Steel Constructed. Supports deer, bear, and antelope by hind legs to enhance draining and cooling. 4:1 Weight reduction pulley system. Self-locking device, no need to tie off. 45′ twist and tangle free poly rope. Very light and compact. Tested to 500 lbs.
List price: $27.99
Overall Activity Status: Deer movement, and hunter activity, on the Great Plains has markedly increased over the course of the prior week. Several of my contacts have noted previously unseen deer have started showing up on their game cameras, giving hunters hope that not all the bucks have been lost to EHD*. Early corn harvests and short-term forecasts calling for cooler temperatures and some much needed rain will put even more deer on the move in the coming week.
Fighting: As I predicted in a post last week, bucks are starting to test out their newly hardened headgear. In eastern Kansas, Brenden Mick of Twin Chimneys Outfitters noted he’s seen some smaller bucks pushing each other around. Same goes for Denton Rich of Mule Creek Outfitters near Greenburg, Kansas, who saw bucks sparring for short periods of time last week. Interestingly, Justin Smith, who hunts in south-central Nebraska, remarked that one of the bucks he’s been watching is already sporting the negative effects of September sparring, showing up on camera with a busted G2. Whether this is the sign of earlier rut or not is open to discussion.
Rubs/Scrapes: Scrapes are not only showing up, but also offering a great place to tag a buck. In southwest Kansas, Rich noted that several rubs and scrapes have popped up there recently.
Daytime movement: The last week has still been fairly warm, with daytime temperatures reaching in the 80s and 90s. This seems to have kept deer movement relegated to the early morning and late afternoon, with activity dropping off quickly as the temperatures warmed up. Agricultural activity may bump some deer from their beds during the day, but they won’t travel far before holing up again until afternoon temperatures start dropping.
Estrous signs: You might think it’s way too early for does to be exhibiting any signs of estrus, but just across the Nebraska/Colorado border, Ryan Wieser caught a small buck trailing a doe on video last week. Could have just been a coincidence, but maybe it lends some credence to those in the early-rut camp.
X Factor: If there’s any silver lining at all to the ongoing drought, it’s the early corn harvest. In more typical years, archery hunters often have to battle standing corn where deer hole up until they’re forced out by combines in late October or even November or later. Not this year, across the Great Plains farmers are cutting drought-stressed crops earlier than ever. In Kansas, my contacts are reporting that 99 percent of the corn there has been cut. Though farmers in Nebraska and the Dakotas aren’t quite that far along, they are weeks ahead of schedule. Hunters should keep a close eye on the fields bordering their hunting areas, and plan on hunting, or at least checking game cameras, in the days immediately following harvest in hopes of getting a glimpse at some of the bucks that disappeared this past summer.
*EHD Update: Nebraska hunters should note game managers at the Game & Parks Commission have recommended a reduction in the number of antlerless permits available to hunters this fall. The proposal won’t get voted on until the Commissioners meet on Oct. 26, meaning any permits purchased before then will still be valid. To find how this might affect your hunting plans, click here for more information about EHD in Nebraska.
Bushnell Outdoor Products, an industry-leader in high performance sports optics and outdoor accessories for more than 60 years, has launched a complete redesign of its Bushnell website, Bushnell.com.
The new Bushnell.com was built with ease of navigation and user experience at the forefront. With sections designed for each enthusiast market and a complete site index at the bottom of each page, Bushnell.com allows users to quickly navigate the site and access content with minimal clicks.
“The new and improved Bushnell.com was designed to deliver a simple yet enhanced user experience,” said Aaron Oelger, Bushnell Outdoor Products director of marketing. “We understand the growing importance of our web properties and will continue to invest in providing an optimal user experience while delivering fresh content,” added Oelger.
The site brings to life the Bushnell New Laws of Performance campaign, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the pledge Bushnell is making to its customers including the new 100 percent money-back Bulletproof Guarantee program.
In addition, the site is mobile-friendly, offering a quality user experience for the growing number of consumers accessing the web with a mobile device or tablet. Integrated with the Bushnell social media channels, users can instantly access the company’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube profiles for the latest content and news from the field.
With autumn rolling in, one thing hunters in camp or at home often love is a good, slow-cooked roast with vegetables.
By Alan Clemons, Managing Editor
Braised Venison
Slow-cooking gives roasts time to break down, soak up any marinades or spices, and the result often is a great, easy meal everyone enjoys. Obviously there are different variations and the good thing about hunting season is that we have a bountiful population of whitetails throughout the country. Pop a few more does for the freezer this season and give this recipe a try.
