Showing posts with label hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hunting. Show all posts

Monday, October 13, 2014

Three keys to better hunting and fishing

If you're like a lot of people you're struggling to sit in your treestand right now.  While there's a part of you that waits all year for a chance to hunt, there's a whole nother part that can't tear away from the incredible fishing that's happening right now as the fall feeding frenzy sweeps across the country.  Whether you're after bass, pike, trout, or panfish; it's safe to say that the best fishing you've seen all year is underway (or about to be).  But lucky for you, there are things you can do while you're in your favorite tree that will not only make you a better hunter, but that will improve your fishing trips as well.

To begin with, you need to be sharp and remain still.  Keeping your movements to a minimum will reduce noise and the chances of being seen.  A great way to do that is to have a smartphone and two apps:  Weather Underground and Fishidy.  Weather Underground is essential for several reasons.  It has doppler radar that will show you if a storm is tracking in your precise location, so you can be sure that you're safety isn't in question (that's always a great place to start).  WU also pulls data from millions of weather stations all over the globe, so you can be sure to get predictions for the week that are as close as possible to where you're planning to be.  I can't tell you how many times I've had people tell me "weather I hadn't anticipated ruined my trip".  This app will absolutely reduce that risk.

Fishidy is what's going to keep you engaged all day long.  With thousands of bodies of water to research and a community of anglers that grows every day, there's an unlimited amount of information at your fingertips.  Let's say you just found out that your cousin is getting married in Michigan next summer and you're gonna be there for a week and want to fish Lake St. Claire while you're there.  You can see hotspots, depths and contour lines, vegetation, places to launch, and detailed information from users on fish they've caught and what they caught them on (pictures included).  You can also subscribe to allow you to receive notification of future updates posted to that specific body of water.  This is a great way to research your trips.  Don't want to share your catches with everyone?  That's ok too.  You can adjust your settings so that you're trophies are visible to only you.



Fishidy is also a great way to take a closer look at places you're very familiar with.  Lakes and rivers are often changing, and there are many times when you'll catch a fish someplace where you didn't think you would.  Maybe it's a certain depth, or a transition area that you didn't notice before.  Now you can go and find other areas like that one and have some new places to check the next time you go out.  Imagine how closely you can examine a body of water while you're sitting uninterrupted in a tree for 12 hours.  It's hard to find the time to do that under normal circumstances, and even when have the time it's difficult to force yourself to do it.

Now I know that some people are saying "no way my battery will last that long".  You're right.  No cell phone battery will let you look at something with screen resolution that high for 12 hours.  But Snowlizard has a case called that SLXtreme that will protect your phone and charge it.  The case is completely submersible, and has a strap attachment (below) that will not only make it float if you drop it in water but it also acts as a pad so you can wear it around your neck without it being uncomfortable when you need to be instantly hands free.  But the real advantage to this case is the battery power.  When your cell phone is about to die, simply press the button on the back of the case and it will charge your battery back to full while you use it.  The four lights on the back will tell you how much power the case has to give (4 lights equals a fully charged case).  My SLXtreme has fully charged my iPhone 5 twice on one full charge, more than enough battery life to keep me doing research all day.  And if that's not enough, there's even a solar panel on the back of the case that will charge it in the sun.  The SLXtreme is available to smart phones as well as tablets, so you're covered no matter what you decide to use.



 



The last thing you need is to be sure to be warm and dry.  I wear my Stormr Stealth gear and it gives me everything I need from a camo suit.  I'm warm and dry, the Real Tree Max4 blends into any background regardless if I'm hunting trophy whitetails or geese, it's also dead quite so I can draw my bow without fear of being heard like other noisier jackets.



So there you have it.  You're a hunting and fishing, weatherproof ninja ready to take on the outdoor world and staying one step ahead of the competition.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Canadian Goose Hunt!


This is the video from my recent guided trip hunting Canadian Geese with Big Show Waterfowlers in Upstate NY.  I highly recommend them if you're looking to hunt any kind of waterfowl or game birds.  It was also my first opportunity to try out my new Stealth suit from Stormr and it is an amazing product.  I was warm, dry, it moved easy, the pockets were great, and the pattern is great too.  Check them out at www.StormrUSA.com!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Review: The Last Knife You'll Ever Buy

Knives Of Alaska delivers the quality of old for today's outdoor enthusiasts.

About 8 years ago I was in need of a new hunting knife when a friend of mine introduced me to Knives Of Alaska (KOA) with the warning that "this can get costly and addictive"!  My friend was right on both accounts.  My first KOA purchase was the Jaeger and it quickly lead to many more for myself, as well as a few as gifts to close friends.  The knives themselves were designed to withstand the harshest weather in Alaska, across glacier fields, swamps, mountains, and tundra.  Charles Allen, President and Owner, delivers quality and dependability to each and every knife.




Years later that first knife is still my favorite.  The Jaeger is sleek, and powerful.  It's the perfect representation of what happens when sophistication and elegance are matched with raw power and strength.  The D2 carbon steel is dangerously sharp, and the scar on my left hand is living proof of that (while it was absolutely my fault that I cut myself at all field dressing my buck in single digit temperatures is of no consequence).  Take a look at these features:

Category:Jaeger Boning Knife
Item Number:00113FG
Metal:D2
Rockwell Hardness:58-60
Bevel:18 - 20°
Knife Length:8-1/4"
Blade Length:3-1/2"
Weight:3.6 oz

The knife itself is a "Full Tang", which means the metal runs the full length of the knife; from the tip of the blade, to the butt of the handle.  This is important because it won't sacrifice strength by having a transition in the middle where the blade meets the handle.  Offered in two styles, Suregrip and Stag (both pictured below), the differences are purely aesthetical. 

Suregrip handle and leather sheath

Stag handle and leather sheath

For anglers looking for fillet knives, the Steelheader and Coho are excellent pieces of fine craftsmanship.  Both are only available in suregrip, but offer your choice of either a black or orange handle.  These knives hold their edge extremely well, allowing the user to easily process a full days catch without needing resharpening or touching up.  This is crucial to anyone who prefers to clean their fish at designated areas prior to returning home for the day.

Category:Steelheader
Item Number:00315FG
Metal:440C
Rockwell Hardness:58-60
Bevel:12-18°
Knife Length:10.875"
Blade Length:5.75"
Weight:2.8 oz


Category:Coho Fillet Knife
Item Number:00086FG
Metal:440C
Rockwell Hardness:57-59
Bevel:18-20°
Knife Length:13"
Blade Length:8-1/2"
Weight:5.3 oz



All KOA knives come with a lifetime warranty to the original owner on the handle and blade for "...defects from workmanship and materials and from breakage under normal use."  While the sheathes, leather included, are not covered by any warranty, you can be confident in the craftsmanship.  I've put my own cases and knives through rigorous weather and carrying, and can honestly say that they still look as they did the day I purchased them with very simple maintenance.  I have no doubt my grandchildren will someday carry these very knives of mine.  That's saying a lot.  They are the finest knives made today and I know you won't be disappointed.