As hunters and outdoorsmen, we spend many hours in the field when it is not light out.  Usually we are trying to get something done like set up a tent , saddle a horse, or make  dinner where you need both hands. 

A headlamp fits that need and today’s models are a far cry from the old days of “Miners Lanterns” .  One piece of technology that has greatly added to the compactness and effectiveness of todays headlamps is the LED or “Light Emitting Diode”

• Energy use: As opposed to standard incandescent bulbs, LEDs consume less electricity. By choosing the strength of the beam, the quantity of light can be adapted to the activity and to lighting duration needs.
• LEDs emit a smooth, white light. A light blue halo can be seen. Cylindrical, 5 mm diameter LEDs have an integrated lens. They don’t require accessories.
• Light output: When LEDs are powered at the levels defined the manufacturer, they generally have greater output than incandescent headlamps.
• Lifetime: The lifetime of an LED has been defined as the time up to which its flux remains above 50 % of its original. For quality LEDs, this lifetime is close to 100000 hours at standard voltage and current values. Under these conditions, the light output then becomes very weak .
• Durability: With their molded, single capsule and their lack of a filament, 5 mm diameter LEDs are resistant to impacts and vibrations.

The weather proof 4LED headlamp from Energizer takes these benefits and provides a compact hands-free lighting system for active outdoor folks. 

There are two lighting modes: A single red LED for better Night Vision, or three LEDs for a bright white spot.  The adjustable hinge lets you direct the 28 lumens beam more precisely.

The 4 LED light has a runtime between 21 and 38 hours on three AAA Energizer batteries. Each push of the power button switch goes from 1 red LED, to 3 white LEDs to off. 

I compared this headlamp to my 10 LED headlamp that was a freebie with my Badlands pack, and is no longer in production.  I found that the Energizer headlamp was a brighter more focused beam of light, even at a distance. 

The size of the headlamp is much more compact .  That makes it better suited to keep in a pocket or use when actively moving, like an after dark training run. 

The price point of $12.99-$14.99 means you can buy a couple and keep one in your pack, and one in your coat.  They are available at Home Depot stores.

I left the Redding Western Classic Trail Shoot with a new pair of Nealy Custom Bowstrings, from Klamath Falls, Oregon. I had been in contact with Tom since earlier this Spring. The stock strings on my Martin Warthog, while servicable, will now serve as my backup set in case of emergency.

I didn’t make the decision lightly. I have shot other custom strings with good results but I kept seeing a number of pro’s at archery shoots who shot the Nealy strings. One of those is my good buddy Dave Bengston. Dave is a Hoyt sponsored shooter in the Senior Men’s Pro Division. He has been shooting Nealy strings as long as I have known him, and they get a workout at shoots nearly every weekend in the spring and summer.  Dave told me about how the Nealy strings are pre-stretched and had no creep. 

Resistance to creep is important in a compound bow string.  If a cable creeps (stretches and elongates permanently) it changes the way the cams rotate.  If the cams aren’t rotating in sych, then energy and speed are lost, and accuracy can suffer due to difficulty holding at full draw, and erratic arrow flight. 

So I called Tom Nealy at his shop, and chatted with him about my bow and that I hunted hard and did some tournament shooting with my bow.  I was frank with him that I needed a tough string that would hold up to a weekend of shooting in the rain as well as a week or two on a backcountry bowhunt with little care. 

He assured me he could fit the bill, and asked about the string dimensions.  I gave him the length of each of the cables and the shooting string, along with the length of each section of serving.  He even asked which nocks I used on my arrows so he could apply the right kind of serving material for perfect nock fit. The Nealy Strings are made with BCY 452X material.  It is completely stable , and has no creep.

I was impressed at the personal service I received from Tom.  It turns out that he and his son Thomas make every string to order rather than having stock on hand.  That means if you want fluorescent orange and yellow strings (like my buddy Dave), they will make  ‘em.   You can see the array of colors in this link to the BCY color chart. 

I got a set of nice grey and green strings that won’t attract too much attention in the mountains or from a fellow shooters.  I changed out the strings myself by loosening my limb bolts 7 turns each and pressing the limbs with my Bowmaster portable bowpress.

It was pretty simple actually.  I took measurements of my D-loop height, distance to my peep, brace height and axle to axle distance.  Then I replaced each cable , one at a time, and finally the bowstring.  The served end loops fit just right over the posts on the cams, and was a great upgrade from my stock strings. 

