When we were offered the chance to test out the Switch Vision Tenaya Lake Sunglasses, I personally jumped at the chance.  It is not often that a company offers to send out a quality set of sunglasses with the options of the Switch Vision System.  The system came just in time for hunting season so we were pretty excited to bring them out on some hunt.  Switch Vision offers a system of a single frame sunglass with the option of being able to switch lenses out depending upon the conditions.

With our Tenaya Lake Switch Vision Sunglasses in Translucent Red, we got with the initial system a Polarized TC Grey set of lenses, a low light Rose Amber set of lenses, a set of the Polarized True Color Grey with Blue Reflection and a set of the Sun Readers in Grey with Silver Mirror.  Yes that is correct, I got bi-focals in my sunglasses and they have become one of my favorite lenses in the set.

If you hunt where it's wet, swampy, muddy and cold the BOGS Blaze is the perfect boot for those hunting conditions.
 
 
I am fortunate enough to be in the whitetail woods all year long. For, me it has been a long tedious task of finding an over the calf rubber boot, that was waterproof, durable, fit my foot well, functional traction and kept my foot warm while on stand during the cold months of winter. After several boots trials, my feet have found their new home in BOGS footwear. The boot that I have been wearing for the past few months is the Bogs Blaze 1000.

When performed correctly, like elk or turkey calling, deer calling can be an exciting part of whitetail hunting! I always have a grunt tube in my pack when I hit the whitetail woods.

The revolutionary design utilizing the throat, mouth, and nasal passage which allows you to produce a wide range of calls, from fawn bleats to buck grunts. The call allows you to make a variety of sounds for you to emulate multiple deer. This is achieved by moving the rubber 0-ring to the different grooves in the reed and or adjusting the length of the flexible tube.

We recently had the opportunity to review and use the B.A.S.H Tripod an extremely unique and versatile tool for the hunter that provides ground hunters tools necessary in an all encompassing system which allows hunters to set up in various locations.  A small and compact tube holding a tripod and attachments that allow the hunter to use this tool for blind set ups, a gun rest, bow holder, arrow holder, video camera tripod and binocular holder.

Versatile and companct and easily packed in with a simple attached sling, the B.A.S.H. Tripod offers hunters some unique tools for use in the field

We recently had the opportunity to test and review and then giveaway a Brute Box 55 Cooler. The Brute Box Cooler is a solid well molded and insulated cooler that provides true 5 day ice retention and best in class cooling for a reasonable price.  The Brute Box Outdoors Brute Box 55 could quite possibly be the best cooler that we have ever had the pleasure of testing and the pricing on these coolers has us pretty excited because for the quailty of these coolers you will be expecting to pay quite a bit more.

We have had this cooler since this summer and over the summer we had the opportunity to produce a series of 5 videos over 5 days in which we put a 12 pack of Coca-Cola into the Brute Box 55 along with 3 bags of ice and at the end of 5 full days with the cooler in full sun on my picnic table in an average of 90 degrees each day and on the final day we had the opporunity to dump out the remaining ice and get our last cold soda out of the cooler.

Nothing bothers me more in the whitetail woods as being bombarded in the head by mosquitoes, gnats, no-see-ums or any biting or stinging insect for that matter! Well, the Bughat has come to save us with their mosquito net Bughat.

Some of the Bughat's features are wide brims to provide you shade from the sun and air vents to keep you cool. Bughat has a zippered compartment in the top of the hat for easy deployment of its lightweight, see through mesh fabric mosquito netting. The netting is large enough to cover the entire head, face and neck for complete protection from flying insects. The Bughat protects naturally without the use of any chemicals. Vision is reduced minimally and does not restrict your breathing capabilities. Well, sort of... While practicing shooting my bow with the headnet, the netting restricted my viewing of my sight pins accurately. So, while hunting I would leave the netting down until I prepared for the shot. At that time I would flip the netting over my head and out of view.

To summarize the benefits of the Bughat:

·       Air vents to keep your head cool

·       Elastic headband for secure fit

·       Foam-stiffened brim for sun protection

·       Large brim keeps net off face when extended

·       Machine washable; line dry

·       Repels bugs, reduces the need for stinky sprays

·       Unique mesh net lets you see clearly but keeps the smallest gnats out

The Bughat is not just for hunting, they make the hat 4 different styles such as the gardening, boonie, bucket and baseball styles. They offer them in several colors and sizes, even for kids.

If you are looking for a way to stop the annoying attack on your head from biting insects, give bughat.com a visit and buy one of their hats!

