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The Will to Hunt

Published: May 17, 2012 6:54:18 PM
  • The Will to Hunt LIVE TONIGHT with Moultrie
    May 16, 2012 1:24:00 PM
    Here's a reminder that Episode 2 of The Will to Hunt LIVE with Boyd Barnett of Moultrie is tonight at 9PM Eastern. I've gotten to know Boyd a little over the last couple of months conversing on Twitter and e-mail and I'm pretty excited to have him on tonight. You can get to know Boyd a little better by reading this interview that Justin posted over at Foggy Mountain Meanderings.


    So far I've been impressed with all the great comments on the latest line of Moultrie Mini Cams and just placed an order for the M-80XT and can't wait to get my hands on it and test it out. That being said Moultrie like it's podcast implies with the title Total Game Management, really has a broad range of products from trail cameras to feeders and food plot supplies. I'd encourage you to also take a look around the Moultrie Website.


    Tonight around 9PM come back to TheWilltoHunt.com and click the LIVE logo up toward the top right of the page. If you plan on joining for the first time I'd also suggest testing your system and reading this post. We look forward to seeing you tonight!
  • Guest Post: Trent's First Gobbler!
    May 14, 2012 1:48:00 PM












    Despite my inability to kill a turkey I couldn't be happier for Trent Marsh of Hawke Sport Optics for killing his first gobbler! For the details check out the story below. Congratulations again Trent and as always thanks for putting together a great story for me to post!


    I’ve never killed a turkey.  There, I said it.  I spent the better part of 3 turkey seasons in Indiana chasing those cursed birds.  I hunted marginal land trying to get lucky.  I hunted some of the best ground with fantastic hunters only to be skunked.  In 3 seasons I never laid eyes on a mature bird.  The closest bearded bird I saw was just outside of howitzer range.  After 3 years, I determined myself to be Turkey kryptonite.  I looked at those April mornings as a chance to hit the hardware store with less traffic than normal.  That was 2 years ago.  I was content to admit my turkey failures.  This spring I was not allowed to continue to do so.  With a new multi-purpose scope prototype in the office in need of final testing, and in the field use, it was back to the turkey woods with me.

    I would be hunting with Brian and Mark Smith of WildAdventures TV, a new show concept that will be seen on Sportsman Channel later this year.  We were hunting their farm in north-central Indiana.  We arrived the night before the opener and scouted birds.  The early green up and warm weather here in Indiana has the birds 2 or 3 weeks ahead of normal schedule of things, but we saw some nice birds while scouting several locations.

    We returned to the farm and devised our plan for opening morning.  I would be hunting with Mark, while Brian would hunt with Mike Kurtz, our Product Specialist.  I went to bed that night hoping that my kryptonite status had worn off.

    Mark and I got to the farm we were hunting and as soon as we were out of the truck my spirits were high.  We heard at least 10 different birds hammering on the roost.  All to the north, and all quite vocal.  We decided to set up in a strip of pine trees surrounded by prairie grass.  The birds love to get in and scratch around in the fallen needles.  Even walking in the sign was difficult to ignore.  We got the blind up, camera ready, and decoy set.  Just as we settled in, the gobbling stopped.  Not slowed down.  Not quieted down.  Stopped.  I was thrilled. 

    We called for a bit, glassed the field around us, all to no avail.  When those birds hit the ground they shut up and headed for the Michigan border, or so it seemed.  After about an hour and a half, (without one gobble, mind you) a hen snuck in to our left.  She got to about 40 yards and picked off the blind and trotted her happy little backside right back out into the field.  We decided it was time to get up, stretch our legs, and have a look around.  We glassed for about 10 minutes, weighing moving to a different part of the field, beyond another strip of trees, or waiting them out, knowing that they wanted to be in those pine trees.

    We decided to wait them out. 

    After another hour and change back in the blind, we heard a gobble a few hundred yards to the southeast, almost exactly where we had parked our truck.  We called at him a bit, but he never made another sound.  I went back to glassing the field to the north, and checking twitter to see who was having luck.  Several had been having better mornings than I.

    It’s amazing how quick that changes when someone says, “We’ve got a tom.”  He had snuck in from the east, working between the first and second row of pines we were set up in.  Mark got the camera headed that way, I got my gun up, and Mark started working the customer jake decoy.  Every time Mark moved that decoy, that tom would go into full strut, but he wouldn’t come any closer than where we spotted him, hanging out around 70 yards.  After five minutes of playing with us he started to move.  Rather than working west down the row of pine trees, he started to loop around us to the south.  Mark and I were on the wrong sides of the blind.  To make things worse, our blind was set up in line with one of the rows of trees, expecting birds from the north.  The tree to our right cut the blind window in half and made getting my gun and the camera on the bird at the same time an act of congress. 

    For the next 5 minutes or so, the bird milled around down to about 30 yards, but always within a few feet of the row of trees.  I had move from one side of the camera to other 3 times, only to have the bird piddle back across the tree line, never offering a good shot.  He worked to about 30 yards, and I’m pretty sure he saw my gun barrel cross the window in the blind.  He came out of strut, and started to make his way back the way he came.  From what I could see I thought he was still about 30-35 yards out. 

    “When he crosses that tree line and gives you a shot, you take it, he’s leaving,” said Mark as the bird crossed the tree line for the 4th time. 

    I got my Mossberg settled and looked through the scope.  I knew the crosshair was 4” at forty yards, roughly the same size as a turkey’s head.  I had turned the illumination on, to negate the overcast sky and canopy of pine trees.  It was the moment of truth for this scope.  A true multi-purpose design, equally at home on a crossbow, AR platform, or turkey gun, this would be one of the first field tests of this promising new piece of technology.

    As he crossed into the lane, I settled the red illuminated crosshair on his head and pulled the trigger.  A split second later he was flopping on the pine needles.  While seeing my first turkey on the ground was a rush, the real surprise came when I stepped off the shot.  

    Approaching 50 yards, he had angled away from us while crossing that row of trees.  Had I not been using a scope, and tried to draw a bead on that bird at that distance I’m all but certain I would have missed.  The more of your target you can see, the more accurate you are, and the scope allowed me to precise with my shot placement, even with no magnification. 

    With more and more turkey hunters wanting to get away from red dots, there is a giant hole in the marketplace for a turkey scope.  The new MP-SR from Hawke is a more traditional scope design in a 1” mono-tube chassis.  Unlike a red dot, the reticle of the new MP-SR is glass etched, so even when the illumination is off, or ambient light is over powering, your aim points are fully intact.  As I mentioned before, the reticle can also be used to range find on a turkey’s head.  As a 1x scope, it is parallax free, meaning both eyes can be left open when shooting.  Perhaps most important, generous eye relief allows for placement anywhere between 3.5 and 7 inches, making it safe for even young children behind heavy recoiling turkey loads. 

