Hey guys!
I've been staring at the clock all day today and it is finally here.
I'm leaving as soon as I finish this post to meet my dad and start the hunt of a lifetime tomorrow morning.
This is excited as I have ever been about anything.
I'm looking forward to letting you all know how it goes this weekend!!!
Talk to you soon and wish me luck!
Friday, August 17, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The Badlands 2200: Strengh, Dependability, Versatility, and Comfort
Hey everybody!
Today is the day I reveal, to the world, my thoughts about what many would consider to be the "flagship" pack produced by the folks at Badlands, the "2200".
I've had a chance to beat it up over the past five weeks of intense scouting and am pleased to report that I have been impressed.
Should You Buy It?
I've used this pack for scouting to this point. Would I use it to actually hunt with? It depends. Define "hunting" and I'll give you an answer. I'm a big spot and stalk guy so if I'm wearing a pack at all when I'm actually making my approach I want it to be small enough to not snag on trees as I'm crawling under them. That being said, as much as I love this pack, I won't be wearing it as I make my approach. Will it be on the wheeler waiting for me to come grab it and start the "work" part after the animal is down? You bet your ass.
If I were a rifle hunter I would absolutely be carrying this pack when I pulled the trigger. Even if I were a stand hunter this pack would be hanging from a limb. If you hunt from a horse, this pack would also be perfect. If you need something to carry your gear while you're scouting, setting cams, hiking into camp for a couple days in the Unitas. . . . look no further.
How I Really Feel:
To this point my experience with this pack has been very good. I can haul a ton of gear without feeling like I'm hauling a ton of gear. Its very easy to keep everything organized, functional, and dependable. Last weekend I got caught in an absolute downpour while out checking my cameras. This wouldn't be such a big deal but I had forgotten my card reader 500 miles away so I was carrying my $1500 laptop to read sd cards. Yeah, stupid huh? I wouldn't recommend this by any means. . . . . but the pack kept my computer bone dry after three hours in the pouring rain. I wish I had a picture of it. . . . .it was to wet for a camera. If that were the ONLY experience I had with this pack it would be enough for me to give my full recommendation but to this point there have been many more and I would not hesitate at all to tell any of you to pull the trigger on this one.
Pair this with that famous Badlands warranty, quoted directly from the link on their site below:
Today is the day I reveal, to the world, my thoughts about what many would consider to be the "flagship" pack produced by the folks at Badlands, the "2200".
I've had a chance to beat it up over the past five weeks of intense scouting and am pleased to report that I have been impressed.
Intro,Pack Description, and Field Pictures:
The first thing you will notice when you put the pack on is the way it fits your back and grips your shoulders. Yes, grips your shoulder. Where many packs, especially with the carrying capacity of this one, 2200 cubic inches (hence the name), hang on your shoulders like a sack of potatoes, this pack is built to feel like it belongs there when you put it on. Traditionally I've been more of a day pack kind of guy so I was a little worried about this pack feeling bulky but that hesitation was quickly remedied before I even got my second arm through the strap. A pack with a HUGE capacity that fits and carries better than any day pack I own.
Obviously the fit is extremely important but now that it feels great on your back. . . . . what does it have to offer? Brooklyn Decker would be great to carry around too but she's probably not going to help much on your fourth day of a six day back country hunt.
Pockets galore, people. Just to give you some idea, my last load included: three trail cameras, a range finder, jacket, knives, tree pruning equipment, eight bunjee cords, a full 2 litre water bladder, video camera, binoculars, 16 batteries, gps, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that remained unsmashed after eight hours of hiking and riding to set those cameras. The 2200 boasts more organization than the guy at your office that has six different colors of pens in his shirt pocket.
Pockets are great, but as the guy in your office will tell you, they need to offer some protection as well. He is afraid of errant ink. You have dust, rain, mud, etc. to worry about. Taped seams, heavy duty zippers, and "grippy" rubber zipper pulls will not only keep your gear our of the elements but make it easy to get to when you need it. There is even an access zipper on the front side (where the pack meets your back) that zips open for easy access to the main compartment if you happen to have something strapped to the back of the pack. I used this feature quite a bit when I had the pack strapped to the front of my 4 wheeler. Very handy.