We asked Stacy Harris, author of Happy Healthy Family, for a recipe and this is what she offered!
“This Braised Venison recipe is easy and seriously delicious,” Harris said. “It is one that you will make weekly and is perfect for the hunting camp! I used my Dutch Oven, but this dish would work equally as well in a Crock Pot and can be prepared quickly using a Can Cooker.”
Braised Venison
2 pounds venison roast, cut into 1 inch cubes 1 1/2 cup red wine Kosher salt and pepper 5 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 6 ounces no nitrate bacon, chopped 4 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped 2 yellow onions, chopped 4 ribs celery, roughly chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound potatoes, cut into 2 inch cubes 1 pound button mushrooms, halved 1 tablespoon thyme 2 tablespoons oregano 2 tablespoons rosemary 1 quart beef stock 16 ounces canned tomatoes, crushed with your hands1. In a large bowl, place venison and red wine. Marinade in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for at least 2 hours. While reserving wine marinade, remove the venison to a rack and dry with a paper towel. Venison needs to be dry to brown properly. Liberally salt and pepper the venison.
2. In a Dutch Oven or large cast iron skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until almost smoking. Brown venison in batches adding oil to the pan as needed. Remove venison to a plate and set aside.
3. Add bacon, carrots, onions, celery, and garlic to the pan and cook over medium-high heat until browned and onions are translucent (about 6 minutes). Add potatoes, mushrooms, thyme, oregano, rosemary, reserved wine, beef stock, tomatoes, and 1 tablespoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper to the pan. Bring mixture to a boil and add venison back to the pan. Cover and simmer for 2 hours. Turn the heat off and allow to sit uncovered for 30 minutes. This seems to allow the meat to tenderize even more. Serve with crusty bread! So, so good!
Buy the CanCooker Now!
Need a great slow cooker that can be used in the kitchen or at camp? Check out this awesome CanCooker that is specially designed to create a convection cooking system for quick, easy meals. You can whip up meats and veggies in about an hour and have everything steaming hot for your hungry family or hunters! Buy it here!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DeerDeerHunting/~3/sDOFPLFFEV4/foodie-friday-braised-venison
Cap light that features 5 LED super bright lights. This light is light weight and has an operating time of 8 to 10 hours.Style: 5 LED
List price: $8.64
It’s a component as unique to archery as a nock on a string. But how a manufacturer, rep group or archery retailer handles its pro shooting or hunting staff can make an enormous difference in whether it’s an asset or liability to a business.
Among the wide and diverse array of products that comprise today’s selection of sporting goods, there’s really nothing that compares to the important role a shooting or hunting staff member plays in the bow-and-arrow business. The pro-staffer has been an integral element in the bow business as long as most of us can recall, and depending on how good your memory is, there are probably some you’d rather forget than remember.
When it comes to creating and managing a pro staff, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula and no instruction manual containing the keys to success. The size of one’s company and its overall marketing plan tends to be the primary consideration in determining qualities and traits one looks for in a field staff, most notably in its overall numbers, duties and compensation.
Some bow manufacturers tend to stack their staff heavy with pros (aka professionals), either leaning toward consistently competitive (winning) shooters or high-profile celebrity bowhunters-or sometimes both. Other companies utilize their pro staff differently, opting for reliable corporate representation in the field rather than recognizable names and co-sponsored pickup trucks with flashy custom paintjobs.
Wherever a company chooses to focus its pro staff, there are basic requirements and parameters that are wise to consider before the ink goes on the contract.
First and foremost: Is a prospective pro staffer someone you want representing your company in the field-sometimes without supervision?
“As a small, high-end bow manufacturer, we have a ‘promotional staff’ and not professional shooters,” Maggie Armstrong, Director of Communication for Elite Archery, told The Archery Wire. “They’re our foot soldiers on the ground, interacting with dealers and consumers at trade shows and other events.”
Asked what she looks for in a potential pro staff member, Armstrong said shooting and hunting prowess is secondary when compared to brand loyalty and attitude.
“We want them to really love the product they use and to tell others about it,” she said, adding that “confidence, and not arrogance,” was a preferred personality trait.
Indeed, most industry veterans understand how a company’s reputation can be easily tarnished by poor representation in the field, and why the selection of each pro staff member is critical.
“The pro staff is an extension of your company-an extension of your brand-and that’s why choosing the right individuals is so important,” said Jack Bowman, president of Bear Archery. “They can have a huge influence and impact on a local archery and bowhunting community.”
But beyond spreading the corporate message and maintaining the company image while showing product at consumer events and at retail promotions, a pro staff member has negligible value to a company unless he or she contributes to the bottom line by helping sell more bow and arrows.