    Not a monster bird, but great for a first bird to be sure.  He came in at 21.5lbs with 7/8 spurs, and a 9 ¾ beard.  Thanks in no small part to the new scope from Hawke. 

    And in case you are wondering, yes, Mike killed a bird too.  Yes, his was a little bigger than mine…but I killed mine first…

  • Feature and Interview: RockyMountainAthlete.com
    May 11, 2012 1:17:00 PM


    Not long ago I had seen something about a new website called RockyMountainAthlete.com. Then shortly thereafter my buddy Jason Peak from Solo Hunters TV was telling me that it deserved a closer look and he was right! As a technology obsessed hunter I'm always intrigued by new and innovative online hunting communities and that is exactly what RMA is.


    The concept is simple. They've created a diverse online community of people just like you and me that are obsessed with hunting. They offer 3 levels of membership to get you involved in the community. As you can see the base level is free and gets you access to their ever growing forum. The next level up is $39.95 and gets you all kinds of benefits from access to hunt and gear giveaways to a decal and shirt. Lastly if you're a big spender you can splurge, throw in an extra $5 and get all those benefits plus a RMA hat.
    I was lucky enough to score a quick interview with one of the founders, Dale Pearson, to really get a deeper look at RMA. 


    How did RMA come to be?
    Well Will, RockyMountainAthlete.com came about through Rich Coles and I bumping into each other at a separate business that we're both involved in. We got to talking hunting and realized each was as sick with it as the other. Almost instinctively we started getting creative and collaborating ideas for a business plan to be able to do what we love for a living. After all that's everyone's dream right? We officially launched the business on March 1, 2012. We've dished out some sweet gear and a few incredible hunts to some of our lucky members and we're just getting started!
    What is the mission of RMA and how is it different from other membership sites?
    Our Mission is multifaceted yet simple. We wish to be a looked to 'real' source for people needing information on any subject based around hunting, from gear to tactics. We promote our hand picked sponsors as well to educate out members and others on the products we believe make us more successful in the outdoors and on our hunts. We do this through several different resources, Social Media being one of them. We have a large network of like minded hard core hunters in our Facebook group as well where anybody can virtually get instant feedback on questions they may have. It's a rare occasion when someone in there when somebody in there doesn't have experience with a hunting product of have info on a particular hunt unit in the US.
    Who is your target audience and how do you aim to help them?
    Hunters are our target audience! We want to help hunters fulfill some of their dreams by giving away fully guided big game hunts for whitetails, mulies, antelope and elk. These hunts can be extremely difficult for some people to afford or be successful on especially if they live outside the Rocky Mountain region.  We provide a way to compensate for that and we haven't even mentioned the 170 plus gear giveaways we do each year from sponsors like Sitka Gear, Danner Boots, Hoyt Archery and Vortex Optics just to name a few of the several companies we use and believe makes our lives easier on the mountain or on any hunt for that matter.
    Where do you see RMA going in the future?
    Great question! We get asked this by lots of people. We want to continue to provide huge value to our members by continuing to add quality hunts and gear to the mix. We plan to be adding to your giveaway packages until we get to our goal of one per day and at least one hunt per week if not more. These are long terms goals but we are working with several reputable, quality companies to be able to make this possible sooner rather than later.
    How do you find the time to manage all of this?
    Well, thankfully Rich and I both 'married up' and have incredibly talented and supportive wives. They are an intricate part of the management of the company, the new member packets and the give aways. We'd like to thank both of them for their hard work and behind the scenes efforts. They do much more than most see. 
    Thanks to Dale for doing the interview and for putting together what appears to be a great company and growing online community of hunters. I'd encourage you to join up even if it's just the Free membership and participate in the online forum. Be sure to check out their website, follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook.
  • The Will to Hunt Live: Boyd Barnett, Moultrie
    May 9, 2012 10:47:00 AM


    With Episode 1 of The Will to Hunt Live being a success I'm running with it and hoping for the best. Our next guest as you can see from above is Boyd Barnett from Moultrie. Boyd runs their social media and 'Total Game Management' Podcast that I was actually a guest on not too long ago. Boyd does a great job with the Podcast and figured he would be a great guest to have on The Will to Hunt LIVE. Heck, Boyd even attended the first go 'round!


    The theme will be similar to the Podcast, 'Total Game Management'. It seems some people have a fragmented view of Moultrie. For example, I know them mostly for cameras while others know them mostly for feeders or food plots. However, they are really a company that puts out a vast array of products for just that 'Total Game Management', managing your deer herd from all angles. Also, this will NOT be a customer service call. If you have issues with an old camera or you have a gripe about something this is not the venue. That sounds harsh but Boyd isn't a customer service rep and no one but you wants to hear about your problems. However, if you have a success story you want to share or have some questions about the current product line up or perhaps questions or suggestions for future products this is the place!


    Now to the details. We will be broadcasting LIVE on Wednesday May 16th at 9PM Eastern. To join simply come to TheWilltoHunt.com and click on the LIVE logo up in the top right corner. Or you can follow me on Twitter or Like The Will to Hunt Facebook Page. The link will be posted there just before we go live. Now for the 'fine print'. If you don't know what to expect you can watch Episode 1 HERE. Also if you plan on attending I would suggest you test your system HERE. If you have a slow connection disable your mic and camera and join via the text chat. If you use a Mac I had trouble with Safari but it worked seamlessly with Google Chrom. Lastly, there are rules, they are simple but they're they rules:
    1. Be Nice & Have Fun.
    2. Mute your mic until you speak.
    3. Only share your camera when you have a question or something to interject.
    4. If you don't have a camera ask your question via the text chat.
  • Interview: Melissa Bachman
    May 7, 2012 1:14:00 PM
    Melissa,Bachman,World,Record,New Zealand,Stag,Red Stag,


    You may remember from a while back, when I attended the Dixie Deer Classic, I had the chance to meet and speak with Melissa Bachman. You've probably seen her start to pop up all over TV and the web over the last few years. She's definitely a hard core hunter who is very passionate about hunting all game and with a bow. She's also nice to talk to and never tires of talking about bowhunting. So without further ado here's my interview with Melissa!


    I know you've been hunting your whole life and have had the opportunity to go on some great hunts. What has been your favorite hunt so far whether you were filming or hunting?
    My favorite hunt has to be my bear hunt that I do each year up in Alaska. I'm dropped off in a floatplane onto Price of Wales Island and I predator call black bear in on my own. I stay in a tent , use a kayak and guide myself. It's an unbelievable hunt and I love Alaska so it's pretty hard to beat. It also helps that the bear go crazy for the predator calls and last year I called one big boar into 18 yards with my bow and made a great throat shot. If that doesn't give you an adrenaline rush I don't know what will.



