.i., 7.5-10.5 oz., piggybacks onto main bag) – $79.99; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Muley Fanny Pack</span> (1100 c.i.; 2 lbs., 8 oz.; can attach to pack, directly to the external frame, or worn independently) – $149.99.</p> <p><strong>Similar Outdoorsmans options to consider:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Long Range Hunter Pack</span> (7500 c.i.; 7 lbs., 9 oz.) – $499.</p> <p> </p> View the full article

<p><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Cabelas-Title.png" rel="lightbox[14509]"><img class=" size-large wp-image-14510 aligncenter" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Cabelas-Title-1024x42.png" alt="Cabelas-Title" width="1024" height="42" /></a></p> <p>Cabelaâs long company history doesnât need explaining here; theyâve been in the game for 50-plus years now. While many of their items are geared toward a broad, mainstream consumer, some of their own label items are often surprisingly good, and their upper-end packs have been used by serious hunter for years.</p> <p>When we contacted Cabelaâs, we were happily surprised to learn that they had a brand new pack â the Prestige 85L â and that weâd be the first ones to review it. When it showed up, I was pleasantly surprised. The pack is well designed and intended for serious use by expedition-style hunters.</p> <p><strong>Frame/suspension: </strong>A true external aluminum frame, the design allows for quick and easy separation of pack bag and frame for meat hauling. Itâs rigid enough for any size load, complete with foldout meat shelf and cloth flap to help secure it. Six total straps with nearly limitless anchor points and adjustability help keep it tight, and a light bar up high helps to ease the pain.</p> <p>The suspension is quickly and easily adjustable. The hip belt and shoulder straps were adequate, but could have used more padding, considering the load the pack is designed to carry. Also, guys with bigger waists might want to check the fit to make sure the hip belt padding extends around far enough. Mesh backing allows for decent ventilation. Forward-pull adjustment on the hip belt is great.</p> <p><strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-14511" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Cabelas-1.png" alt="Cabelas-1" width="360" height="494" />Bag:</strong> Constructed with their quiet CT450 fabric in Outfitter camo, the pack is also accented with industrial-strength polyester on bottom and trim panels. YKK zippers ensure solid closures, and web gear loops provide a large number of tie/anchor points.</p> <p>Pockets are smartly placed. Two vertical side pockets add ample storage; a large main compartment with expandable shroud provides extra room for a good camp; the lid provides extra storage; two stretchy side pockets are multi-use; and a quick access front pocket can be used either for spotting scope/tripod or for quick on/off of clothing layers.</p> <p><strong>Additional features:</strong> A gun butt scabbard drops down for securing the rifle on the side; a rain cover is supplied in the lid but can be removed if desired; a 70-oz hydration reservoir is included.</p> <p><strong>Color/camo options: </strong>Cabelaâs Outfitter Camo</p> <p><strong>Best Qualities:</strong> Heck of a lot of pack for the money; external frame is ultra-solid for packing big meat loads; frame bar is always a plus for taking pressure off your hips; well planned out and does what you need it to do; supplied rifle holder and rainfly.</p> <p><strong>Could be better: </strong>Heaviest pack in review; could use more beefy horizontal compression straps on main bag; padding on shoulders and hips could be better; no supplied hip pockets.</p> <p><strong>Cost:</strong> $279. <strong>Contact:</strong> <a href="http://www.cabelas.com">www.cabelas.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>Similar Cabelaâs products to consider:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Instinct Fast Tracker</span> (4800 c.i.; 3 lbs., 12 oz.) – $229; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Instinct Extreme Frame Pack</span> (4700 c.i.; 7 lbs., 14 oz.) -$299.</p> <p> </p> View the full article

Eberlestock has been in business for 30 years now. Starting with stocks for biathlon competitions, Glen Eberleâs Idaho ties and love for hunting soon had him dreaming of making a better hunting backpack. Eberlestock was really one of the first pioneers in making performance-oriented packs for hunters, and has now developed quite an extensive lineup. The design of the Blue Widow is one of expansion. Starting as a 2200-c.i. day pack (including top lid), it quickly opens up to 4700 c.i. when unzipped. If successful in the field and youâre ready to carry meat, simply put the meat in the main compartment and attach the Spike Duffel or Super Spike Duffel to the outside (piggyback style) to carry your original load that was in the main compartment. Now youâre fully loaded with well over 7000 total c.i. Frame/suspension: The internal frame is contoured aluminum combined with a plastic frame sheet. Itâs ergonomically built to allow it to stay close to your back yet allow for good ventilation. The suspension is fully adjustable and comes with ample and well-placed padding to carry heavy loads in comfort. The pack comes with a âshooterâs harnesssâ â thinner, broader shoulder straps â which arenât as padded, but they spread out the PSI over a wider area to accomplish a similar goal. The hip belt comes with their Padlock system to allow for accessories. A thick lumbar pad adds some beef and comfort when fully loaded. Bag: Made from NT-7 premium waterproof microfleece and 1000D nylon, this bag is quiet, durable, and weather-resistant. The lid itself doesnât provide storage, but is topped off with an additional âlidâ that is removable and turns into a fanny pack. This comes with three pockets, including a hydration pocket. The main bag starts as 2200 c.i. and includes an expandable shroud. When opened up, the back panel is mesh. Thus, Iâd likely always carry the spike duffel as a liner for the main compartment with my gear already inside, to keep it better secured from the elements. Also, itâs ready for quick removal, to be replaced by meat and then zipped to the outside. Long side pockets are perfect for spotting scope, tripod, and other items. Additional sleeves and lower side pockets add even more storage. Horizontal and vertical compression straps help to easily secure a load. Also, the Flex Chassis cloth flap adds support to the load at the bottom, buckling into the lid for great vertical compression. When not hiking, unbuckle from the lid and fold it out for use as a seat. Color/camo options: Hide-Open Western Slope, Hide-Open Rock Veil, Mossy Oak Brush. Best Qualities: Pack has huge expandability and versatility, from 1900 c.i. â 7000+; Flex Chassis is good multipurpose tool; good organization; quality construction; quiet materials. Could be better: Doesnât expand vertically well (fixed lid and lower overall frame height); could be a little lighter; could use slightly more padding in shoulder straps and belt. Cost: $349. Contact: www.eberlestock.com. Recommended Accessories: Super Spike Duffel (3500 c.i.; 24 oz.) – $60; Spike Duffel (3000 c.i.; 14 oz.) – $40; small padded accessory case (4 oz.) – $20; J-Type Dry Bag (3000 c.i.; 24 oz.) – $50; rifle scabbard (21 oz.) – $60; Bow carrier (10 oz.) $35. Similar Eberlestock products to consider: J107 Dragonfly (4900 c.i.; 9 lbs., 4 oz.) – $399. Very similar to the Blue Widow, with the addition of the built-in gun scabbard. View the full article