“We’re in business to make money, and the purpose of the pro staff is to help sell bows,” said Elite Archery’s Armstrong. “Just as much as they need us, we need them as well. They’re part of the company.”
– J.R. Absher
The Archery Wire is your source for “Archery and Bowhunting News You Can Use.” We want to hear your ideas, suggestions, comments and more. For any communication or to request information on advertising and Corporate Membership, contact us at archerywire@gmail.com.
Freehand Sharpening: Learn to do it well and fast on a bench stone with the author’s marker technique.
Dexter Ewing
Freehand sharpening is a skill that must be developed with practice, along with trial and error — at first, mostly error. Please bear in mind that what I am about to describe is not necessarily the right or wrong way to do it, but my way.
The key to mastering freehand sharpening is keeping the angle of the blade to the stone consistent. If you do not, your knife will not be sharp. The edge bevel will be round instead of flat.
You must be patient to master freehand sharpening. Accept the fact that you will make mistakes. It will take a while to get the feel of it, so do not think you can invest a few hours or a few days and have the technique mastered.
The Sharpener
Invest in a good bench stone. You have the natural ones like the Arkansas stones and the manmade ones such as the Norton India stone. There are also the diamond-bonded stones like any of the many that Diamond Machining Technology (www.dmtsharp.com) and others produce.
Select the stone based on your knife’s blade steel. Diamond stones work well with the high-performance steels such as CPM-S30V, BG-42, 154CM and others. While they sharpen blades of high-performance steel — though not as quickly as the diamond abrasives — Norton India, ceramic and Arkansas stones excel at sharpening low-to-mid-grade stainless, as well as all grades of carbon and tool steels. Also, diamond stones use water as lubrication, the rest use oil.
How To Do It
With a black ink Sharpie permanent marker, color the entire cutting edge or primary bevel on both sides of the blade. The objective is to sharpen off the black ink. After you remove the ink from both sides of the blade, it will be sharp!
Take a few strokes on the stone and then examine the edge bevel. If you see ink toward the top of the bevel, decrease the angle of the blade to the stone.
Conversely, if you see ink toward the bottom of the bevel, increase the angle to capture that part. In other words, you must monitor any ink left on the cutting edge and remove it throughout the sharpening process.
After you have successfully sharpened away the marker ink from the first side of the blade, turn the knife over and repeat the same process for the second side.
After you have removed the ink from the second side, flip the blade over to the first side and carefully feel for a small, raised burr across the cutting edge. The last step is to lightly “wipe” the burr off by gently running the side of the blade with the burr across the bench stone. When you complete this step, you have successfully sharpened a knife!
Sharp Tips
After you sharpen the ink from the cutting edge, you will have to remove any stray marker ink. Goof Off (www.goofoffstainremover.com/how-remove-paint), a liquid-based adhesive and paint remover available at your local hardware store or home center, is ideal for the job. Place a few drops on a paper towel and very carefully wipe the cutting edge.
Another tip: Procure a couple of cheap knives from the hardware store or flea market. Practice on them and make your mistakes prior to moving on to your good knives. This is a great way to practice and gain confidence in short order.
Correctly and Quickly
This technique works with fixed blades and folders, short and long blades, and kitchen, hunting, gent’s and tactical knives. After you get the hang of it, skip the permanent marker step. The marker technique is simply a way to sharpen a blade correctly in the shortest amount of time.
The preceding was an excerpt from the new digital download from our sister publication, Blade Magazine. The Sharpen A Knife & Care For Your Collection download features hundreds of tricks, tips and techniques for caring for your blades.
When you’re chasing a trophy buck, you want to have the best possible tools for the job. The same goes for after you have that buck on the ground. Deer & Deer Hunting is pleased to announce that we have teamed with Bark River Knives to produce the ultimate, custom deer hunting knife.
The Deer & Deer Hunting Hunter’s Knife is hand-crafted exclusively for us by Bark River Knives. It’s a slimmer, more compact version of a modern classic pattern that is simply the perfect for field-dressing tasks and all around use in the hunting camp.
It features a Deer & Deer Hunting logo engraved on blade and includes a lifetime warranty and a beautiful leather sheath. It is hand-crafted in Escanaba, Mich., and features an overall length of 7.875 inches.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DeerDeerHunting/~3/M_ttVtoGYq0/how-to-sharpen-a-hunting-knife
This multi-functional treestand umbrella can be used for weather protection as well as consealment. Use on the ground as a pop-up ground blind.
List price: $26.49
