Hunting Gear

Disruptive Environments 762 heavy chest rig

As I continue to build my SR 762 from Ruger (.308) I decided to acquire a chest rig (see the first article in the build series here). I have a plate carrier already (which this rig can attach to), but I wanted something lightweight I could use while hunting with this platform (WA a .308 is good for all big game). After talking to some buddies, stopping at stores, and doing some research I ended up going with the Disruptive Environments 762 Heavy Chest Rig (D3CR-H). This isn’t the first time you will hear the name Haley Strategic at the Loadout Room, and it wont be the last (check out the D3CR here).

The Disruptive Environments 7.62 Heavy Chest Rig is designed to be worn stand-alone, or attached to a plate carrier. As I mentioned, I wanted this rig for its stand-alone setup. When used as a stand-alone this rig is extremely low-profile, and lightweight. The kit is a simple design: 4 x .308 pouches, 2 x multi-mission pouches, 2 x utility pouched, mounted on an H-harness with quick-releases for easy of use.

Haley Strategic states, “The rig intentionally does not include a radio or dedicated full size medical pouch so no matter the posture, essentials such as communications and medical kits can remain on the end user at all times. The D3CR™ Heavy is also compatible with the Haley Strategic D3 Expansion System allowing the end user to add features including the holster wedge or multi-mission hanger pouch” (haleystrategic.com).

When this rig arrived I was surprised at just how small it was, I actually thought they may have sent me the wrong one. The rig (not including the H-harness), is 13” W x 6” H (approximately), and weighed in at 1.2lbs (with H-Harness). I actually grabbed my .308 mags (Gen3 P Mag 20rds) and stuffed them in the pouches to make sure an error hadn’t been made, it hadn’t.

Despite its small size this rig offers users many setup choices without modification. As mentioned there are two multi-mission pouches. Haley Strategic explains, “The Multi-Mission Pouches accept 1911, Glock, Sig, M&P, XD and other standard double or single stack pistol magazines, as well as many handheld lights and multi-tools” (haleystrategic.com).

In addition to these two pouches, the two utility pouches are what I found the most helpful. The larger of the two has a built-in map pouch with retention bands, perfect for GPS, phone, range finder, or any other hand-held tool you may be using. The smaller utility pouch is where I have decided to keep a small first-aid kit. I plan on unpacking the North American Rescue Belt Trauma kit and loading it into this pouch (CAT-7 will be elsewhere).

At 6’2” and 200lbs I was easily able to adjust this to fit over either a T-shirt, or heavy coat. One of the drawbacks was the color section. As it currently stands the only pattern I could find was Multi-Cam (I like this pattern). The other draw back is this rig’s .308 capacity. If you are looking for something to hold more than four .308 mags then you need to move on. This kit retails at $185, making it just expensive enough where you should be sure you want it before purchasing it. If you are already using the Haley Strategic systems this is a perfect addition (if you have a .308).

Most of the stitching is at least 10 loops per inch and in most places is double, or triple stitched for added strength. So far I am happy with this rig. I plan on chasing around bears with it this year. If I run into any issues with this rig, I’ll be sure to do a follow-up article.

Have any questions about this rig? Have a .308 rig you prefer over this one? Let me know about it in the comment section below.

An Army Rangers loadout for hog hunting

As tradition demands, when a man decides to get married his best man must take him somewhere to celebrate. We had a few ideas but finally settled on Texas. Why Texas? Well hog hunting of course. Greig had always wanted to go (so have I), and I had a Ranger buddy who lived in the area who could help set it up. So after about a 5 min conversation we settled on the idea.

The idea was to work through Thursday and catch the redeye, landing in Texas Friday morning. After getting our rental truck we grabbed breakfast from a Waffle House (I miss these from my Army days). This is where we met up with my Ranger buddy (Will). With breakfast finished we started the 2 1/2 hour drive to the ranch we had picked for the hunt.