    What made you decide that you wanted to make hunting your career?
    I have been an avid hunter since I was a little girl. I grew up in a family who loved to hunt and it became one of my favorite things to do early on. In fact, when I was in high school my parents allowed me to have a work permit that allowed me to bow hunt each morning before school. I graduated college witha double major in TV broadcasting and Spanish in hopes of landing a job as a TV producer. After applying at over 70 locations no one was hiring. I decided to work for free at the North American Hunting Club as an intern for 4 months to gain experience. After this time I was hired as a full time producer and started filming other people's hunts. As time went on I would film my own hunts on the weekends, edit them together, then offer them up for free to anyone who would air them. My hopes were to advance my career into more of an on camera job, which worked out in the end. Now I still do a lot of filming and editing but the bulk of my job is hosting for a variety of hunting shows including North American Hunter, and my own new show that will be coming out in August called Deadly Passion.

    You've often written about the importance of fitness in hunting. What do you do to stay is shape? (Thanks for the question idea Glynn!)
    Fitness is extremely important when you're hunting and I feel being in good shape has helped my success as a hunter. I try to hit the gym when I'm not in the field, but most of my exercise comes straight from the hunts themselves. I also pack pretty heavy so carrying around extremely large bags in the airports helps keep me in shape as well!

    You just got back from what looks to have been an amazing hunt in New Zealand, killing a huge Red Stag. Can you give us the inside scoop on the hunt?
    I just returned from an incredible Red Stag hunt in New Zealand where I actually took the world record stag by a woman shot with a bow. (This was the world record at the time but it was broken last weekend by another woman). I did the entire hunt spot and stalk which is my favorite way to hunt. We had several encounters with big stags, but after seeing this giant from a couple hundred yards off we knew we needed to make this stalk count. We used the trees to stalk into 60 yards and the stag actually bedded down during the stalk which helped out. Once I got to 60 yards it was time to get down low and try to cut the distance. I was able to get inside 35 yards and when the stag stood up I was ready. I made the shot, and the stag went down inside 100 yards! Walking up on the stag was pretty incredible as this was the biggest set of of antlers I had ever seen! He ended up scoring 474 & 3/8". The Full show will air on NBC Sports the week of May 15th on North American Hunter. 



    Lastly, you are young but have already made a place for yourself in the outdoor industry. Where do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now?
    In 5 or 10 years I would still like to be hunting nonstop and producing great TV shows. I really enjoy doing every part of putting a show together from helping with the filming, to editing the entire video, to hosting so this is something that will be hard to ever give up. The only problem is there is a ton of travel involved. I can't even have live plants at my house because I'm never around. So, at some point I will probably cut back on the travel but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

    Thanks Melissa, for taking the time to do the interview and I'm looking forward to following along with your continued success! You can stsy up to date with everything Melissa has going on by following her one twitter and 'liking' her Facebook page!
  • The Will to Hunt LIVE: Episode 1 Michael Lee
    May 4, 2012 1:21:00 PM
    Episode 1 is in the books and you can view it HERE! I'm incredibly thankful that Michael Lee was willing to jump in with me and try it out. I had a good time talking with him and learning a few things. I'm also thankful for of all you who attended or tried to attend. I know several people had issues trying to log in. If you were one of them or would like to attend the next episode follow this LINK to test your system. For fellow Mac users Safari gave me issues but Google Chrome for Mac made it work seamlessly.

    There is a method to the madness of a bunch of people in a video chat. I waited to post up the 'rules' if you will until I tried them out so here they are:
    1. Be Nice & Have Fun.
    2. Mute your mic unless you're speaking to reduce background noise
    3. Only share your camera when you have a question or something to interject.
    4. If you don't have a camera you can ask your questions via the text chat.

    Just a few simple rules to maintain order and it actually worked out pretty well. I might tweak the format a little as I figure out the best way to do things but overall it won't change much. 

    Now that it actually worked out I'm excited to get more guests booked. I plan on doing it every other week and for now it may not always fall on a wednesday most likely it will revolve more around people's schedules. So, who do you want to see on The Will to Hunt LIVE? Leave a comment and let me know what TV personalities or gear companies you would like meet.

  • The Will to Hunt LIVE: 5 Reasons to Tune In
    May 2, 2012 1:37:00 PM
    Tonight is the launch of The Will to Hunt LIVE. I'm pretty excited about it and hope a few people tune in to chat with me and Michael. So to encourage you to check it out here are 5 reasons you should tune in tonight, (May 2nd) at 9PM Eastern.

    1. You can meet ME! I know you are all dying to meet me face to face so here's your chance.

    2. Ok you'll probably tune in to meet Micheal Lee of Backwoods Life more so than me. Michael is a great guy and will be great to talk to. He's got a wealth of knowledge and experience in the outdoors and the outdoor industry. In an e-mail discussion I wanted to have some topics to talk about and he replied he's a pretty well rounded hunter even in "What NOT to do". We'll be sure to cover some of Michael's less than stellar days in the woods. He even mentioned on twitter yesterday that at one point he super glued part of his thumb back together during a bear hunt so that should be interesting!

    3. It's THE FIRST of it's kind. There are a couple other sites doing live broadcasts but they are either text chats or you have to submit questions before hand. Not the case here. If you have a webcam you'll be face to face with me, Michael and everyone else that joins.

    4. You don't have to have a webcam to join! You can still watch and participate via the text chat portion. I'll be monitoring it to interrupt with question from the text chat.

    5. When this is the biggest thing in hunting you can tell your friends you were there for the launch of The Will to Hunt LIVE!

    Obviously this list is just in good fun. However, I do have several great guests lined up assuming tonight is a success. I have people from both the product side of the industry as well as the entertainment side interested in participating. Also if you join, (and I know you will), keep in mind it is the first one. I've tested it quite a few times but you never really now how it's all going to work until you give it a real shot. So cut me some slack if it's not perfect. Lastly if there is something so important that you can't join there is a possibility the session will be recorded and posted afterwards but I haven't tested it so I have no clue how good or bad the recording will turn out.

    Hope to see you tonight on The Will to Hunt LIVE! If you have questions feel free to post a comment here or on the announcement post and I'll answer them!
  • The Will to Hunt LIVE: Michael Lee, Backwoods Life
    Apr 30, 2012 12:58:00 PM
    I'm pretty excited to announce a new addition to TheWilltoHunt.com where not only will you get the same old interviews and features but you'll get a chance to meet some of the people I work with! The Will to Hunt LIVE is a live group video chat that will happen as regularly as I can get people on board. Michael Lee of Backwoods Life was excited to jump on board to test the waters. We will be LIVE on Wednesday May 2nd at 9:00PM Eastern Time. To join all you have to do is come to TheWilltoHunt.com and click on the LIVE Antler logo at the top right of this page. The link will only work at the start time and for the duration of the chat so jump in anytime. You don't need to sign up for a mailing list or anything just enter an e-mail address and name to get into the chat, (you can even get in with a bogus e-mail address if you're super protective). As a viewer you don't need to have a webcam you can still watch and listen but if you'd like to participate,  and converse (and I urge you to) you'll need one.