With cables twisted to the proper length, peep and d-loop installed I took the Warthog to the Wednesday night 3d league.  After 3 sighter arrows in the warm up bales, I was dialed in and shot the 14 target, 42 arrow round with a brand new string. 

The string performed flawlessly.  My peep came back straight, my draw length never changed, and the arrows went where I aimed ‘em.  I can say I am pleased with the Nealy Strings and I would recommend them to all my fellow archers and bowhunters.  While they may not have the flashy ad campaign that some other companies may have, the personal attention and craftsmanship of both Thomas Nealys has created a great product that professional archers and recreational shooters can rely upon. 

You can order your Nealy Custom String directly from the source :

Tom Nealy

4570 Summers Lane  

Klamath Falls, OR 97603

541-884-1536

 nealystrings@hotmail.com

• The pivoting Roto Limb Cup that we saw for the first time on last years “Firecat” model has made its appearance on the Warthog.  Combined with the Vibration Escape Modules in the riser and VEM Material on the shelf and grip, the bow is quieter this year than my 2008 Slayer.

• The Riser is more sleek and lighter than last years model.  The bare bow comes over a half of a pound lighter.  That will come in handy in the mountains. 

• The Axle to axle length is an inch shorter.  The bow still holds steady, and the string angle is not noticeably different except for peep placement.

• No LimbJaxs, or Limb savers.  Why?  This bow is quiet enough that it doesn’t need ‘em. 

• The Bow came dipped in the NEXT camo instead of the Realtree APG green that my ‘08 slayer wore.  I’m not a big camo guy, but I like the looks of this pattern.   

Things that stayed the same:

• Speed.  The bow still IBO’s at 350 fps.  I haven’t shot my setup (414 gr. arrows at 28.5 DL) through a chrono yet, but I expect to be in the 290’s with no problems.

• STS (shock termination suppressors) prevent any arm slap, Take out any string buzz or twang, and make it more of a dull “thunk”.   Don’t bother getting limbsavers for this one.  It doesn’t need it.

• C.A.T. cams- the hybrid duo cam system is adjustable from 27 to 31 inch Draw Lengths, without switching modules.  A growing teen in the upper 5 feet in height could conceivably grow with this bow until he or she was an adult.  The CAT cams come with a draw stop peg for rock solid wall, and a customizable let-off.  80% comes standard, but I adjust it to more like 65-70% by shortening up the draw stop peg.  (And it holds like a dream).  The CAT cams are a speed setup with an aggressive draw cycle, but after a few shots you do note that it is smooth. 

• Thermal V leather grip- This was my first thermal grip with the VEM material, instead of wood side plates, and I was pleasantly surprised.  It wasn’t bulky or clunky feeling.  I won’t change it.

• The Double Helix ELITE string.  It could be one of the best stock strings on the market today.  I never changed my Slayer String, and I doubt I will have to change the one on this Warthog for a couple years.

So back to opening the Bow package….

I attached my Ripcord rest, and tied in a d loop, and bolted on my Hoggit sight that was on the Slayer.  Once I made sure the centershot was correct, I went out side with 3 arrows and checked the draw length.  It shipped at 29 inches, and 80% let-off so I moved the draw stop from the #7 position to the #5 position.  EHHH, too much.  Back down to # 6…..PERFECT.

Now I didn’t have my peep in the string yet, and I wanted to shoot it SO BAD.  So I did.

I drew back with my first arrow at 4 yards and released.  A quiet “Thunck” of the bow and “THWAAAP” of the arrow in the target followed in rapid succession merging into one sound.  Right now, I’m thinkin’ “OOOOHHH BABY….”

I backed up to 20 paces, and with no peep. sighted my pin on the first arrow.  “Thump-Thwap” again.  Just to the right.  The next arrow repeated the performance and was touching the second arrow.  Quiet, Steady, and Fast.

Just to be clear, I performed all this setup in an hour after opening the box.  I spent that evening customizing the stabilizer end weight arrangement to my liking. The next morning , with help from my pro archer buddy, Dave Bengston, tied in a Super Ball Peep, and I was ready to go.

Now all that remains is some more adjustment of the rest position through bare shaft and broadhead tuning and I’ll be hitting X’s at the Thursday night indoor league.

So if you are in the market for a speed bow for 3-D or a fast hunting bow that takes no prisoners, the Martin WartHog delivers.  It’s a bow that is prettier than the name suggests, and brings improvements for 2009 while keeping the proven quality of speed from the 2008 Slayer.   

