tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33821823679623984162024-02-07T03:07:40.889-05:00Give 'em the ShaftBill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-17328388617157391512012-04-05T09:30:00.000-04:002012-04-05T09:30:00.854-04:00BowAmerica April 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">NUTRIA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I headed out to the duck blind early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about 6am, another 45 minutes before shooting time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spotted some a commotion deeper in the swamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I adjusted my LED Lenser headlamp from wide angle light to a spotlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a bunched up brushy area ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was likely a beaver hut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scanned the water and could see ripples, but I could not find the source.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shooting light came and after a 20 minute span of high flying wood ducks and ringnecks I knew the hunt was likely over except for just a few stragglers and maybe some Canadian geese.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down near the beaver hut I saw some more ripples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured it could be a grebe, merganser, or maybe a woodie swimming from deeper in the swamp.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAKyRMmGgz1GsMnVGp35iz3FJkgn6YWxgjP5zr8NLKn9d-dXE9Z8L0Q6cNnGxjUXG1nIZB9rYXh2ElodDWNMlWaxNG82zZfZW6gvmpnvQ9dUBjTtuw6xmjQcF_4ee4a-OtDTzPbZI-Be6/s1600/nutria+record.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAKyRMmGgz1GsMnVGp35iz3FJkgn6YWxgjP5zr8NLKn9d-dXE9Z8L0Q6cNnGxjUXG1nIZB9rYXh2ElodDWNMlWaxNG82zZfZW6gvmpnvQ9dUBjTtuw6xmjQcF_4ee4a-OtDTzPbZI-Be6/s320/nutria+record.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dead wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I caught the furry head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trailing was a motion filled ‘S’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a beaver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was huge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nutria usually make their homes in holes they build on the shoreline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often, their digging will tear and expose roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This particular one had not made a home of the beaver den; rather it seemed curious as to whether it was occupied.</span></div>
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<shape alt="nutria bowamerica.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_81" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 287.25pt; margin-left: 0.75pt; margin-top: 0.8pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 167.5pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="nutria bowamerica" src="file:///C:\Users\BILLHO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nutria are as rat-like as it gets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their long tail is round and slender like a rat, rather than the waffle shape of a beaver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their head has rat features other than being much larger and having a blunt nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also unlike a beaver, its fur is of different lengths and appears unkempt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were introduced to North America, relocated from South America, due to the fur trade industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were valued for both their meat and their hides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the value of the fur increased to a premium, at one time as valuable as mink, farmers found a way to raise them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were easy to keep, had large litters, and females could breed the day after giving birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the farming of the nutria, the fur become over abundant and the value plummeted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hurricane hit the Southeast and many of the farmed nutria escaped.</span></div>
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<shape alt="carolina cords.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_12" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 237pt; margin-left: -185pt; margin-top: 319.8pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 166.5pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"><imagedata o:title="carolina cords" src="file:///C:\Users\BILLHO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"></imagedata><wrap type="square"></wrap></shape><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like many invasive species, they began to take over their habitats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nutria feed only on the bottom of saplings and plants, leaving over 80% of the plant useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They choked out the muskrat, as they shared habitats and dens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with the beaver falling to near extinction, the nutria’s breeding habits, able to give birth nearly 3 times in a calendar year, the nutria overwhelmed many areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you know where to look, you can find nutria in nearly any southern state, and they range as far north as Ohio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can expand further north if there are subsequent mild winters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only barrier is they tend to get frostbite on their tails, causing infection and death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned prior, I took note of where I saw the nutria and the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time I would be in the water, the bow would be in hand rather than the shotgun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of days later, the nutria had a head start on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was headed to where the blind was, I saw him already swimming well ahead as the water and air was clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I positioned myself near the blind and could see it still swimming amongst the trees in the swamp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only took 15 minutes for it to become curious enough to see what I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once it was in range, about 20 yards, I released the arrow towards its mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No thrashing, no circling, no fighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a roll over and the arrow was sticking nearly straight up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once there, I had to look to see if it was a beaver and not a nutria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as huge up close as it looked the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled it into the boat and headed to shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was by far the largest I have taken.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
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</div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-50036949156245034122012-01-10T15:20:00.000-05:002012-01-10T15:20:57.258-05:00BowAmerica and Bowfishing<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">January 5th marked the inaugural issue of BowAmerica, the e-Magazine for Bowhunters. Each issue features segments on traditional, compound, bowfishing, women bowhunters, target/competition, how-to, gear reviews, habitat management and more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">My feature article for the first issue was in the bowfishing segment titled 'Aim Low'. Here is an excerpt:</span><br />
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<shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_t202" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"><stroke joinstyle="miter"></stroke><path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></path></shapetype><shape id="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 50pt; left: 0px; margin-left: -122pt; margin-top: -122pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 50pt; z-index: 251658240;" type="#_x0000_t202"></shape><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aim low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not exactly the phrase you want to use when teaching kids how to be successful in something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true, if you set your goals low enough then it is easier to meet your meaning of what success is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, aiming low in bowfishing is a must. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is the first issue of BowAmerica, the e-Magazine for Bowhunters. Be sure to subscribe so you can get each month's great stories from bowhunters across the nation!</span></div>
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</div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-71440013508743420692011-12-09T07:44:00.001-05:002011-12-09T07:59:01.956-05:00Gear Review: Barmah Australian Hats<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every outdoorsman has their one ‘can’t do without’ item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is like a security blanket or teddy bear for a toddler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as that one thing is with them, he can tackle anything nature throws his way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">For me, it is a hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always worn hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a child and through my teenage years, you could hardly ever catch me without a ball cap on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only exception would be while hunting dove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, you would find me with a green boonie hat with the draw string usually pulled over the top of the hat with one side snapped up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been a ‘little’ different.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDX04QhEWYbg2akR5ZfgzuNcmhBYGjrHQ8JqV2KrvP9ToJCjBWzC5ynwSAkxf_1bNCk8aKtZF1c0gsh6opSpteMd68Nfo3fP086__sD1LzKXuLnTCMSEd5v80ku-JtgO0g6f-Wp3IH24B/s1600/110_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDX04QhEWYbg2akR5ZfgzuNcmhBYGjrHQ8JqV2KrvP9ToJCjBWzC5ynwSAkxf_1bNCk8aKtZF1c0gsh6opSpteMd68Nfo3fP086__sD1LzKXuLnTCMSEd5v80ku-JtgO0g6f-Wp3IH24B/s320/110_0005.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I was offered an item to review that was right up my alley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, I had been wearing one for over 10 years!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barmah USA</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> makes Australian style hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barmah</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is based in Australia and their hats are made from such leathers as bronco and kangaroos, are water resistant, and have that flare I look for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also designed to be folded and spring back into shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come with a nifty bag that has imprinted instructions on how to properly fold the hat for storage in the bag.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthWOfKofmLvhFibRRBBpcHLP1TTKhdGLJ6X6mHKFFB9HHeIVNl0oOtFlJ_T7E35aCuYa6y0P46Pod7CcuFlq8NJvMfGaz0gmi_oM31bGsDNB9CiddhgrZ0YkUk6nyqIe3WsSQRz4l_0vA/s1600/gator2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthWOfKofmLvhFibRRBBpcHLP1TTKhdGLJ6X6mHKFFB9HHeIVNl0oOtFlJ_T7E35aCuYa6y0P46Pod7CcuFlq8NJvMfGaz0gmi_oM31bGsDNB9CiddhgrZ0YkUk6nyqIe3WsSQRz4l_0vA/s320/gator2.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gators at night in Georgia</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">with Barmah.