Sitka Gear was one of the first companies to come along and make serious expedition-type gear specifically for hunters. Their name is among the most respected in the industry when it comes to quality hunting gear, whether itâs high-end performance clothing or backpacks. Frame/suspension: Sitkaâs tubular Tension frame design is built to provide clearance between the pack and the hunter, providing for excellent ventilation. The pack still maintains a low profile. The bag does not detach from the frame. While the torso height isnât adjustable, two sizes (regular and tall) are available. The hip belt features a lower lumbar bad and reasonable padding, and tightens efficiently with a forward-pull design. Built-in hip pockets are perfect for smaller items like a rangefinder, camera, and wind checkers. Bag: Made from a combination of polyester, Hypalon, and mesh, with a DWR finish, the main bag fabric is exceptionally quiet. It also has 15 pockets, making it exceptional for gear organization. The main compartment has access through the top, side zipper, and bottom. Itâs topped off by an expandable shroud and detachable three-pocket lid, which is removable. The lid can also serve as a makeshift daypack. A dedicated padded spotting scope pocket is easily accessible along with a similar pocket nearby for your tripod. Stretchy lower side pockets are perfect for water bottles, longer tripod scabbards and other quick-reach items. Another stretch pocket in front of the spotting scope pockets provides nice quick access for clothing such as rain gear. An adjustable blaze orange gear shelf can be deployed from the bottom of the bag, either to support the bag load in general, or more specifically, to hold gear between the shelf and bag while the main compartment is used to haul meat. There is also an integrated quick-release gun/bow holding cable system and supplied rainfly that is housed in the same lower compartment as the gear shelf. Color/camo options: Optifade Open Country. Best qualities: Low profile; very quiet; exceptional organization; padded spotting scope pocket; forward-pull waist adjustment. Could be better: Limited adjustability for wearer; padding in shoulder straps could be thicker/wider; great pack to hunt out of, but not an ideal meat hauler; no versatility with the frame. Cost: $429. Contact: www.sitkagear.com. Similar Sitka Gear products to consider: Bivy 30 (3000 c.i., 5.8 bs.) – $349; Flash 32 (3200 c.i., 5.5 lbs.) – $329. View the full article

Kifaru has been around now for 36 years, a small company built on performance gear with products built in the USA. They are customer direct, meaning you order directly from the company, where you can get the best service and custom orders. In fact, when ordering on the website, you put in specific body measurements and select from several options to customize the pack to your needs. Because of this, turn-around time is often delayed while they make your pack. They currently offer a substantial line of packs, all built smart with quality materials. Frame/suspension: The frame is available in two models: 1) The Duplex (3.9 lbs.) and 2) the Bikini (2.3 lbs.). Each is available in 24â and 26â. We reviewed the Duplex, which is available in aluminum or carbon fiber stays. This internal frame is very strong, and is designed to integrate with many in the Kifaru pack line, including the Nomad, Timberline 3, Highcamp, and EMR 2. The WrapTech Plus adjustable suspension includes two dense, vertical, raised torso pads and a pronounced lumbar pad. There is good separation, allowing for ventilation. The hip pads, while not especially thick, are broad, comfortable, and spread weight across a wider surface. It also includes PALS webbing matrix for modularity. Bag: Constructed of 500D Cordura, this 5200-c.i. pack is ready to work and made smart. I appreciate lightweight as much as anyone, but Iâm also a guy who likes pocket options and organizational capabilities, and this pack has it. Front and side pockets, additional accessory pockets, divider pockets, and pockets in the upgraded lid options ensure you wonât be digging constantly trying to find important items. Dedicated spotting scope/tripod pockets are available on the sides. There is also a flap inside the main compartment that can be secured if you want two separate compartments (top/bottom). Kifaru also offers the unique option of two lines of custom embroidery for $25 if you choose. Color/camo options: Coyote Brown, Foliage Green, MultiCam, Kryptek Highlander. Best Qualities: Extreme versatility with accessories and organization, and also with interchangeability of frame with many other Kifaru pack bags; very comfortable and capable with large loads; abundant tie points; frame can be used alone; meat can be hauled between bag and frame. Could be better: The biggest drawback to the Kifaru is simply the price. Starting at $606, if you add a better lid, two belt pouches, and a Grab-It load shelf, youâre at $800. Also, with accessories, the bag is one of the heavier ones in the review. Cost: $606. Contact: www.kifaru.net. Recommended accessories: LongHunter top lid (doubles as lumbar pack with waistbelt, 1000 c.i., 17 oz.) – $71; or Hunting Extreme top lid (geared toward the tactical side with extreme modularity, 600 c.i., 15 oz.) – $71; Belt Pouch – $32; Gun Bearer (attaches to shoulder strap and waist belt for ready use, or to side of pack) – $31; Generation 2 Hanging Meat Bag (8.5 oz.) -$24; Grab-It II load shelf (also bow or load support, 5 oz.) – $31. Alternate Kifaru pack bags that can fit Duplex Frame: EMR2 (8400 c.i.) – $418; Highcamp (7000 c.i.) – $225; Timberline 3 (4000 c.i.) – $269; Nomad (2400 c.i. â 7000 c.i.) – $246. -Ryan Hatfield View the full article

After many years of solo hunts for sheep in Alaska and Montana, Kurt Racicot was driven to make a better pack. He wasnât satisfied with the status quo, and began by making modifications to existing frames. The dream and vision evolved until just a few years ago when he took a leap of faith and created Stone Glacier Packs. His packs are based on the premise of using quality, lightweight materials, a minimalist overall approach, and increasing the available weight for other gear/supplies or increasing backcountry efficiency. Frame/suspension: The Krux frame is comprised of an âXâ carbon/composite four-stay frame design. Other materials include 500D Cordura and X-Pac fabric. It is a modular frame system, designed to be interchangeable with the Sky 7400, and you can buy bags separately. The frame can be used completely independently if you chose to keep your camp in the pack bag for a return trip. The included Minimalist Buckle Kit is needed to switch two of the buckles on the frame from âmaleâ to âfemaleâ. The suspension is somewhat adjustable by changing the contact points of the shoulder straps against the Velcro backing. The shoulder straps and waist belt are made of nitrogen-infused foam and industrial hook and loop. This makes the harness very comfortable and strong. The pack bag separates away from the frame, bridged by a flexible load shelf. This allows a 2500-c.i. roll-top meat bag to be placed between frame and main bag, for a total of 7600 c.i. A 2â strap on the belt allows for attachments/accessories. There are two belt options â the simple one-piece and a three-piece with removable and adjustable lumbar pad ($15 extra). Bag: The bag is built from 500D Cordura and X-Pac fabric for high wear areas, with weather-sealed YKK zippers. The bag compresses to practically nothing when empty, and expands very vertically when full. The main bag features an expandable shroud with a roll-top and buckle, and is topped with an adjustable lid that rises and falls with the load. The main compartment has access via the top and also a 2/3 zipper in the front. There are four small interior pockets that lay on the inside wall of the main compartment near the zipper. There are no side pockets. On the lower front portion is a small flap designed to hold the foot of a tripod, and once the tripod is taken off, the