I have recently had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of Leupold Mojave 10x42 binoculars. These binoculars are beyond excellent to say the least. One of the things I was looking for in a pair of binoculars is the waterproof, ruggedness, and abuse taking factor. These exceeded my expectations before I even had the chance to put my hands on them. The story behind the previous statement is, I pulled into my driveway on day and noticed a plastic bag with a bag lying in the creek under the driveway. I had a gut feeling that this box contained my binoculars. Sure enough, I opened the box and it was them. The box had fallen 15 feet straight onto rocks and then remained in the snow and water for a week. When I got the binoculars out of the bag and inspected them, I knew that the rugged and waterproof label on them was an understatement. 

These binoculars weighed in at 23.0 ounces and are extremely comfortable and steady in hand. The open bridge, roof prism technology gives the viewer a very solid grip and is very easy to keep steady on objects near or far. The focusing with these binoculars is also very user friendly. The fine adjusting knob is easily adjusted with one finger. I was anxious to test the low or dim light conditions with these and once again I was amazed. The fully multi-coated lens system and cold mirror coated prisms delivered a bright and clear picture, more than I expected.

In this dual perspective review, experienced guide Bryan Clines and college student Mitch Strobl share their experiences with the Rage Slip Cam broadhead.

In this product review, I am going to touch briefly on three of Alpen Optic’s spotting scopes for field use. As a licensed Wyoming hunting guide I have to have quality optics so I am always looking for the best new products out there. I ran across Alpen products 6 years ago in a Wyoming sporting goods store and purchased one to try out the model 725.

The model 725 is an excellent scope for the money to carry in your backpack, here is why. First of all it is lightweight at 30 oz and 13 inches in length, this is great for backpacking and keeping your load light. Next is the magnification at 15-45x60 its not to small but at long distance trophy judging it cuts out the leg work at judging if the animal deserves a better look or not in the back country, this is very important because the country is huge out there.

Bobby Cole has a passion for hunting as president of Mossy Oak Biologic he knows a little bit about wildlife management. He actively pursues his passion for wildlife management and works to support the Catch-A-Dream Foundation.  As a resident of West Point, Mississippi and a native of Montgomery, Alabama, Bobby knows the South and the traditions of hunting.  In his first novel, Bobby creates a masterfully woven tale of suspense created from the passion he shares for hunting, wildlife and family.  First books by not be this darn good but The Dummy Line kept me riveted through each and every chapter.

When Jack Crosby and his tomboy nine-year-old daughter Katy head out to the hunt club for a weekend of turkey hunting, the plans for a perfect father/daughter weekend are shattered after tucking his little daughter into bed. A band of redneck drug dealers shows up to rob the remote hunt club.  In order to protect his daughter, Jake makes a split second decision and pulls off the first shot taking out the ring leader of this band of criminals allowing his daughter and him to escape.  What follows is an tremendous adventure through the Noxubee Swamp and a night on the run.  Jake Crosby has been pushed to his limits and as a father, he will do anything 

At the 2011 Professional Outdoor Media Association product showcase, Hawke Optics stole the floor with their illuminated scopes, crystal clear glass, and affordable prices. The Deer Pass SR by Hawke Optics is the perfect scope for those slug gunners and muzzleloaders out there. The Deer Pass offers an additional 20% field of view over standard riflescopes, while also providing an illuminated SR reticle.

SEEMZ Technology provides best in class odor elimination as a complete system and I had the opportunity to test it on a recent coyote hunt with Bryan Clines of TDT Outfitters and next week Mitch Strobl and I are going to be getting the chance to test this on an archery Mule Deer/Whitetail hunt with TDT Outfitters. In 20 plus years of hunting whitetail I have tried just about every single scent elimination spray and clothing on the market. Some of these systems work and some of them do not work as well as they promised. No matter which system you choose, it is up to you to follow the system in order for the product to work.

I started using this system on the testimonial of Brian Clines from TDT Outfitters who has used this product for the last several years while guiding antelope and mule deer hunters in Wyoming and mule deer and whitetail hunters in Nebraska. On our coyote hunt we called a young coyote in to within 60 yards with the wind flowing directly down to him he sat down comfortably in front of us and allowed us time to set up for the shot. I had some old ammo and had to cycle a couple of rounds that did not go off after I pulled the trigger. On the third try we had the coyote on the ground dropped in his tracks.

Today's "smoke-pipes" are dependable, accurate, and much easier to clean. However, just like the muskets from which they originated, these guns get very dirty! Proper cleaning is critical in order to achieve max performance out of your gun. The Otis In-Line Muzzleloader Cleaning System works with today's modern in-lines and covers all modern calibers. Otis's compact and easy to carry kit includes everything you need to clean your in-line muzzleloader.

Occassionally you come across a product that you look at and think...Why couldn't I think that.  Mike and Tony are just a couple of guys from Oklahoma who saw something that bothered them when they were out hunting and set about a plan to fix it.  Rifle slings have been around as long as rifles have been in use and ever since that time, they have been slipping off of shoulders and either causing a safety issue or damage to the rifles.  Tony and Mike came up wtih the Slingback and took the time to create a tool that should be a part of every hunters arsenal.

