[Wordless Wednesday] Trophy Elk

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Fast Friday- Got to Have Gear

1. Hunten Outdoors- Field View 4- It retails for $150 off their site and really is handy when you just want to check your game cams real quick. The 3.5" view screen is really the size of an IPhone and easily stores in your pack.  Grab the card, hope up in your stand and while you wait for your deer to come by.  A great tool and worth it if you don't want to be messing with changing out your SD card on you camera. Just pop it in and go.  Simple.




2.Gerber Gear Myth Fixed Blade drop point with gut hook. I a knife guy, but this is one product that I really love.  The rubberized handle and built in sharpener that is on the sheath is simply awesome and another must have in your pack.  Out of the box sharp and cut even the toughest and thickest pig hide.  Watch for a full review of the Myth line in the coming weeks.

3. Bee Stinger- Pro Hunter Stabilizer- I did a quick review on the product two weeks ago and to say that I am glad I have in on my bow is an understatement.  I guess I never knew what I was missing.  The carbon shaft and the weighted disk surprisingly don't get in the way for me when I am hiking in after pigs and deer.  Give it a shot and see what you think.

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Swarovski Optiks EL 8x32 Review

Swarovski Optiks EL 8x32 Review

To say that I was a little impressed with Swarovski EL 8x32 is an understatement and top that with the fact that I was skeptical about using them in the field when I got them, it was major conversion in my understanding of Optics and what I need to hunt. 

Technical Overview

For all the tech guys out there, you are in for a treat.  Swarovski Optics has done a few things here to really set themselves apart from other optics companies.   Here are the technical specs from their website and a little explanation from me.

·                       Field flattener lenses: contrast right up to the image periphery

o       Translated- Most lenses are curved and thus are distorted when the prism reflect through them.  Take another set of Binos and look at the very edges, there is a slight distortion of the image there.  The EL’s with SWAROVISION virtually eliminates that.

·                       HD optics: maximum contrast & colour fidelity

o       The term Fluoride-containing HD lenses describes the infusion of fluoride into the lenses that reduces the distortion of the color fringes and makes for a crisp and clean color transitions.  This is especially important to me in while glassing dense undergrowth for a pig, but more on that later.

·                       Eye relief plus: 100 % field of view even for spectacle wearers

o       I don’t wear glasses, but those who do will love the fact that the 4 position eye cup design allow them to be right up to the lenses without having to take their glasses off.

o       Fully extended the eye cups allow for a larger exit pupil distance (4mm), which translated into better eye relief and more comfort during the long glassing hours.

·                       Maximum color fidelity: through optimized coating of the lenses and prisms.

o       SWARODUR, SWAROTOP and SWAROBRIGHT give noticeably better color reproduction combined with even greater transmission. Refining colors and drawling out the differences is what allows you to find game.

o       The multiple coatings that are on lenses allow for browns and grey spectrums to be enhanced.  Being that most game are in those color spectrums you can use smaller and lighter binoculars and yet still see more.

o       SWAROCLEAN give a durability factor to the lenses that requires less cleaning of dirt, vapor and grim that tends to build up while hunting. Fact is you will spend more time looking and less time worrying about cleaning them.

For all the technical specs click here for sensory over load and satisfaction.

Personal Take

 I’ll be honest, they are expensive for most people.  With a price point of around $2000 dollars most people will want just wait for a retailer to get the same ol’ go to Nikons for 40% off.  I understand that, I was there up until a few weeks ago. I have heard from a lot of people say, “If it doesn’t actually aid in me killing the game then it is not worth it.” Okay, if you can see them then you are not going to kill them.  

I said that I was skeptical about 8x32’s in the opening paragraph.  I have always felt that you need big powerful binoculars to be able to get out there and see far away so you can put the stalk on an animal.  What I did not realize is that I was actually saying was, “My bino’s image quality is so poor I need to compensate by getting a larger picture.” The difference is High Definition to standard.  If you can see more detail, you do not need to get closer and you can have the benefit of having a smaller, lighter system on your chest.

Final Thoughts

 The confirmation came to me last week when I shot a 150lb pig with my bow and it ran off into the thickest gnarly undergrowth imaginable.  Rather than trouncing in there arrows blazing and getting rushed by a wounded pig, I just sat back and glassed under the dimly light canopy.  I took my time as I followed the blood trail and used the Swarovski EL’s to scan the trail for blood, foot prints and signs of movements.  With every minor adjustment of the field of view became so crisp, each blade of grass, leaf and twig came into focus as I ventured deeper and deeper into the dense undergrowth until I was able to find my pig and confirm it had expired.  Something that was previously unimaginable with other optics that I have owned in the past.  The experience was like the first time I had watched the Discovery Channel’s Planet earth on a High Definition television, an eye opening experience that left me breathless and wanting more. 