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| Strapped to the wheeler, the easy cargo access was very handy. |
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| Staying strong and looking good. |
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| This is Trevor's (another Badlands believer) 2200, loaded to the max. |
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| Trevor's pack again, notice the zipper pulls. |
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| Pulling cams out. |
The pack has a really cool "meat shelf" that allows you to pack meat and gear at the same time. Unfortunately I have not had a chance to use this feature as of yet. . but I'm hoping to change that very soon. When that happens you can bet that I'll be posting pictures, accompanied by a toothy grin, as soon as possible.
I've used this pack for scouting to this point. Would I use it to actually hunt with? It depends. Define "hunting" and I'll give you an answer. I'm a big spot and stalk guy so if I'm wearing a pack at all when I'm actually making my approach I want it to be small enough to not snag on trees as I'm crawling under them. That being said, as much as I love this pack, I won't be wearing it as I make my approach. Will it be on the wheeler waiting for me to come grab it and start the "work" part after the animal is down? You bet your ass.
If I were a rifle hunter I would absolutely be carrying this pack when I pulled the trigger. Even if I were a stand hunter this pack would be hanging from a limb. If you hunt from a horse, this pack would also be perfect. If you need something to carry your gear while you're scouting, setting cams, hiking into camp for a couple days in the Unitas. . . . look no further.
How I Really Feel:
To this point my experience with this pack has been very good. I can haul a ton of gear without feeling like I'm hauling a ton of gear. Its very easy to keep everything organized, functional, and dependable. Last weekend I got caught in an absolute downpour while out checking my cameras. This wouldn't be such a big deal but I had forgotten my card reader 500 miles away so I was carrying my $1500 laptop to read sd cards. Yeah, stupid huh? I wouldn't recommend this by any means. . . . . but the pack kept my computer bone dry after three hours in the pouring rain. I wish I had a picture of it. . . . .it was to wet for a camera. If that were the ONLY experience I had with this pack it would be enough for me to give my full recommendation but to this point there have been many more and I would not hesitate at all to tell any of you to pull the trigger on this one.
Pair this with that famous Badlands warranty, quoted directly from the link on their site below:
"Our warranty was designed to keep your pack in the field for as many years as possible and also to demonstrate our willingness to stand behind our products for the long haul. It was not designed to be a "free upgrade program". Therefore, this is our one caveat (as stated in the warranty). "We will repair your pack for free, forever, no matter whose fault it is, no questions asked", sounds like a square deal to us. A few things you need to know here; in most cases it probably cost less to replace a pack than it does to disassemble and repair it. The other thing is; it is now and always has been our intention to do right by our customers, period. This a company founded on treating people as we would like to be treated ourselves. Therefore, if it is a case where the product should be replaced, it will be done promptly and without whining. If it makes more senses under the circumstances to repair it, that will be done. Either way, we do it on our dime."
You can't go wrong with this pack or the people that stand behind it.
Click the logo below and give the Badlands site a look, you'll like it.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Enjoying the Ride: Snapshots Along the Way
Hey everyone!
My hunt is now eleven days away. Eleven.
I have spent the last five weekends leaving boot tracks in some of the most remote corners of Southwestern Utah, seeing things that not many people take the opportunity to see. The Southwest Desert unit is not what most people would consider to be classic "elk" country. Normally when people think elk they think steep quaken aspen covered ridges and lush green meadows as far as the eye can see. I grew up in the desert though. For me, elk country is rolling hills, pinion pines, low cedars, sage brush, and small springs bubbling out of the hills.
It's a different place but it's very near to my heart. My emotional connection to the area is due, greatly, to my father. He loves the area as if it were all his own. He's coming up on an incredible 30 years with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Maybe I love being out there because I feel like I'm sharing it with him. He knows every dirt road and what's at the end of it. Every canyon, burn, or clearing has a story as well; whether it be a big case that he solved or a time spent with the family. It's hard for me to not fall in love with that place every time I'm out there. It's even better when I'm riding around with my dad. Elk or no elk in a couple weeks; I already wouldn't trade the time we've spent out there, for anything. There's no crying in elk hunting. There's no crying in elk hunting. There's no crying in elk hunting.
My hunt is now eleven days away. Eleven.
I have spent the last five weekends leaving boot tracks in some of the most remote corners of Southwestern Utah, seeing things that not many people take the opportunity to see. The Southwest Desert unit is not what most people would consider to be classic "elk" country. Normally when people think elk they think steep quaken aspen covered ridges and lush green meadows as far as the eye can see. I grew up in the desert though. For me, elk country is rolling hills, pinion pines, low cedars, sage brush, and small springs bubbling out of the hills.