I looked around at a few ranches, but decided on this one because they offered a different kind of hunt. Both Greig and myself have sat in blinds hunting big game, we wanted some excitement. No we didn’t get a helicopter, yes we thought about it. Instead, what this ranch offered was a wild hog hunt geared towards semi-automatic rifles. The owner would trap hogs before our arrival (a pre-arranged amount), and then release them on a smaller area of his property (40 acres). We were given an opportunity to set an ambush, and any that got past us we could hunt down.

To save cash (and reduce problems at the airport), Will volunteered to provide the firearms for the hunt. What follows is the weapons used on the hunt.

Scar 17

Geissele Scar Trigger,
Elcan Specter DR 1x-4x Optic
Magpul front grip
Harris bipod
PWS SRX rail extensions
Thor’s Hammer Selector Switch
Battle Comp Muzzle Break
Houge pistol grip

AR#1

Olympic 16” upper and Rock River Arms lower
Houge pistol grip
Smith good iron muzzle break
Magpul front grip
Eotech optic

AR#2

VLTOR MUR-1A upper and Bushmaster lower
BCM 14.5” mid-length barrel CHF
Battle comp 1.5 muzzle break (pinned and welded)
Troy Vtac alpha rail 13”
Wilson Combat tactical 3 gun trigger
Magpul ACS-L stock
Eotech optic

With our ambush set we signaled the owner to release the hogs. After traveling well over 2000 miles we were excited. It was hot (Texas hot), and we were tired, but the fatigue vanished as the three of us saw the first hog enter our kill zone. Almost at once we flipped our selectors to fire, and then Will called out, “first ones yours Greig”. Without hesitation Greig squeezed off two rounds and dropped the hog. Over the next 7-8 min the three of us systematically killed all the hogs that entered our kill zone.

Once finished we collected our hogs, we transported them back to an area setup for processing. Different than Washington, in Texas you need to process the animals as soon as you can to prevent it from spoiling (due to the heat). After processing the meat we threw it in a cooler with ice, and salted it down. Over the next couple days we drained the water and added new ice until we finally froze it for the flight home.

This certainly wasn’t the most challenging hunt I have ever been on. I find bow hunting extremely rewarding because of its difficulty. However, this was definitely a hunt I will always remember. If you have never tried hog hunting I recommend giving it a try.

Quick Tip: Determine your airlines procedures for shipping meat before you go on your hunt. My airline prohibited crushed ice, so we needed to use those blue gel packs. There was also limitations on using dry ice.

Bowhunting Deer in Washington State

Bowhunting season is right around the corner. Make your preparations now.

My previous hunting season started off in the rain. I was disappointed. I enjoyed the evenings sitting in front of a fire, relaxing after a long day hunting. However, the disappointment quickly evaporated as I was presented with my first opportunity at a deer early on. One of the more important things that I learned this season was about the weather. Although warm, dry days make for a more comfortable hunt, they decrease the chances that you will encounter a deer in the day time.

Typically, what I like to do is a sit-in early in the morning, and later in the evening. There is a certain time when it isn’t quite dark, and it isn’t quite light. In the Military we called this early morning civil twilight, and early evening nautical twilight. This is when your eyes will play tricks on you, and it just so happens that this is a great time to encounter a deer. The key is to be in your blind, or stand before these times, and to wait for a deer to come to you. When I am not sitting-in, I like to follow game trails, explore new areas, and glass open areas.

I often get asked what the terrain is like where I hunt. Check out the following video to see the type of terrain that I hunt in.

However, in the rain you can encounter a deer almost anywhere. I was shocked at how many deer I encountered while I was driving towards the area that I wanted to do my morning sit-in. They were walking along the road, standing on hills, and basically meandering around (it was still too early for a legal harvest). As I left my truck I began to follow a game trail – one I had scouted earlier in the season – towards where I wanted to do my first hunt, and I saw a large doe. She was well outside my range, about 200m away. I began a slow methodical stalk to try to get into a better position.

