I'm new to this site and this is my first post, so I hope I'm not bending rules by starting with a gear review. I've been reading articles, reviews, and forum posts here for a while and am impressed with the amount of information you folks share with each other. I leave Monday for my first AZ desert mule deer hunt, thanks to an article I read by Eric and a trip we'd already planned to visit family in the area. Glad to be here, hope to offer something of value.
Keeping warm is something you must always think about when hunting. No matter if you are hunting the high desert of Southern California or the hardwoods of Western New York. When I was given the opportunity to review the new RedRam Merino Wool base layers I couldn't say no. For one, I had never heard of them and two, I had been looking for a decent pair of base layers for a while.
Hunting here in Southern California is extremely challenging. There are miles of ground to cover and precious time to do it in. What's the best way to find your prey? Gain some elevation, get yourself a good vantage point and scan the land using quality optics.
My first chance to try out the 2011 Danner Pronghorns was during this years Colorado elk season. Without a chance to break them in, I strapped them on for the first time, on day 1 of our hunt. After 16 miles and bull packed out and in the truck on the first day, I had zero issues or discomfort with my boots. I was nervous about not wearing them in before such an arduous hunt, but was thoroughly satisfied with the results.
When hunting, I like to have some sort of GPS on me at all times. Even if it is just for locking down different spots I highlight for future reference. The problem with handheld GPS tools is they usually take forever to find a satellite, your location and then you have to punch in a bunch of info just to save it. It used to drive me nuts until I started using the ScoutLook Weather Guide.
I have always used Danner boots and have been happy but never completely satisfied. It seemed that I always had an issue with the full leather uppers that were found on the canadians. When they got broken in the leather around the ankles seemed to fold over and cause comfort issues in that specific area. Also, the canadians are extremely heavy when it comes to putting miles on the feet.
When I read a review on a knife or a blade of any sort, I want to know that it's going to cut 'like buttah'. Don't you? That's exactly what discovered when I used the Knives of Alaska Pronghorn Knife last year. Yes, I realize I have been a schmuck for not posting about this yet. It should have been posted a LONG time ago.
The thermometer read 106 degrees last weekend and we were dead smack in the middle of archery bear season. If I was fortunate enough to kill a bear I was going to be pressed for time to get it cooled down. When you hunt and kill an animal, you have cool it down as quickly as possible and you also want to keep moisture off of the meat. I'll bet you didn't know that second part, did you? That's an interesting bit of information I got from Steve Glass, Owner of Trophy Bag Kooler, LLC.
Picnic baskets. Coolers. Tents. Bears love to get into each and every one of them. Whether out of curiosity or in their search for food, they tear them open and usually destroy them to get at the contents. If you are going to be hiking or hunting in the back country and it's known to have bears, you'll need to protect your food. That's where the BearVault BV500 comes in.
Treestand safety is something I constantly promote. Far too many hunters have fallen out of their stands and injured themselves because they didn't wear a safety harness. Some have been paralyzed and some have died. I have known a few guys who have fallen out and broken bones. Even if it is the harness that is provided with the treestand you bought, Use It!
I feel the two things you cannot cut corners on are boots and optics. Having used Nikon products for the last 15 years, I have seen the evolution of optics. During a recent trip to Colorado, I stopped by the optics department at Bass Pro Shops to get a good comparison. Initially, I planned on getting a pair of Swarovski EL 42's and took a few minutes to look through them. Satisfied with what I could see, as expected, I was convinced that would be my next pair of glasses. Then the salesman suggested I take a look at the Vortex product.
In a market that has recently become flooded with binocular chest packs, the choices are plentiful. I have both a Sitka bino bivy and a Badlands bino chest pack on their way.
Backcountry hunting involves preparation, perspiration and burning plenty of calories. Yes, calories. If you are going to burn boot rubber you will need to refuel. Most times I pack in a lunch complete with a couple of sandwiches, energy bars, energy gel, maybe a pack of M&M's and a half gallon of water.
Does your bow fall forward after the shot? Is there up-swing or down-swing? What about vibration and weight control? These are all factors you should be aware of and consider before purchasing a stabilizer for your bow.
The G5 Prime Centroid Compound Bow is new to me because G5 just recently started building bows and they really know what they are doing. I was invited by the staff over at Archery Outpost in Los Alamitos, CA to come over to shoot the bow, ask questions and do a review on it. How was I going to say no? Before I went over, I wanted to do some research online. I avoided YouTube and other sites doing reviews. I wanted my review to be my own and not influenced by anyone or any company. My first stop was the G5 website to review the specifications on this bow.
Gear reviews on hunting gear are typically performed while hunting and fishing gear is tested while fishing. Most of the time I follow that rule, but not this time. This time I wanted to think outside the box a little bit. The good folks over at Magnum Boots sent me their RD (Rapid Deployment) Tactical Short Sleeve Shirt to do a review on before it hits the market in mid-July. I had to think long and hard on how I wanted to approach testing it out. You see, I know that you can take it hunting, fishing or shooting, but I wanted to also apply it to everyday use.