idea is to have the spotting scope lying in wait directly underneath the zipper in the main compartment for quick access. If you donât like that method, there is a spotting scope pocket (not designed specifically for the Sky but does fit it) that you could by to have in on the side. Other items to note are that the lid is removable, the bag comes with a double-layer bottom, and the load shelf can be reversed and used to either add support to the bottom of the main bag or for additional support in holding a rifle or bow. Color/camo options: Gray. Best qualities: Extremely lightweight; vertical load design; beautiful system for separating frame from bag and putting meat in between, complete with 2500 c.i. meat bag designed just for that purpose; comfortable to wear. Could be better: No side pockets and few pockets overall limits some practical use and organizational capabilities; the four interior pockets are difficult to access with a full load; slightly more padding could be beneficial.. Cost: $599. Contact: www.stoneglacier.com. Recommended accessories: Weapon Sling (1 oz.) -$22; Hip Pocket (1 oz.) – $21; Load Cell Dry Bag (2500-c.i., 4 oz.) -$34; 3-piece belt – $79; Hip Belt Pull – $5. View the full article

Mystery Ranch NICE Metcalf Mystery Ranch has been in the pack business for quite some time and is a trusted name in quality build, materials, and design. The Metcalf is a sturdy pack for those 5-7 day hunts. With exceptional padding in the waist belt and shoulder straps, hauling super-heavy loads out will be more comfortable with this pack than most. Frame/suspension: Carbon/fiberglass NICE frame: 3 vertical and 3 horizontal stays (fiberglass/carbon fiber composite) in nylon tubes – allows for good side-to-side flex but great vertical strength, also for good shock absorption. An adjustable Cordura meat shelf supports a heavy meat load between the frame and bag by design. The NICE frame is also part of a modular system, meaning itâs interchangeable with the Crewcab, 6500, and 7500 pack bags for great versatility. The torso height on the Futura yoke is adjustable and a breeze. The yoke comes in three sizes and the entire suspension system is very well padded. The waist belt also features webbing for attachments. Bag: This pack is constructed of 500D Cordura, with weatherproof zippers, an expandable shroud, and quality straps/buckles. It compresses down tight with many compression straps and also expands vertically very well. Access to the main compartment is through the top and also from a full-length side zipper. The lid is separated into two large compartments. The NICE daypack lid (not standard) also doubles as makeshift daypack when detached. There is also storage on one half-height side pocket, and bottom straps allow for external sleeping bag storage, etc. Color/camo options: Color: Coyote (brown), Foliage (gray), MultiCam. Best Qualities: Manufacturing quality is great; the pack is solid; 4500 c.i. feels like 5000; robust padded hip belt and shoulder straps are very comfortable for packing heavy loads. Could Be Better: Few quick-access external pockets; no specific spotting scope/tripod pocket(s); no dedicated rifle or bow holder, although side compression straps work; no adjustable length on frame buckles to secure load independently of using bag. Cost: $519. Contact: www.mysteryranch.com. Recommended accessories: NICE daypack lid (900-c.i.; 19 oz.) – $90-$104; Removable Hip Belt Pocket - $15; Long Pocket (400 c.i., 7 oz., 15.5â tall, works for spotting scope) – $25-$29; Lift Kit -customizeable torso adjustment. Similar Mystery Ranch options to consider: NICE Crewcab, 6500, 7500. View the full article

If youâre a hardcore backpack hunter who loves to punish yourself and your body, today is a great day. Today is a day where a bountiful number of really good pack manufacturers exist, with no other dream than to make the perfect hunting backpack. Gone are the days of Forest Service pack boards. Gone are the days of 14-lb. packs that hurt just to look at. Todayâs packs are engineered with fine materials, quality construction, unique and functional ideas, and practical solutions. This is easily the most intense and time-consuming review Iâve ever undertaken. If it wasnât enough to try to coordinate logistics with a dozen top pack manufacturers, it just happens to deal with the one topic surely to generate the most opinions and arguments. Get two or more guys together and bring up the subject, and weâre sure to need a Ron Burgundy âWell that escalated quicklyâ meme to with it. Ben Howland struggles under the load of his giant Idaho elk, taken in 1929. If youâve ever packed a heavy load and felt like olâ Ben looks here, then these packs will make you say, âAhhhh.â My goal with this review was to feature every possible significant western pack manufacturer and we pretty well accomplished it. The chance to see all these fine products side by side, where they shine and where they lack was truly something special. We also feel pretty fortunate to be the first ones to review â or in some cases even SEE – some of these packs. Cabelaâs Prestige 85L, Exo Mountain Gear 5500, Horn Hunter Full Curl System, Kuiu Icon Pro, Mystery Ranch NICE Metcalf, and Outdoorsmans Optics Pack all were either brand-spankinâ new, had new modifications, or were final prototypes for soon-to-be-released models. We focused on a cubic-inch range near 5000 cubic inches for this review, because that might be the most useful range of packs out there. Small enough to compress and pack on your back for long day hunts where you want the ability to pack meat if necessary, but just big enough for five-day extended stays, these packs are the bread and butter of hard western hunting. Within these 12 packs, there are some markedly different strategies. Some are bona fide meat haulers, some are lightweight specialists, some are minimalists, some are organization specialists, and some are really good blends of some or all of those attributes. Generally, weâve stopped short of âdeclaring winners and losersâ. Personally, I feel itâs an insult to a lot of good engineers and pack makers to do so, and the answer is rarely that clear-cut or simple. These are all really good packs. What weâve done is laid out all the specs, attributes, and options, focused on a few key strong points and glaring weaknesses, and did the legwork. The rest is (and should be) up to you, to weigh it all and make the best decision for what pack will best fit your own personal needs. Good luck! -Ryan Hatfield, Editor View the full article

<p>by R. Cade Powell for Western Hunter</p> <p>This past hunting season, I upgraded several backpacking items that were long overdue. Calling them âlong overdueâ might be the understatement of the year. I have my kids to thank for the demise of one of my items although I wasnât nearly as enamored with them at the time. Imagine my surprise when I walked in the front door from a long day at work to find all four of them stuffed like tube sausage in my sleeping bag. They had just watched the Jamaican bobsled team on âCool Runningsâ and the two oldest girls had somehow convinced their younger sisters to be âdriversâ up front so the older girls could be the âbrakemanâ in the back. Keep in mind that theyâre all crammed and zipped up into one sleeping bag. I think the âdriversâ were just extra padding when they hit the bottom of the runway. After I quit laughing I noticed the huge tear in my mummy bag my dad had given me as a gift 25 years ago. It never ceases to amaze me how kids only need 30 minutes to ruin something that has survived my abuse for a quarter century.</p> <p>Although I will never admit it, I was grateful my old mummy bag would be retired from any future backpacking adventures. Iâm convinced it was warmer sleeping on top of that bag than inside. The loft and insulating properties had been gone so long that I canât even remember them in the first place……….