Here are the specs in case you missed ‘em:

Technical Specifications
IBO Speed: 350 FPS (70#, 30”, 350 gr.)
Let-Off: 80%
Draw Weights: 60#, 70#
Draw Length: 27”-31”
Brace Height: 6.25”
Weight: 3.85 lbs.
Axle Length: 35”

 Martin Archery website 

I received the newest addition to the Badlands line this week and I immediately rigged it up for a test.  Badlands just recently introduced this unique binocular case and I wanted to see how it would work for a bowhunter like myself.  This new binocular pouch system is a revolutionary approach to multi purpose binocular holders.  Perhaps this is from Badlands sister company William Joseph with experience in the fly fishing arena where chest mounted fly boxes are adopted in western trout streams.

Now I am very happy with the bino system designed by Crooked Horn Outfitters, but what I found lacking was a protective system for when I was in heavy brush or rain and snow.  Nothing could be as annoying as pulling up my binos and have the eyecups full of pine needles or dust glommed on to drops of sweat(usually mine). 

The first thing i did was to get out my bear spray and a radio to put on the straps.  These are both items, I want close and handy when I am afield.  Mission Accomplished.  Both were easily accessible and another two items were off of my belt. 

You might think that drawing a bow would be compromised.  Not so.  I shot repeatedly with the binocular case on and never had a single case of bowstring interference.  Not in the pictures below the bear spray and radio are well out of the way, yet handy as well. 

The main pocket, is held closed by an ingenious magnet system that creates a continuous seal along the edge that dust and water have great difficulty in penetrating.  It is known as “Zip No”  and patents are pending.  Inside there is an assortment of pockets and slots to hold a variety of items.  Mine now hold my license, a couple of diaphragm calls, an extra pair of shells (during rifle season), and a “cut chart” for shooting up and down hill.  A pair of bungees attach to your binos in addition to a main compartment that holds a pair of up to 10×50’s.  Don’t overlook the lens cloth tucked away neatly in it’s own pocket on the side. 

On the bottom of the pouch is a hook that is sturdy enough to even hold my 8# compound bow while I glassed.  A welcome change to the bow hanging off my hip. 

Users of the Monster Fanny pack will appreciate the same hydration pouch that tucks away when not in use in the Yoke of the shoulder straps.  When deployed the mesh pocket holds a 35 oz hydration pouch with a drinking tube over either shoulder. 

All in all Badlands has been the first to “one up” the tried and true bino system. I foresee it as a great companion to the top lid of the 4500 internal framed backpack that converts into a fanny pack.  I was impressed with its design, appearance and function, and like all of their products it is covered by the Famous Badlands warranty. 

It is available in eihter the Realtree AP HD or Advantage Max-1 from Sage Creek Outfitters for $59.00 plus applicable taxes and shipping. 

For the last 4 years I have been a one bow shooter.  My Hoyt Ultra Sport pulled double duty as both my hunting rig and my competition bow.  It wasn’t until this June that I expanded my archery stable.

 I knew what I wanted.  A bow with a 36 inch axle to axle length, but not necessarily a parallel limb model that has become so popular.  Many of the 2008 bows are in the 32-33 inch axle to axle lengths, and I seemed to find that a 36 inch or longer model held easier and had more stability against torque.  I wanted a fast bow.  Not so much to shoot a light arrow at 300 fps plus speeds, but to still have decent speed with a heavy hunting arrow.  I wanted a dual cam bow.  Nearly all of the manufacturers who are creating fast, accurate bows have some sort of Binary Cam system.  Because the two cams are linked together with cables, both work together to hurl the arrow down range.  You will find binary systems, of various brand names, on nearly every brand of bow. 

I narrowed it down to the two brands I had the most experience with.  Hoyt, and Martin.  I shot both the Martin Slayer X and the Hoyt Katera, and it could have come down to a coin flip and I would have been happy with either. But Martin’s famous support won out and I ordered a Slayer X with C.A.T. Cams from Mike Camp and Cindy Taylor at Back Room Archery.

Features

Now these Slayers have been one of the hottest new releases from Martin Archery.  It’s new C.A.T. Cam System is their fastest yet.  In fact the speed of a 300 gr. arrow with 70 # draw weight and 30 inch draw, (AKA IBO speed)  is a blistering 350 feet per second.   This is due to the cam system and the relatively short brace height of 6 inches.  In fact Martin had to reinforce the standard limbs used on the Slayer to accommodate the radical cams and lowered brace height.