    Alright now that we got all the details out of the way our gracious guest is none other than Michael Lee of Backwoods Life. A Georgia native that spent most of his time growing up playing baseball or shooting critters. After graduating from high school he started out at Abraham Baldwin College in Tipton, Georgia but finished up his degree in Computer Information Systems at Valdosta State University. Now Michael spends his days designing websites and other computer stuff, (and yes that's the technical term for it!) and spends the rest of his time killing stuff. He's a very accomplished, well rounded and entertaining hunter which has translated well into the very successful TV show Backwoods Life.

    Michael is very into Social Media and he along with Backwoods Life has gathered a strong following online. His integration with Social Media was the reason I asked him to do this in the first place. I figured he would be a great test dummy, (sorry Michael), for something like this especially since as far as I know no one else is doing this!

    So feel free to swing by on Wednesday and join the conversation on The Will to Hunt LIVE! I encourage you to check out the Backwoods Life Website, Facebook  and Twitter pages. Come ready to talk and ask questions!
  • Product Review: Dahlgren Footwear Socks
    Apr 27, 2012 1:55:00 PM
    I'll be the first to admit, I didn't realize how much of a difference quality footwear made especially quality socks. As I mentioned in the 'First Look' at PolarMax I was contacted by Terra Public Relations and they  also gave me the opportunity to try out some of the Dahlgren Footwear socks since they also represent them. Again as with all of my reviews I did a little research before I agree to review anything making sure it would be something I would need anyway and that the product brings substantial value. The socks looked great and being a cheap skate I kept thinking $20 per pair is a lot for socks, but then I thought about how I had paid $10 for a pair of off brand wool blend socks that I had worn this past season and they weren't worth it because they didn't perform like I had hoped. I spent most of my season with wet feet that were either blazing hot or freezing cold. For an extra $10 I could have been way more comfortable all season.


    I've been testing their Hiking and Light Hiking socks and I can honestly say I'm blown away at how much of a difference a quality pair of socks makes. The shape and fit on the socks are amazing. I have pretty high arches and the fit of the sock adds support and definitely adds cushion. They also have 'Dri-Stride Technology' which does an amazing job of keeping your feet dry. I've worn the socks out on cool mornings earlier in turkey season when the temperature was around 38 degrees and have worn them hiking and scouting in temperatures as high as mid 80's and my feet have been comfortable and dry. While keeping your feet dry does a lot for comfort it's also crucial to limiting human odor in the woods.


    To achieve the durability and drying functions that make these socks great Dahlgren uses both Superfine Alpaca as well as Merino Wool. I didn't realize until reading this page on their website that Alpaca is 3 times stronger and 10 times more insulating than wool. Alpaca is also very absorptive making these socks exceptional at regulating temperature and absorbing moisture.


    In an e-mail conversation with Jamie at Terra Public Relations who is an avid outdoorsman as well I mentioned how I was so impressed with the difference quality socks make. His reply was, "Dahlgren is really all I wear now." I think I'm heading that direction because I thought both pair were dirty last Saturday when I was getting ready for a turkey hunt with a decent walk in and was mildly freaking out that I may have to wear some other socks! Luckily I was mistaken and found them.


    Don't wait until hunting season starts to begin thinking about footwear. If you're scouting and prepping stands this summer your feet deserve to be comfortable to make sure you're able to hang that last stand in the back of the property even though it's pushing triple digit temperatures. These socks will keep your feet comfortable and dry. Give them a shot you'll be impressed.
  • Huge Deals on Hawke Optics at Wide Open Spaces
    Apr 25, 2012 2:58:00 PM
    Hawke Sport Optics are by far the best deal in optics right now and that deal just got better. Hawke is teaming up with the discount gear website Wide Open Spaces. I've been very impressed with both companies and am very happy to see them come together to offer some incredible optics at huge discounts on a already low price.

    Wide Open Spaces is a membership based hunting, fishing and outdoor gear website but the membership is FREE and I can assure that they do not spam. I've been a member since before they technically even launched and have only gotten a few e-mails a week when new deals are added. Most deals are pretty awesome with the only downside being you have to act fast because they are almost always limited quantities. If you don't act quickly you can lose out on the deals as I have when they sold out of some Smith Elite product before I could place my order!


    But down to this specific deal and why you need to take advantage of it. They are offering 46% to 53% off of the Hawke Sport Optics line of Endurance and Frontier Binoculars as well their Nature-Trek ED Spotting Scopes. As you've seen from my review of my binoculars I've been very impressed with their performance and price at retail. With this huge discount I know they will definitely be well worth the money. Also WOS has sweetened the deal by offering FREE SHIPPING to TheWilltoHunt.com readers! Just enter  WILLSHIPFREE in the discount code box at check out!


    With this being just one of the great deals at Wide Open Spaces head on over and sign up for the Free Membership and take advantage of this great deal on Hawke Sport Optics. If you'd like to learn more about Hawke and their great line up of products check out their Website, or you can Follow them on Twitter or Like them on Facebook. You can also Follow Wide Open Spaces on Twitter and Like them of Facebook.
  • For the Trad Guys: BirchBark Rovers
    Apr 23, 2012 2:01:00 PM