The Slingback is made of high strength plastic and fits over your belt loop of your pants and holds the butt of your rifle secure in the center of your back so your sling stays secure on your shoulder.  It is easy to remove the rifle by sliding it out from the Slingback and leaves the rifle at the ready when you need it.  I have one of these and will be using it all fall on mule deer and whitetail hunts this fall in Nebraska.

Tactical clothing has come a long way and tactical or combat style boots have seen the biggest increase in performance over the last 10 years.  Boots that used to be hard, clunky, heavy & ugly are now light, airy, supporting and attractive to wear.  Over the last several months I have been wearing tactical boots anytime I step out of the house whether it is going down to the lake for a bit of fishing, camping or just a quick run across the country for a meeting.

Magnum Boots graced me with a pair of the Spider 8.1 Tac Spec HPi I won in a contest from thier company.  They had no idea I was a blogger, I won the contest and got a $1000.00 worth of gear and quickly spent it on a complete new wardrobe including pants, shirts, socks, workout shoes and a pair of these boots. My feet have been quite happy ever since.

I recently had the great luck to win an online sweepstakes winning over a $1000.00 worth of gear from the great folks at Magnum.  I wrote a review about the boots that we got but I thought I would write a little bit more about some of the other gear I picked up from Magnum that I really liked and am wearing pretty much daily.  I like tactical or technical clothing, it is comfortable, filled with great pockets, made from superior cloth and made to be used.

Quality knives are everywhere and there is a whole lot of great companies out there producing knives but the majority of those knives are expensive.  When looking for more reasonably priced knives the options are few and far between unless you like watching late night television informercials.  Haveing tried all varieties of knives from infomercial specials that fell apart in my hands to some of the most expensive chef's knives used by the finest kitchens I was excited to learn about R. Murphy Knives.

R. Murphy Company, Inc. has been making knives since 1850 in Massachusetts and this summer when I was looking for a couple of quality knives i literally stumbled upon them on the net and bought 4 of thier knives.  I bought a skinning knife, a boning knife, a filet knife and a chef's knife.  I like the quality of these blades, solid but not two heavy and i got the "Wicked Sharp" blades for each of them and they are amazingly sharp.

Hunters heard the hype surrounding BowTech's Invasion compound bow. In this case, hype is reality. The Invasion is well balanced with a superb-fitting, ergonomic grip. The sleek design is also a plus. Sporting dual cams, the Invasion has a small hump about ¾ through the draw cycle, but is consistent overall. Great feel usually isn't enough to demand a new purchase. Further investigation of the Invasion's new, built-in technologies revealed terrific bang for the buck.

I just finished reading this eminently entertaining book by Pete Bodo of Tennis writing fame. Pete is a larger than life New York City sports writer who thinks nothing of walking the upper West Side dressed in full hunting regalia. You would have a better chance of spotting an Ivory Billed Woodpecker, than to find a true hunting camo clad person on the sidewalks of posh, wealthy, & liberal upper Manhattan. I don't know Pete personally, but my good friend is his neighbor with children in the same school. My friend, Andrew, while a non-hunter, is continually fascinated by my stories of bow hunting in suburbia New York. He also tells me he often gets Pete to sit with known "Vegans" at school functions to enjoy the banter. So when Andrew handed me Pete's book, and explained their relationship, I dug right in.

The Waggler runs $129.99 and is the only call, decoy that employs movement, scent and sound to it's arsenal to attract predators.  Cass Creek has long been a producer of some electronic game calls and when they sent me out the Waggler, I knew before I even got it out of the box, I was going to have some fun with this call/decoy.  The Waggler is the only wireless predator call that employs MAST technology(MAST = multiple animal scene technology) and it works like a charm.

I have been slowly fixing up the office and I came accross this great website through a connection via Linked-In.  Roger Penycate has been collecting Minitiare Picture Cards all of his life and has built a business around these cards. Coupled together into prints these great little cards make great prints for the home or office and allow you to share your passion for the outdoors.  I am partial to the old hunting scenes and the pictures of the old Hunting Dogs but his collection is vast and you are sure to find something you like.

Go check out www.miniaturepicturecards.com and spruce up your office or your den with these great pictures.

Gerber has long been producing quality gear and many years ago they developed a great saw and for the last 7 or 8 years one been in my pack.  I have given them away to friends and left them in camps from Africa to Manitoba and throughout the United States.  These great little saws are light weight, slide into the handle and they work.  The teeth on these things rip wood like nothing else I have seen and I do not leave home without one in my pack.

Having a simple easy to use light weight saw with you in your pack is pretty much a necessity.  Whether you are hanging a stand and need to cut a quick branch to be able to shoot from the tree, cutting a shooting lane, having the ability to cut up wood for a fast blind set up or essential survival and wood cutting should things go bad in the back country.  I use my Gerber Sliding Saw in the woods, out on the hunt, during camping trips or in the back yard trimming trees.