It's a different place but it's very near to my heart. My emotional connection to the area is due, greatly, to my father. He loves the area as if it were all his own. He's coming up on an incredible 30 years with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Maybe I love being out there because I feel like I'm sharing it with him. He knows every dirt road and what's at the end of it. Every canyon, burn, or clearing has a story as well; whether it be a big case that he solved or a time spent with the family. It's hard for me to not fall in love with that place every time I'm out there. It's even better when I'm riding around with my dad. Elk or no elk in a couple weeks; I already wouldn't trade the time we've spent out there, for anything. There's no crying in elk hunting. There's no crying in elk hunting. There's no crying in elk hunting.
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| Looking South West, thunder clouds move over Pine Valley. |
Anyway, the last couple weeks have been incredible and I just wanted to take a few minutes to post some of the pictures I've taken along the way. Lest you not worry, the product testing is definitely being done. This post is about taking the time to just enjoy doing what you're doing. Take a mintue and soak in the memories you're making while you're making them. We are all trained, programmed, and wired to spend our time working hard to acheive goals and that's fine, but take a break every now and then. . . even if it's just a mintue to take a deep breath and look around. . . . and snap a picture, even if it's in your mind.
Here are a few of the pictures I've captured along the way. I hope you like them.
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| Setting another cam |
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| Awesome "Cactus" buck. Cryptorchid. |
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| Wasn't expecting this! What a great looking buck! |
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| No this is not a jean advertisement. But it should be. |
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| Hiking in new boots and short socks = sore feet. "This will be good practice for carrying your elk out." She said as we got closer to the truck. |
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| Heading out to glass in the rain. |
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| Russ and I getting back to the truck. |
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| Dad with a dandy out of the pond. |
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| Not many better feelings than this one. |
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| Fish on! |
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| Mustang on the skyline |
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| Russ with anther fine specimen. |
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| Looking out over the valley from one of my favorite spots. |
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| Backpacks make good rack packs too. |
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| Brunch. |
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Russ stopped to think about whether he remembered to take the wet clothes out of his washer. I took a pic. |
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| Dad glassing. |
More pics soon to come, everyone. There are just a few that I have and wanted to share.
I'm really getting into this trail cam thing and will be posting my comparrisons on cameras and image quality very soon. Between mine and Trevor's camera's in the field, we have five different brands doing work for us out there right now. We have some incredible pictures so far and I'm looking forward to posting them for you to see and compre soon.
It has already been one hell of a fun season and it hasn't even started yet. As crazy as life is, it's great to feel like things do slow down just a little bit when you're in the hills. I believe that time spent out of cell service should not be deducted from one's life.
As always, thanks for reading and look for another post very soon!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
An Embarrasing Moment and My Latest Purchase: Under Armour Heat Gear Scent Control Camo
Last night I got caught in somewhat of an embarrassing situation. To those of you who know me personally, I know that must come as a total shock to you.
Knowing I had a few minutes before my girlfriend came home, I ran up the stairs with a new purchase and quickly ditched my insurance monkey suit.
Unfortunately, I didn't have as much time as I thought and I was caught in the act: modeling my new camo, head to toe, in front of the bedroom mirror.
My hunt starts in 17 days and I'm a little bit excited about it.
Now, to my latest purchase!
As you've seen in some of my blog posts I purchased a pair of Under Armour Speed Freak boots and have been very impressed to this point. I have had my eye on Under Armour camo for some time now and having had great experiences with their other products (mostly workout and baseball clothing) I decided to take the plunge and pick up some UA Heat Gear Scent Control t shirts, on short sleeve and one long sleeve.
The unit I'm hunting is pretty unique in that it goes from frosty cold in the morning to 90 degrees in the afternoon. Literally. Good base layers are extremely important because you shed your jacket as soon as the sun comes up if you don't want to be covered in sweat. Under Armour shirts and been great at the gym and on the baseball field so I'm pretty excited to take that experience to the hills.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Ok, I know I'm supposed to be all technical here but come on guys, let's be honest: this stuff LOOKS awesome. Maybe Under Armour has just done a great job with their marketing but as soon as I saw this stuff I thought to myself, "I'd look freakin' awesome wearing that in a picture with a nice bull." Yes, I tried it on before I bought it and may or may not have flexed the guns in the mirror just to see how it looked. I'm starting to feel like I'm way to honest with you people.