The Swarovski EL 8x32 are an optic systems that will truly last a life time and are the most important piece of equipment that you can have in the field.  The one time investment of a great pair of binocular systems is far less than the continual purchasing of inferior optics.  Purchasing your way up the price ranges is less cost effective and you will end up with a pile of used poor quality optics by the time you realize you should have purchased the Swarovski Optiks from the get go. It is time for an upgrade in your optics system

I recommend doing the right thing and buying an optic system right the first time.

Shoot Straight,

The Bearded Boar

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Fast Friday- Questions

1. Just a quick question, I would not go out hunting or fishing without___________ with me?

2. A knife is a knife or I will only use _______ knives!

3. American made products is _________ when I'm purchasing my hunting gear.

Simple and easy.....Shoot Straight


The BB

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Protect American Heritage and Our Rights

There comes a time when we must stand up and voice out our opinions about oppressive legislature that attempts to reduce our freedoms that so many that died fighting to establish and protect.

 Right now, because of the indiscretions of a few misguided and disenfranchised we must pay for their sins of hate and rebellion that they themselves harbored within their hearts. In our state of California we are faced with many battles to keep out 2nd Amendment rights in place and our hunting heritage and traditions alive because some do not see it as progressive.

 On Governor Brown’s desk today are bills that restrict anything from the use of hound for hunt to tighter restrictions on “private sales” of firearms and even to making it against the law for a minor to be in possession of “BB” type gun. As with many bills in our current society that have been hastily written and designed these too are an ill fated attempt to erode gun rights and the American tradition of hunting.

 Our for fathers said it best in our Declaration of Independence Preamble,
 “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

 Rebellion in spirit, heart and practices is what is needed to restore our rights. It is not a physical rebellion of the government other than maybe removing the agitators from their elected office. Please join us in restoring our rights and protecting our freedoms. Idle talk, conversation or debates on forums will not correct this oppression, action is needed now!

Call AND e-mail Governor Brown TODAY urging him to VETO SB 1221, SB 1366, AB 1527, AB 2460 and AB 2333 

Governor Jerry Brown can be reached at 916-445-2841 and by e-mail here. 

 For more information visit NRA Institute for Legislative Action to learn how to get involved in your own state.



Deepest respect and thanks to the military and those who have pledged to protect and serve.

Tony
The Bearded Boar

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Bee Stinger- Pro Hunter Pre-Review

Is writing a review on a product before you have it in your hands even possible?  Not really I suppose, but what won’t stop me now. I can’t give you an first inspection overview, a how it feels in my hands, but I can give you the initial hype on the product. What I can say is that I hope it does what they say it will do.

Bee Stinger LLC, a division of Gold Tip Arrows, has shipped me an 8”/8oz Pro Hunter Stabilizer in matte black and the Quick Disconnect System.  Being 8” long I wanted to be able to remove the Pro Hunter stabilizer when I secured it to my back on a long hike in hunt.  The box at this time is somewhere between Utah and Central CA, at least that is what Fed Ex says.  So I wait and reflect on the situation and wonder how it will make my shooting experience better.

1. The Facts-
•  I don’t shoot with a stabilizer right now.
• Though I do shoot 3”group most of the time at 50 yards, I have to work my tail off for that.
• I was told before I would not need a stabilizer with the Mathews Reezen 7.0, it was great bow. (I should have gotten a second opinion.)
• I am tired of fighting my bow into submitting to my will and not it’s own.

1. The Hype-
• From the Bee Stinger site- To understand why the Bee Stinger works, we first need to define the role of a stabilizer in archery. A stabilizer should hold your bow steady both while at full draw and at the time of release while shooting. The Bee Stinger embodies the definition of stabilization. When an archer is holding at full draw, there are many forces built up in the cables, limbs, and back of the archer, etc. When the arrow is released, these forces change suddenly. These changing forces affect the bow in addition to the flight of the arrow. The job of the stabilizer is to resist the movement of the bow resulting from these forces.

I spoke directly with one of Bee Stinger’s Territory Sale Managers about my bow and how to set it up.  Great thing is that he shot the Matthews Reezen with almost the identical set up and therefore with confidence he instructed me to order the Pro Hunter in 8” with the 8oz weight.  Signed, sealed and soon to be delivered to my doorstep, its mine. 

So, I guess this is a pre-review review on at least my experience and expectations with the Bee Stinger Pro Hunter. We will see what happens and looking forward to hooking it up tomorrow and giving it shot, so to speak.

Cheers,

The Bearded Boar

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Pig hunting drought ends with my bow

I have been dogging in on public land for pigs for I don't know HOW LONG now and with all the MILES, stories and unluck that I have had recently with the bacon mobiles I was feeling a little down.  So when my boss asked me if I wanted to run to his cabin that had some pigs running around it I jumped at the chance.  We motored up there Monday afternoon and we were going to get out Tuesday morning early.  Well as most things go that did not happen, but for a good reason.