I carefully selected each step. I wouldn’t take more than 2-3 steps without stopping, and looking at her. She was oblivious, just munching down on her breakfast. After about 20 minutes I was about 60m away. I continued towards her until I was within 40m – I ranged her to make sure. I went to full drawn, but had to let down. I hadn’t noticed it, but there were some low over-hanging branches that I was pretty sure were going to deflect my shot. As I moved perpendicular to her, I stepped on a small branch, snap. She looked into my wood line, not at me, but in my general direction. I froze. She gingerly stood up and walked off, my one mistake had cost me.

The following day I had a similar encounter. I spotted a doe about 150m away. Like before, I began a stalk. This time I was able to get within 50m. I once again went to full draw, I waited for the wind to die down, and I released. I think that I had held the draw just a little too long, and in my depleted state I missed her by inches. The arrow cruised just over her. I inspected the area for blood just to be sure, and I tracked her into the wood line. There was no blood and no sign that I had injured her. I went back to the area she was and searched for the arrow. After about 30 minutes I gave up on the arrow. I was using a nocturnal lighted nock, and decided to come back to that area after night fall. When I returned later that night, I was able to recover the arrow from a green glowing bush. I inspected the arrow, no blood, deactivated the nock, and went back to camp.

Although I hadn’t harvest a deer, I had two legitimate chances in two days, and that was exciting. The morning of the third day the rain really started coming down. After parking my truck, and sorting my gear, I started hiking towards a field that I wanted to hunt for the day. Before I could get to the field, I had to cross an area of timber that was still pretty dark. I wasn’t really paying attention because in my mind they were in the field, not the timber. Something caught my eye on my left-hand side, another deer. This deer was quartered away to the left. I attempted to range the deer, but because it was so dense in the timber, my range finder wouldn’t register.

I estimated the deer at about 35m, I went to full draw. Like before, I noticed some low hanging branches. Rather then lower my draw, I dropped to a knee, breathed out, and activated my release. The arrow impacted the deer, and I watched as a bright green LED bounced away from me deeper into the woods.

I wanted to give the deer enough time to die, but with the rain, I didn’t want to wait so long that the blood washed away. After about 5 minutes I decided to go to where the deer had been hit, bright blood with bubbles, a killing shot. I decided to follow the torn up ground a little further to see if I could see any other signs of the deer. I walked no farther than 50m when I saw the deer down on its side. I sat in place, I didn’t want the deer to run. I watched as the deer died, this took no longer than a couple of minutes.

I approached the deer and ensured that it had died. The shot had been with the deer had been facing away from me, not usually ideal. The arrow had entered the rear quarter and traveled through the lower cavity piercing the heart – I discovered this while field cleaning. It was the best possible outcome with the shot that I was presented. I dragged the deer to my truck and began the process of field cleaning. Anytime I can harvest an animal it is a special experience. Although I knew there was going to be a lot of work processing the deer, I had already began to mentally prepare for Elk. I didn’t know it then, but Elk was going to challenge me both mentally, and physically.

Rex Nanorums Hiking and Hunting Loadouts

Winter has ceased its final death throes and Spring is moving in quickly. As such, the outdoor seasons are upon us! Its time to dust off your camping gear, repack your ruck and get ready to hit the trail. Below I’ll discuss my hiking and hunting loadouts.

Boots:

One of the most crucial elements to a successful day on the mountain or in the valley is a solid pair of boots. They should be well broken in before you rely on them for extended use! Most Rangers I know used to (and still do) wear their boots in the shower a couple of times to shorten the break-in period. This year I’ll be taking out Danner’s ultralight Tachyon for mountain hiking and their all-purpose Reckoning for when I’m stalking game.