Outside of them looking awesome, these tops do have some technical aspects that enticed me. I'm not much of a stand or blind hunter so I spend a lot of my time running up and down mountains to get ahead of animals. Needless to say, sweating like crazy is a given. More often than not, an animal is going to smell you long before it sees you. I don't believe that there is a garment in existence that will eliminate your smell. I don't care how much you spend. I do believe though, that if you can keep your perspiration to a minimum
you stand a better chance of not smelling as bad.
As a side note: What you are wearing makes absolutely no difference if you don't cook your dinner time Italian sausage all the way through on your butane stove. . . .This tip brought to you by a lesson learned on elk hunt number 1. I'm pretty sure I didn't get within a square mile of an elk the next day.
Being that I'm hunting in a place with an extreme climate, this seems like a perfect fit: a great base layer that is light and breathable under a jacket for my early morning hunting that will perform nicely as my outer layer as soon as I shed the jacket. This is my hope anyway, I'll get back to you guys with the results very soon.
These shirts are also made using the Armour Block Antimicrobial technology. The theory behind this is not to "trap" human odor but to stop it before it starts. Again, I don't believe human odor can magically disappear, Copperfield style, but management makes sense. Under Armour advertises that "ArmourBlock technology uses a combination of silver & chitosan as anti-microbial's that "block" odors before there is any odor at all." Honestly, I was going to buy the shirts before I saw this so if it works. . .. GREAT! The only ones that can attest to the effectiveness of this technology are hopefully standing in front of my trail cameras as I write this.
Knowing I had a few minutes before my girlfriend came home, I ran up the stairs with a new purchase and quickly ditched my insurance monkey suit.
Unfortunately, I didn't have as much time as I thought and I was caught in the act: modeling my new camo, head to toe, in front of the bedroom mirror.
My hunt starts in 17 days and I'm a little bit excited about it.
Now, to my latest purchase!
As you've seen in some of my blog posts I purchased a pair of Under Armour Speed Freak boots and have been very impressed to this point. I have had my eye on Under Armour camo for some time now and having had great experiences with their other products (mostly workout and baseball clothing) I decided to take the plunge and pick up some UA Heat Gear Scent Control t shirts, on short sleeve and one long sleeve.
The unit I'm hunting is pretty unique in that it goes from frosty cold in the morning to 90 degrees in the afternoon. Literally. Good base layers are extremely important because you shed your jacket as soon as the sun comes up if you don't want to be covered in sweat. Under Armour shirts and been great at the gym and on the baseball field so I'm pretty excited to take that experience to the hills.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Ok, I know I'm supposed to be all technical here but come on guys, let's be honest: this stuff LOOKS awesome. Maybe Under Armour has just done a great job with their marketing but as soon as I saw this stuff I thought to myself, "I'd look freakin' awesome wearing that in a picture with a nice bull." Yes, I tried it on before I bought it and may or may not have flexed the guns in the mirror just to see how it looked. I'm starting to feel like I'm way to honest with you people.
Outside of them looking awesome, these tops do have some technical aspects that enticed me. I'm not much of a stand or blind hunter so I spend a lot of my time running up and down mountains to get ahead of animals. Needless to say, sweating like crazy is a given. More often than not, an animal is going to smell you long before it sees you. I don't believe that there is a garment in existence that will eliminate your smell. I don't care how much you spend. I do believe though, that if you can keep your perspiration to a minimum
you stand a better chance of not smelling as bad.
As a side note: What you are wearing makes absolutely no difference if you don't cook your dinner time Italian sausage all the way through on your butane stove. . . .This tip brought to you by a lesson learned on elk hunt number 1. I'm pretty sure I didn't get within a square mile of an elk the next day.
Being that I'm hunting in a place with an extreme climate, this seems like a perfect fit: a great base layer that is light and breathable under a jacket for my early morning hunting that will perform nicely as my outer layer as soon as I shed the jacket. This is my hope anyway, I'll get back to you guys with the results very soon.
Another incredible feature that I'm very excited about: these shirts actually repel skunks. Yes folks, you read correctly. Check it out. Haha, what else could it be?