Monday upon arrival I geared up and hit the trail looking for Bear, Deer, and or Pigs.  I found bear (tracks), Deer (does), Pig (track) and a crap load of turkey.  Cool thing about it was that I was able get in so close to the deer and turkeys.  I had a whole mess of does and turkeys within 30 yards it was pretty awesome, except that it was not turkey season and you can't shoot does in this area.  But as the night closed in I decided to call it good enough and head into the cabin.  [Commence sleeping and general tom-foolery as most grown men do when alone.]

Tuesday 5am came way to early, but that is the way it is when your having fun.  My plan was to check one of the ponds and then run the fire trails checking the clearings as I walked to the lower property where pigs go from the open fields to the safety of the gnarliest scrub oak known to man.  I got around to the lower section and sat up, of all places, under a tree stand.  Stand had not been tended to in a while and was a little over grown. But that dirt never bothered me anyway.

 After realizing this hunt was going to end like all the rest, I just ranged around to see where things were at.  On my last click I hit a log at 40 yards and not 10 seconds later, from the same direction of the log, I heard a noise.  And not just any noise, pigs!  Like a tornado coming out of no where the pigs stormed up the ravine like locus on the Egyptians.  The first pig that walked through the shooting window was a nice 150lbs pig. That is good enough for me. As she walked behind a tree, I drew. She walked onto the exact spot I ranged I let my arrow fly.  The Easton St. Axis 340 w/ blazers tipped with my MX-4 Muzzy met together with her in a mixture of squealing and blood loss.  She mowed through the undergrowth that is a tangled as a Tom Clancy novel and I heard her pile up and thrash around.  I took a breath, waited a few minutes and then started to track her down. 

Arrow was bloody and did not smell, nice.
Blood at the impact spot, great.
Bloody trail that I could land a 747 on, priceless

I took is slow and quite, which is really easy with the Crooked Horn's Safari Sneakers. No joke you can reduce your noise by 80% when walking in the nasty oak riddles under growth. I know I work for them, blah, blah, blah, paid spokes hole but I am not joking they are the most important things I own. No more taking off your boots and hiking in socks.  So as I followed the Red-Oak-Leaf-Road, I would step, sit and move.  Step, sit and move. Shower rinse and repeat.  After about 50 yards of that I came up on my first pig with a bow.  It seemed like an eternity to get it done, but I was pretty amazing to say the least.  I took a few photos, pulled her hind end out of the under growth and then boned miss piggy out.

All said and done, I shot her at 7:20 am and had her on ice and was leaving at 11:30am.  Not too bad, if you count all the filming we had to do and the dirty work of cutting it up.  When its all said and done it was a great hunt and a phenomenal way to finally end the pork drought in my freezer.  

There you have it & Cheers

Tony

The Bearded Boar

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Excellence in Commercials with Gerber Knives.

Hey guys it is very rare that I am utterly Blow away by commercials, but I must say I have been recently.  The people over at Gerber Knives have really struck a cord with me and are pumping out some of the most riveting and compelling footage that I have seen in a long time.  So for those who may not have seen these yet be prepared to be be amazed and want to buy a Gerber Knife.



Check them out here for more info on the knives.

Cheers,

The BB

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Fast Friday- [Gear/PRE-SEASON/Scouting/Boots]

[Gear]- Here are some new toys for me to play with from the minds that brought up the Bino System, None other than Crooked Horn Outfitters.  I must say so far so good.

[PRE-SEASON]- If you havn't doned a pack yet and started getting in shape it not too late.  Fill your pack up with some gear and get out there.  Deer may not care if you are fat or not, but it does make it easier for them to run away from you if you are.

[Scouting]-  I know that most of our significant others are dreading the next few months, but its true sometimes the only way to find deer is to go out and look.  If you haven't been blessed by the private land fairy and have a bunch of trail cams out, I suggest taking the family on a hike.  To your favorite hunting area, a picnic in a bean field maybe.  Make it an adventure, everyone has to wear camo.  Okay maybe thats pushing it to far, but you get the point. Something is better than nothing to say the least.

[Boots]- Big shout out to Rocky Gear for being the only company to return the call to make a better boot.  They say they have one, but we will have to see about that.  I am willing to give their recomendation a shot.

Okay everyone thats it for the week enjoy, Im filming this weekend so expect some horn next week.

Cheers.

The Bearded Boar

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[PRE- SEASON] Tips to finish strong and start right

Over the next few weeks as I get ready to start my season, I will be posting articles about pre-season training tips. I am going to focus on a few things some people might not be thinking about and a few obvious ones. All are meant to get you ready for the upcoming season. You'll find everything from product tips, bow maintenance, workouts and shooting tips. Here is the first lesson.

Rule #1
You don't train for everything to go right, you train for when everything goes wrong.

Train.Shoot.Hunt

Hope you all enjoy this, it's been fun to put together.

The Bearded Boar

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