With deer season no more than a few months away, pre-season scouting is right around the corner. During these summer months, the ideal scouting position is from a distance, thus minimizing the chances of completely spooking your game or altering their habits. To successfully scout from a distance, it is an absolute necessity to have high quality optics. That's where our friends at Alpen Optics can help.

Alpen has a long line of superior spotting scopes and binoculars. I am a strong advocate of the Alpen Apex 10x42 binoculars. Read the full review for more details.

Rifle rests for bench shooting should be simplistic and easy to use and once you buy a set they should last for the rest of your life.  Altus Brands has developed just such a rifle rest made from bison leather.  The quality of these rests is exceptional and the bags look great on the bench in my office and they look even better on the bench at the range.  I have no fear laying my walnut stocked rifle on them and I know this is a rifle rest that will be passed down to my kids.

The bags are filled with sand,stiched incredibly well and they have a character all thier own.  You can choose between small, medium and large with light and dark leather bands.  For the price these are destined to become heirloom items as my son took his first shots at the bench with my rifle laying on this rest and when he comes of age, this bag will passed down to him for use at the range or I just might buy him his own.

Check these great bags out at:  http://www.benchmasterusa.com/American-Bison-Rifle-Rests

Summer camping season is upon us. Campgrounds are filling up with families from around the country traveling to remote corners of the country and spending time outdoors. Nothing is better for rejuvenating the soul then some summer camping and a nice evening campfire. In todays world with the spread of the Pine Bark Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer campers are being urged to leave firewood at home to prevent the spread of noxious pests as well as Noxious weeds into our national forests.

We just had the opportunity to test out a new manufactured log and we were quite impressed with the overall results. Clean Flame creators created their manufactured logs out of recycled material providing safe family-friendly heating and cooking products that help the environment and provide safe campfires that leave as little effect on the environment as possible. Clean flame logs are produced using 100% recycled corrugated box material that they acquire through partners that use these boxes first to ship perishable produce and relieve overburdened landfills.

Our passion for the Hunt starts with preparation and scouting and ends with putting high quality well prepared meat on the table for family and friends.  We jumped at the chance to try out Local Legends when they called us and asked if we wanted to do a taste test of thier natural made marinades.  The only problem I had was the lack of high quality game meat. It has been a long hard winter and to be honest the freezer is bare, 3 kids and a cold winter put a massive dent in our freezer so we improvised.

Local Legends sent out their Master Marksman Gift Pack filled with 2 bottles each of Waterfowl Marinade, Large Game Marinade, Natural Made Marinade and Angler's Choice Fish Marinade as well as Santa Maria All Purpose Seasoning and Wild Rice Blend.  i was anxious to get the meat into the sauce so to speak so I picked up some chicken legs and thick pork chops and threw them into the marinade waited a few hours and threw them on the grill.  I cooked up some of the wild rice blend and some vegetables and the kids and I chowed down.  My son was the food critic of the night, he loved the pork chops as well as the wild rice and has since asked for pork chops about every night since.

Getting a pair of boots good enough for use by the US Navy Seals kind of excited me, it has been a long time since I have worn a pair of boots when I was not in the woods. BLACKHAWK! has created a boot that I am excited to wear in the woods as well to dinner out on the town or into a business meeting. Paired up with the Warrior Wear Tactical Pants and a great polo your ready for anything.

The boots arrived via UPS and I ordered them with my exact size. They are roomy enough for a thin pair of socks as well a beefed up pair of boot socks so when you order them, choose your exact size and do not go up in size. I got the boots on a Friday and put them on and left them on for a week while I was in Montana teaching film school with the Hunting the Rez crew and I loved these boots. Who knew teaching would leave you standing all day in front of the white board. We did a little hunting, a ton of scouting, filmed the intro for their new television show and some hiking and the boots held up extremely well.

In the archery world, technology is rapidly exploding. Bows are blazing fast, extremely quiet, lightweight, and you guessed it, expensive! Since buying a bow is now a decent investment, shouldn't common sense tell you to protect that investment? If so, I suggest you look into Lakewood products line of bow cases. Made entirely in the USA, these cases are built to protect their contents for a long time. When I first saw Lakewood Products at the 2011 ATA show, their sleek design and good looks caught my eye. Once I made my way to the booth, I saw what really made these cases top of the line!

Tree stand hunting can be some of the most rewarding days you spend in the field, but it can also be one of the most dangerous unless you are well equipped, after all why make this hunt your last. Safety should be your number one priority in any dangerous situation, and why not equip yourself with the best?

The Gorilla G30 EXO TECH safety harness is the best of the best. This past season I was introduced to it by a friend of mine and I cannot find anything that is more comfortable and easier to use than this harness. Sure almost every tree stand comes with a safety harness included in the box but honestly they are confusing and uncomfortable. This harness takes the confusion and comfort problem and literally hangs it out to dry.