So to wrap this all up, I am excited about the features this UA gear brings to the table. It's also hard to deny that you really do feel like a bad ass when you put this stuff on. Barring a major malfunction like the seams disintegrate on the first wash or even worse THE SHIRTS BEING JUST THE OPPOSITE OF SKUNK REPELLENT I think I'm going to be really happy with my purchase. Like everything though, I'm going to test the hell out of this stuff and get back to you all with yet another honesty filled review.
As always, thanks for reading!
'Til we meet again!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Bushnell Trail Cam 72% Off : The deal of the CENTURY
Hey guys!
This is a little different than what I normally do but I had to post this up for everyone.
If you are in the market for a new trail cam you have to give this link a look!
http://www.shop.bullmountainoutdoors.com/Bushnell-Trail-Sentry-50-MP-Trail-Camera-with-Night-Vision-BUS119305C.htm
Bull Mountain is a site pretty similiar to camofire.com. I haven't had the opportunity to test this camera but at 72% off you really can't go wrong! I spent all of my money on gas and groceries for my scouting trip (pics pending) last weekend so I'm not going to be taking advantage of this one, lol. There is a limited number so hop on it as quick as you can and let me know how it works!!!
This is a little different than what I normally do but I had to post this up for everyone.
If you are in the market for a new trail cam you have to give this link a look!
http://www.shop.bullmountainoutdoors.com/Bushnell-Trail-Sentry-50-MP-Trail-Camera-with-Night-Vision-BUS119305C.htm
Bull Mountain is a site pretty similiar to camofire.com. I haven't had the opportunity to test this camera but at 72% off you really can't go wrong! I spent all of my money on gas and groceries for my scouting trip (pics pending) last weekend so I'm not going to be taking advantage of this one, lol. There is a limited number so hop on it as quick as you can and let me know how it works!!!
A Note from Alan Lotton, VP of Marketing at Sims Vibration Labratory (LimbSaver)
Hey guys,
I got this comment from Mr. Lotton at Sims (LimbSaver) a couple weeks ago and just wanted to post it up! I am very honored to know that people read what I write so thank you all! This is a lot of fun and I hope to keep doing it for a long, long, time.
I can't emphasize enough. . . these Simbs Labratory guys are in touch with their customers. Very cool.
Matt,
It’s been refreshing reading a few of your product reviews… Most reviewers push the commercial side of the message, ultimately negating the intended impact of the message/review. Your reviews connect with the consumer, who are looking for creditable testimonials to support their buying decisions. In my opinion, your reviews are right on-track with a non bias focus on products features, product value and performance expatiations. I look forward to reading more of your reviews in the future, and thank you for supporting LimbSaver products!
Best regards,
Alan
Alan Lotton
Sims Vibration Laboratory
Vice President of Marketing & OEM Sales
50 West Rose Nye Way
Shelton, WA 98584
360-427-6031 Corp Office
360-427-4025 Corp Fax
Monday, July 23, 2012
Southwest Desert Weekend Scouting Trip: Bucks, Bulls, and Binos
Hey guys!
Welcome back to the work week. Lame, huh?
Fortunately for you I have some stories from my weekend to revive you from your afternoon coma! So run over to the coffee maker, pour yourself a cup of that cold joe, nuke that baby for 45 seconds and sit back down!
You know, another great part of hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors are the friends you make and the network you build along the way. It seems to me that people who enjoy the great outdoors in any capacity, can relate. Maybe it's just who I am, but it seems like if I run into any given person in Sportsman's Warehouse or a guy on a 4 wheeler in the middle of nowhere I'll always find myself having to drag myself away from a two hour conversation about that starts with what flies are working or the debate between mechanical or fixed broadheads and ends up with an open ended invitation to have a beer around a camp fire anytime. I love you people.
I made the trip down to Southern Utah once again and spent some time roaming the hills with my friend Trevor Hunt. If you grab a dictionary and look up "legendary mule deer man" you'll see a picture of Trevor. If the dictionary picture isn't enough to convince you, check his blog out:
Trevor is from my hometown and is every bit as crazy about the mountains as yours truly so it's really only a matter of time before every animal in the state catches a whiff of us at one point or another. . . but I digress. . . back to the story.