The draw cycle of the Slayer is best defined as Stiff.   Much as you would describe the ride of a sports car.  If you want a smooth drawing bow you will give up speed, just as a smooth suspension would hamper the handling of a sports car.  After a few shots you begin to appreciate the draw curve.  Luckily the 15 pound draw weight range of the Martin bows means you can dial down the draw weight pounds, and still shoot an arrow faster than many bows that have a 10 pound higher peak draw weight. 

The bow holds well.  Even with a short valley, the adjustable draw stop allows you to tailor the let off to suit your preference.  The standard let off is 80 percent, but if you prefer a lower letoff percentage, just move the draw stop peg to accommodate your desired holding weight.  Draw length adjustment is simple too.  The C.A.T. Cam Modules simply have two screws that you loosen and move to adjust the draw length.  No press needed.  The standard modules aradjust from 27-29.5 inches, and long draw modules are available as well for the 30-31.5 inch draws.

Other features that sold me on the Slayer X include:

• Rear mount STS (shock termination system.)  Stops the oscillation of the string for a quieter shot
• Vibration Escape Modules (VEM) in the riser to absorb unwanted vibration and hand shock.
• Stone Mountain Bowstrings standard.  A premium bowstring maker from Orofino, Idaho
• All metal limb pockets. No plastic or rubber for a consistent and durable marriage between limb and riser.
• Three grip styles

Accessories

I outfitted the bow with a Spot-Hogg  dovetail mount Hoggit 7 pin sight.   On the sight I have.010 fiber optics, illuminated with the new Hoggwrap.  I had this setup on my 5 pin sight on my previous bow and I have been very happy with its performance in low light.  With the dovetail mounting system, I can change to a 5 pin sight with the turn of a screw if  I want to be Bowhunter Freestyle legal in an NFAA tournament.

I chose the Ripcord rest because of it’s trouble free performance I’ve experienced previously. It was a challenge getting the low brace height to work with the drop cord, but once I had the position right on the cable, it worked like a champ.  Ripcord uses a little Football shaped clamp to attach the drop cord to the downward traveling cable.  It makes it very easy to adjust and tune the drop timing.  I think the Ripcord, with the spring loaded drop is one of the only rests that can get out of the way as that  arrow comes ripping forward.

I put a Fuse Satori quiver on to hold 6 hunting arrows.  If I want to take it off, a simple lever releases the quiver.  One piece quivers have the reputation of being noisy, but that is not the case with the Satori.  The10 vibration dampening Shock Rods absorb any excess noise.

On the string I have a ¼ inch Fletcher Tru peep , and a D-loop.  The Premium Double helix strings come with speed nocks mounted near the cams. 

Performance

I made up a batch of carbon arrows for this setup that measure 29 inches, at a shaft weight of 9.5 grains per inch.  At the rear I used Bohning Signature press fit nocks behind 3 two inch Blazer vanes.  At the front of the arrows,  20 grain insert holds a 100 grain tip, to bring the total arrow weight to 423 grains.  That is a respectable hunting arrow, not light by any means, suitable for most any game in the lower 48 states.  My peak draw weight is 70 pounds, and I am holding around 18 pounds at full draw.  (75% letoff). 

Through the chronograph, it tested at 292 fps with the arrow mentioned previously.  That makes a Kinetic Energy number of just over 79 ft. pounds.  60 pounds and higher is recommended for elk and moose, while 45 pounds is considered the minimum for deer.

I set my sight at a distance of 20-100 yards.  The bubble level serves as my 100 yard mark, and I have pins for 20-80 yards in 10 yard increments.  While I don’t plan on shooting game at those far distances, the long range practice from 60-100 yards will certainly magnify any form faults.  The bow will group the arrows tightly, it is just up to me to hold steady!

I look forward to using this bow in the upcoming archery seasons.  If you have questions about the bow or components I’ve used, click on the link to my Gear list above.  Each piece of gear is listed with a link to the manufacturer’s page detailing each item.

From the Sitka Gear Website “about Sitka Gear”

Founded by Jason Hairston and Jonathan Hart in 2005 Sitka Mountain Gear™ was an idea spawned by necessity. Having just climbed 3000 vertical feet in the dark, with intermittent snow flurries and driving sleet, we hunkered down behind a gnarled White bark Pine to get some reprieve from the elements and a little food in our bellies. Cold and wet with sweat from our climb, we knew we didn’t need to be this uncomfortable in our gear. So, on that September morning, at timberline, surrounded by bugling bulls, we decided to create a company to fulfill this need. Utilizing our personal experiences in mountaineering, we set out to design clothes built to tackle mountains.