</p> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-221/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/23-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Big Agnes Fish Hawk" /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-222/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/32-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Q-Core pad" /></a> <p>I wonât tell you all the ins and outs of my search for a new bag. That would be like giving you a play by play of hiking up a trail: left footâ¦â¦right footâ¦â¦left footâ¦â¦breather. I will however, try and give you my interpretation of the view from the top of the mountain: Big Agnes Fish Hawk 30 with Down-Tek and a Q-Core insulated sleeping pad.</p> <p>Most of my lightweight hunting excursions tend to be late August through mid-October and a 30 degree bag is ideal for me in those conditions. Iâm 6’4 and 230 pounds so I like a bag with a little more length and âwiggleâ room inside. I also have a thing for down. Some of the new technologies that make todayâs synthetic insulations are unbelievable but given a choice Iâll take Mother Natureâs best: down. When Big Agnes added Downtek water repellant down to their lineup, I was hooked. Go to www.Down-tek to learn about this amazing new product. The Fish Hawk has the extra length and âwiggleâ room I was looking</p> <div id="attachment_10962" style="width: 305px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/42.jpg" rel="lightbox[10958]"><img class="wp-image-10962" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/42.jpg" alt="Pad sleeve with easy access. " width="295" height="221" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Pad sleeve with easy access.</p></div> <p>for. My bag has 13 oz. of 650 fill Down Tek and comes in at a scant 2 lb 12 ozâs. Add in 25 oz for my Q-Core pad and I am still packing less weight than I was with just my old bag. My bag compresses in the stuff sack until itâs smaller than a volleyball or about 1/3 the size of my old set-up.</p> <p>You can tell that the design team for Big Agnes spends A LOT more time on the mountain than I get to. Every detail of my bag and pad was well thought out.</p> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-224/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/52-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-225/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/62-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-226/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/72-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Pillow pocket with my DownTek coat." /></a> <p>My favorite features include: integrated pad sleeve to ensure youâll never roll off your pad again; built in pillow pocket that held my Core 4 Element Elevation jacket; collar seals to block out drafts; zipper tube that insulates the length of the zipper; and the Insotect Flow construction to evenly distribute heat. In the past year Iâve spent 10 nights backpacking with this setup. Most nights were in the 30âs and 40’s and I was very comfortable.</p> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-232/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/132-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="I was grateful for the weight and space saving features of my Big Agnes system on a weeklong 2013 NW Wyoming elk hunt" /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-227/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/82-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" /></a> <p> </p> <p>Iâve also used this bag and pad in a weekâs worth of nights camping at the truck. 1 night of truck camping was below zero and one night that was in the single digits. Nights like those tend to accentuate any flaws your gear might have. Although I had a little more insulation than I do on a 25 degree night, the Fish Hawk and Q-Core pad surpassed all of my expectations.</p> <p>Over the 4^th of July my family hiked into the Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming to fish for golden trout.</p> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-220/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/110-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="A lightweight bag and pad will are necessary so youâve got the room to carry some of lifeâs more âpreciousâ gear." /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-233/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/142-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Cloud Peak Wilderness, Wyoming." /></a> <p>Our desired lake sits right at 11,000 feet. I donât know what the evening temps were but the lake was still half frozen over. To make sure all my girls could make the 8 mile hike in, I packed the majority of the weight, including 3 sleeping bags stuffed in my pack. NONE of them were my lightweight Fish Hawk. I guess thatâs part of being a dad but Iâm willing to bet money that my girlâs will be getting an early Christmas present from this old man.</p> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-228/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/92-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="My youngest daughter couldnât quite make the last mile into our Golden trout lake so we âsettledâ for the scenery and fishing around base camp." /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-230/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/112-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" /></a> <a href='http://westernhunter.net/big-agnes-fish-hawk-and-q-core-pad-review/olympus-digital-camera-231/'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/122-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" /></a> <p>A couple weeks before our big backpack trip my two oldest were at our church girlâs camp. One of them raided my hunting room and snuck my gear with her. All she will say about the whole incident is that was the best sheâs ever slept while camping. âAMAZING!â, to be exact. I immediately inspected my gear for signs of summertime bobsledding. None was found. Amazing indeed!</p> <div id="attachment_10970" style="width: 590px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/122.jpg" rel="lightbox[10958]"><img class="wp-image-10970" src="http://westernhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/122.jpg" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="580" height="435" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">3 days – 2 nights – 19.7 miles. Back at the trailhead after our adventure, all of my girls were asking for a Big Agnes bag and pad!</p></div> View the full article

