Here’s your chance at an Alaska Guide Creations Binocase! These can compliment binoculars that around 42 mm Objuective lenses.These lightweight case are tough as nails and will hold against any weather you might encounter in the field. Thanks to the large pockets the Kodiak C.U.B. can hold lots of items such as range finders, mouth calls and more! Sign up for this giveaway by filling out the form below. Good luck!
An early snowstorm was hitting the high country and my hunting partner and I were socked in as bad as you could imagine. To save weight, our choice for this trip was a tiny three-season, two-man shelter and we were seriously regretting that decision. To add insult to injury, my hunting partner decided to bring a 30-degree sleeping bag with him (to save weight) and at this point the temperature was dipping below 20 degrees. In all fairness, I pulled a few level 3 chucklehead gear decisions myself on this trip and we were both living in misery because we started chasing the ultralight rabbit.
That ended up being one of the most miserable trips I’d ever been on and in reality, 3-4 more pounds in gear would have made a HUGE difference. When I look back at this, I don’t even know why we even tried to drop weight from the pack anyway. It wasn’t like we were out of shape. It was more because we got caught up in the ultra-lightweight fad and having the lightest pack was like a badge of honor or something. Well, that badge of honor became a jackass trophy real quick and anytime my friends and I start talking about dropping weight someone will always say, “Don’t chase the rabbit!”
As a quick reference, I will give you type a list of what our actual pack weight would have increased if we would have brought our standard gear instead of the ultra-lightweight stuff.
Father/Son duo Larry and Shane Adams from Emo, Ontario Canada have been sentenced to pay $28,295 to the State of Montana as restitution for residency fraud. The pair owned a home in Miles City, MT and used the address there to swindle the legal residents of Montana out of right around $84,000 worth of animals including a Missouri Breaks bighorn ram and a mountain goat.
Here is the damage done.$84,000! That’s an awful lot of public assets illegally taken by men who are not even U.S. citizens. Oh, but they promised to obey the terms of the court while serving a five year forfeiture of their hunting privileges that is retroactive to 2014… that means that the father/son poaching duo will really only serve a one year suspension, or am I getting this wrong?
Either way the residents of Montana have been cheated and robbed of a resource that will not be able to be repaid or restored.
Here is your chance at a new Kifaru 44 Mag Hunting Pack! The 44 MAG has pockets on the outside of the 500D Cordura bag, which I can report are perfect for the good stuff like spotting scopes and tripods.Between the top lid and the side pockets there is already a lot of organization present on this pack and add in the semi-custom nature of added pockets and it is very easy to build a pack that will work for the other gear that you prefer for backcountry excursions.These specific packs aren’t the largest of the Kifaru packs, but due to the complexity, they will morf into whatever you will need for the field. You will be able to purchase attachments(not included) to fit your exact needs for your next adventure. Sign up for this giveaway by filling out the form below. Good luck!
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The post Kifaru 44 Mag Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
Guy Eastman breaks down his favorite early season Sitka camo system ideal for bow hunting. These carefully designed pieces are comfortable and effective for bow hunters from August through early October hunts. Eastman’s review covers the Core Lightweight Hoody, Apex Hoody, Mountain Vest and brand new Kelvin Active Hoody. Learn the how, when and why to combine and wear this Sitka layer system for your next bow hunt.
Get more details on Sitka’s Apex line: https://youtu.be/BSSRKHPGcEo
Check out Guy’s review of the Ascent system: https://youtu.be/29xyVF4V1_c
The post Sitka’s Early Season System appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
The above is from a press release from CPW telling of an incident dealing with a black bear in a populated area who had decided that a trash dumpster was his new favorite place to frolic. Employees from the restaurant that owned the dumpster were refusing to dump their trash in the dumpster while the bear was getting an easy meal. The manager, in poor judgement, decided that trying to scare the bear out was the best course of action and for his trouble got a nice bite mark or two on his leg.
According to CPW the bear will have to be put down once it is located and because bears are habitual with incidents like this, it is highly unlikely they won’t find him. This incident highlights to great effect how urbanization in places like Colorado is negatively impacting animals, in particular, predators. This is the third incident in the Aspen area recently and it is unlikely that negative interactions will stop.
So how did it come to this in CO? Let’s start with the obvious, a growing population and year round tourism in places like Aspen is putting people with little to no experience with bears face to muzzle almost daily.
With a growing trash output to match the growing human population it is pretty easy to see how opportunists like bears take to dumpster diving for an easy meal. Generally speaking there are two populations of bears that fall for the easy pickings, the youngest and oldest animals. The young animals have usually just been kicked off of their mother and they are searching for an easy meal. There is hope for these animals as moving them can be successful but it doesn’t take long to rack up three strikes.
DIY bow hunter Dan Pickar takes to the timber of chasing rutting bull elk. Bow hunting the thick timber takes patience and makes closing the deal difficult. Pickar doesn’t back down and arrows a nice public land bull in this web edition of Eastmans’ Hunting TV.