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have been wearing a Kangaroo </span><a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barmah</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> hat in a hickory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also owned one in a limestone green that was sent to retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barmah supplied me Foldaway suede in a sand color to try as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like mentioned in the previous paragraph, the hats are designed to be folded and spring back into shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found there are a few tricks if you have a preference to the look of your hat, and I like the front of the hat to curl slightly down with the side curled slightly up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Letting the hat rest on the edge of a table or desk with the front hanging off for several days will give this desired look.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEshr3vCd38sfMQ-PK6ut-acoT7t7TeLaewHFw78wWXqpHcTTMupQupQ-l3YsCEntVl0t4inQzW4bpaZ_0CdHKfnEnZN-fsXyuAikY4Lti4fe4EEKNaCATsit1XFQtzdVbeTEhCSxz8os/s1600/niagara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="150" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEshr3vCd38sfMQ-PK6ut-acoT7t7TeLaewHFw78wWXqpHcTTMupQupQ-l3YsCEntVl0t4inQzW4bpaZ_0CdHKfnEnZN-fsXyuAikY4Lti4fe4EEKNaCATsit1XFQtzdVbeTEhCSxz8os/s200/niagara.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hats have been treated with Scotch-guard prior to shipping preventing stains and giving the hat the water resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How water resistant is this hat?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say Niagara Falls resistant!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the exterior of the hat was soaked on a trip to the national landmark, the hat dried quickly and retained shape and fit.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnASzw2S9fXtHU8eW9TLG61c03CLTy_8Ty06k2HhbQ6wMmdUUEl0wYzXOhEGdzz-74WB42E0ovEeNwv4s6KiFNd0MeyRT5GG9nnYIT6vlN7Tu35Ie9qGJNShLg5mR5h5KfHUDzQN-2MG0/s1600/niagara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="150" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnASzw2S9fXtHU8eW9TLG61c03CLTy_8Ty06k2HhbQ6wMmdUUEl0wYzXOhEGdzz-74WB42E0ovEeNwv4s6KiFNd0MeyRT5GG9nnYIT6vlN7Tu35Ie9qGJNShLg5mR5h5KfHUDzQN-2MG0/s200/niagara2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not even the mighty Niagara</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">can stop it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I have been blessed/cursed with my father's and grandfather's genes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means my head lacks some natural covering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barmah</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> hat provides covering that can be worn in the heat of summer or the bitter temperatures of winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I have not worn the suede during excessively high temperatures, the kangaroo hat does a great job of allowing my noggin to breathe in the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as cold temps, both hats keep my head plenty warm.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMweVugwsaPICRHK8VC72ywxQYRx7QAxn8MvwAF0o6F7s2sZ8TdhYVD_9ew-jL-qV3bYHYwEGWVugUV0gI6f5IdSKoh7NUjD1KwdAmkwhW8fgbrCwYUnR4MC3JsNxL8tDFmTx2aUNsG_MG/s1600/dove+hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMweVugwsaPICRHK8VC72ywxQYRx7QAxn8MvwAF0o6F7s2sZ8TdhYVD_9ew-jL-qV3bYHYwEGWVugUV0gI6f5IdSKoh7NUjD1KwdAmkwhW8fgbrCwYUnR4MC3JsNxL8tDFmTx2aUNsG_MG/s320/dove+hunt.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Even the September sun and dust are under control.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The price points for the Barmah hat varieties are in the $75 or less range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty cheap when it comes to clothing and apparel, but I believe in the worth of the </span><a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Barmah</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> hat enough that I have bought two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can be pretty rough on them, as I wear them in the woods and in the field, and they continue to survive unscathed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a recent <a href="http://www.outdoorbloggernetwork.com/2011/11/22/quick-fire-outdoor-interview-bill-howard-outdoors/" target="_blank">interview</a> with the Outdoor Blogger Network, I responded to the question "What is the one thing you cannot do without?" with "My <a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank">Barmah</a> hat." In fact, my <a href="http://www.barmahhatsusa.com/" target="_blank">Barmah</a> hat is not just a hat, it identifies me!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /> </span></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-5800671847534202492011-12-05T07:48:00.001-05:002011-12-05T07:58:05.979-05:00Gear Review: Fieldline Glenwood Canyon Backpack<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">About once each year I try to get away for a two to three day hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to ‘rough’ it, camping beneath the stars and enjoying nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It presents a bit more of a challenge and separates myself from the ‘rest of the world.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I do this type of hunt, it is necessary to have a good backpack that brings comfort and functionality into the equation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiking several miles into the wilderness can take its toll and you need a way to bring in the necessities.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJefKroxcqEB63DL7FFxX_0rSSXCkhsImtvTmwbw7H9ES5EMg0Rd_EyWuw1KPN9MHlYTFPI8KCL0wfhDzDbF-iTMoIaujVYOmGcGYS3CgFP-Gwt_zb4z2zFeUR-6ftCtGisIRH8cf1aiY/s1600/110_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJefKroxcqEB63DL7FFxX_0rSSXCkhsImtvTmwbw7H9ES5EMg0Rd_EyWuw1KPN9MHlYTFPI8KCL0wfhDzDbF-iTMoIaujVYOmGcGYS3CgFP-Gwt_zb4z2zFeUR-6ftCtGisIRH8cf1aiY/s320/110_0008.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I tested the <a href="http://www.fieldline.com/Products/glenwood-canyon-frame-pack/7" target="_blank">Fieldline Glenwood Canyon</a> pack recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have other Fieldline products, including a backpack, and they do a nice job of combining low costs with nice workmanship to make their products a really good value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The backpack I owned is comfortable and spacious but I had to strap my bow on the outside without any support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">First of all, the <a href="http://www.fieldline.com/Products/glenwood-canyon-frame-pack/7" target="_blank">Glenwood Canyon</a> pack comes in two camouflage patterns featuring Realtree and Mossy Oak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mostly use Realtree so that is what I chose for my pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The local stores that carry the <a href="http://www.fieldline.com/Products/glenwood-canyon-frame-pack/7" target="_blank">G.C.</a> pack only had Mossy Oak as a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has an internal frame for pack support.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The straps on the pack offer a waist belt and a chest buckle strap for better comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chest strap is attached to two straps located on each shoulder strap to allow it to slide up and down for personal adjustments. They are also well padded to prevent extra fatigue on the shoulders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the left shoulder is an access port for a hydration bladder, which has a separated compartment in the main bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of the bag is a strapped rain cover with an extra zippered compartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not provide a lot of storage, but is nice for something like a wallet or map.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On both the right and left sides are zippered compartments that can be reached with the pack still on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These hold items such as a rangefinder, binoculars, cell phone, and flashlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found it pretty easy to reach in a feel for the items I was looking for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">An angled zippered compartment rests in the center of the pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep my Knives of Alaska knives there as well as my</span><a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/2011/10/gear-review-lifestraw-water-filtration.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> LED Lenser headlamp</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snacks would likely fit there as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two adjustable snap straps are located on the outside of this compartment for strapping something like a foam pad or small tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The straps can be adjusted to a diameter of approximately 6 to 7 inches.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">To the left is another zipper that allows access to the main pack area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is nice as you do not have to open the pack from the top and can get to items located in the bottom of the pack without pulling everything out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The zipper is about 12 inches long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the left side of the pack are 2 adjustable straps along the side and a small zipper at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After unzipping the bottom, a boot pouch with 2 straps attached to it can be pulled out to accommodate the butt of a rifle or shotgun or the lower cam of a compound bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a bowhunter, I naturally tried it out with my compound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boot pouch does not work well with a compound with parallel limbs, but if I strapped the riser with the straps on the side and strapped the string with the two straps in the center, it did hold the bow pretty steady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not work will with the quiver on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, for a firearm, the boot works great and the pack held fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The access to the main pack compartment is under the rain cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two straps sown into the access material that are rolled and then fastened to prevent any water from entering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also can add several inches of storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside you also have access to where the hydration bladder would be located.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the zippers have a rubberized material covering the closed zipper area and also have plastic lined pull strings with large loops.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU33BDYle2rVWb9UY1efF5lkEBfkprn6DWKo_By217Zp9uxjofxWIOT-qn86huJE67qaW4I5OUOiV4h8sbV-VJyy8ANfO5ZM2tjVK5FVOtsfvuCoDDuRnbkxofZP27JUHMnTtZmLhyphenhyphenazRq/s1600/FIELDLINE+PACK.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU33BDYle2rVWb9UY1efF5lkEBfkprn6DWKo_By217Zp9uxjofxWIOT-qn86huJE67qaW4I5OUOiV4h8sbV-VJyy8ANfO5ZM2tjVK5FVOtsfvuCoDDuRnbkxofZP27JUHMnTtZmLhyphenhyphenazRq/s320/FIELDLINE+PACK.png" width="275" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is the best part of the pack; it can be bought for under $30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as holding up, if it is like my other <a href="http://www.fieldline.com/Products/glenwood-canyon-frame-pack/7" target="_blank">Fieldline Pack</a> it will hold up fine for years if it is used for a few trips each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My other pack has been through some reasonable abuse and has held up fine for the last 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not like the absence of straps on the bottom or top to connect a sleeping bag for instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inner compartment has plenty of room for use as a one to three day pack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, the price is hard to beat providing features of packs that are in the $150-$200 price range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The functionality for a gun hunter or hiker is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will continue to use this in the future for short multi day trips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fieldline.com/Products/glenwood-canyon-frame-pack/7" target="_blank">Glenwood Canyon Frame Pack </a></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Company Specs)</span></h1>