    I love when people set out and make something a little different and by hand. For all you Traditional Archers there is a new quiver out there made by Steve Viau called 'BirchBark Rovers'. I'm good friends with his son Nick who runs LongbowBlogger.com and have been getting updates on the new  quivers and they are just plain awesome. They aren't going to change the way you hunt or revolutionize the industry but they do look awesome and most importantly are very functional. Here is an excerpt from Nick's recent post on the new quivers:
    "BirchBark Rovers are exactly how they sound, a side quiver with personality, perfect for roving/stumping or shooting a round of 3Ds. Their hard, tubular design allow them to stand upright when not in use, making them an excellent option for arrow storage and a conversation piece in any trophy room or den."
    To read more about how BirchBark Rovers came to be head over to LongbowBlogger.com and if you want to see which quivers are available for purchase head over to Etsy and have a look. They are steal at $55 plus shipping.
  • Turkey Call Care: Friction Calls
    Apr 20, 2012 1:14:00 PM
    To follow up on Wednesday's post about caring for your Diaphragm calls I went to the artist behind Ghost Maker Custom Calls, Ed Jenkins for some tips on caring for the various types of friction calls. Here is Ed's advise:
    Turkey calls are a dynamic combination of wood, metal, plastic, glass and other materials and they require a bit of maintenance to keep them working properly.  Here are a few tips to keep from hitting a "sour note" in your calling.
    I mainly build pot and peg style friction calls so we will focus on those. There are many surfaces available now to choose from such as slate, glass, crystal, aluminum, copper and ceramic and each has special considerations when prepping the surface for play.  
    Slate
    Slate is probably the most widely used surface in friction calls.  The prep and maintenance is simply sanding down the surface with a green abrasive pad such as Scotchbrite.  There is some debate on whether you should sand straight across or in a circular pattern.  I have found it really doesn't matter, the most important thing I have found is that you wipe the slate dust off after conditioning.  The slate dust, (along with glass, crystal, aluminum and copper) will clog your striker tip so I like to wipe it off with my shirt before playing. 
    Strikers are often overlooked in maintenance but are an important part of how well your call will play for you and sound. The pores in the tip of your striker can become clogged with material so it is important to remove loose material from prepping your call whether you blow it off or wipe it. To condition your striker, place a piece of abrasive pad in the palm of your hand and gently twist the tip of the striker until all residue is removed. Keep a cigarette lighter in your vest for those high humidity mornings.  Your slate will absorb moisture so I like to turn the call upside down and heat the slate without actually touching the slate itself.  As it heats you can see the moisture evaporate off and it will be ready to play.
    Glass/Crystal
    Glass and crystal are essentially the same in prep and maintenance.  Some calls come without the glass or crystal being "conditioned" from where they are made.  Most custom callmakers will condition the surface for you so all you have to do is touch it up and you are ready to go.  To do the initial conditioning I use a fine Arkansas sharpening stone, there are also some commercially made conditioning sticks that do the same purpose.  You may condition all or part of the surface of the call. Start by sanding the glass straight across back and forth.  This can take a little bit to do because you have to break the surface of the glass.  You will know you are finished when the stone grabs as you are sanding.  After you are finished it should only take light touch ups with a 100 grit drywall sanding screen to keep it in shape.  Make sure to blow the dust off before using.
    Aluminum (anodized and raw) and Copper
    Raw aluminum and copper can be sanded with an abrasive pad.  In this case I prefer one direction across the face of the call.  I like to rough the calls up the night before to allow them to oxidize slightly before I use them.  I find that my striker grips better that way.  These calls will have a lot of residual material on the surface and they will clog up your striker so you will need to touch them up more often.  Lately I have been using bead blasted anodized aluminum with great results.  There is little to do to the surface other than occasionally wiping it down with an alcohol swab to remove any striker residue.  It is a very low maintenance surface.
    Ceramic
    Ceramic is a relatively new surface to custom callmakers but is another one that requires very little maintenance.  The surface comes ready to play and if it does slick up, scratch with an abrasive pad and wipe clean with an alcohol swab and you are ready to play.
    I hope these tips will help you to keep your calls in top playing condition and make you confident that first morning call will sound great.  
    Long Beards, Short Shots
    Ed Jenkins
    Thanks again Ed for providing these tips and for making great friction calls. If you'd like to see more of Ed's work check out his Website and his Facebook Page. You can also read my review of my Ghost Maker Custom Call here.

  • Turkey Call Care: Diagphragms
    Apr 18, 2012 1:45:00 PM
    With turkey season being in full swing and being someone that likes to keep my gear in the best condition I figured it would be a good idea to do a series of posts on how to take care of and maintain your turkey calls. So, being a newbie turkey hunter myself I went to the experts. Below Mitchell Johnston, President of Dead End Game Calls tells us how to take care of diaphragm calls.
    A mouth call or diaphragm call can be one of the most useful tools in a turkey hunter’s arsenal. However, when a mouth call is not properly cared for, it can lose its effectiveness and overall tone and volume. The following is a list that will help your mouth call perform to its full potential this spring as well as give it increased longevity:
     1. Keep the call out of the sunlight (Ex. Do not place the call on the dash of your truck)
     2. Let the call air out in a shady area not of high temperature (preferably in an area of room temperature)
     3. Place the call in the refrigerator after it has dried out. (This is optional and many callers and hunters utilize this technique. However, I do not. I simply place my mouth calls on top of a cabinet, entertainment center, etc.... and let them dry out overnight and then close my call case. Placement of the call at a high location keeps my kids from getting the calls.)
     4. When prepping the calls for the mornings hunt, make sure to begin using the call before going into the area you are hunting. This will help separate  the latex reeds. If the latex reeds are still stuck together after a period of time, you can pull the latex apart generally by pulling the top reed towards the closed in of the horseshoe frame. However, use extreme caution in doing this because it can tear the latex on the call and therefore ruin the call altogether.
    -Mitchell Johnston

    Thanks to Mitchell for providing these tips as well as making a great  diaphragm call. I have one that I've been practicing with and using this season and to date it's definitely one of the best I've tried. Check back often I'll have more turkey call care tips on other types of calls coming up!



  • Huntography Season 2 Trailer is Up!
    Apr 16, 2012 12:56:00 PM



    As you can see above the latest Huntography trailer is up for viewing. I'm more than excited to be part of it! You'll see me and my beautiful wife a little past half way, talking about me getting in trouble for being obsessed with social media and this blog! I'll also clear up that I'm allergic to deer fur and dander not the meat. A couple years ago all of a sudden I had a crazy reaction after gutting a deer and butchering it, my hands broke out in a rash as well as my face so I'm sure to use gloves when handling deer fur.


    If your new to the blog you can learn more about Huntograhy at the website or the newly launched Virginia Huntography website. I think we are onto something with Huntography and can't wait to see the full length DVD and where this all leads us. Huntography is growing quickly too, with new states being added all the time. You can see the listing here. Unfortunately my portion of the DVD will be kind of boring since I didn't kill anything but we do have a pretty cool encounter at the end of the last day. You ran read my posts about Huntography here.


    So check out the trailer and leave a comment here to let me know what you think!



  • Let the Spring Gobbler Madness Begin!
    Apr 13, 2012 12:57:00 PM
    Turkey,Wild Turkey,Eastern,Turkey,Hunt
    Photo by Greg Sharp


    That's right! Tomorrow officially kicks off spring gobbler season here in Virginia. I'm super excited for the season to start.  I've patterned the shotgun, practiced shooting my bow out of the blind, practiced with my Diaphragm Call and my Slate Call, all in hopes of bagging my first Gobbler.