The post Bowhunting the Elk Rut appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
High country hunter Scott Reekers puts Eberlestock’s new technical hunting apparel to the test on an early season scouting trip. From pants to mid and outer layers and rain gear, Eberlestock now features a well rounded hunting clothing system. Reekers reviews the Afterburner Pants, Cache Peak Jacket, Lost River Jacket, Trinity Peak Shell and Diamond Peak Vest.
Want to learn more about Eberlestock’s clothing line-up check out this video next: https://youtu.be/at_BDwc-0W8
The post New Eberlestock Technical Hunting Apparel! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
Hike the public land of Wyoming in pursuit of trophy elk. Archer Dan Pickar is combing country for a 350-class bull to hunt with his bow. DIY public land bowhunting successfully is no easy feat. Enjoy this web episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV and takes some tips afield with you this fall!
Check out Dan’s latest episode of Beyond the Grid: http://bit.ly/TXSheepMassacre
Watch Dan’s helicopter drop camp hunt next: http://bit.ly/HelicopterBowhunt
Catch up on all the episodes of Beyond the Grid: http://bit.ly/BeyondTheGridTV
The post Public Land Bowhunt appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
The highly evolved design allows the pack to easily convert from a 2,800 cubic inch daypack to a heavy freight hauler with over 5,000 cubic inches of space available for my entire camp as well as my half of a sheep or buck deer. The tubular aluminum frame along with the highly adjustable suspension system allows for a comfortable ride even with heavy loads on a very unconventionally shaped torso such as mine. One thing to always remember, aluminum will often bend, but seldom breaks. For an ultralight jaunt from camp, the removable top-pack converts into a hydration-ready fanny pack. Sign up for this giveaway by filling out the form below. Good luck!
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The post Eberlestock Dragonfly Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
What if there was one item that would give you more endurance? One item that allowed you to go more miles and made gaining or losing elevation easier? What if there was one item that kept you safer in the mountains and put less wear and tear on your body? No, it is not some new super-steroid on the market, horse or hovercraft – they’re trekking poles.
Trekking poles are not just for bunny lovers and tree huggers, us hardcore hunters can use and benefit from them immensely. I have seen a few guys using them for goat and sheep hunts but I rarely see anybody taking advantage of poles for the mainstream hunts like elk and deer. Trekking poles allow you to gain twice the miles with half the soreness the next day. If you are not using them, you are giving up a major advantage in the backcountry!
Pros and Cons
The biggest advantage I (Brian) get out of trekking poles is I can check off more miles with less effort. My circle of hunting buddies all know the benefits of using poles and they rarely show up without them. That’s the best way to see the how trekking poles make hiking easier, have a buddy hike with them and you hike without them and try to keep up. It’s like they’re cheating – their pace is faster, they climb quicker and overall have more energy at the end of the day. When I show up to meet someone and they have the sticks and I don’t, I know I am in for a tough day, even if I am in better shape.
I have young legs and get around the mountains pretty well but I can guarantee as I get older I will have a set of trekking poles nearly everywhere I go. It will help even the playing field with the youthful go-getters out there. Trekking poles also help stabilize you on uneven ground and puts less wear and tear on your joints. Going downhill is tough on our bodies, we all know that. The pounding and pressure is put on our knees, hips and back. Trekking poles help brake your momentum going downhill and ease the pounding. Think of it as more of a controlled decent where your body does not take as much of a beating.
Well folks this is a new one. A New Mexico man encouraged and allowed his dog to kill a fawn in southern Colorado. He then decided to post a video of the event to his social media account which attracted a lot of attention as you can imagine he was turned in to game and fish.
It sounds like there are a few different stories going around. One was the fawn was already injured and was half dead so he encouraged his dog to finish it off. He posted an apology on facebook saying it was a misunderstanding and he was trying to get the fawn away from the dog while fending off the doe. Either way the video doesn’t lie, the dog was encouraged to get that fawn while he was allegedly fending off the protective doe. Colorado Parks and Wildlife fined him $1372.50 and an assessment of 20 license suspension points. He must appear in front of Parks and Wildlife for the suspension of the points so that will give us an idea of how hard CPW comes down on him. Instead of paying the fines he can also appear in court Sept. 16.
Is is $1372 fine enough? This may be considered no different than poaching. It seems like a blatant disrespect of wildlife and it will be very interesting to see how this all pans out!
Bow hunter Dan Pickar shares one of his favorite hunting tools. The onXhunt app is a powerful mapping system with movement tracking and waypoint features. Combined with high resolution downloadable maps, the onXhunt app could make all the difference when it comes to recovering a big game animal this fall.
Check out the offline maps feature from onXhunt: https://youtu.be/Pb-nbJ1Oww0
Next watch Dan’s latest episode of Beyond the Grid: http://bit.ly/TXSheepMassacre
Tuesday August 6 at 9:00 am, the firing pistol goes off and thousands of applicants have about 5 minutes to snap up the best of the Colorado leftover tags, that is, if they can get through. That means you only have today to study the leftover list. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long. There are tens of thousands of licenses but the vast majority are for does or cows.