This Christmas I received a Sitka Summit zip neck shirt and Mountain pants from my family.  I finally had the opportunity to give them a try on our turkey hunt in April. 

The Summit Shirt is a base layer shirt that is perfect for most of our California early seasons by itself. If additional layering is needed, it may be combined with the insulating layers of the Mountain shirt, Timberline Vest or 90% jacket. It works to manage moisture by pulling it off of the skin, but with a looser fit than you might experience with a compression product like Under Armour. The Summit shirt is treated with an anti microbial product to reduce the “funk” that high exertion hunting and other active tasks might create after a couple of days in camp.

I found the Summit Zip neck T to be ideally suited for my training runs along the coast in 40-60 degree weather. It was a nice balance of breath-ability, and sweat management. I’ve worn it under a wool shirt for lower intensity chores, in the 30’s and 40’s with good results. and it will get the nod when bow season opens this Summer as well.

The mountain pants fit well with two way stretch, and an articulated (pleated) knee that reveals its self when you bend down to check out a track the first time. The material is quiet, and rugged, but holds up to brush amazingly well for its light weight. I would liken the fit to that of a pair of relaxed fit Wranglers. No slop in the thigh with a low rise to stay out of your pack belts way.

If you are like me and are tired of your shirt tails coming untucked during physical activity, you will love the somewhat tacky rubberized strip on the inside of the waist band of the pants. No matter what you do, it holds your shirt tails in without cinching your belt so tight that it digs into your hip bones.

The dew that morning beaded up and rolled off easily which makes me think that these pants will do well in high country cloud bursts. The Sitka tests have even proven that the material will dry in about 20 minutes. It is nice knowing also that my sweat won’t be soaked up to chill me later like cotton would.

This pant is going to get serious use in the upcoming fall seasons. Just add a good wool or synthetic base layer below for temps in the 50’s to 30’s and I think it can’t be beat.

You can find Sitka Gear at a number of online retailers, as well as many of your local outdoor shops. I have seen it in numerous archery shops in California, and even Sportsman’s Warehouse has pieces to get your hands on. The new line for 2008 will be appearing in June so keep you eyes peeled for the latest and greatest from Sitka Gear

I recently expanded my Hi Mountain Jerky Cure and Seasoning repertoire with an order from Sage Creek Outfitters. Since I had made 11 pounds of jerky previously the procedure was much the same as before.
Materials and methods:
Ingredients:
Hi Mountain Jerky Cure mix
Hi Mountain Jerky Seasoning mix – Original Flavor
Hi Mountain Jerky seasoning mix- Garlic and Black Pepper
Ground Bull elk meat (ground meat uses a higher level of cure and seasoning)
Treatments (1 pound of meat per batch)
Batch 1: Original Flavor Seasoning
Batch 2: Garlic and Pepper Seasoning
I mixed each of the batches of ground elk meat with the cure, water and seasonings according to directions. The seasoned meat then spent the night in the refrigerator. The next day, I rolled the meat mixture out between 2 sheets of waxed paper, and cut it into strips about 2 inches wide, and ¼ inch thick. Getting those strips onto the drying racks of the dehydrator was tough but by the third batch, I had the knack. Hi Mountain has a “Jerky Shooter” that would have made this easier. The jerky dried in the dehydrator for around 8 hours and I removed it when the strips were a rubbery texture, and stored them in the refrigerator in Ziploc bags.
Results: The original flavor is a no nonsense jerky mix that is mild and suitable for people who are not fans of particularly spicy or flavorful foods. My daughters and wife deemed it the best with no complaints about burning mouths or excess salty taste. If you aren’t sure about the tastes of other folks in jerky, this is a safe bet all the time.
The Garlic-Pepper variety is one of my favorites. There is a hint of heat in the seasoning, but it is not overpowering. The Garlic is noticeable and tasty, while the pepper gives it a little extra kick to keep the salivary glands working. I had no complaints from my family or coworkers after eating so I think the garlic flavor level is safe for polite company. If you are concerned, then make sure those around you get a piece of jerky to prevent their complaint of garlic breath!
Some notes on Jerky in General:
Ground meat jerky is a great way to use your lean ground meat. When dried, it holds together well, and doesn’t splinter like sliced whole muscle cuts. I expected my jerky to be crumbly, but the opposite was true, it held together well and traveled great.
Ground Meat Jerky requires a higher addition of Cure and Seasoning. A package of the Hi Mountain product will make 15 pounds of whole meat sliced jerky, but only 11 pounds of ground meat jerky.