    This will only be my second year chasing them and I definitely learned a lot about them last year. I think the biggest thing I learned  is there is no one set of tricks that always works. It seems every gobbler has a different preference or way of reacting based on his preference and whether or not he already has hens with him. One lesson I learned was if you are calling to a gobbler and he's close but not close enough and he won't budge, he may be 'henned up'. If that's the case you really need to interest the hens more than the gobbler. In my experience more aggressive calls got the hens interested and the gobbler followed. That and don't over call. If you call too much he's going to expect you to come to him. I'm very guilty of overcalling. The excitement of a big gobbler hammering off a thunderous gobble every time you yelp makes you want to keep calling to him but if you want him to come in you have play a little hard to get.


    With that said get creative and have fun! Turkey hunting is a blast. Calling back and forth with a gobbler, seeing him run in to some decoys, or running and gunning try to sneak in close without being seen and call him the rest of the way. It's all very enjoyable and I'm getting to the point where Turkey season gets me just as fired up as Deer season. I think part of that is how short the season is compared to deer season. Either way I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. I'll definitely be keeping everyone updated on how my hunts go via Facebook and Twitter. Also let me know how your season goes, either leave a comment here or let me know through Facebook or Twitter.



  • First Look: PolarMax Layering System
    Apr 11, 2012 4:04:00 PM
    PolarMax,Layer,Layering,Hunting,Hunt
    When I first started hunting layering meant a few pair of waffle pattern long johns, a pair of jeans or two, a pair of military camo BDU pants, a couple sweatshirts and a jacket . Boy has that changed! Technical layering has made hunting so much more comfortable it's amazing. Hiking in uncomfortable layers that made you sweat like crazy then freeze when you get there are long gone and replacing them are very high tech technical fabrics that are thin, warm, comfortable, lightweight and most importantly get rid of moisture! Among those garments are PolarMax, A North Carolina based company that has been in business for 25 years whose products are all Made in the USA!

    I was contacted by PolarMax's Public Relations company Terra Public Relations about potentially reviewing their product and helping get it out into the hunting community a little more. As with any request for a review I did my research to make sure first it was something I would use anyway and second that it was a reasonable price and something I would be willing to spend money on. Among that research I found that not only did it meet those two criteria but that their products were as previously mentioned made in the USA. They also go to great lengths to insure quality and limit their carbon footprint. I won't go into a ton of detail but if you'd like learn more about them as a company check out their About Page.

    Alright now to the gear! I received a top and bottom form their Acclimate Wool, 4-Way Stretch and the Tech Silk lines. I received two pair of the AYG365 (All Year Gear) Boxer Brief. So far I've been very impressed. All of the pieces have been very comfortable with nice stitching and no stray strings. Since I got them after hunting season I'll save my full review for later once I have a chance to really put them to the test but I'll go ahead and give you my initial thoughts on each series.

    We'll start with the Acclimiate Wool. I got the zip mock because I like to be able to unzip it so I can keep cool walking in or if the temperature rises. I've been impressed with this layer as a good mid to heavy weight layer. It's very comfortable and soft for a wool product but is a little itchy and I wouldn't recommend it next to skin. I definitely think you could get used to it and it may get a little less itchy with multiple washes.  I also love that at the top of the zipper there is a small cuff of fabric to keep the zipper from bothering you. Simple stuff like that shows that they pay attention to how a garment feels when wearing it for an extended period of time. The bottoms fit well and are very comfortable to wear and move with you with a decent amount of stretch. Unfortunately they made the decision to discontinue this from their line of products so I was lucky enough to snag one before they were gone!


    I also got the zip mock in the 4-Way Stretch for the same reason as stated above. Both the top and bottom fit comfortably and stretch nicely when moving and climbing. It also has the same flap of fabric at the top of the zipper. They fit tightly against the skin but are soft and don't feel like you are being squeezed although they may make you feel a little self conscious! I've worn these out several times and have never been uncomfortable in them and they have performed well in cold and mild weather easily moving sweat away from skin and keeping warm. These are very comparable to some much higher priced garments and feel like they have a little more substance to them and the stitching is tight and no loose ends. Some clothing you can just feel the quality and you definitely get that with these products.


    The technical silk is a very thin base layer that would be great for cool mornings when you know you will be sweating later as the temperature increases. Or as a base under the the wool on a brisk day when you need a little more warmth. It's not tight fitting but is great for something like spring gobbler where you need a nice thin base layer for a brisk morning and you know the temp is going to rise quickly. Additionally the AYG365 Briefs are super comfortable under tight layers and they are always my choice to put in the gym bag. They are comfortable, very stretchy, easily move moisture away from skin and keep you dry.


    So far I'm very impressed with the quality of the garments as well as the price. Each garment also has Scent Prevent technology that is an anti-microbial fabric treatment that lasts as long as the fabric. Pair that with great moisture wicking ability and quick drying fabric and you're sure to stay scent free. They have performed well on some cool mornings fishing and scouting, but we'll see how they stand up this winter during all days sits in stand on cold days. So you can expect an update on how I like them later this winter once I've really put them to the test but I have a feeling they are going to work out just fine!





  • Decals Are In!
    Apr 10, 2012 12:29:00 PM
     I've had several people ask for decals with both The Will to Hunt logo as well as the Harnesses for Hunters logo so here they are! I've given away over 100 The Will to Hunt decals but at this point I'm strapped for money to help ship harnesses and I figured this was an affordable way for people to donate to the program and actually get something for it. So the decals are $4.50 each and every penny of the proceeds will be going to help me ship harnesses. At anywhere from $6 to $10 each to ship and over 70 requests for harnesses that is well over my personal budget for the program. So, basically for every two stickers purchased I can ship one harness. As you can see over to the top left of the page I have added a 'Store' link that will take you to the page where the decals can be purchased. I hope to be adding more products to the store soon all of which to help raise money for the program. In the mean time get a sticker or two and help ship some harnesses! Also thanks again to BuildASign.com for donating 150 Harnesses For Hunters Decals!
  • Turkey with Bow or Gun? Decisions . . .
    Apr 6, 2012 1:11:00 PM
    Winchester,Shotgun,1300


    Turkey season is fast approaching in Virginia, youth day is this Saturday the 7th then the regular spring gobbler season opens on April 14th. I've found myself super excited after several close calls last year. Hopefully I will bag my first bird this year. Besides the normal dilemma of which property or area to hunt on what days I have another, should I take the bow or the shotgun?

    Diamond,Archery,Compound
    First, I'm not a 'holier than thou' bowhunter that thinks they're superior to anyone who hunts with a crossbow or gun or whatever else is legal. I'm content to use either really but feel a greater sense of accomplishment when I kill a deer with a bow. To put that in perspective, a deer with a bow is 10 out of 10 and a deer with a gun is 9.9. So either way is good. I started turkey hunting last year and took my gun every time. This year I've decided to at least take my bow on some occasions. On my new property, because of the proximity to the owner's home who doesn't hunt, I'm going to stick with the bow there out of courtesy. So, in writing this post I've come to the conclusion that I will hunt the new property with the bow and the other with the gun. If I get one with the gun then I'll take the bow the rest of the season. It should be nice to get one with each!