With turkey season just starting here in Indiana, the past few weeks I have been glassing the fields in attempt to deal with the pre-season stress/anticipation. In previous years I would simply grab my binoculars and hit the road, since I didn't have good optics I had to get close to my spots, which I wasn't crazy about. This year however, with my new Alpen model 725 spotting scope I'm able to walk right out my back door, put the scope on a tripod and view the fields in the valley below from a distance. This is good for me because by staying away from the fields I'm minimizing the chance of spooking birds, but even better by viewing the birds from a much higher elevation I'm able to watch the birds for a much longer time with no obstructions.

As turkey season approaches, hunters all around are preparing for the spring turkey woods. While I could be focusing on turkey tactics or general turkey hunting equipment, today I would like to take a little different route. Lets skip to the good part; you just bagged a monster gobbler and are showing it off to your buddies. You tell them the story, take pictures, dress the bird out, but then what? The meal of course! When it comes time to cook your bird, I urge you to consider the new Bone Collector line of Cracker Jack seasonings. This new line of seasonings and dipping sauces are good on anything that crawls, hops, swims or clucks. In fact, T-bone himself attests to how good this stuff is. Here's what T-bone had to say when I talked to him about the Bone Collector seasonings.

Like many hunters, I like to carry way to many turkey calls into the woods. This year I added yet another call to my vest, one of which I'm very excited about.

HorseHead Calls, located in Cloverdale Indiana came out with a spectacular line of calls this year. I will be using their glass call with a very attractive camouflage design under the glass, appealing to any hunter or huntress.

Pete Bodo put together a true gem in Whitetail Nation - My Season in Pursui of the Monster Buck, in which Bodo sets off on a one year pursuit for that true Boone & Crockett Wallhanger whitetail deer.  Pete was and is an exceptional writer he just did not have the kind of luck in the woods that he was looking for.  Whitetail Nation chronicles his pursuit from the rolling hills of New York, Montana, Texas and Pennsylvania chasing after his dream buck.  Whitetail Nation is deer hunting at its best and glues the reader to the book page by page like a hunter on the tracks of a monster buck.

Sean Jeffries takes the reader on the journey of his first African Safari with Eight Days in Africa - The Story of an African Safari, and the reader is brought through the entire process from early planning all the way through the adventure of the hunt in Africa and the return trip home to the trials and tribulations of getting trophies home.  This travel log is well written and teaches the reader what they need to know should they wish to plan their first adventure abroad.  I brought this book with me on my first trip to Africa and while my adventure in Cameroon was nothing like the adventure that Sean had, I am looking forward to getting back to Africa on my own safari and I am already motivated to begin the planning process.

Overall, when selecting a holster for your favorite handgun there should be AT LEAST three categories to look for before making that next purchase. Over the past couple of years I have had the chance to use the Blackhawk! SERPA holster, in the 1911 configuration. The following review has been from using the SERPA holster in a paddle holster design and in a drop leg platform model under professional use environments.   

The sign of a great book is one that you will carry with you day and night until it is finished.  Ellen Meloy wrote just such a book, Eating Stone Imagination and the Loss of the Wild has travelled with me over the last 4 weeks over 10,000 plus miles from Nebraska where I picked it up at a local bookstore to Cameroon and back and every free moment, it was opened and read.  Ellen wrote this book about her fascination with Caprini(Wild Sheep) and the lands and places they live and have lived over the last 10,000 years.

Cold weather hunting requires some planning and most of all it requires some amazing gear.  Glacier Gloves provides the Aleution Hunting Gloves for wet hunts and cold windy days.  Waterfowlers and snow hunters will rejoice after using these 2mm Neoprene, Fleece Lined gloves.  The Touchrite Technology allows the hunter to feel the shotgun cleanly and keep thier hands warm while hunitng.

Recently I have come across a book that applied directly to me: The Deer Hunter's Devotional. I always pray for safety before success, as being in the great outdoors is all that I really need. In the Deer Hunter's Devotional, author Sean Jeffries reaches out to those on the hunt for game, but also for the Heart of God. Sean explores topics such as scouting for deer during the preseason, choosing your hunting equipment, the excitement of opening day and of course, the harvest. Each chapter in the book ties such lessons in with carefully selected scripture chosen to highlight the subject at hand. He teaches you ways to better communicate with God during your endeavors. Reading this book is much like completing a connect the dot puzzle, Sean points out how we can connect all aspects of deer hunting... to our faith!

With all the new technologies available on the market these days in weather and geographical information, hunters can be overwhelmed with many decisions. Recently I have been given the opportunity to test one of the latest and greatest technologies in wildlife organization. This technology is better known as W.I.S.E (Weather Imaging Synchronization Engine), developed by Huntersclub.com, is the newest in trail-cam and wildlife herd management. It combines your latest trail-cam photos with the most up to date and accurate weather information to create unbelievable reports on your favorite hunting locations.