Hunting smarter is the name of the game. Out here in Southern California you have to do a lot of glassing to find your furry targets. I know that hunting out here can be a test of your patience because you used to have to set your bow down so that you could pull up your binoculars. I have tried slings, 'kickstands' and just holding my bow on my foot while I glass. I hate them all. I wanted a completely hands free device that I could use to hold my bow while glassing.
Let me start off by saying I am a glutton when it comes to bows and all the stuff that goes along with hunting. I have a Mathews Z7 and a Hoyt Carbon Matrix was recently added to the family too. With my Z7 at 68 lbs and a 28.5" draw length shooting a 474 grain Easton FMJ 340 arrow, I am producing 70 ft lbs of KE. My Carbon Matrix is at 61 lbs and is basically a blind bow (blacked out).
I really like the Primos Darkhorse ground blind with the ground swat pattern. I had never been to this property and didnt get much time to scout. I was there for 3 days and had numerous hens, jakes, and Toms come in and not once did I get busted in that blind. I was filming my own hunt, too by myself, and was moving a lot working the camera, ranging, and drawing my bow back, not to mention when they say no wind flap they mean it!! 40 mph winds a couple of days ago and not a single bird spooked... these blinds are one of a kind for sure!!
Packs are one of the most valuable tools when it comes to DIY hunts. It is important for a pack to offer numerous functions in order for it to be a true asset in the field. I personally use the Badlands 2200 for spot and stalk hunting. Here are some of the features this pack offers and why I like it.
Wearing a face mask when I go hunting is something I despise. Partly because I wear glasses and partly because there's always a chance of having the fabric getting caught in the bowstring. I always fear the latter.
Quality camouflage clothing is something I take pride in. When it comes to quality rain gear I naturally want the best. I haven't used a lot of rain gear in the past, but for the past year I have used the GameHide Journey jacket and Journey pants, and they have performed flawlessly!
For the past three months I have been shooting Arizona Archery Enterprises Max Hunter Vanes and I have nothing but good things to say about them. Originally, I was shooting Blazer vanes and while they work great, but the Max Hunters work better. For me they worked MUCH better.


In comparison, the Max Hunter is a different design than the Blazer. I first laid eyes on the Max Hunters while watching a hunting show and I couldn't help think about how odd I thought they looked. Like they say, I really should never judge a book by its cover. Ever.


I recieved one of these knives from Mark Mclean, the Design Supervisor for Buck Knives.We met at this last SCI show in Reno, NV. Buck knives have always been in my family's hunting pack as long as I can remember, so I was excited to test this knife.
This combo includes a classic 195 Mini Alpha hunter and the innovative 499 Paklite Guthook. And a heavy duty nylon sheath that holds both knives.
The Fixed Blade Knife is deceiving. It is built like a sleek steak knife, but it is much more than any steak knife. At first I thought it was a little slim for hunting needs, but it turns out it is an excellent field knife.
Once again it's time to review some of my favorite things: KNIVES!
This review is the Bone Collector Mini Axis Folding Knife. When I took the Axis knife out of the box I was very surprised at how small it was. My first impression was that a folding knife didn't need to be in a soft bag and be inside a box. Still, the bag was useful. I will get to that later on.
When I was in Catalina, we had to drive across the island, before breakfast, to get to our hunting spot before dawn. We all wanted a good, hot meal but who wants to eat at 3:30am? Ok, maybe me, but for others you want to let your body wake up first. My friend Jimmy offered up his Max Burton "Stove To Go" and some homemade burritos. This little gadget is unique and is about the size of a large lunch box. I had never heard of this type of stove, but Jimmy loved it and said I should give it a try.
As an eyeglass wearer I am at a disadvantage when hiking up the trail on a cool day with a pack full of gear on my back. The disadvantage is that my glasses fog up and then I can't see to make the shot, should one present itself. I used to have a small soap-like stick that I used and that worked extremely well. My only problem is that was 15 years ago and I can't remember who makes the stuff. I decided to give Defog It a try. It gets good reviews and those are the ones I tend to like to spend my money on.
Lugging my electric knife sharpener on a backcountry hunt isn't an option for obvious reasons. I have heard of many good knife sharpeners out there that hunters take with them to put an edge back on their blades when field dressing an animal. The Chef'sChoice Compact Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener is exactly what I needed.
Originally I had been keeping all of my spare gear, tools and parts in an old tackle box. While it organized well, it was plastic, solid and noisy. It worked well, but the Flambeau Archery and Hunting Keeper worked even better. It is built from a synthetic canvas, so it is flexible and can be contorted to fit many shapes. It has two plastic snaps and a Velcro strap to keep it closed.
One of the most important tools in my pack is my knife. One of the knives I have been testing out is the Havalon Piranta-EDGE Skinning Knife. This knife is unlike any knife you will ever use! It's a folding knife that is perfect for any hunter that does any sort of hiking to get to a spot or just wants quality, lightweight gear.