    What is your set up for this spring gobbler season? If you feel like sharing, leave a comment with what weapon and call you'll be using. I might just pick a commenter to win some decals!


  • April Issue of BowAmerica is Out!
    Apr 5, 2012 12:51:00 PM

    As always there is a ton of great content in this months issue of BowAmerica. This week my entry is my review of the beautiful Zebrawood Slate call I had made by Ghost Maker Custom Calls. This things is amazing! It looks awesome and sounds even better. To top it off it was hand made by a top notch guy and would gladly recommend his service to anyone looking for a new turkey call. I'm getting really excited for turkey season and this call is one of the reasons. I can't wait to put it to use! For my full review check out pages 35-37.


    You can read the magazine above but can also sign up for a free online subscription at BowAmerica.com
  • Win a Williams Knife Co Knife
    Apr 3, 2012 1:21:00 PM

    Custom,Oyster,Knife


    Hey folks, just a quick post to let you know about a cool contest with an awesome prize. My friends over at Williams Knife Co are holding a contest for a chance to win one of their highly acclaimed Edisto Oyter Knives that go for $300. The contest is simple, just send them a sticker for their work bench at the new shop and you're entered! It can be any kind of sticker your hunt club, a spare decal you got with your latest fishing real, or a funny bumper sticker. If you include a self addressed stamped envelope they'll send you a Williams Knife Co as well. So worst case scenario you trade stickers best case scenario you win a piece of art that doubles as an oyster knife!

    For all the Details Check out their Blog and Facebook Page!


  • Product Review: Badlands Pursuit Day Pack
    Mar 30, 2012 1:18:00 PM
    Backpack,badlands,pursuit,backpacking,hunting,outdoors


    I've been using a cheap off brand backpack for hunting for years. It did the job but not very well. It was uncomfortable to wear, and even in cool weather was very warm to wear, the zippers were loud and often jammed but until recently it had held up pretty good so I dealt with it. Fortunately for me I won a $50 Gift Card to Cabela's through a contest that HuntSync.com was having. HuntSync is actually a really cool site but more on that later. As soon as I got the gift card I knew what I was going to spend it on, a Badlands Pack! As I looked through their packs the one that fit my needs and my wallet best was the Badlands Pursuit Day Pack.


    I had heard a ton of good reviews on Badlands and with them often being pretty pricey I had the attitude of, 'for that price it better be,' even though you can easily spend well more on some other brands. So to say the least I was excited to finally be able to get one with very little money out of my pocket. So I placed the order and in a few short days the pack was in my hands and I immediately transferred the contents of my old back pack to me new Pursuit pack. Although in comparison to some other packs it was small (1500 ci), the  number of pockets along with some mesh organization pockets made it easy to get it all in and organized. There are three main zippered compartments along with two side zippered pockets and two elastic mess outer side pockets. The middle zippered compartment has a mesh zippered pouch within. All pockets and pouches are easily and quietly zipped and provide ample storage options allowing you to stay organized no matter the outing. Also the zippers as you can see from the pictures are very easy to grasp with a large textured plastic tab. All of this contributes to maintaining an organized pack which is key when hunting because you want to be able to easily get in and out of your pack quietly and not have to dig through it and scare everything away.


    Comfort was a major issue for me as my previous pack was horribly floppy and uncomfortable. With the stiff backing of the pursuit no matter the shape, size or weight of the contents it is comfortable to wear. It also only has the chest strap and no waist strap. For walking somewhat short distances with not a lot of weight this is perfect. The waist belts tend to bother me more than they help on short walks in. The vented back and shoulder straps keep you cool much better than a traditional strap so it's cool and comfortable during deer, turkey or shed hunting season. The way the back of the pack is built along with the shape and positioning of the straps and the very adjustable chest strap (can be moved up and down as well as tightened) makes it very easy to carry a lot of weight with little strain. Even with 25-30 pounds in the pack it barely feels like you're carrying anything more than a few pounds. It also has the ability to accommodate a water bladder which is always nice to keep your water handy and integrated into the pack.




    Another feature I like about the pack is the ability to strap my bow to it and climb into stand without the need of a pull rope. Or if dragging a deer out I can easily strap in my bow freeing my hands to drag the deer out. I've seen other packs with straps for this but was always uneasy about it. However, the positioning of the straps hold the bow securely and easily adjusts tight enough to keep it from moving around when walking or climbing.


    So the pack is comfortable and it easily contains everything I need for an all day sit and then some. So now the the bad, which ultimately leads me to a good point. While I love the mesh side pockets for things that I need to grab quickly while walking or sitting in stand unfortunately on only my second or third outing with the pack the mesh separated from the elastic top band. Now this may have been my fault. I might have stuck a screw in bow hanger in that pocket that would have easily have ripped it but it looks more like it just separated at the seam more so than being cut or snagged by the screw portion of the bow hanger. How is this good? Well, ultimately the best feature of Badlands packs is the unconditional warranty. No matter what you do to the thing you send it back with a $12 check for return shipping and they'll either repair or replace the pack. So while it isn't really an issue yet because the pouch is still functional, if ever I decide to have it fixed I can for a very minimal cost. My only suggestion to Badlands for this part would be to use a stronger material for the mesh or maybe additional stitching. Ultimately I have no experience in that area, however considering how bullet proof the rest of the pack is that mesh could be a little better.


    Overall, for about $80 retail the Badlands Pursuit Pack is a great pack that exceeds its price tag in function, looks, durability (despite the mesh) and above all the warranty. If this is any example of what the rest of the Badlands line up is all about and you've been thinking about buying one, then buy one you won't be disappointed. Despite the tear which would normally make me pretty upset for the price, the amazing quality of the rest of the pack overshadows that small failure. The warranty really makes them hard to beat if not for that, this review would have been very different. If you're in the market for a new pack definitely check out Badlands Packs and keep an eye out for their new line of clothing that will be out soon!

  • Gear Deals at Budget Sportsman!
    Mar 27, 2012 3:06:00 PM




    I'm always looking for a way to save money on hunting gear and there is a new way to do that! BudgetSportsman.com is a new website to help you save money on hunting gear as well as share good deals that you have found along the way. The premise is simple if you need a deal you go to BudgetSportsman.com and you'll find some great deals on top hunting gear. Similarly if you find a good deal you simply submit it to BudgetSporstman.com for other people see and take advantage of!


    I love the concept and I was actually one of the first registered user. I helped test it out and make sure the deal submission form worked and was easy to use and I assure you that it is. If you see a deal online you simply use the form shown to the left here and add the link and a few details and hit submit and you are done!