Being that I live six grueling hours from my elk unit, Trevor has been nice enough to share some trail camera pictures with me to keep my blood pumping during the that I spend away during the week. He has several cameras set up to catch the buck of a lifetime but every now and again one of those elk wanders in for a drink. Needless to say, getting those pictures in my email has probably decreased my work production by a good 38%.
Early Saturday morning we made our way out to a spot and glassed a group of nine bulls as soon as our eyes hit the hillside. "I call this place Disneyland," Trevor said without pulling his binos down," because it's my happiest place on earth."
Due to the unwritten "I'll bury you out here if you breathe a word of this spot to anyone" laws I have some great pics but I'm not going to show them to you all. We spent the next hour and a half glassing new bucks and bulls from the same spot. 17 bulls and 14 bucks in the same basin is pretty tough to beat.
After we had seen all we could see in that spot we decided to go for a quick trip to a canyon neither one of us has visited yet this year.
The Southwest Desert unit is pretty unique in that it's not only huge and remote but the temperature swings are incredible. When we got out of the truck it was 45 degrees. By the time we were moving to our second spot it was in the low7 0's. . . .at 9:30 A.M. I was yet again reminded that I'm really going to need to have some camo that can adapt to the quickly changing condition when my hunt rolls around. I'm hoping to give the Core 4 and the new Badlands stuff a try when the time comes.
As it turns out our previously unexplored canyon yielded some great bulls and I was able to snap some "range modest" pics using. . . . . the sweet Zeiss glass I'm carrying this season and. . . . my cell phone. Yes folks, thank God for the tiny computers we all now carry around in our pockets. This should speak to the quality of the Zeiss product: due to the clarity and lack of distortion of this glass my cell phone took an incredible picture through one of the eye pieces. Check it out:
I was able to spot these guys as they were laying down for the day. We glassed them for an hour undetected, found their water, and set a camera up. Stay tuned for some sweet up close and personal pics! I never got a good look a the the one laying down in the shadows but from what I can tell he's a stud.
I wore my Under Armour Speed Freaks and was impressed with them once again. My feet were very comfortable in the morning when it was pretty chilly and stayed that way as I was hiking in the hot late morning sun. I'm going to give them some more time before I put my name on them but so far I'm very impressed: light, breathable, comfortable (they feel like a pair of running shoes), and sturdy.
I'm heading back this weekend and am excited to show you guys an up close photo of both of these bulls. I named the standing bull "Moby" because of the huge whale tail on his right side.
I've been shooting a ton as well and will have some reviews about my arrows and rest this week!
ALSO, I made a contact at Wack Em broadheads (another Utah based company) and am working on getting some awesome new blades to let you guys know about.
Thanks again, as always, for reading and stay posted! A big thanks for Trevor for all the help to this point! I'm looking forward to more time in the hills. The hunt starts August 18 and there is plenty more to come before then.
As a parting gift, here are a few pics from Trevor's hit list, enjoy!
Welcome back to the work week. Lame, huh?
Fortunately for you I have some stories from my weekend to revive you from your afternoon coma! So run over to the coffee maker, pour yourself a cup of that cold joe, nuke that baby for 45 seconds and sit back down!
You know, another great part of hunting, fishing, and exploring the outdoors are the friends you make and the network you build along the way. It seems to me that people who enjoy the great outdoors in any capacity, can relate. Maybe it's just who I am, but it seems like if I run into any given person in Sportsman's Warehouse or a guy on a 4 wheeler in the middle of nowhere I'll always find myself having to drag myself away from a two hour conversation about that starts with what flies are working or the debate between mechanical or fixed broadheads and ends up with an open ended invitation to have a beer around a camp fire anytime. I love you people.
I made the trip down to Southern Utah once again and spent some time roaming the hills with my friend Trevor Hunt. If you grab a dictionary and look up "legendary mule deer man" you'll see a picture of Trevor. If the dictionary picture isn't enough to convince you, check his blog out:
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| The man himself, holding a 40" wide, 268" buck that he guided. On the reg, boys, on the reg. |
Being that I live six grueling hours from my elk unit, Trevor has been nice enough to share some trail camera pictures with me to keep my blood pumping during the that I spend away during the week. He has several cameras set up to catch the buck of a lifetime but every now and again one of those elk wanders in for a drink. Needless to say, getting those pictures in my email has probably decreased my work production by a good 38%.