Back in 2008 I was at wit's end. The bow I was shooting was a great bow, but it wasn't built for power or shooting long distances. I did some searching and found a used bow online. When talking with the seller, he mentioned that the bow needed new strings and cables. He directed me to Mike Jensen of Mike's Archery & Custom Bowstrings LLC. I went home and looked up Mike's info.
How many of you like to pack in some energy bars for a snack when scouting or hunting? I know I do, but then again what fat kid doesn't like to eat, right? There are plenty of 'energy bars' on the market today, but can you name one that will keep you hydrated? I can. The Dominant Predator bar from Fierce Foods, Inc. I like a good energy bar like the rest of us, but when one claims to have ingredients to help your body stay hydrated I had to find out more. After emailing and speaking with one of the inventors, Neil Beltran , I wanted to try these out.
You draw your bow. You release an arrow. You watch it hit home on the animal you are hunting. Now you have a great story to tell. It's just too bad you didn't have the shot on video to share with the world. Well, now you can with an Insane Archery Camera Mount.
I have been reviewing this for a few months now trying to use it every which way I can to utilize it completely. For the purpose of this review I am using a 2008 PSE X-Force and a 2006 PSE Vengeance.
Black flies and mosquitoes are devils with wings! I hate them and I am sure many of you don't particularly care for them either. While I love my ThermaCELL, the refills can get costly and the unit can be bulky. I had heard about the Don't Bite Me! Patch and wanted to give them a try. I figured that if I didn't have to fire up a device or have extra weight in my pack that it would be beneficial. These patches take up no backpack space, weigh next-to-nothing and are kid safe.
When you put something in a safety deposit box, you want to be sure it is safe and secure, insured and that you can be sure of what's inside every time you open it. As a bow hunter, I want the same thing for my gear, especially my bow. SKB Cases makes the safety deposit box of bow cases and I was fortunate enough to field test the SKB ATA Parallel Limb Bow Case.
Do you remember when you started using a peep-sight on your bow? I remember it very vividly. At the time, using a peep-sight was a new gimmick. Little did we know that the 'gimmick' was going to aid in our focus and help us bring down more animals by improving our shot placement.
Vuvuzelas. I don't think there's anything more annoying than those things. If you don't know what they are, Google it. Black flies and mosquitos buzzing in your ears and biting you while you are hunting can be just as annoying, a bit more painful and have more of a health risk. I am not a huge fan of spraying down with bug spray before or when I hit the woods. It can get smelly, wear off and may not cover all areas. What do I use? When I hit the woods I bring my trusty ThermaCELL mosquito repellent.
Gadgets, gadgets and more gadgets! I love gadgets and things that make my life easier. I am constantly striving to find good products for me and my fellow bowhunters that will make life easier in the long run. Time is valuable and I want to have more time to hunt and less time working on my gear. For years I have been fletching and re-fletching my own arrows with a single-arrow fletching jig. It has been time consuming, mediocre and sloppy.
When I first moved to California I had a very difficult time finding areas to hunt. I was also intimidated by the maps that you can buy at the local sporting goods stores. They cover a very large range and it's difficult to find specific locations to scout, let alone hunt. I am not sure how I found out about MapCard, but it has proven to be one of the best tools for my trip planning in the past year. It is limited to only the United States, so if you are traveling abroad you'll have to find different maps.
One of the items I love having in my gear bag is my Scott Archery release. I have used a release for many years now and I remember back to the day when my dad bought me my very first one. It was a Tru-Fire release that I used for many years before recently sharing it with a new archer. He needed one and it still worked well even after a decade of use.
Now, I am not usually a big follower of products endorsed by big name pro-hunters, but this time there is an exception. I was watching Bone Collector when I saw an ad for the QAD ULTRA-REST PRO SERIES HD. I must have seen the ad run a dozen times before I decided to purchase one. Let me tell you this - one of the best investments I have ever made. I bought the HD model at first for my main hunting bow. It’s a bit more expensive than most rests, but you get what you pay for.
Using PSEs X Technology with the revolutionary new cam design, PSE Engineers have raised the bar on speed bow design. The new HF Hybrid Fast cam system has an oversized design to increase power stroke and an aggressive draw force curve for maximum energy storage. New 12 limbs are optimized to allow for the performance of a stood-up pocket angle with the incredible feel of a past-parallel limb. PSEs HyperSplitTM pockets secure the limbs to the riser. The X Force has an IBO speed range of 350-342 fps producing an amazing 93 foot-pounds of Kinetic Energy.
Right off the bat, Hoyt has completely redesigned this year's premier bow.
The very first thing you will notice when you pick up this bow is its weight, coming in at an amazing 3.9 pounds for the 32" and 4.1 pounds for the 35". This is credited to the newly designed Tec Lite riser and ZT Lock Pocket system. The new riser and pocket system are drastic design changes from last year.