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Dimensions : 20 in x 15 in x 8.5 in / 50.8 cm x 38.1 cm x 21.59 cm</div>
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Top and vertical pack entries</div>
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Front access scope pocket</div>
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Stowable rifle carrier pouch with zipper closure</div>
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Hydration compatible (2-liter Hydration Reservoir sold separately)</div>
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Top flap includes zippered compartment</div>
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2 compression straps to secure your load</div>
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Ultra quiet zipper pulls</div>
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2 large zippered side pockets</div>
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Gear-lock attachment points on waist belt</div>
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Yoked shoulder strap system with adjustable sternum slider</div>
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Adjustable waist and chest straps</div>
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Vertical front entry opening for easy access to gear</div>
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Top compartment has been designed with quiet roll-top closure</div>
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Stowable rifle carrier pouch with zipper closure </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more reviews? </span></em></strong><a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/p/gear-and-service-reviews.html"><span style="color: #eacb00; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Bill Howard's Outdoors Reviews</em></strong></span></a><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span></em></strong><a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/p/gear-reviews.html"><span style="color: #eacb00; font-size: large;"><strong><em>GiveEmTheShaft Reviews</em></strong></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-83256581318980990022011-11-23T08:46:00.001-05:002011-12-06T22:40:19.656-05:00Custom Built Bow in Progress<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.lhcustomarchery.com/" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJhmcA-T2x0/Tsz43fx4nVI/AAAAAAAAAmI/2s0hXesvTgQ/s320/lh+archery.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lester Harper, owner of LH Custom Archery, is fashioning a custom take-down recurve for the staff (that would be me) at GiveEmTheShaft.com and BillHowardOutdoors.com. Lester can be reached at </span><a href="mailto:stonepointak@yahoo.com"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">stonepointak@yahoo.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> if you have any questions about a custom bow for yourself. You can also see some of his other works-in-progress at his website by clicking the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The nice thing about a customer bow is you get to choose the look you want to go along with the draw weight you need. With traditional bows (longbows and recurves), draw weight is measured at 28" draw length. If your draw is longer, the weight would be greater. Conversely, if your draw is shorter, the draw weight will be less than the weight listed. This is important to know in areas where there is a minimum draw weight. For instance, here in North Carolina, a minimum of 40lbs of pull can be used for traditional archery equipment when bowhunting. If you purchase a recurve with 40lbs, but you only have a 26 inch draw, you will be below the requirements of the law.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is some pictures of my bow in progress of being built. You'll see there is a lot of work put forth in the shape, look, and overall fashioning of the bow. I chose zebra wood for the riser and limbs with a cocobolo accent. Before it is finished, it will also have a partial copperhead snake skin on the risers.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Form for shaping the limbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limb being placed in form.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--CiaNuW-NK4/Tsz4yEcHenI/AAAAAAAAAl4/op3KvOg3Ozs/s1600/bill_riser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--CiaNuW-NK4/Tsz4yEcHenI/AAAAAAAAAl4/op3KvOg3Ozs/s320/bill_riser.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood blocks to be used in the rise and limbs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iygzRfnKJhY/Tsz4z2b1itI/AAAAAAAAAmA/gH-12mJZlfk/s1600/bill_riser_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iygzRfnKJhY/Tsz4z2b1itI/AAAAAAAAAmA/gH-12mJZlfk/s320/bill_riser_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blocks put together prior to cutting the shape of the riser.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riser begins to take shape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHFyra__WQM/Tsz5BqpqCII/AAAAAAAAAmY/pYPM2x3w39g/s1600/bill_riser_and_limb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="175" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHFyra__WQM/Tsz5BqpqCII/AAAAAAAAAmY/pYPM2x3w39g/s400/bill_riser_and_limb.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riser and one of the limbs.</td></tr>
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Here is a short video of some of LH Custom Archery's work featuring the Apostle bow.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOWyzwQ0GSg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
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<br /></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-59791105594981066972011-11-16T17:03:00.001-05:002011-11-16T17:07:32.690-05:00Big Deer Coming In!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a few of the antlers that have come in so far this season for me to measure.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8XffEGBUUo/TsQzgfu78-I/AAAAAAAAAiA/xErVxCxFeZM/s1600/antler+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8XffEGBUUo/TsQzgfu78-I/AAAAAAAAAiA/xErVxCxFeZM/s320/antler+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPGQqNWiYnM/TsQziyde49I/AAAAAAAAAiI/rZfSdxprqFA/s1600/antler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uPGQqNWiYnM/TsQziyde49I/AAAAAAAAAiI/rZfSdxprqFA/s320/antler+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29mnRFFhEV8/TsQzkm9b7zI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/h8XkE-qYvjw/s1600/antler+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29mnRFFhEV8/TsQzkm9b7zI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/h8XkE-qYvjw/s320/antler+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLdJ8dTUD7U/TsQzmTdQsFI/AAAAAAAAAiY/WLDFEM4iIBg/s1600/antler+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLdJ8dTUD7U/TsQzmTdQsFI/AAAAAAAAAiY/WLDFEM4iIBg/s320/antler+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
<br /><br />Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-52553491541363201142011-11-10T13:47:00.001-05:002011-11-10T13:50:46.339-05:00How Something Can Take Off...<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back in March 2011 I shot a video of my kids, their friends, and myself bowfishing during the annual redhorse sucker fish run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago someone told my son they were watching us on youtube and I thought that it was pretty cool. We pulled it up and BOOM! We had a ton of hits! I checked the statistics and over the last couple of months it has started being viewed like crazy. I have no idea why, but we'll take them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Below is the video. Enjoy.</span></div>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dv_JrUyNZVk/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Dv_JrUyNZVk?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
<br /><br />Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-78977958698339832222011-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-08T07:00:20.371-05:00The Goal for Next Year<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have always wanted to learn to shoot traditional. The reason I have nto up to this point is simple; I'm awful at it! I taught myself how to shoot the compound. Even bowfishing, I have become pretty good at instinctively shooting the heavier fish arrow with line attached.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But traditional...a completely different story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, as this year ends and 2012 approaches, I will chronicle my desire, successes and failures at mastering the art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the process, I would like to welcome and thank </span><a href="http://www.lhcustomarchery.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">LH Custom Archery</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> in advance. Lester, owner and bowyer, has worked with me over the past few days on a custom take-down recurve that I will be proudly using in my endeaver. I will post photos of the bow through the process of Lester's handiwork and maybe even throw some video together once it is finished and I begin the task of learning to shoot the masterpiece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But don't fret, I will still shoot my compound! If nothing else but to provide sanity and confidence to a surely soon-to-be battered ego!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please visit </span><a href="http://www.lhcustomarchery.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">LH Custom Archery</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and view some of the projects he has on hand now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
<br />Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-20042281864034619312011-10-27T07:00:00.000-04:002011-10-27T07:00:02.073-04:00Bowhunting Library<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently I found something I had been looking for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, for over three years I have searched it at least once every couple of months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I found it, I jumped on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I hear the question; “What is it?”</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GntArBK-jQU/Tqdz-0sOi3I/AAAAAAAAAYk/pQWKskWA98g/s1600/pope+and+young+1+edition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GntArBK-jQU/Tqdz-0sOi3I/AAAAAAAAAYk/pQWKskWA98g/s320/pope+and+young+1+edition.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope and Young Bowhunting Big Game<br />
Records of North America 1st Edition</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I just received a first edition of the Pope and Young Record Book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The </span>Pope and Young Club sold out a while back, and I finally found one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I was looking for this particular book is the bowhunting history documented in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are pictures and stories galore of some of the real names of bowhunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fred Bear tells of several accounts of his bowhunting records.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are pictures of both Art Young and Saxton Pope that I had never seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is now a valued addition to my bowhunting library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small library of books and periodicals is a great tool for the bowhunter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During those non-hunting times, it gives you something to study and focus on, which carries itself to the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some books will offer valuable information to help plan future hunts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many will tell of the tales of successful hunts that both inspire and allow the reader to step into the situation, which in turn will help the reader if a similar experience were to present itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, in order to help you get your library started, or to build on your existing library, here are some of the books I keep on my shelf:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Bowhunter’s Guide to Accurate Shooting</strong></em> <span style="font-size: small;">by Lon E. Lauber</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was the first book I bought when I began teaching myself how to shoot a bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of valuable information ranging from the equipment used, to shooting technique, to equipment set-up and tuning, to how to hunt and where to aim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>The Archer’s Bible</strong></em> <span style="font-size: small;">by Fred Bear</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1toY2pSPN0/Tqd4olKoGvI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Kxj6u0qM7gw/s1600/fred+bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" ida="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1toY2pSPN0/Tqd4olKoGvI/AAAAAAAAAZU/Kxj6u0qM7gw/s320/fred+bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fred Bear bringing in a carp while bowfishing.<br />