    As I mentioned I am a registered user and have been for some time so I can attest that you don't need to worry about your registration resulting in spam or anything. So head over, check it out and if you find a deal that helps you save a few dollars return the favor and the next time you find a good deal online go ahead and post it over on BudgetsSportsman.com.



  • Harnesses for Hunters on the Moultrie Podcast
    Mar 26, 2012 1:00:00 PM

    In case you didn't hear enough from me on the Foremost Hunting Podcast, I recently did another podcast with Boyd Barnett of Moultrie. It's really exciting to see people starting to jump on board with Harnesses for Hunters. As with anything that gets attention there are definitely critics along the way that just don't get it but for every critic there seems to be at least a dozen people excited about the program and are very encouraging. In the last week or so I've had over 60 requests for harnesses and I'm slowly but surely making my way through those request. I've also had a hunt club and an outfitter each donate a dozen or so harnesses so that's been a HUGE help. However, I'm still shy of the 60 requests so if you have a spare harness laying around that is less than 4 years old and still in packaging shoot me an e-mail. Also as you can imagine shipping that many harnesses at 3 or more pounds a piece gets expensive quick, so if you'd like to donate a few dollars just head over to HarnessesForHunters.com and scroll down and click the donate button. Every dollar counts and as a donor you'll get access to a discount on Hunter Safety System Gear and more coming soon.


    In case you missed the link above you can hear the Moultrie Podcast HERE.
  • The Mindful Carnivore Photo Contest Winner Recipes
    Mar 23, 2012 1:55:00 PM
    Since the photo contest I've gotten a lot of requests for the recipes behind the winning photos so here they are finally! But first I would again like to thank the sponsors of the contest Tovar Cerulli Author of The Mindful Carnivore, Williams Knife Company and RediEdge.


    First Place: Pan Seared Venison with Rosemary and Cherries
    Pan Seared Venison with Rosemary and Cherries
    1 1/2 tsps. chopped fresh rosemary
    1 tsp. coriander seeds (or 1/2 tsp. ground coriander if you can’t find the seeds)
    1 large clove garlic
    1 1/2 tsps. extra virgin olive oil
    1 (1-lb.) venison tenderloin
    1/4 cup dry red wine
    1/4 cup dried tart cherries
    3/4 cup fat-free beef broth
    1/2 cup water
    1 tsp. corn starch
    2 Tbsps. black currant jelly ( or red, if you can’t find the black)
    Grind 1 tsps. of the rosemary with the coriander and garlic with a mortar and pestle to make a paste, then stir in 1/2 tsp. of the olive oil.
    Pat venison dry and put in a bowl, then rub with paste. Season well with pepper, then cover and chill 20 minutes.
    Preheat oven to 450. Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat until hot, then add remaining oil, tilting skillet to coat evenly. Season venison well with salt, then brown, turning once, about 6 minutes total.
    Transfer skillet to middle of oven and roast venison until an instant-read thermometer inserted diagonally into center registers 125 F, about 10 minutes (give or take). Transfer meat to a plate and cover tightly with foil.
    Add wine and cherries to skillet and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, sitirring and scraping up brown bits. Stir together broth, water, cornstarch, and remaining 1/2 tsp. rosemary in a bowl and add to skillet. Simmer, stirring, until mixture is reduced and thickened (to your preference), about 5-10 minutes. Whisk in jelly and salt and pepper to taste.
    Cut venison into 1/4-inch-thick slices and serve with sauce.
    Makes 4 servings. Each serving about 196 calories and 3 grams of fat.



    Second Place: Southwestern Venison Chili
    You can see more from Mark at SoleAdventure.com and this recipe was also posted via Mark on the Filson Blog.


    2lbs ground venison
    2 large onions, diced
    28oz diced tomatoes
    2 cans Rotel (1 hot, 1 medium)
    1 can corn
    2 cans black beans
    1 can pinto beans
    1 can red kidney beans
    1 package ranch dressing mix
    1 package taco seasoning

    Brown the venison in a skillet with the onions.  Once cooked, drain excess fat.  At this point you can either transfer all ingredients to a large pot and cook over the stove, or transfer all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on medium.  I prefer the later.
    Optionally garnish with shredded Monterey jack cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.




    Third Place: Bacon Wrapped Venison Backstrap
    You can also see this over on Randy's Blog 365 Whitetail


    Olive Oil
    Seasoning of Choice
    Large Skillet
    Small Brush

    Drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil into the skillet. Stir and saute your choice of seasonings in the oil. Place the backstrap in the simmering and seasoned oil. With a brush, evenly spread the oil and seasoning over the meat. Rotate the backstrap in the skillet until delectably browned on all sides. 

    Cookie Sheet
    2 Lbs Bacon
    Toothpicks
    NonStick Spray

    While browning the backstrap, pre-heat your oven to 350F. Prepare the cookie sheet, bacon and toothpicks. Spray the cookie sheet with a non-stick spray, then lay the bacon on the cookie sheet in a neat and close row. After your backstrap is browned, season lightly for optimal flavor and place the venison on the row of bacon. Wrap the bacon around the browned backstrap and fasten with toothpicks. You can garnish the bacon with colored spices if you prefer a little flair.


    Cook the venison for 25-30 minutes if you prefer a medium meat. After the cook time, turn the oven to Broil. Carefully roll the baskstrap over on each side and crisp bacon to perfection. You will need to pay close attention at this point, it does not take very long to crisp the bacon. When the bacon is crisp, remove, cool and serve. 
  • Big News for UltimateCamo!
    Mar 21, 2012 12:30:00 PM


    There are two big things going on with UltimateCamo lately. First off as you can see from the screen shot above their website got a major face lift. They are really pushing the fact that all of their products are made in America which has become increasingly important to consumers, especially sportsmen. The second big announcement is that they are now officially a corporate sponsor of the NRA! This is big news for a pretty small company who is a relative newcomer to the camo industry. Here is a statement from Andy the owner of UltimateCamo regarding the sponsorship:
    UltimateCamo is pleased to announce, that, as of March 15th 2012, we are now a National Rifle Association (NRA) Hunter Services Corporate Sponsor. The NRA will be manufacturing camouflage clothing and hunting apparel with UltimateCamo's bark pattern, so look for some cool new NRA gear in the near future. With over 4 million NRA members, this is a great partnership for several reasons. Besides the effectiveness and success of our original pattern, our 2010 Corporate initiative was to continue to make competitively priced products while supporting the US worker, manufacturer and economy.  UltimateCamo has successfully met our initiative and now manufactures all products in the US.  We look to carry this initiative forward through our partnership with the NRA.  
    I'm definitely excited to see UltimateCamo grow. It's a great company with a great pattern. Also two thumbs up for the website redesign by Bob Lynch! If you would like to check out the pattern or order products head to UltimateCamo.com.
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