Early Saturday morning we made our way out to a spot and glassed a group of nine bulls as soon as our eyes hit the hillside. "I call this place Disneyland," Trevor said without pulling his binos down," because it's my happiest place on earth."
Due to the unwritten "I'll bury you out here if you breathe a word of this spot to anyone" laws I have some great pics but I'm not going to show them to you all. We spent the next hour and a half glassing new bucks and bulls from the same spot. 17 bulls and 14 bucks in the same basin is pretty tough to beat.
After we had seen all we could see in that spot we decided to go for a quick trip to a canyon neither one of us has visited yet this year.
The Southwest Desert unit is pretty unique in that it's not only huge and remote but the temperature swings are incredible. When we got out of the truck it was 45 degrees. By the time we were moving to our second spot it was in the low7 0's. . . .at 9:30 A.M. I was yet again reminded that I'm really going to need to have some camo that can adapt to the quickly changing condition when my hunt rolls around. I'm hoping to give the Core 4 and the new Badlands stuff a try when the time comes.
As it turns out our previously unexplored canyon yielded some great bulls and I was able to snap some "range modest" pics using. . . . . the sweet Zeiss glass I'm carrying this season and. . . . my cell phone. Yes folks, thank God for the tiny computers we all now carry around in our pockets. This should speak to the quality of the Zeiss product: due to the clarity and lack of distortion of this glass my cell phone took an incredible picture through one of the eye pieces. Check it out:
I was able to spot these guys as they were laying down for the day. We glassed them for an hour undetected, found their water, and set a camera up. Stay tuned for some sweet up close and personal pics! I never got a good look a the the one laying down in the shadows but from what I can tell he's a stud.
I wore my Under Armour Speed Freaks and was impressed with them once again. My feet were very comfortable in the morning when it was pretty chilly and stayed that way as I was hiking in the hot late morning sun. I'm going to give them some more time before I put my name on them but so far I'm very impressed: light, breathable, comfortable (they feel like a pair of running shoes), and sturdy.
I'm heading back this weekend and am excited to show you guys an up close photo of both of these bulls. I named the standing bull "Moby" because of the huge whale tail on his right side.
I've been shooting a ton as well and will have some reviews about my arrows and rest this week!
ALSO, I made a contact at Wack Em broadheads (another Utah based company) and am working on getting some awesome new blades to let you guys know about.
Thanks again, as always, for reading and stay posted! A big thanks for Trevor for all the help to this point! I'm looking forward to more time in the hills. The hunt starts August 18 and there is plenty more to come before then.
As a parting gift, here are a few pics from Trevor's hit list, enjoy!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Badlands Bow Hunters: A Very Cool Indoor Range in SLC
Hey guys! Happy Wednesday!
I wanted to quickly tell you all about a very cool indoor range my friend Eric and I visited yesterday that is definitely worth a visit for all of you slackers that still need to tune and or sight in your bow up to 40 yards.
Inside the range you have the ability to move a dozen 3d targets and trees around to set up different scenarios and angles.
Even though they close at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, owner George Mattena was nice enough to let us in for an hour at 6:05 P.M. You guys already know how highly I value customer service so it means a lot when I can say that George treated us like we were old hunting buddies, although we had never met.
If you know someone that is interested in getting into the sport this would be a great place to take them. . . a relaxed, safe, and controlled shooting environment. If you don't own your own own equipment George and the boys also have rental equipment for your Robin Hoodedness pleasure.
I wanted to quickly tell you all about a very cool indoor range my friend Eric and I visited yesterday that is definitely worth a visit for all of you slackers that still need to tune and or sight in your bow up to 40 yards.
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Bad Lands Bow Hunters is located on 2827 S 2300 E in Salt Lake just off of I-80.
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Throw your bow in your truck and swing by after work, you'll be glad you did! Inside the front door they have a pro shop if you're needing some tune up work done on your bow, arrows, broad heads, rest, sights, etc. After you've spent your paycheck on the newest accessories (they also deal PRIME bows) make your way to the back of the building to test your skill and lock those pins down using any of the 12 shooting lanes.
If you know someone that is interested in getting into the sport this would be a great place to take them. . . a relaxed, safe, and controlled shooting environment. If you don't own your own own equipment George and the boys also have rental equipment for your Robin Hoodedness pleasure.
Maybe you just finished with a "Rambo" marathon and just want to go shoot arrows at stuff. . . .. here's your place.