This is one of my favorite photos of Fred Bear.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A book by the legend himself, Bear goes over equipment, hunting small and big game, bowfishing, safety, foundations of good shooting, and the principles of bowhunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite photos of Fred Bear is in this book with him holding a carp at the end of an arrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was long before bowfishing hit the craze it has now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>The Pope and Young Club’s Measurer’s Manual</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Scoresheets and instructions on how to measure each of the North American big game animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Whitetail Wisdom</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">An all inclusive book about whitetails. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes over where to hunt them, when to hunt them, and their habits and activity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>The Perfect Shot-Mini Edition for North America</strong></em> <span style="font-size: small;">by Craig Boddington</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Perfect Shot: Mini Edition<br />
for North America by Craig Boddington</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you plan on hunting, this is a great book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shows different angles of different North American game animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The book then </span>creatively shows bone structure and organ location on the same photos so you can get an idea of where and when to place the shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also an African edition that I will be sure to purchase if I ever am fortunate enough to try my hand at hunting the Dark Continent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Boone and Crockett Records of North American Big Game Animals 8<sup>th</sup> Edition</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A record book that includes photos of record animals, as well as entries into the book, listing animal, owner, size, and area taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to go after a musk ox, you do not hunt in California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book will show you where to go after the game you want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Safari Club International World Bowhunting Record Book 1<sup>st</sup> Edition</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Same premise as the B&C record book, bur for animals taken by bow only around the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Bowhunting Records of North Carolina 1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> Editions</strong></em></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmbERk9agjQ/Tqd1v0mByVI/AAAAAAAAAY0/UG8mOU5P5gc/s1600/ncba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmbERk9agjQ/Tqd1v0mByVI/AAAAAAAAAY0/UG8mOU5P5gc/s320/ncba.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st and 2nd Editions of the <br />
Bowhunting Recordsof North Carolina<br />
compiled by the <br />
North Carolina Bowhunter's Association.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">These books will show the counties in the state where the largest game animals are taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through data research you can also find the counties that are the most productive of record book game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In planning a hunt, this allows you to narrow your hunting area down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many other states’ bowhunting organizations put out a similar book periodically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>Pope and Young Club Bowhunting Big Game Records of North America 1<sup>st</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> Editions</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Same as the B&C and SCI record books, except only bowhunting and only North America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>The Bill of Rights</strong></em>, <em><strong>The Declaration of Independence</strong></em>, and <em><strong>The Constitution of the United States of America</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The three books remind me of why I have the freedom to hunt in this great land.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><strong>The Holy Bible</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is the most important to me of all the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book not only establishes my freedoms, but my very existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is ever a question, the answer can be found here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">* * * * *</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are other books I intend on adding to the library. For instance, I would like to eventually add each edition of the Pope and Young Record Book. There are several books Teddy Roosevelt penned about hunting which I have in an e-book format that I would like to have in hard copy. To build a foundation, you just have to start. You would be surprised with the knowledge that can be shared and learned.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWnXMylAJSg/Tqd28elPB4I/AAAAAAAAAZI/qaNky639uwA/s1600/nightwolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FWnXMylAJSg/Tqd28elPB4I/AAAAAAAAAZI/qaNky639uwA/s1600/nightwolf.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZypxRRfQ4xk/Tqd26PImhMI/AAAAAAAAAZA/n5Hhx38zIqE/s1600/guilty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZypxRRfQ4xk/Tqd26PImhMI/AAAAAAAAAZA/n5Hhx38zIqE/s200/guilty.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Would you like a nice fiction e-book based on a hunting setting? Author <a href="http://www.davidlsamuel.com/">David L. Samuel</a> is providing two each of his novel <strong><em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nightwolf-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B004NEVS7S/">Nightwolf</a></em></strong> and novella <em><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Guilty-A-Novella-ebook/dp/B00506339O/">The Guilty</a></strong></em> as a giveaway. That is FOUR lucky winners! I have personally read both and they are great. I downloaded them to the Kindle app on my smartphone, and then when I was sitting in the stand waiting for deer activity, I would read. The reading time keeps you still and quiet, plus the books are so good, it makes you want to get in the stand more often in order to finish the book! I won't giveaway details on the two books other than they both have bowhunting as part of the backdrop. Rules are simple: follow either GiveEmTheShaft.com or <a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/">BillHowardOutdoors.com</a> and you are entered for your chance to win. Contest runs through November 30, 2011.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
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<br /></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-3475261703022384722011-10-26T10:45:00.004-04:002011-10-26T10:45:45.637-04:00LifeStraw Water System Winners<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TvjcjktajE/Tomp4mh3v9I/AAAAAAAAAQw/zYEsTnNjDYM/s1600/lifestraw-personal-water-filter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TvjcjktajE/Tomp4mh3v9I/AAAAAAAAAQw/zYEsTnNjDYM/s320/lifestraw-personal-water-filter.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Thom Rauch</strong> of Ashland, Wisconsin and <strong>Moose McLaughlin </strong>of Raleigh, NC are the winners of the LifeStraw water filtration system. Congratulations!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you didn't win, don't fret. Visit </span><a href="http://www.eartheasy.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eartheasy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and you can purchase one for under $20!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Read the review here: </span><a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/10/gear-review-lifestraw-water-filtration.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">LifeStraw Gear Review</span></a></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-84569511899125975962011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T10:11:33.755-04:00Gear Review: Scout Look Weather<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, here I am, 4:26pm on a Sunday, sitting in a climbing stand on the edge of the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Typing on a netbook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazy right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I should have about an hour before the first deer sneaks her way out of the darkened tree canopy and finds her way into shooting range for my quick and silent compound bow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The reason I am working on this now is twofold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, I need to get this product review done, and two; this is the perfect time to write about what is going on with this particular hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">GPS systems became a great tool for the outdoors person several years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Utilizing the array of satellites put in orbit by the government in order to help one find his position globally protected the hiker, hunter, or fisher from getting lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They developed from a display showing longitude and latitude so you could find yourself on a map, to displaying satellite and terrain images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way, the more bells and whistles the GPS system had, the more expensive the unit would cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Downloadable maps, some ranging several hundred dollars in cost, were neat features, but unless you were a diehard outdoorsman that traveled to exotic and unfamiliar locations, they were questionable as to whether they were worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I like to have the tools necessary for me to be successful and safe, but I do not want to carry around a small army’s worth of supplies on my excursions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the GPS functions of the current smart phones, I quickly adapted to several applications available on it instead of carrying around excessive amounts of electronics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free mapping and weather programs were great, as I could not only pinpoint my location, but I could see weather as it developed so as not to get caught off guard on an approaching rain shower or storm.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" closure_uid_jfqqfi="59" height="243" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0YZEUCPXJqAbEbiLnrklD4xDpxKKFV6zwTFGVrIQh5J_QM1kNDm_fIBIf9rpH0_cYTItgUxygS7IL_v4WiUJNKbpd7Tj3MSUUrV_3ssWdQeIuijFb7r9P8jVNphHDHZ9wEuf64eXE9UH/s320/scoutlook+scentcone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Screen shot from ScoutLookWeather.com indicating</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">stand locations, expected deer movement, and scent cone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The orange arrows were added by me to show movement.