Predator Hunting has come a long way in the last several years and the quality and sounds coming from the Cass Creek line of calls has increased right along the way.  The MegaAmp is just one of several new calls coming from the Cass Creek line up that provides real quality sounds and the reach to bring in coyotes and predators from a long distance.

This handheld call provides a serious tool at a reasonable price to new or experienced callers and this tool will help many new predator hunters get into the field which will help all all wildlife.

Camp Traditions offers 5 new soups to the outdoor marketplace in dried packet form to help hunters enjoy the game that they harvest.  Camp Traditions Soups allow you to have a great tasting meal and all you need is a pot and some water so these are perfect for hunting camp and camping in the outdoors or a shore lunch on the side of the lake.  With Garlic Potato, Three Cheese, Beef Barley, Cook-Off Chili and Wild Rice Soup the selections are sure to keep you coming back.

Over the years, I have bought and made many different types of shooting sticks. Some of them have been better than others but I still have not found what I consider the ideal piece of equipment, until this past fall. I used them in the field for our 90 day Ranching For Wildlife season. It's still early but for now, I think the Primos Trigger Stick is the REAL DEAL.

This is the description from their own site. "With just one hand and the pull of a trigger, you can adjust the Primos Trigger Stick to your desired height. The Trigger Stick is a lightweight height-adjustable gun rest and optical gear mount, perfect for sitting, kneeling or standing. It comes equipped with a detachable V yoke. The Trigger Stick fits 1/4"-20 & 3/8"-16 threaded fixtures for securing optical gear. It is perfect for cameras, spotting scopes, binoculars, laser range finders and almost any other mono pod mountable device.

The Legendary Stormy Kromer Mercantile company has been around for over a 100 years and these hats are coming back in fashion among hunters and outdoorsman in todays world.  These hats are American made, comfortable and have the ability to stay snug even in the worst of winds.  Since the big move to Nebraska I have been looking for the right hat to keep me warm and stay on in the high plains winds.

George Kromer was a real guy, a railroad engineer and a semi-pro baseball player.  George worked on the railroad as an engineer and he got tired of losing his hats and wanted to keep his ears and head warm.  In 1903 he asked his wife Ida to sew and modify and old baseball cap and once he began wearing the hat coworkers came out of the woodwork asking to get one.  Once demand got to be too much the business was born.

United Spirit of America is a personal care product company specializing in toiletries for military, law enforcement, outdoor and the travel markets.  These products provide convenient and portable products that are made with biodegradable content and superior formulation. United Spirit of America (USA-Spirit) brings high-tech innovation to personal cleaning and protection. Thier roducts meet TSA requirements, making them travel friendly and they can be a useful tool for the backcountry hunter who needs effective tools to keep clean without access to water.

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am a Mississippi State University graduate (Aerospace Engineer 1994) and that this product was developed by fellow Bulldogs and by the greatest college in the nation. So with that said, everyone knows that I was bias to begin with. I first discovered the BuckScore software scoring system while reading my Quality Whitetail magazine produced by Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). As you guys know how big a nut I am about my trail cameras and how I deploy them year round, I immediately got excited about the possibility of adding a new tool to my trail camera tool box. In the middle of reading it, I got up and proceeded to buy the software which cost only $10 at BuckScore.com.

A thorough field test proved that the Crooked Horn Outfitters Master Guide II is the "workhorse of all backpacks". The master guide is American Made, and designed to hunt.

The Whtetail Deer Hunting AdventureAid offers a tremendous amount of information for new deer hunters.

This is a delicate subject, but we all know it is more difficult for women than men to relieve themselves in the outdoors.  I don’t need to get into all the issues, but suffice it to say, even if the woman is not shy about it, it is challenging.

I was fortunate to get the Squattie Pottie before I came to Africa.  Bowhunting in Africa can mean staying in a blind all day.  In the past it meant getting dehydrated, or sneaking out behind the blind – but risking getting busted by a giraffe or impala and ruining the rest of the day.

Great books can take you on journeys that you never knew were even possible and Jay Kirk has written a great book about the journey through life that Carl Akeley. The book Kingdom Under Glass by Jay Kirk is one of those great books that was handed to me and after a busy night of work, I picked it up hoping to escape into a world that I knew little about and Jay Kirk took me through the life of Carl Akeley and into the jungles of Africa. For 3 days, this book did not leave my side until I literally devoured it.

Great Knives are tremendous tools to the hunter, outdoorsman, soldier, camper and survivalist whether they are in the outdoors, field, in the city or in the back country.  SOG Knives makes quality tools built with the best materials for real use in the by real people.  The SOGZILLA is one of those great tools that we have had the pleasure of being able to test out in the field.  This knife has been attached to my belt or back pocket for the last several weeks and for less then $50.00 I am here to say this knife is an absolute keeper.