Strategy
Look over the list and write down at least 10 hunt codes for a species. Make sure you can access your account with your CID #. Give that a trial run now. You may need a new password.Get set to take your shot.Don’ts
Don’t show up at a CPW office at 3 am to be first in line without finding out if they call you up by order in line or by lottery.Don’t buy at a retailer unless you know they can accommodate you and will do so on the stroke of 9:00. If you want to buy online, log on at CPW Shop before 9:00 am but DON’T go past the residency page until seconds after 9:00. If you do, it will log you out at 9:00 and you’ll need to spend time to get back to that page.Don’t call the main CPW phone, call 800-244-5613Don’t apply as a group unless there are lots of license left. The agent has to talk to every group member.Don’t assume because a license is in your cart that you got it. The winner is the first one through the whole process.Don’t try to buy an A group license if you already have one for that species, you can only get a B or C license.Unless you feel extremely lucky, don’t try for the hunts where only 1 or 2 are on the list, especially if quantity has the word “float” which means the one license can be gotten by people listing any of several related hunt codes, usually different seasons.Over the Counter Licenses
OTC licenses go on sale until Thursday, August 8 at 9am.
The Beartooth 80 is constructed from 330D Lite plus Cordura fabric. This material is a fantastic compromise between rugged durability and lightweight. The low profile SJ Autolock buckles are more streamlined than traditional buckles shaving ounces while remaining absolutely bomber. What makes this pack stand out is the accessibility to its interior granted by the innovative 270-degree YKK zipper that grants “duffel-style” access. Organization is what truly separates the Beartooth 80 from the rest of the pack, pun intended. Sign up for this giveaway by filling out the form below. Good luck!
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The post Mystery Ranch Beartooth 80 Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
As the old Special Forces adage goes, “Two is one, one is none.” meaning without a buddy watching your back you’re done.
While it’s not the exact same as having a good hunting buddy, I would say they are definitely similar. When you have someone you train with, hunt with and that brings his own set of skills to the table, it will make you better. You will have someone to map study with, run theories by and glass better. You will not only hunt better but come tough times, you will have someone to suffer with. You will have someone by your side helping to deal with bad weather, grueling miles, sketchy climbs, long nights, pack outs and everything in between. I have a circle of friends I trust and hunt with and with a buddy on a hunt; we are safer and hunt more effective.
You want to hunt with guys that share your same passion and guys who have your same ethics and morals. When hunting with buddies, you want to hunt with guys that make you better. Now, I don’t mean hunt with guys that have a bunch of good spots. I mean hunt with guys that make you a better hunter and better person. A hunting partner should be working just as hard as you are to find new spots, or different ideas on existing spots. Your hunting partner should be getting in workouts just like you are. Together you hold each other accountable, as no one wants to be the weak link for a hunt.
Hunting partners should take their archery serious and always be practicing. If there is a way to help your buddy with his shooting or setup, it is your job to step in. Ultimately, you have to have the attitude that your buddy’s success is your success. The better your friends are around you, the better you will become. When you have a good hunting partner dedicated to the team and to the cause, you are an unstoppable force.
If I told you that there was one singular thing that you could do to fill that coveted deer or elk tag in your pocket, would you do it? My guess is that you would – in a heartbeat. Well, there is one thing you can do and it won’t shock you to know that it is getting boots on the ground. Yup, an old-fashioned scouting trip will do more for you than any other in-season preparation you can do.
About 20 years ago the digital era was just starting and a paper map and compass were the standard navigation tools in just about every pack. In our modern era we now have access to cellular service in many wilderness areas and where you don’t, there is always the GPS option. So what does this have to do with boots on the ground scouting? Well, everything nowadays.
Years ago we used to pick a point on a map and then go scout it. My formula was:
-Look for areas devoid of trails
High country hunter Scott Reekers shares his experience with Kryptek’s Altitude collection in this review. The Altitude system by Kryptek features some of the most advanced fabrics available. Kryptek is the only hunting camo manufacturer using Schoeller fabrics and technology providing maximum breathability, ease of movement and 100% waterproof rain gear. This hunting gear is equipment that is built to perform at high elevation and out last any abuse you can dish up.
Learn more about Schoeller’s C-Change membrane:
The post The Kryptek Altitude Series! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
These duffel bags are great for a multitude of uses. They work great as a kit bag, shave bag, shell bag, shooter’s bag, emergency supplies, tool bag, gym bag, travel bag, or whatever you can come up with. Even use them to organize panniers on a pack adventure. They are built tough like everything else Mountain Ridge Gear makes and designed to withstand years of use. Sign up for this giveaway by filling out the form below. Good luck!
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The post Mountain Ridge Gear Giveaway appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.