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to test and review a website and smart phone application called <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLookWeather</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed interesting enough, so I agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before downloading it on my Android based phone, I checked the website: <a href="http://scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLookWeather.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The website was easy enough to get a grasp of without a lot of instruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the download, the application worked the same way as the website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I noticed it had immediately synced between the website and the phone application.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There she is!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">After checking the app, according to my scent cone (a green cone that indicates where your scent will travel based on current conditions) I should hunt the northern stand on the property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My scent would travel right into the path the deer usually take to the field from the southern stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, that is where I am hunting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">(LONG PAUSE AS THE HUNT TIME BEGINS, THEN FAST FORWARD)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnus5jV9IzYOB9NcEMUUbeGToyC-S2sw43wQoWQbyoqQYVBk-MLjTcDtBUm5JM_ZYi_3AOfCgEnpNEW5l7pst19Z5VSXfrxuYzufU87jXKdbSCxZFz8ewFzRRTJfHuClb48yAJuolJmIp/s1600/arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" closure_uid_jfqqfi="932" height="200" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnus5jV9IzYOB9NcEMUUbeGToyC-S2sw43wQoWQbyoqQYVBk-MLjTcDtBUm5JM_ZYi_3AOfCgEnpNEW5l7pst19Z5VSXfrxuYzufU87jXKdbSCxZFz8ewFzRRTJfHuClb48yAJuolJmIp/s200/arrow.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blood soaked arrow does</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">not mean easy to trail!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sure enough, I had a deer come out to my left about 6pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the deer paused and offered a broadside shot just 15 yards from the stand, I released the arrow for the kill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While waiting in the stand, 10 minutes later 3 more deer came out to my right but came no closer than 40 yards from the stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also noticed looking back at the southern stand, several deer in the field where I expected them to come out also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had hunted the southern stand, those deer would likely have caught my scent in the slight breeze.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d47WadBa-Vws9T58yav0mPxL-2lkIrJZJFCVnaTgIV4FQwBrfLSgNVS1sIvMjxsfHYBadavYoAKCpRpPIoFyTc6Kq44WoYLHOMfUnmrEMcUGLL1shQ7GTQQEurm8arxK8cRNz_TGM-fo/s1600/blood+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" closure_uid_jfqqfi="1216" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4d47WadBa-Vws9T58yav0mPxL-2lkIrJZJFCVnaTgIV4FQwBrfLSgNVS1sIvMjxsfHYBadavYoAKCpRpPIoFyTc6Kq44WoYLHOMfUnmrEMcUGLL1shQ7GTQQEurm8arxK8cRNz_TGM-fo/s320/blood+trail.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hard to follow at night with only this much sign spaced</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">several yards apart.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the shot was true, the deer retreated hard into the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a hard time finding bloodshed, but after a 20 minute or so search, I spotted small drops of blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The track was on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used the way marker feature on the <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> app, using the GPS from the phone to indicate the blood trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I proceeded to do this each time I lost the trail so I would have a reference point to come back to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was extremely handy as I was in the thick brush and swamp, and light was non-existent except from my <a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/08/gear-review-led-lenser-h7-head-lamp.html">LED Lenser headlamp</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After following the trail approximately 150 yards, I lost the blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was now around 9pm and I was crawling on all fours in order to track the blood I did find for the last 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to resume the search in the morning, as the shadows from the brush limited my site lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the satellite imagery feature of <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a>, I made my way back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not for that, this could have easily been one of those cases where the hunter gets stuck in the woods overnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, limited vision, a low concealing canopy of trees, and not so much as a single star shining through offered no help in keeping my bearings.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvYBKRuRpsPrqSp5pw_Z1lTeU7_irmlcxWkXSIwvMREpjkpWLqe6lfRY_RKoLFY-J77wAFZ5ojqouZQb4QnGWOv92kbpaOJec54jF5T1ujmShHDegzrtsCkCiSxi0-M9WyRHG3iAtUnXY/s1600/bloodtrail+markers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" closure_uid_jfqqfi="2217" height="200" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvYBKRuRpsPrqSp5pw_Z1lTeU7_irmlcxWkXSIwvMREpjkpWLqe6lfRY_RKoLFY-J77wAFZ5ojqouZQb4QnGWOv92kbpaOJec54jF5T1ujmShHDegzrtsCkCiSxi0-M9WyRHG3iAtUnXY/s200/bloodtrail+markers.jpg" width="196" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blood trail way markers set</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">on ScoutLook.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next day, I worked my way back into the woods, following the blood trail markers I had placed on <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This worked well, and I found the trail I needed to find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple of more hours, I finally found the deer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would never have taken place if I had not used <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> for way markers the evening before.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Decoy set-up for incoming</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">waterfowl</span><span style="font-size: small;">as indicated</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">by ScoutLook.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> is not only good for the application I tested it for, but it offers a set-up style map for waterfowl hunting, it can be used for hiking and other outdoor activities, it has a drift-point for fishing, and even has a golf mode to help with wind direction on the links.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It provides a cache for photos while in the outdoors, and it will have a log book style feature in the future.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One feature I did not have to use on <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> is a radar map of your area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is great for when inclement weather is in the forecast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will allow you the opportunity to enjoy your activity until the very last moment.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Screen shot of inclement weather on ScoutLook.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Overall, <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> appears to be a winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> is easy to use and figure out how to use (no manual-just help screens), is cheap ($1.99 over Android Marketplace, but is available on IOS also), and syncs automatically with the regular website so you can check your locations online and on your phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, $1.99 for what some GPS systems would charge $199.00 for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing I could not test, and could not find a direct answer on, was if <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> will save your location maps in areas where only GPS (no cellular) service worked on the smart phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it will save your markers, just not sure if the maps must download through the cell service each time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will continue to use <a href="http://www.scoutlookweather.com/">ScoutLook</a> and I look forward to using the log book feature in the future.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqhojFPyVe2R0lzdvWd2i2mKZJn4tcf7kgvR_gB0Y7cTf4S2UJ52dZWN7SakzRNbZLPxg5TMk_Rd1ETBp0Pg9Pc-k7lq4Scv9FY3d-KFhAlezKh2TdGWKo-ye00tQdACO8HwL5sbAWsPQ/s1600/doe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" closure_uid_jfqqfi="2282" height="180" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqhojFPyVe2R0lzdvWd2i2mKZJn4tcf7kgvR_gB0Y7cTf4S2UJ52dZWN7SakzRNbZLPxg5TMk_Rd1ETBp0Pg9Pc-k7lq4Scv9FY3d-KFhAlezKh2TdGWKo-ye00tQdACO8HwL5sbAWsPQ/s320/doe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This result would never had happened without ScoutLook.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Your results may vary!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Want to read more reviews? </span><a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/p/gear-and-service-reviews.html"><span style="color: #eacb00; font-size: large;">Bill Howard's Outdoors Reviews</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/p/gear-reviews.html"><span style="color: #eacb00; font-size: large;">GiveEmTheShaft Reviews</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-23198080626124951902011-10-24T11:03:00.004-04:002011-10-24T11:04:00.384-04:00Video Monday 10/24/11<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This week's short video clip is a spot and stalk whitetail hunt in Virginia. In the East we do not get to do a lot of hunting in this manner, but it is a rush when you do have the opportunity!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Note: This is a copy of the post from <a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/">Bill Howard's Outdoors</a>. I felt compelled to run it on both blog sites this week due to the nature of the column, even though it does not directly pertain to bowhunting. The fact is, if any form of hunting begins to be regulated to the point of detering new hunters, hunting will suffer whether by firearm or archery equipment. Please feel free to share this post with anyone who enjoys hunting, fishing, or the outdoors in general.