Sunglasses like any other peice of gear are tools to help you be better in the field and Revision Eyewear makes sunglasses for the most important field in the world, the Battlefield for our United States Military.  I am taking a look at them from a different perspective, the fields and mountains of our great outdoors.  Over the last several years, I will admit I am a bit of a sunglass snob, I cannot wear the cheap pairs of optically poor sunglasses from the local mini-mart so getting a chance to test these Hellfly Ballistic Sunglasses in the field over a weekend of scouting was pure bliss and the good news is I think they look pretty cool as well.

Michael Waddell calls it the "most impressive deer call ever developed", I say hes right. The new flextone game call (Bone Collector Edition) really lives up to the hype its getting on outdoor television these days. The impressive design Wildgame Innovations put into the flextone can be defined in one word; smart. The smart design they came up with mocks the flexible vocal tubes of a whitetail deer and gives you some options not offered in other calls. The flexible call produces great sound and also makes bringing more than one call a thing of the past. The flextone not only produces a stellar grunt call but also works as a doe and fawn bleat with just the push of a button.

Odor Control and helping hunters "smell invisible" has been the goal of Hunter's Specialties for years. Their line of Scent A-Way products has proven to be one of the most effective on the market for controlling human odors.

This past summer, I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a complete set of Hunter's Specialties new Tek4 Clothing. This camouflage is perfect for early season hunting. I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Indiana it is cookin'! That's why I use HS Tek4, it is extremely lightweight, quiet, keeps you dry, and features Realtree AP HD patterns for blending into all scenarios. Another feature found with Tek4 is scent control; Tek 4 utilizes state of the art silver technology to permanently control odor caused by bacteria. As Sorb-tek brings moisture from your body through the silver, it breaks down the odor causing bacteria. With this you kill two birds with one stone by wicking away moisture and killing scent at the same time. The camo system also uses 33% more silver than other available silver-based garments, providing unmatched odor control. You can also wash Tek4 as many times as you would like over the life of the garmet and unlike carbon based materials, it won't wash out! You can now see why this Hunter's specialties package is my go-to wardrobe in the early season, it offers every feature I need for early season bow hunting

During the summer months hunters like me feel withdrawals from the past hunting season and need ways to catch there fix. There are a few ways to fight off this problem and one that I have found to be quite a rush is sporting clays. The last 4-5 years ive been shooting in a sporting clays league and I tell you what its as close as you can get from the real thing. Sporting clays are a challenging and fun sport that can be enjoyed by all, but if you want to grow and learn more about the sport I would recommend a set of DVDs to help you make the most of your shooting.

Gil and Vicky Ash have a series of OSP shooting DVDs that will not only help a rookie shooter, but will help the most advanced shooters as well. The series covers everything from shooters mindset to choke tubes. Something that really stuck out to me as a shooter was the routines that Gil and Vicky talk about in the series.

One of the items I love having in my gear bag in company my Mathews Z7 is my new Scott Archery release. I have used a release for many years now and can still remember to the day when I bought my very first one. It was a Tru-Fire release that I used for years until recently sharing it with a youth who had just took an interest in shooting archery. He needed one and my old Tru-Fire still worked well even after all the shooting I had done with it.

Recently, I was able to use a Scott Archery release. I was surprised with my findings, it was top notch. I guess I should have expected nothing less from Scott Archery.

I recently received a batch of signs from Bob Pavoncello of Hunt Zone Signs for review and comment. I say well done! I will include a quote from their excellent web site www.huntzonesigns.com. "Hunt Zone Signs is a safety concept designed to make others sharing the woods aware that you're in the area and help prevent hunting accidents from happening. With camouflage patterns and decoys looking more real than ever before, it is extremely important to be alert and cautious in the woods. Safety is key in hunting!"

This review is for there Vapor Barrier Anti-Corrosion Firearm Storage & Preservation Bags.  Tactical Weapon Bag.

Yep, that's a mouth full and hence forth will just call it "THE BAG " .

I'm Eldondo a Pro staffer for Huntinglife.com and one small part of what we do from time to time is evaluate products that companies or individuals sent to our Master Guru to have evaluated.

Some of the products are, "Why didn't I think of that?" stuff. And some are, "I thought of that years ago, but didn't do anything about it" kind of stuff.

This past summer I decided to buy another blind. I knew I wanted a hub style blind that fit into my budget as a college student. I did a lot of research, looking on Ebay, Cabela's, and anywhere in general. I ran across some blinds by Killzone Outfitter's that looked very nice and were surprisingly inexpensive. I looked into them more and looked at reviews on them and decided that I was going to try one out. I got it in the mail and couldn't be happier! It is set up right now for deer hunting and it looks great. The material is very water resistant and durable and there is plenty of room for a hunter and a cameraman. It comes with shoot-through mesh windows and stakes to stake it down. My favorite part about the blind is that the windows are not Velcro, but instead very similar to the Double Bull blinds where the windows just slide down and are held up by the support rods of the blind.