I received a package of the HiMountain Inferno Blend Jerky Cure and Seasoning from Scott at Sage Creek Outfitters to try.  I was one of Five Hi Mountain product testers and we all posted our evaluations on the Sage Creek Forums. 

When the rain put the kibosh on my hunting plans, I followed the wellwritten, and easy to follow directions that accompanied the product.  I mixed in the evening, and put the jerky in the dehydrator in the morning, and had dry jerky that night.  The seasoning is suitable for drying in oven, smoker, or dehydrator.

Materials and methods:
Ingredients:
Hi Mountain Jerky Cure mix
Hi Mountain Jerky Seasoning mix – Inferno Blend Hot Pepper
Ground Bull elk meat (ground meat uses a higher level of cure and seasoning)
Treatments (1 pound of meat per batch)
Batch 1: Cure and Seasonings at recommended levels
Batch 2: Cure at recommended level, Seasonings at ½ level
Batch 3: Cure at recommended level, home assorted Seasoning (Black pepper, Onion powder, garlic powder and Liquid Smoke)

I mixed each of the three batches of ground elk meat with the cure, water and seasonings according to directions. The seasoned meat then spent the night in the refrigerator. The next day, I rolled the meat mixture out between 2 sheets of waxed paper, and cut it into strips about 2 inches wide, and ¼ inch thick. Getting those strips onto the drying racks of the dehydrator was tough but by the third batch, I had the knack. Hi Mountain has a “Jerky Shooter” that would have made this easier. The jerky dried in the dehydrator for around 8 hours and I removed it when the strips were a rubbery texture, and stored them in the refrigerator in Ziploc bags.

Results: The Inferno blend jerky Seasoning is not for SISSIES. At the recommended level, it is best suited to folks who love Tabasco or East Indian food. The seasoning consists of a blend of habanero, jalapeno, and chipotle peppers, with no dilution of any kind. At first I laughed at the warning to “keep out of reach of children, injury may result” but I see they aren’t kidding.

When I tried out the Hi Mountain Seasonings Inferno blend, I figured I would get some impartial feedback from the people I work with. I soon found out that if it’s jerky it’s good. After I pried and prodded, I finally got some comments from the folks

In the interest of public safety, I did two levels of Inferno seasoning. One batch I added the recommended level of seasoning and one at half level. The half level was plenty to get folks to comment on the heat. The workers from Sonora, as well as a couple of Texas chili fanatics complimented the jerky made with the recommended level of pepper seasoning. However it was too intense for the majority of my workmates. A couple commented that they couldn’t detect the flavor for the “heat”.

The Hi Mountain Jerky mixes are simple and easy to use. I noticed there are a variety of seasonings available, you can find one to suit your preferences. The cure has just the right amount of saltiness, so you do not want to add additional seasonings that have salt in them. I think that the inferno blend seasoning is a great blend of peppers that adds plenty of pop to a batch of jerky. Just don’t exceed the recommended level of seasoning, unless you are a trained pepper professional!

Some notes on Jerky in General:
Ground meat jerky is a great way to use your lean ground meat. When dried, it holds together well, and doesn’t splinter like sliced whole muscle cuts. I expected my jerky to be crumbly, but the opposite was true, it held together well and traveled great.

I noticed a ‘gamy’ flavor that I attributed to the state of the elk (full rut, mature bull) , and what seemed to be some flecks of fat that made it into the ground product. The next batch I try will be beef and I will see if that makes a difference.  Surprisingly my counterparts at work did not notice any gamy flavor.  Perhaps I’m overly critical of myself.

Ground Meat Jerky requires a higher addition of Cure and Seasoning.  A package of the Hi Mountain product will make 15 pounds of whole meat sliced jerky, but only 11 pounds of ground meat jerky. 

I received the Hot Hands Heated Mittens from Heatmax in the mail in July when the temperatures outside were in the 80’s.  I chuckled to myself and stuck the package in my hunting bag. 