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year, North Carolina registered 505,530 licensed hunters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the most since 1994 and continues a trend in which each year since 2002 the number of licensed hunters has increased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is encouraging to see our numbers go up, they still fall behind in the overall picture as far as percentage compared to population growth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Getting our youth, as well as adults, in the outdoors to participate in activities such as hunting and fishing is imperative to keep the heritage alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned in the past, there are far more distractions and other activities for the population these days than in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Television with hundreds of channels, game consoles and systems, and computers all compete to keep our youth occupied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong><em>Please read the previous post on Bill Howard's Outdoors: </em></strong><a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/2011/10/heritage-of-outdoors.html"><strong><em>Heritage of the Outdoors</em></strong></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other factors challenging the outdoor heritage are environmental groups distaste for hunting and fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use environmental groups loosely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me explain a little before continuing with the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunters and fishermen/women provide funds for wildlife conservation, gamelands, studies, even preservation areas, amongst other programs through purchases of licenses, stamps, excise taxes through the Pittman-Robertson act, memberships and donations through conservations groups such as Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Quail Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Boone and Crockett, Pope and Young, and many more than can be listed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, outdoorsmen and women provide the majority of funds to protect both wildlife and land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the true environmentalists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, other groups seeking to stop hunting and fishing, claim to be environmental organizations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As recently as August 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was petitioned to ban all lead products used for hunting and fishing under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The EPA responded they did not have authority under the TSCA to activate such a ban. Currently there is a bill asking for the EPA to be granted that authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kind of a back door approach to allow the EPA to be given power to ban ammunition without having it go through Congress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Referenced in many of these reports are the effects of lead shot on mourning dove populations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lead was banned for waterfowl back in 1991 due to effects on the duck, geese, and swan populations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Researching studies on dove myself, there are studies saying dove populations have been effected by anywhere from .2% to as high as 6.4%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the difference in percentages may be based on locality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is estimated there are between 1.2 and 1.6 million dove hunters in the United States accounting for 19-21 million birds harvested each season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ammunition of choice is lead shot which accounts for 75% of shotgun shells sold each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is where the assault on potential new hunters, as well as existing hunters comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A box of 25 shells of 7 ½ lead shot, the typical purchase for dove ammunition, costs roughly $6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On opening day of dove season, a hunter, especially a new hunter, can easily shoot 100 shells equating to roughly $24 worth of ammunition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The primary alternative to lead is steel shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In comparison, a box of 25 shells of steel shot costs roughly $25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This equates to $100 worth of ammunition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does not include any shells used for practicing by shooting skeet or clay pigeons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The large increase in costs would severely deter new hunters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shotshells would not be the only ammunition regulated either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most hunting cartridges consist of a lead projectile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young hunter’s first rifle is often a .22 caliber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ammunition is cheap, so the youth can become familiar with the operation of the rifle by shooting many times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A box of 100 .22 cartridges runs approximately $7.50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Changing the composition of the bullet could increase the cost by 4 times that amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the increase would likely eliminate many new hunter's first excursion, or at least repeated excursions into the outdoors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">What we must do is look at this issue as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we go to an overall ban on lead, the numbers of hunters will surely decrease, causing us to lose massive amounts of funding through license sales and excise taxes (Pittman-Robertson Act).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These funds will either no longer provide the conservation efforts needed for our environment or they will have to be supplemented from other avenues in government (overall taxes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, with a decrease in hunters, less game will be taken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A raise in limits on game would not provide enough control, as the ammunition would still be too costly to take only a limited numbers of game animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wildlife biologists are charged with the task of determining the mortality rates of the different game animals, and if lead is effecting populations such as dove to a detrimental level, then limits should be adjusted downward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it was not long ago dove limits were increased from 12 to 15 birds per day, indication the population has grown rather than decreased.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps the answer is not to ban all lead ammunition and fishing equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there are areas in particular that are affected in an adverse way, the local/state governments can and should regulate accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to ban all, may have an effect that is much more detrimental than the effect of lead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now, your Monday video:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-58176907135194148522011-10-11T08:01:00.000-04:002011-10-12T18:57:58.889-04:00Archery Targets<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are a couple of targets you can print for practicing at different yardages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">One is your standard circle target with a slight variation. The goal is to keep the group in the appropriate size circle based on the yardage. For every 10 yards, your group should be with the inch circle corresponding. For example, if you are shooting from 40 yards, you should group in the 4 inch circle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The second target is slightly different. It has 5 circles. You can start either with the 1 or the 5 circle, and work your way out or in accordingly shooting one arrow at each circle. Each number is equivalent to 10 yard increments based on the same practice theory as above. (1=10 yards, 2=20 yards, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/98736493/Circle-Target">Circle Target</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-2014877599573027522011-10-10T07:30:00.000-04:002011-10-10T07:30:00.596-04:00Video Monday 10/10/2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's Video Monday once again. With the short duck season completion this weekend in North Carolina, here is something not done often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bowhunting Ducks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-49404420542851426202011-10-04T07:30:00.000-04:002011-10-04T07:30:03.521-04:00Gear Review: LifeStraw Water Filtration System<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I keep a backpack I use on those ‘special’ hunting trips where I may be gone from home for several days in the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep things such as an extra fall restraint system (in case my safety vest were to either get damaged or get used for its purpose, I do not want to vacate my hunt), an extra trigger release, several food items, flashlight and batteries, fire starter, paper maps, and…you get the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my survival pack in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I keep in the pack is an emergency water filter system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one I use filters up to 20 gallons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By my calculations, that will get me by for close to three weeks if something were to happen.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wskhbk_pBV8/Tomp74P9VII/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Nak3VY5ANhU/s1600/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wskhbk_pBV8/Tomp74P9VII/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Nak3VY5ANhU/s200/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why would I need a water filtration system?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing to keep in mind if you were to truly be in an emergency survival situation is you have to stay alert and sane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food, water, and shelter are the necessities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While food can be taken either by hunting or by picking proper plants, and shelter can be made, water is a little different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I can find a stream in the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I cannot do is see whether the water is safe to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can build a sill, but the water supply can be very limited in dry situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And remember the alert and sane part?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you become sick from water born bacteria and you are lost or stranded, how alert and sane do you think you will be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence the need for water purification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Options include tablets or filtration systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like the filtration systems due to the number of uses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was recently contacted by Ben Seaman of </span><a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">Eartheasy</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">Eartheasy</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is the official launch partner for </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> in the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is a water filtration system for use by hikers, hunters, campers, and emergency preparedness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> was first introduced in 2005 and accumulated many accolades and awards for its uses in disaster situations and third world sanitary conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben asked if I would like to review the product for its U.S. launch and after a little research, I was more than anxious to test the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I mentioned before, I keep a water filtration system currently.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be sure to follow this blog for your chance to win a Lifestraw from EarthEasy!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SInD9VcqdWE/Tomp9-N8E-I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/f_kd-srchiI/s1600/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kca="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SInD9VcqdWE/Tomp9-N8E-I/AAAAAAAAAQ8/f_kd-srchiI/s200/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use5.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First, some technical information from </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">Eartheasy</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>weighing only 2 ounces, </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> can filter down to .2 microns which includes 99.9999% of bacteria (such as salmonella and vibrio cholera) and 99.9% of protozoa (such as entamoeba histolytica).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cannot filter heavy metals or viruses or desalinate water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is what I find impressive; </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is tested to filter 250 gallons or more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The filtration system I have only does 20 gallons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> could be used to filter water for nearly a year for a single person in an emergency situation.