In prepping for my familyâs 20 mile backpack trip into the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyomingâs Bighorn Mountains I only had 2 major concerns: sleeping bags and water! This was my girlâs first backpack trip with me. I have a lightweight Big Agnes sleeping bag and they all have heavy âtruck campingâ bags. I couldnât afford to just go out and drop cash on 4 new bags for this trip so we would make do with what we had. A couple of my kids are still fairly young and couldnât carry a full pack with sleeping bag and pad. My older 2 had smaller packs with insufficient space for a big sleeping bag so I was nominated as the beast of burden. My pack was big enough that I ended up with 3 bags crammed inside. One bag was big enough for my youngest 2 daughters to share so that left my wife to pack her own bag and one daughter to pack my lightweight bag. By the end of the trip I was wishing Santa would have been a little more pro-active over the years. Loading up at the trailhead Cloud Peak Wilderness, Wyoming With our bag problem âsolvedâ it was time to focus on water. Iâve been using a Katadyn Hiker Pro Microfilter for many years and am impressed with its size, speed and utility. I am typically solo on my backpack trips and the Hiker Pro is perfect for those situations. With 5 additional hikers, this trip would be different. We were planning on setting up a base camp 7 miles in and then hiking up to the surrounding lakes above timberline to fish for golden trout. My Hiker Pro filter would be perfect for those day hikes but I also wanted to make sure there was ample water for everyone around camp without spending all our time filtering water. I jumped on the Katadyn website and saw an awesome solution to my dilemma: The Katadyn Base Camp. Basically, it is a heavy duty bag with a filter placed inside. Fill the bag with water, roll down the top and elevate. Gravity will filter the water out of the attached hose valve and into your desired container. The bag holds 6 liters of water and the whole system tips the scale at 11 ounces. Katadyn shows output at ½ Liter per minute. Creek crossing with my most precious cargo!) Katadyn Base Camp Once we arrived at our destination, my girls were so excited to try out the newly arrived Base Camp. They ran to the creek while I finished setting up our tents. Filling with water in Paintrock Creek I believe itâs still a smart idea to filter all drinking water â even frigid run-off at 11,000 feet elevation. By the time I finished putting on the rain fly, they were filling water bottles. Every water bottle they could find! My girlâs verified that all 6 liters of the Base Camp can, in fact, be emptied in less than 3 minutes. Just to verify their findings they would run back to the creek and fill it again! The Base Camp is easy to use, fast, lightweight and tough. It also meets industry standards for reduction of bacteria (99.9999% Klebsiella terrigena) and protozoan cysts (99.9% Giardia and Cryptosporidium). We hung it on a tree in camp where it filtered 5 or 6 full loads in 3 days. It was the perfect solution for our family outing. Optimus Elektra FE comes with a Crux Lite gas stove, FE (fuel efficient) heat exchange pot, piezo ignitor and clip-on windshield all weighing in at just 16 oz.) The Base Camp Filter was an absolute hit on our family backpack trip but would I use it on my solo hunting trips? YES! I have several hunting locations where the Base Camp will be very efficient. During early season deer hunts there is a small lake 1,500 vertical feet below where I camp. I typically only come off the lofty peaks to stalk a mule deer or to filter water. By filling the Base Camp and carrying it up to camp, Iâll ensure an extra 2-4 day supply of water. Now Iâll only have to come off those lofty peaks to stalk velvet bucks! For this trip I also packed an Optimus Elektra FE cook system for all of our cooking. The Cruz Lite stove really will boil 1 liter of water in the FE Heat Exchange pot in just over 3 minutes â at 10,000 feet! I was truly amazed and will be writing a review shortly. Rainey and I pondering âWhatâs for Dinnerâ along the trail.) None of my girls had eaten freeze dried food before. We packed a couple brands but the hit of the trip was Natural High in Chicken Teriyaki and Natural Highâs Cinnamon Apple Crisp for dessert. I will be sampling some of Natural Highâs new products throughout this hunting season and will report in on what I find. View the full article

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Say Cheese?Why I hate smiling for field photos When I first started hunting way back around 1980 (and was packing the old C110 pop-in film cameras), I always felt awkward smiling with dead stuff. At first, it might have been attributed to being a shy kid in front of the lens. I mean, just try and get a 13-year-old boy to smile at anything⦠As I got older and graduated both school and into 35mm, turning that frown upside down didnât seem to get any easier. In that stage of my life (my twenties), I donât know if I thought I was just being a Clint Eastwood tough guy, or if I even knew why, but the thought of smiling with dead stuff just didnât seem to be working for me. With the digital age, and little more maturity by then, I began to manage an ever-so-slight upturn of the olâ mustache, but still, it just didnât seem natural. However, at this point, I was in the hunting industry â as an Editor no less â and it sort of seemed mandatory. Looks that could be characterized as smiles began to sneak into my photos, though I could never profess to have the amazing sparkling white grill as my colleague, Randy Ulmer, whose amazing smile seems as large as his incredible trophies. Now, as a 41-year-old, I absolutely treasure my field photos, perhaps more than the headgear adorned by the animals in them. However, posing for those photos – to this day – makes me feel as awkward as a teenager posing with a girl for a âfirst-dateâ photo being taken by an overzealous mother. All joking aside, during a long cold night in a tent a couple months ago I got to thinking about why I was so averse to flashing a big cheesy grin. Was I abnormal? Was I just a big olâ toughie? Or a jerk? The more I thought about it, the more I came to a realization. We all react differently to different events, and we donât all even react the same way each time. Hunting is pretty darn important to me, and I have a deep respect for the game I pursue. I try to keep from getting âtoo spiritual and over the topâ about it, but hunting is a big part of who I am, and I know I wouldnât be a hunter by definition without this game to pursue and eventually to kill. But the killing to me has always simply been necessary to complete the process. I get no joy out of the act. As such, the act of smiling after a kill just doesnât seem to work well for me. My mind often drifts to everything it took to get to that point âthe actions of the immediate days as well as the years of effort â and I think I have conflicting emotions right then that leave me silent. I feel gratitude for the luck; good fortune of my success; some sadness that his life has ended and that the chase is over. Itâs equal parts happiness, sadness, relief, and gratefulness. I see that mature buck or bull as the ultimate friend/foe/adversary/prize, and for whatever reason, I just often feel that smiling isnât appropriate for me. Thatâs not in any way to say itâs inappropriate for someone else. Again, we all react differently to different events. Iâll give you an analogy. When Iâm watching football, Iâve always had a lot more respect for the guy who, when he scores the touchdown, immediately turns and hands the ball to the ref rather than the guy who makes a spectacle of himself. Iâve always admired it when they simply act like itâs time to prepare for the next play rather than dancing a jig in front of their opponent. All this isnât some motto I dreamed up to live by; itâs just the way I naturally react to the situation. So, when someone says, âWhy donât you smile more in your field photos?â, I guess youâll know why. I should reiterate that just because this is how I feel doesnât mean I expect everyone else to feel that way. Iâll also say that Iâm perfectly happy to see other people smile, and it doesnât ever strike me as odd or inappropriate at all. Now, Iâll say this. There are exceptions to every rule, and I can think of two for me. First, when my children take their first deer, I have a feeling you wonât be able to wipe that smile off my face with 40-grit sandpaper. Second, Iâve hunted my entire life with the hope of taking a truly exceptional mule deer; not just a nice big buck, but something amazing, like a 200-inch typical or a 240-inch monster. If that day ever comes, I may just lose control of my faculties for a moment and bare those pearly whites. Or not; who the heck knows. View the full article