 Fast forward to Wyoming’s September Elk season.  The temperature outside the cook tent read 21 and the cook told us it dropped to 19 just before the sun came up.  As we were cinching up horses I heard the guides in the dark swearing under their breath as they had to remove their heavy gloves to tighten the latigos on the saddles.  I folded back the mitten cap, held out of the way  by a magnet, and tightened the latigos with no problem. 

When we mounted up for our frosty pre-dawn ride to our hunting area, I folded the mitten cap back over the fingers of the glove liner and felt the warmth of the HotHands 2 hand warmers spread through my fingers while the horses crunched up the trail through the frost covered grass.  

The Hot Hands Heated Mttens are constructed of tightly woven fleece with 40 grams of Thinsulate insulation.  The pockets on the backsides of the mitten caps will hold HotHands 2 hand warmers which activate when exposed to the air and radiate warmth for up to 10 hours. 

When you need manual dexterity, and use of your fingers, just fold the mitten cap back.  The magnet will hold it out of your way ( No noisy snaps or Velcro here)  to expose the warm knit glove liner while still affording some protection from the cold.

HotHands Heated Mittens are available in Hunter Orange or Camo, and sell for a suggested retail price of $19.99.  They come with a pair of air activated HotHands2 hand warmers.  Look for them at your local outdoor equipment supplier. 

For each of the past two years I have broken my spotting scope tripod while mule deer hunting in Western Wyoming. So I finally decided to search out a seriously rugged yet lightweight tripod. I arrived in Elk Camp in the fall of 2006, I saw for the first time, the K&K Outdoors tripod. Over the next 5 days I had the pleasure of spotting elk through scopes mounted on this tripod. Soon after, I ordered one of my own after seeing and using the product.

I was immediately impressed by the construction of the tripod. The legs are manufactured from seamless extruded tubing which makes them strong while still lightweight. The components in the hub and leg levers are machined from solid 6061 T6 aluminum for extreme durability. The legs each independently click-adjust to 25, 35 or 45 degrees. This came in handy when we set up to glass in a jumble of rock. Despite the uneven surface we were able to adjust the length and angle of the legs to have a steady rest to view elk over a mile away. Since all the leg angle adjustments are independent at the hub, there are no pesky cross braces to bump your legs on while glassing. Cast nylon compression cam levers adjust the length of each leg. The vertical height adjustment is by a central column, held in place by a machined aluminum compression sleeve on the central hub.

The pistol grip is designed for spotting scopes, binoculars and cameras up to 48 oz. The head uses a 1” ball for 360 degree horizontal panning, and 45 degree up or down vertical . There is even a slot to allow the grip to lie at 90 degrees from vertical, which is perfect for a rifle rest.

I had always used camera style heads, and I was impressed with the smooth motion of the compact ball head on the pistol grip. The pistol grip comes with a machined quick attach shoe similar to what you find for competition bow stabilizers. This allows you to set up quickly to glass and break down quickly to be on your way. This quick release locks in firm, not sloppy like others I’ve seen..

K&K manufactures three sizes of Tripods in either Forest Green or Camo
· The TP65 extends to a max height of 59 inches and collapses to 18.75 inches, weighs in at 51 oz
· The TP45 has an extended height of 45 inches and collapses to 16.75 inches weighs in at at 47 oz..
· The TP36 extends to 36 inches, and collapses to 14.25 inches and weighs 32 oz.
· The Pistol Grip head is 5.5 inches high and weighs a mere 12 oz
They also have Binocular adapters, window/tree stand mounts and 4 wheeler handlebar mounts.

The TP36 I now own is small enough to fit in my small daypack or even a large fanny pack. It is actually, collapsed, nearly as short than my spotting scope. Despite its compact size this model is plenty tall enough to glass while sitting on my rump on a mountainside, or look over short brush. If you want a tripod you can stand up with, the TP65 is your best choice.

What I liked the most was the rugged construction. This is a tripod I can tie on the back of my saddle and not worry about plastic components cracking in the cold or weak hinges on the legs. While it might weigh slightly more than my previous lightweight tripods, I won’t have the added weight of the duct tape it took to hold the lightweights together in the last days of the hunt. This is the steadiest tripod that I have had the pleasure of looking through, that I could easily pack while hunting in rough terrain. The only steadier tripods have been big, and heavy. The K&K tripod can be described by the adjectives: lightweight, steady, smooth, and rugged. I look forward to using this one for years.

You can get any of the tripods and related products from Sage Creek Outfitters