Chamberlain Cartridge Comparison Guide

Introducing the first complete guide of its kind, the Chamberain Cartridge Comparison Guide. For you shooters out there who spend just as much time on your rounds as you do shooting, this is the book for you! This guide contains over 150 pages of material, which provides a better understanding of cartridge performance. This of course ultimately leads to the best cartridge selection for personal shooting requirements. First and foremost, I must provide warning that this is NOT A RELOADING MANUAL! The load data presented is intended to generate a comparison of cartridge performance for literally any situation.

As an avid small game hunter and archer, I tend to find myself chasing after small game, such as rabbits and squirrels, quite often. I also tend to lose a lot of arrows because of this. The SGH, or Small Game Head, by G5 has helped has been my savior. It not only looks cool, but also has all of the features an archer could want. The SGHs are the toughest small game tips I have used so far. I have shot into the dirt and gravel many times and the head looks almost new still! Still, my favorite part of this head is its design. It has three stainless steel "blades," or more like hooks, that stick outward allowing for a very clean kill.

In today's world of extreme hunting, crime and RFID readers popping up everywhere there was a need to develop a wallet that would protect your credit cards, money and documentation(drivers Licenses and such) for people in the outdoors and in extreme tactical environments.  Toner Machining Technologies has risen to the challenge and developed two quality wallets to protect your sensitive personal information.

We tested out the TMT Sport Wallet and found it to be an excpetional tool and yes we stated that correctly, this thing is a tool and not just a useless wallet.

Be Prepared For Any Weather Conditions With The Hitman Blind Snow Cover!

Hunter's Specialties® Hitman Layout Blind offers hunters a durable quick way to set up a layout blind that can be easily collapsed and stored into a short-bed pickup. It has a patent pending Swift Set System that expands the blind quickly and firmly into place. The Hitman is offered in Brown with Layout Blind Stubble, or Advantage Max-4 HD® camo.

For 2010 Hunter's Specialties has introduced a new snow cover that easily attaches to the blind. The cover doesn't require straps, snaps or buckles, which can get tangled up or clogged with mud to keep it in place. This allows waterfowl hunters to quickly adapt to changing weather conditions and keep hunting when fields are snow covered.

Hunter's Specialties True Talker deer call has long been the standard for easily producing deer vocalizations. From deep aggressive grunts, to doe and even fawn bleats, hunters have been able to make the calls necessary to bring deer into range for a shot.

Now for 2010 Hunter's Specialties has introduced an even better version of the call. The True Talker 2 still allows hunters to make all the sounds in a deer's vocabulary by changing finger pressure and position on the flexible membrane on the call. It also can be easily taken apart and by moving the o-ring that holds the internal reed in place, hunters can make additional adjustments, changing the tone of the call.

The opportuntiy came to me through an email to review the new version of Cabela's North American Adventures Video Game and I jumped on getting my hands on a review copy to test out and play.  Activision makes the game for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP game system as well as the Wii Game System.  The game has excpetional graphics and brings hunters into the hunt with real calls, real skills and real weapons.  We tested out the Wii version of the game and found it to be exceptional.

William D. Baker has crafted a magnificent set of stories and experiences in his life hunting across the Midwest for waterfowl and upland game birds.  Baker’s ability to weave a story from the human condition and bring the reader in to the story from all sides is exceptional.  His humor reminds the reader to laugh at themselves and remember hunts that they have been on where things did not necessarily go as planned.

I was very excited when I saw the Turkey Chair MC by ALPS OutdoorZ at a National Wild Turkey Federation banquet this spring. It looked to fit the bill of all the needs of comfort for a great hunt.

I got turned on to the Little Bitty Goose by a buddy of mine who was shooting in leagues with me over the summer. It is similar to the Silverhorn in that it has a buckled wrist strap and soft fabric. The buckle on the "LBG" functions the same way as the Silverhorn.

Sitka Gear has hit another home run with the Celsius Gear: Geared for Cold Weather.  This last month, I had the opportunity to test out that gear as well as the new Sitka Stormfront GORE-TEX® Jacket and Pants and that week I spent in comfort and warmth all week.  This gear is lightweight, comfortable, easy to move in  and filled with the kind of details that you just would not expect on hunting gear.

So you're looking for a new shotgun that's reliable, durable and is fun to shoot but can't seem to make up your mind. Well take my advice and give the Benelli M2 a look. At around a 1200 sticker price it may shock you right away but it's worth every penny. I've owned one for three years now and I can't say I've been babying it at all and yet it still shoots like it just came out of the box.