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BVc15H-3p4/Tomp6FLDw2I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/ACw7KGtC7cM/s1600/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3BVc15H-3p4/Tomp6FLDw2I/AAAAAAAAAQ0/ACw7KGtC7cM/s200/lifestraw-personal-water-filter-in-use.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, there is the hype from </span><a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">Eartheasy</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this is supposed to be my review, which means my tests would have to be run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I keep the system for hunting, I decided to test the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> in situations I could encounter while on a hunting excursion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First thing, the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> packaging is TOUGH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it would be a ‘tear open’ type wrapper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope, needed a knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose this is good to prevent contamination prior to first use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried it in regular cup of water first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When trying to get the water through the straw, it takes some powerful sucking initially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I had water flowing though, it was pretty easy to continue drinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main reason I tried it on a regular cup of water was to see if there was any taste associated to the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water tasted the same whether drinking from the cup or through the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you are finished drinking, it is recommended to blow back through the straw to clear the filter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this took some power.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The second part of the test was to drink from a nearby stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The straw worked the same as when drinking from the cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could taste the stream water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tip: Do not lie next to the stream bed in order to drink; you get wet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is recommended to use a cup to dip into the stream or body of water and use the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> in it instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is where my other negative shows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> has a larger diameter than a standard plastic bottle opening (the type that a soda or bottled water comes in).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fits fine in the larger diameter hiking type bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually use bottled water and put those in my backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the knife I used to open the wrapper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was used to simply cut the upper portion of the water bottle off, creating an improvised cup.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So to recap the negatives: The wrapper is tough to open, the water tastes the same going in as it does coming out, and it is larger than a standard bottled water bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With that being said, the positives completely outweigh the negatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> has been tested to a MINIMUM of 250 gallons, can be stored a MINIMUM of 3 years, and is in the same cost range (under $20) of filtration systems that provide much less filtration volume (again, the one I own is good for only 20 gallons).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also filters out more bacteria and protozoa than my current system. In fact, even the water purification tablets did not clean the water as well as the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (research from reading the specs on a couple of water purification tablet bottles).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it as a must buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the </span><a href="http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw/lifestraw"><span style="font-size: large;">LifeStraw</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> will replace the water filtration system I currently have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is it great for the outdoors, hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting, it provides a great tool for disaster relief and emergency management.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hey, you may want to get one for each member of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be more than handy during the coming Zombie Apocalypse and after all, 2012 is just around the corner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">LifeStraw can be purchased from EarthEasy <a href="http://eartheasy.com/lifestraw">here</a>.</span></div>
Read <a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/2011/05/zombies-rapture-and-outdoors.html">Bill Howard's Outdoors: Zombies, the Rapture, and the Outdoors</a><br />
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Want to read more reviews? <a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/p/gear-and-service-reviews.html">Bill Howard's Outdoors Reviews</a> and <a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/p/gear-reviews.html">GiveEmTheShaft Reviews</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-15129481806736736782011-10-03T19:30:00.000-04:002011-10-03T19:30:00.202-04:00Video Monday 10/3/2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another Moose video from closeup. Watch how long the hunter holds the draw, and see if you can catch where he loses strength in holding it at full draw and takes a re-pull as the bow relieves tension.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How would you handle 'bull fever' with that monster?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Compare to another moose video from <a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/09/video-monday-952011.html">9/5/2011</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
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Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-87733993948639108122011-09-26T07:30:00.000-04:002011-09-26T07:30:01.644-04:00Video Monday 9/26/2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">A follow up from last week's post on how far do you practice. Here is a bowhunter practicing out to 90 yards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Be sure to read last week's post here: </span><a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-far-do-you-practice.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">How Far Do You Practice?</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-92052612834271625622011-09-20T22:07:00.000-04:002011-09-27T21:30:45.182-04:00How Far Do You Practice?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Practicing bowhunting skills involves many different aspects that we never consciously break down. So I will try to break it down to where we understand each aspect through different posts (after all, I have to keep you wanting for more in order to keep you reading my blog, right?).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first break down will be based on how far do you practice your shots. I look at shooting the bow the same as a basketball shooting a basketball, a field goal kicker kicking the football, or even a golfer practicing long putts. The basketball player for instance does not want to have to take a 35 foot shot, especially when the 3 point line is over 10 feet closer to the basket. However, if he is comfortable shooting that distance, the shot from the line causing no worries.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avICEWCRGZg/TnlBr04SuTI/AAAAAAAAAOY/34ON2B6K1G4/s1600/30++yards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-avICEWCRGZg/TnlBr04SuTI/AAAAAAAAAOY/34ON2B6K1G4/s320/30++yards.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The same is true when practicing long bow shots. I use a Spot-Hogg Seven Deadly Pins sight. Many do not like to use a sight with that many pins for fear of using the wrong pin when hunting. I use it to calm any nerves I may have when preparing to shoot. By having to stay alert and focused enough to count my pins, it diminishes any 'buck fever' I may have. But that is another topic for a later post...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have each of the pins set at 10 yard increments. When sighting in, I will start with the 10 yard pin, then the 30, the 50, and finally the 70. I then go back to the 20, 40 and 60 yard pins, setting them close by splitting differences then actually going thru the sight in process. Once I have them set, I will practice with usually 3 to 6 arrows at the closer distances (10, 20), expand to 12 or so arrows at the medium distances (30, 40), then practice hard at 50, 60, and 70.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I read where Chuck Adams set a goal of a 1 inch group for every 10 yards, meaning at 30 yards the group would be in a 3 inch circle and 50 yards would be a 5 inch circle. I try the same philosophy. First, its easy to calculate in your head and second, it corresponds well with the game you will hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whitetail deer are very high strung, so even if I practice to 70 yards and have a 70 yard pin, it does not mean I will attempt that shot. The whitetail will jump, dodge, and do a cha-cha while waiting for a 70 yard arrow to come its way even from the fastest of bows. However, an elk, caribou, bear, moose, or bison presents a large target that a 60 yard shot can be taken ethically-if you are comfortable at that distance. Remember the other sports analogies in the beginning of this post? I recently watched Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders) practice kicking 70 yard field goals before a game. It would be hard pressed for a coach to put him in a situation to try the same distance field goal with the game on the line.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">When traveling and checking my sights, I will shoot the 10 and 30 pins a few times. If everything is in line with those distances, the others will be in line also. Also, if the 10 and 30 are in line, it will cover my hunt, as most shots will present themselves within those distances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is how far I practice, but feel free to share how far you practice as well by commenting below. Hopefully the ideas I have presented can help with your own practice routines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-8895955974563816672011-09-19T07:30:00.000-04:002011-09-19T07:30:01.325-04:00Video Monday 9/19/11<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Goose Season is in, so let's see some arrows fly at some 'ole Canadians!</span></div>
