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Hunt Gear Checklist Part 1: Introduction and Clothing
Hunting Gear and Clothing: Intro and Context This is part 1 of my post on hunting gear and clothing. A few notes about this list to provide some context: I hunt deer and elk. My hunts are all self guided. I tend to backpack hunt, generally 3-8 miles from my vehicle. I don’t have pack animals. […]
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Optics for Backpack Hunting in the Western Mountains
I hunt public lands in the Western states. I’m not a particularly skilled hunter, so I look for an edge by using my legs to travel far enough from roads and access points that I can minimize competition from other, more experienced hunters. Because I’m usually backpacking, carrying all of my gear for multiple nights […]
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Lightweight Tripods for Backpack Hunting
Choosing equipment for backpack hunting is difficult. Hunting is a gear-intensive activity, but carrying all of that gear into the mountains can be way too strenuous, so it is important to assess the weight of every piece of gear you carry. Hunting optics are one of the heavier categories of hunting equipment. I have tried to […]
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My Quest for the Perfect Elk Hunting Pack. The McHale Critical Mass INEX
Review of the McHale Critical Mass Backpack McHale Website I’ve pretty much abandoned large backpacks for backpacking and climbing. With modern, ultralight gear, I very seldom carry more than 30 pounds, and usually my pack weight is much less, generally less than 20 pounds fully loaded. However, backpack hunting is one endeavor when I still […]
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Review of the Leica Geovid 10 x 42 HD-B EDITION 2200 Binoculars
These binoculars are marketed as the Leica Geovid 10 x 42 HD-B EDITION 2200 model. Leica’s “Geovid” range of binoculars all feature integrated laser rangefinding. The “10×42” indicates that they are 10 power magnification, with a 42mm objective lens. The “B” in “HD-B” means that they have on board ballistics software. (I assume that the HD […]
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Review: Primary Arms 4-14x44mm First Focal Plane Rifle Scope (ACSS R-Grid Reticle)
The Primary Arms 4-14 x 44mm rifle scope is something of an anomaly. It retails for less than $300, but it has a number of features that are typically found only on more expensive scopes. Its zoom range is not exceptional. It has a minimum of 4x and a maximum of 14x. It has milradian […]
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Utah General Season Elk Hunt
This is the tale of my recent elk hunting trip to the Uintas. Spoiler alert! I did not get an elk. This story does not have a happy ending. There will be no delicious elk bourguignon; no bacon wrapped elk tenderloin; no elk burgers; no elk stew. I am a bad hunter. If I were […]
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Two New Knives: Rod Garcia Skookum Bush Tool and Chris Reeve One Piece Tanto 1
Since I wrote my last knife review, I’ve picked up a couple of new knives. Both are fixed blade knives, but they are somewhat different in their design. Chris Reeve Once Piece Range, Tanto 1 The Chris Reeve one piece range has been around since the 1980’s, but this style of knife was discontinued in 2009. […]
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Backcountry Boiler
The Backcountry Boiler is an updated version of a very old design, often referred to as a Storm Kettle, Chimney Kettle, Shepherd’s Kettle, or a Kelly Kettle. A chimney kettle consists of two parts, a bowl where you build a small fire, and an upper portion that is a chimney surrounded by a hollow vessel where […]
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Climbing Knives
It’s good to have a knife with you when you’re climbing. I use a knife for making V-Threads, cutting away old rap tat, cutting slings, and various other tasks. I keep a knife in the pocket of my Tufa chalk bag, so I’ve always got a knife with me if I’m carrying my chalk […]