Practical and important tips that lead to success If youâre lucky enough to have an archery elk tag this fall, itâs time to get yourself and your bow in shooting shape! The earlier you get started, the better off youâll be. Iâd like to go over what I do each summer to get ready for elk hunting. The way I prepare for early fall hunts has changed quite a bit over the last 15 years. Back when I was competing weekly in 3-D tournaments, I didnât take my preparation for hunting season nearly as seriously as I do now. Five months of tuning and maintaining my target gear burned me out on archery. So, when fall rolled around, I just grabbed my hunting bow, slapped a few accessories on it, picked up a handful of arrows and headed into the field. I just wasnât as well prepared as I should have been. Things are a lot different now. I spend two solid months getting my gear ready to hunt. A lot of bowhunters will spend only the last month before season working on their gear. However, by that time, Iâm already finished tuning and grouping. That way I can save the last month solely for working on my shooting technique. Increasing the IncentiveIâm motivated to start early because of a broadhead tournament we started about 12 years back. We developed the shoot to encourage ourselves to develop more accurate hunting setups and also to force us to get our gear ready earlier. The first year we had the tournament it was just me and a couple of friends with a friendly wager. Now, it has grown into a formal competition â complete with serious bragging rights. Itâs no coincidence that this tournament takes place a month before we all start hunting. 18 Perfect ArrowsIn preparing for the broadhead competition, I spend a lot of time shooting long distances. I also work hard on my gear so that itâs perfectly tuned. One of my highest priorities is putting together 18 perfect arrows. I start with three dozen and shoot them repeatedly with broadheads attached. I have each arrow numbered, and as I shoot, I record where each one hits on the target. I do this at 100 yards to exaggerate any inconsistencies. If an arrow consistently hits outside the group, Iâll turn the nock and try again. If that doesnât solve the problem, I replace the broadhead with a different one and keep shooting. Once I have a broadhead and arrow combination thatâs hitting right in the center of the target, I mark them as âgamersâ and they remain a pair for the entire season. Mark ItWhen the bow is hunt-ready, I mark everything that could move with a marker, so if it moves, Iâll know right away. I then remove all the screws, put Loc-Tite on the threads, and replace and tighten them. Next, Iâll put just a dab of epoxy overlapping the edge of each screw head; if it moves, there will be a crack in the epoxy. I put a custom string on my bow early on (I use Winnerâs Choice). A good custom string is pre-stretched so that after only a few shots, the strings are set. I take special care to precisely mark my cams and my peep sight so I can tell quickly if theyâve moved even slightly. When Iâm finished, my bow is bombproof. Real-Life Shooting After the broadhead competition, I turn my attention away from the long shots and focus on practicing real-life hunting shots. I practice awkward shots and the occasional quick shot. Target-range form is only a starting point for true hunting accuracy – very few of my shots on elk are taken while standing up straight on level ground. When youâre elk hunting, youâll often face shots where you have to lean out from behind cover. Youâll be surprised how much this simple change in form affects your accuracy, so you need to practice this kind of shot. The same holds true for kneeling shots and twisting and turning shots. I also practice sitting shots. Just outside my door in Colorado is a 37-degree slope (very steep). I shoot a few arrows per day at a target Iâve packed up the mountain. Once a week I scramble up the hill with my bow and shoot all the arrows back down. This gives me great angle compensation practice on uphill and downhill shots. It also helps me perfect my uphill and downhill shooting form. I spend quite a bit of time shooting in the wind and rain â conditions that drive most archers indoors. I want to know how the elements affect my accuracy. Iâve killed elk in some very ugly conditions. Without this kind of practice, itâs less likely I would have made those tough shots. Change in ElevationIâm fortunate that I spend my summers at 9000 feet elevation. So, once Iâm sighted in, Iâm good for almost all the mountain hunting I do at similar elevations in the early fall. If you live at sea level, youâll have to re-sight your bow once you get to elk hunting elevations. The air is thinner as you go higher and that reduces the drag on your arrows, so they hit high. If you shoot a large-diameter arrow with big vanes and a large broadhead, you may shoot several inches high at 40 yards at these elevations. Thatâs one of the reasons I prefer small vanes, low-profile broadheads and small-diameter shafts (I currently shoot Easton Injexion arrows, fletched with Plastifletch Max by AAE, and tipped with an Ulmer Edge 125-grain Stainless Steel broadhead.) Parting ThoughtsTen years ago, I missed shots that I can make today. When I face tough shots in the field now, Iâm more prepared and confident. I have a better understanding of what I have to do to compensate for the environmental conditions and my own tendencies. Thereâs a lot more involved in proper preparation than simply dusting off your bow and spinning a couple of arrows. The last few months before hunting season is the time to pull everything together. Your bow should be set up perfectly, with everything locked in place. Finally, get yourself into great shooting shape, and the best way to do that is through lots of challenging, realistic practice. Like what you read? Western Hunter and Elk Hunter Magazines feature articles just like this on in each and every issue! Choose your subscription below and don’t miss out on a single article! Sale!1 Year of BOTH Elk Hunter and Western Hunter $29.99 Select options Sale!1 Year of Elk Hunter Magazine $19.99 Select options Sale!1 Year of Western Hunter Magazine $19.99 Select options View the full article

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BY TRACY BREEN Most of us who do a lot of bowhunting in the West are always looking for a way to increase our accuracy. Let’s face it: we have to have our form, our bow and all our gear on the bow dialed in if we want to split hairs at 60 yards and beyond while practicing in the backyard or in the field. In recent years, technology like rangefinders, adjustable sights and more accurate bows have helped us all become more accurate. Now there is a new iPhone App called the UNO from Full Flight Technology that might help all of us shoot even more accurately. The UNO App is designed to help an archer quickly and accurately setup their bow. Here is how it works. You sight-in at one distance, say 20 yards, plug performance data from the shots into the UNO App along with a couple of dimensions measured from the peep at full draw. The app then gives you set of sight marks in your smartphone screen all the way out to 80 yards. You place the phone against the sight housing, line-up the 20 yard cross hairs with the pin that you already set and gap the rest of the pins using the corresponding marks displayed in the phone. With the UNO App, there is no guessing and no moving your pins up and down with an Allen wrench a hundred times until you get it right. The app does all the work for you. The app eliminates human error because there is no traditional “sighting in†required beyond 20 yards. “When you eliminate human error from the equation, you are bound to become more accurate. The longer ranges from 60-80 yards can be tough to sight in because an archer’s group size increases with distance.