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Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-67131281577154385092011-09-14T06:30:00.000-04:002011-09-14T06:30:01.647-04:00Dream Hunt Recap - Alligator!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">With opening day of archery deer season hitting this last weekend, you would think I might have a column on a bow hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a reason I cannot ignore, I had to forgo this weekend’s opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the last three years I have attempted to pull a tag for an alligator in Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weekend allowed me to put a check beside an item on my hunting bucket list.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Georgia Alligator tag for 2011.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was notified in August that I was successful in drawing a gator tag for zone 4, which encompasses the counties around Valdosta, Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With less than a month before the hunt was to start, I had to find a place to hunt, decide what I was going to do with the gator if I was successful and find a the appropriate vendors to take care of it depending on my decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to do hours upon hours of ‘online’ scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking trough different maps, contacting potential land owners, monitoring weather circumstances, and arranging my work schedule were critical in making this a successful hunt.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">The 'field' I would be hunting from.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Southern Georgia is in the middle of a drought, where many of their rivers are nothing more than small streams, often not even flowing because the water is so low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I joined a hunting forum based in Georgia, and from information gathered there, decided a lake or pond would offer me the best opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met one gentleman, Dane Lancaster, on the forum who received his first gator tag this year for zone 4 also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked on the phone and agreed to tackle the hunt together rather than finding a guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has a small camper he allowed me to stay in, which knocked off the cost of a hotel room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also would provide a boat for us to use and would work on permissions for us to hunt several areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was to supply the equipment for the hunt, namely a <a href="http://www.shopatron.com/products/productdetail/Muzzy+Pro+Gator+Getter+Kit/part_number=9500-PRO/182.0.1.1.1934.1949.0.0.0?pp=8&">Muzzy Gator Getter</a> setup for the bow, as well as some lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided not to use a generator for fear of scaring the gators, and went with a couple of <a href="http://www.ledlenser.com/product/h7">LED Lenser H7 head lamps</a> instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of these ideas played to our favor in getting up close to the alligators.</span></div>
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<a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/08/gear-review-led-lenser-h7-head-lamp.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">READ ABOUT THE LED Lenser H7 HEAD LAMP HERE!</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Now my wife, she had nightmares about this trip. All she could envision was some swamp people with no teeth. Their tools of the trade would consist of a chain saw and a banjo, and likely be using me for gator bait. When I met Dane and his wife Sheri, I asked them to smile big for me. Seeing they each had their teeth, I told them my wife's concerns and we all got a good laugh out of it.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gator trying to get in the boat.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hunt had its challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the first evening, we saw several dozen alligators, their reflective red eyes resembling a demon resting on the water’s surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We practiced calling, using a sound that imitates a young gator in distress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without fail, when we made the call, eyes would surface to see what was making the commotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we had a small alligator make a swim to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dane commented if we had steps, the gator would have come right into the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an eerie feeling in the swamps with the different noises, the glowing eyes, and the soft lifting fog in the middle of the darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we were pulling out that morning we heard a pop and watched the boat’s front end lower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon investigation, the trailer broke near the tongue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set the boat and trailer to the side and decided to catch a few hours sleep, and then we would return with a generator and welder to secure the trailer in order to get it back to the house.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">The killing shot.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">After we made the repairs, we borrowed a boat from one of Dane’s relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things seemed to be working against us, but we were going to give it a good try with a positive attitude regardless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we did not harvest an ‘ole swamp lizard', we were enjoying the hunt and the pursuit.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dane Lancaster (Nashville, Ga) and Bill Howard</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Around 1am, we spotted a gator resting in some swamp grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the lights, we were able to make out most of its head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rule to determine how big a gator is is to measure from the snout to the eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the measurement is in inches, the total length will be that in feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based on this information, we estimated the gator to be about 6 feet long, easily the largest we had come across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to take the shot, and we drifted in an arc behind the gator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the body lined up, I shot the arrow through the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After some thrashing and splashing, we pulled the gator to the side of the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually in these instances, a pistol or ‘bang stick’ will be used to dispatch the gator before pulling him in the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted it to be strictly a bow kill, so I used a hunting broadhead to the base of the spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone ever thinks a bow and arrow will not kill an alligator, I have testament to the contrary.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">With the right photography, even this 6 foot gator looks like a monster!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the end, I had experienced something I have only dreamed of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met new people and made new friends, all in the fellowship of hunting and the outdoors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my trophy, regardless of size, taken the way I wanted to hunt it and by knowledge I had learned rather than watched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is not considered a successful hunt, there is no such thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you liked this story, see some of my other posts:</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/2011/09/dream-hunt-planning-lottery-selections.html">Give 'Em The Shaft: Dream Hunt Planning-Lottery Selections</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://billhowardoutdoors.blogspot.com/2011/08/dream-fishing-destination-how-to-decide.html">Bill Howard's Outdoors: Dream Fishing Destination-How to decide?</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-52818093140158985062011-09-13T08:30:00.000-04:002011-09-18T21:53:09.974-04:00Video Monday 9/12/11<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hmm. This Monday's edition has something to do with what I'm doing RIGHT NOW!</span></div>
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Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3382182367962398416.post-29314668314857157692011-09-06T17:44:00.002-04:002011-09-06T17:46:21.319-04:00Dream Hunt Planning - Lottery Selections<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Each year I try to do one, how should I say, big hunt. This is what I would call a dream hunt, or a hunt that is a little more than going out to the land and sitting in the tree stand. I have been to North Dakota seeking a legend of the west in the buffalo. I have been to Arizona chasing mountain lions on horseback. Each hunt required much pre-hunt planning. It was a lot more than getting a tag and going hunting. This year I felt like I had a good shot at pulling a tag for an alligator in Georgia. Over the next few weeks, I will go over some of the information I used in planning a dream hunt. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">This first post will go over the information needed to increase your odds of drawing a tag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I began planning the alligator hunt several years ago. I researched South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida for possible hunt destinations. I knew many who hunted South Carolina, and Florida is well known for their alligators. I chose Georgia for a couple of reasons. With a family of 5, in order to keep a happy household I must hunt on the cheap. Georgia provided an opportunity to apply for a tag without having an application fee. Looking down the road, I felt I could draw one in the lottery from South Carolina and Georgia at about the same time. Florida offered the quickest success, however a $1000 license was the turnoff (granted, for the $1000 you get 2 tags, but I only wanted/needed one gator). When looking at overall costs, Georgia would run about 25% cheaper that South Carolina.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I was not ready to be drawn the first couple of years I applied, so I listed zones that offered the lowest chance of success. This would insure I did not draw a tag too soon, since I had hunts lined up the first couple of years anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.georgiawildlife.org/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/hunting/pdf/quota/Alligator_Selection_data.pdf">Georgia 2010 Selection Odds</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Once this season's application period came around, I wanted the greatest chance of drawing a tag. Looking at the different zones, zone 4 offered best odds of selection based on the number of tags available and the number of 1st choice applications in 2010. But here was the catch, it had lower quota numbers, lower applicants, so, were there gators there? I pulled up google maps and searched for rivers, lakes and ponds in the counties represented in zone 4. After finding potential spots that way, I started calling some of the towns in the zone, speaking with the chamber of commerce or town hall for information on where gators could be hunted.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.georgiawildlife.org/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/hunting/pdf/quota/2010_ALLIGATOR_SUMMARY.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Georgia 2010 Alligator Hunt Summary</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I joined a Georgia hunting forum and looked at old posts as well as reading current information coming in. In other words, I scouted as much as possible without ever leaving home. Once I was confident I could take an alligator in zone 4, I made it my top choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Shortly after the draw I received notification I had indeed drawn a tag, and had done it with only 2 priority points.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Next, I would have to plan the trip. Stay tuned...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><em>Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the </em><a href="http://www.wilsontimes.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Wilson Times</span></em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.yanceycountynews.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Yancey County News</span></em></a><em> and the blog site </em><a href="http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">Bill Howard's Outdoors</span></em></a><em>. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the </em><a href="http://www.ncbowhunter.com/"><em><span style="color: #7f6000;">North Carolina Bowhunters Association</span></em></a><em>, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of <a href="http://www.pope-young.org/"><span style="color: #7f6000;">Pope and Young</span></a>, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.</em></span></div>
Bill Howardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07332481397303536599noreply@blogger.com0