For all you dirt bags. . . . .at $6/hour, $35/month or $300/year this place is a hell of a lot cheaper than poaching AND you won't get you ass kicked by me.
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| The turkey hangs from a garage door track that runs it back and forth across the range. George called it the "arrow killer". |
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| Big antlers to simulate buck fever. |
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| They even have an elevated lane to simulate shooting from a tree stand. |
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| A look down Eric's sight picture. |
Swing by Bad Lands Bow Hunters and give it a try, it's the best $6 you'll spend this month I guarantee it. They are closed Sunday and Monday, Open from 12-6:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, 12:00-9:00 P.M. Wednesday-Friday, and Saturdays from 1:00-7:00 P.M.
They also have group, youth, and scout rates and shooting leagues. Give George a call at 801 487 3665 or shoot him at email at Geoge@BadLandsBowHunters.com with any questions!
Please check out the Bad Lands site at http://www.badlandsbowhunters.com/
They also do Hydroprinting, which I will leave a review on as soon as I get something done! I'm thinking about taking my shotgut in to get the entire thing done in Mossy Oak.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
LimbSaver Products and Customer Service: A Resounding A+
Hey guys!
After the sun had set and I was done shooting (even though the light gather system on my sight was still working like a champ and my pins were still blazing) I made my way back to the house and found the original box that the sight had came in. I found their customer service email and fired off a quick email explaining my situation. . . . . "What the hell? It's worth a shot."
Help!"
"Hi Matthew,
Sorry to hear you lost a sight screw. I will be sure to send you a replacement. Please send me your address and I will get one set you way.
Thank you for choosing LimbSaver.
Corey Paulsen"
I emailed Corey my address and had the teeny tiny screw I thought I was never going to be able to replace in my mail box four days later. Free of any charge.
Bravo, Corey and LimbSaver!
I had a great experience with a company the other day and have been excited to tell you all about it ever since.
As you know I have been spending every last spare dime on hunting stuff for my upcoming elk hunt. One of my purchases was a new sight for my bow. I shopped for a good two weeks and after seeing some excellent reviews and finding a great deal I decided on the Elite Prism 5 Pin Sight by LimbSaver. Though I was completely unaware they made sights prior to my research, I liked what I heard about them and decided to take a chance. Keith Dunlap wrote the review that actually tipped the scales for me, check it out:
I have had the sight for four weeks now and I'm very impressed with it to this point. I'm going to save my full review until after I've had a chance to bounce it around on the 4-wheeler and crawl through the sage bush with it on my hunt but I am going to make a comment on the outstanding customer service they provide.
As I'm in the process of getting all of my pins dialed in I've done a lot of tweeking with the sight. Moving 5 pins around I failed to tighten one up after moving it and after a two hour shooting session the other night realized that my bottom pin was hanging loosely within the sight housing. . . . . . I had lost the adjustable allen screw that holds the pin to the housing.
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| The allen screws in question. |
"Great. . . " I thought. "Looks like I'm going to be shooting 4 pins this year. . . . " I even personally guaranteed my shooting partner that there was no way in hell LimbSaver was going to send me that one little screw.
After the sun had set and I was done shooting (even though the light gather system on my sight was still working like a champ and my pins were still blazing) I made my way back to the house and found the original box that the sight had came in. I found their customer service email and fired off a quick email explaining my situation. . . . . "What the hell? It's worth a shot."
From: Matt9Messerly@gmail.com
Friday, July 6, 2012 9:21 P.M.
"Hello!
Hey I have an elite prism sight that I absolutely love but I have somehow managed to lose a piece!
I have the 5 pin model and realized while shooting tonight that I have lost the allen screw off the back of my bottom pin and it is just dangling in place!
To my surprise I received this email early the next business day:
From : Corey Paulsen Coreyp@limbsaver.com
Monday, July 9, 8:34 A.M."Hi Matthew,
Thank you for choosing LimbSaver.
I emailed Corey my address and had the teeny tiny screw I thought I was never going to be able to replace in my mail box four days later. Free of any charge.
You guys have a customer and my recommendation for life.
Whether it be a bow, rifle recoil pad, archery sight, gun oil, hand gun clip, etc. please give LimbSaver a look on their website at http://www.limbsaver.com/ . Their products are great and their customer service is even better.
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