†said Bob Donahoe, the Founder of Full Flight Technology. “The goal of the UNO App is to eliminate second guessing on pin placement so archers are confident that their bow is set up right the first time.†Full Flight hasn’t ignored single pin shooters as Donahoe offered that “at launch, we expect the app to provide sight marks that single pin shooters can use to create their own tapes in the field. Full Flight is using a crowd funding website called Kickstarter to accept pre-orders for the app and help fund the project. “Our goal is to launch the UNO App by late Summer,†said Donahoe. “For us to do that, we need people to pre-order the app on the Kickstarter website.†How Kickstarter works is a manufacturer, in this case Full Flight Technology, sets a funding goal that has to be reached to bring the product to market. Full Flight’s goal is $25,000. Archers can log onto the Kickstarter campaign page and pre-order the Uno App for $10. Everyone who pre-orders at the $10 backer level or more receives something in addition to the app as a bonus. Those who pledge larger amounts can receive cool gear including the electronic bow tuning device, the Velocitip System, which is the company’s flagship product. There are roughly three weeks until the end of the campaign so now is a great time to visit the Kickstarter website and check out the Uno iPhone App. Can you image spending ten or fifteen minutes to sight in your bow instead of an hour or more? It is amazing how far technology has brought us. The campaign has raised about $10,000 so far. To pre-order the Uno iPhone App or to simply check it out, visit the campaign page here. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/velocitip/uno-the-science-of-archery. About the Author: Tracy Breen is a full-time outdoor writer, speaker and marketing consultant in the outdoor industry. He currently works with a variety of companies including Mathews Archery, Wilderness Athlete, Full Flight Technology and Schaffer Performance Archery. Learn more about him at www.tracybreen.com. View the full article

by R. Cade Powell for Western Hunter As I shut my truck door and mumbled under my breath, my seven year-old asked if I was alright in only the way a kid who is genuinely concerned about you can do. I smiled and said, “I’m alright but I am more grateful that you are fine. Now you know why you have to be buckled in your booster seat in the back!†She just grinned at me with those big blue eyes and in a matter-of-fact tone stated, “Dad, I heard what you said but I won’t tell mom.†Little did she know, but that comment earned her a lifetime supply of blue Slurpee’s! As I pulled back onto the road and pointed the truck toward home, I wasn’t sure how I was going to break the news to my wife. I only had 8 miles to figure it out so my brain was working overtime. I knew Rainey wouldn’t keep a secret of this magnitude very long so that further complicated matters. As the garage door shut behind me, a light popped on in my brain. Maybe it wasn’t a light but more like a low dull glow as my wife has come to expect. Anyway, I finally had a plan. My 7 year old holding some presents for her mom We walked into the kitchen and set the bags of groceries on the counter. Brooke was finishing up dinner at the kitchen stove. As slowly and nonchalantly as a seven year-old and her dad can get, we tried to make a break for it. Brooke shot me a glance as if to ask why I wasn’t putting the groceries away since her hands were already busy. I mumbled something about the potty and continued through the house. I almost made it across the living room when I heard Brooke gasp. “Cade! What happened? Did you wreck the truck?†I just grinned as she pulled the Ford insignia and part of a mule deer antler out of the grocery bag……………….. I don’t think she would have cared as much if the truck wasn’t only 8 months old! They sure don’t make them like they used to. I live in Southern Wyoming where deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, and even range cows are a threat each and every time I get in the vehicle. It’s a risk I’m willing to take to live in such a beautiful spot where I have the opportunity to see those types of animals out my back door. Knowing the hazards and risk of an animal collision with ‘her’ new truck, I had been researching grille guards and replacement front bumpers for over a year. Just that morning, I had parked by a truck that had the exact bumper I wanted. I pointed it out to Brooke and said “we need that bumper especially with our oldest just beginning to driveâ€! They sure don’t make them like they used to After I steamrolled that mule deer buck, I took my truck in for the estimates to begin the process of having it repaired. The local body shop I chose, Barkhurst Collision Center, was an authorized dealer for Ranch Hand bumpers. As we discussed the price of the Ford replacement bumper I asked about putting the Ranch Hand on instead. He showed me the price difference and I had him go ahead and place the order after consulting with the boss. She was like a mother hen protecting her brood and wanted a bumper on each vehicle so her kids would be safer when they were riding with their dad! I went with the Ranch Hand Summit replacement bumper and have been thrilled since I picked my truck up several months ago Why did I choose the Ranch Hand? In my research, I found about 1 dozen different companies manufacturing bumpers and grille guards. The materials used and manufacturing facilities were as varied as the names and promises. Some were start-up companies and some had a few years under their belts. Some were built on American soil and some were not. Some used cheap materials and some did not. The common theme I found between all the companies I researched was their attempt to mimic the top company in the business: Ranch Hand. Ranch Hand was my original choice and every company and product I researched validated that choice. They’ve been the best since start-up in 1986. With over 230 full-time employees and 70,000 pounds of steel used EVERY DAY, it was comforting to know Ranch Hand would be around as long as my bumper. The Summit Replacement Bumper is made in America with 182 pounds of steel mounted to the vehicles frame in 4 places. It is one-piece fully welded construction with a durable black powder coat finish. The main portion of the bumper is manufactured from diamond plate steel and the grille insert even matches the factory grille pattern on your truck. The continuous upright bar adds strength and durability with a Euro bar on top to add strength to the headlight loops. The fit on my 2013 F-150 is such that my truck even retains its manufacturer tow hooks and fog lights required to mount onto my truck as it matched pre-existing holes in the frame. In addition to its rugged construction I think the Summit is the best looking replacement bumper on the market. Winter still has a deep hold on Southern Wyoming. May 11th, the mountains within 15 miles of my house received over 40 inches of snow. Needless to say, I haven’t been able to test my bumper out in the field hunting and fishing. Look for a review this fall that will cover aspects such as: clearance; accessibility to the engine; potential decrease in fuel economy (to this point I haven’t seen any decrease in my MPG’s); added wear to front tires; and anything else I can think of. In fact, if you’ll respond to this blog, or FaceBook pages with questions you would like me to analyze and answer, I’d love to keep notes as I get to hunt and fish across several western states this summer and fall. For any additional questions or to see their full line-up of replacement bumpers, grille guards, rear bumpers, headache racks, push bars and bull nose bumpers go visit the Ranch Hand website at www.RanchHand.com View the full article

by R. Cade Powell for Western Hunter. I would like to invite whomever coined the phrase, “Change is Goodâ€, to have their head examined. The old school way of thinking has always served me better than those that are swayed by every new ‘latest and greatest’ product to hit the shelves. I ALWAYS mock the guys who have a new bow and accessories every year but NEVER kill anything with it. “Maybe you should spend more time learning about your quarry and how to hunt, than you spend learning about new products that really don’t help your hunting skillâ€, was my usual line. Three years ago, a good friend, was so excited to show me his new bow, arrows, and accessories that were all released just a month before at the Archery Trade Association (ATA) show. I hesitantly held his equipment as he tried to shove it into my hands with childlike excitement. I felt like the Grinch sucking the Christmas spirit out of a toddler when I handed it back to him with a guffaw. “This is your 4th new bow in 5 years and you don’t have any antlers in the garage to even show for it. Why don’t you learn your equipment and an area instead of running to each new ‘hotspot’ with your new-fangled equipment and never killing anythingâ€, came my sharp reply? The Grinch would have been proud as I pulled out the Old School club to beat his excitement to a pulp. I should have left well enough alone but threw in a sucker punch as I walked away. “I have a personal rule that I can’t buy a new bow until I’ve harvested 10 animals with my old one. Usually takes 3 or 4 years.†I turned and walked away as he stood there, green-faced, looking at his new equipment like a vegetarian that just realized that wasn’t a tofu burger they just inhaled. It was priceless! After passing all of Cade’s criteria at the practice range, it was time to take them hunting I grew up shooting Easton Game Getter II’s in the late 80’s and early 90’s so it wasn’t hard to make the change to XX75’s or the XX78 Super Slam’s, when they hit the market. Along came the carbon craze in the 90’s that I fought like a 2 year-old fights naptime; crying, kicking, and screaming. Didn’t matter. Carbons were here to stay, but I didn’t have to jump on the bandwagon! I continued to shoot my trusty XX78’s for the next 10 years. In 2001, I was given 3 dozen carbons to test out. Since I had finally bought a new bow, I thought I’d give them a try. I shot those arrows (and bow) for the next 11 years. I broke a few arrows, but nothing even close to what I would do in my aluminum days. I even broke down and took them hunting. After I killed a 6pt bull elk, pronghorn buck and mule deer buck, with the SAME ARROW, I was sold. I still had over a dozen arrows left from that first batch of 3 dozen when I sold that bow in 2012 and gave in for a new-fangled bow. I settled on the Mathews Heli’m and accessorized it with a Trophy Taker Smack-down rest and a Spot-Hogg Hogg-It sight (so much for being old school). I then started looking at arrows. The pro-shop kept trying to talk me into these new ‘skinny’ arrows that were so great they would penetrate further, deflect more wind, and hit harder than any arrow I’d ever shot. They would also retrieve themselves from your bag target and place themselves by number in your quiver so I could sit in the shade and sip lemonade. During hunts they would track After passing all of Cade’s criteria at the practice range, it was time to take them hunting my quarry and follow a blood trail like a blood hound and blah, blah, blah, blah. I had already done my homework and knew what I wanted. I could have done without all the sales pitch but I walked out of the shop with not 1, but 2 dozen Easton Injexion 330’s with Deep Six inserts. I had been shooting the Trophy Taker Shuttle-T broadhead for years and wasn’t going to give it up, so I ordered an outsert from Firenock (www.Firenock.com) that fit right over the end of my Injexion and allowed me to attach my Shuttle-T’s. It actually added 30 grains to the front of my arrow and moved the FOC forward where I prefer it. The Firenock outsert fit snug and all my arrows spun correct so I put on field tips and went to the range to start shooting. After my first 10 arrows, I knew something was up with these new arrows. After 200 shots that afternoon I was positive they were the hardest hitting arrows I had ever shot. I had never had arrows penetrate that far into a bag target. It was unreal watching the vanes bury and disappear into my new target. They didn’t penetrate that far into my broadhead target but went further than any other arrows I had shot. Maybe these arrows are the hardest hitting and deepest penetrating arrows I’d ever shot, but how about the wind deflection? I live in SE Wyoming and know a thing or two or ten about the wind. Yup, they deflect the wind too, but how would they do in a hunting situation? Over the past two seasons I’ve been able to put them to the test on both Idaho and Wyoming mule deer. I should have been able to test them on a big Wyoming bull, but I screwed up (punched my trigger!!) and failed that test. The Wyoming bull that Cade punched his trigger on after a 9 hour stal I won’t tell you what my buddy in the beginning of the article said to me when I told him about missing that bull. Let’s just say the Grinch would have turned his head in disgust…………. The best equipment in the world won’t put meat in the freezer and antlers in the garage if you can’t handle the moment of truth The Idaho buck I killed right at dark toward the end of my hunt. You can read that whole hunt (http://westernhunter.net/eye-opening-experience-by-r-cade-powell-part-1-7/) if you’d like but I won’t bore you with all the details other than to say he was further than any animal I had ever shot with a bow. Arrow penetrated through the edge of the shoulder blade angling forward into the offside shoulder. I was a little concerned when he ran off and I couldn’t see any fletchings. Cade’s 2012 Idaho Desert mulie that his Injexion passed completely through both shoulders I walked up to where he was standing and saw my arrow 5 yards (downhill) past his tracks in the dirt. It completely passed through that off-side shoulder as well and was soaked in blood. There wasn’t any wind that evening but for that arrow to pass through 2 shoulder blades, I would definitely say it had more than performed up to my expectations on penetration and hitting hard. That was the end of my bowhunts that year as I had a 13 year-old daughter with a couple tags in her pocket that I needed to save as many personal days as possible for. The next year, after blowing an opportunity on a great public land DIY Wyoming bull, I was back in the badlands looking for velvet bucks. I found an old mature deer one morning that I decided to pass a stalk opportunity on. After pondering on the rest of my fall I decided to go back and try to find him bedded up for the day. My 2nd daughter had just turned 12 and had drawn a mule deer tag and pronghorn tag with her 14 year-old sister in our home state of Wyoming. Needless to say, my fall was going to be busy so I decided to spend the rest of the day looking for him. Found him a couple hours later in an awesome bed and I was able to stalk 18 yards above him. About mid-day, he stood to stretch and my Injexion took him high in the shoulder angling down into his cavity. It almost knocked him off his feet as it lodged low in the opposite side shoulder. He made it 75 yards down the draw before piling up in the bottom. He is my widest mule deer to date and first velvet buck with a 29 7/8 outside spread. I was pretty happy with my “Time-Management†archery buck. Cade’s 2013 Wyoming Public Land DIY archery mulie killed with a hard-hitting Easton Injexion arrow A couple good public land Wyoming desert mulies that didn’t quite make the cut. View the full article