Clothing:

While wonder fabrics and stretchy-wicking-hydrorepulsive materials have carved off a large segment of the outdoor clothing market, few come close to the all-around performance of good ‘ol wool. So, unless it’s mighty hot out, I’ll be wearing Prometheus Design Werx’s Woodsman shirt. Given how often we’re prone to rain here in the Pacific Northwest, wool’s ability to insulate when wet (and regulate temperature when hot) make it a sage choice.

Pack:

For camping I still like the spacious interior of my old Alice rucksack. For hunting, something a little more svelte is in order. Vorn Equipment’s Lynx pack, with its built-in quick-release rifle scabbard is just the ticket. With the Lynx more suitable for a day trip, Vorn offers a larger version for extended forays into the wilds.

Guns:

With a Glock 17 tagging along for general purpose use, I like to keep it secured in a Safariland QLS holster (the 7377 7TS). The QLS system makes switching mounting platforms a breeze, and the holster itself is top notch. When it’s game I’m after, it’s almost always my Remington 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD I’m carrying. If so, it’s riding in the above mentioned Vorn Lynx pack.

Misc:

It almost seems unfair to put so many items in the “misc” category when they can make or break a trip. Each warranted its own article and received it, so here’s a summary of what else fills up my ruck.

Nite Ize LED mini glow stick. Great for marking people and places in the dark.
Princeton Tec’s Fred Headlamp. Tiny weight, effective function.
Nikon Monarch rangefinder. This has made it into my range bag more often than my hunting gear, but this fall promises to be one where I need just this capability.
Geigerrig Tactical hydration unit. 70 fl oz in a rugged, pressurized design.
Kershaw Blur. This is in my EDC, which follows me to the forest as well. Sharp blade, excellent grip.

There are of course other items take see their way into my gear. As they become more permanent pieces I’ll include them in the next loadout article. Let me know in the comments below what your loadouts for hunting and hiking look like.

Why Should You Learn Crossbow Hunting for Survival?

Why Should You Learn Crossbow Hunting for Survival?

You can all agree with me crossbows have become a popular weapon after the AMCs walking dead TV series. We’ve all seen Daryl Dixon shoot down zombies, but the question is why you need to learn crossbow hunting for survival. While most people will go for a firearm as the ultimate defense and hunting weapon in a survival situation, cross turn out to be excellent options with several advantages.

There are various ways crossbows can be utilized to survive in the wilderness. It not only protects you but gives you a way to hunt down small and big games for food. If you’re looking for a different challenge from guns and bows and arrows, then a crossbow is your ideal weapon of choice in a survival situation.

The benefits of a crossbow in a survival situation

While crossbows are not the best defensive weapon, they can turn out to be handy when in a real survival situation. If looking for the best silent weapon, compound bow and crossbow are great options.

However, bows will require learning a lot before you can shoot efficiently. With a crossbow and the best crossbow scope, you can start shooting accurate arrows in minutes. The following are some of the reasons/benefits to learning crossbow hunting for survival:

Silent use

One of the main advantages of using a crossbow is that it is silent and will not alert the target or anyone near your location. When stealth is required, a crossbow turns out to be the ideal weapon of choice. However, you will need ample space to wield the weapon because of its size. The loud bangs experienced when guns are fired will not be heard here. A crossbow will not attract any attention to you before and after your kill.

Reusable arrows

We’ve all seen Daryl Dixon remove some arrows from a zombie’s head and reuse them to kill other zombies. When you consider firearms, when a single bullet has been shot, it is gone. However, ammunition of the crossbow is reusable. Once your target is hit and unable to walk, you can retrieve the arrow and reuse it on other targets. I hope you’re not the type that misses your target but then if you miss you can still get your arrows back and reuse them.

Most preppers will not only reuse the arrows but make their own from available materials like wood. This is not something you can do with guns in a real survival situation where there getting extra ammunition is not an option.

Quite easy to shoot

Crossbows are one of the easiest weapons to use whether you’re new to weapons or not. However, their weight might pose some challenges as some crossbows are unbalanced from front to back. Some crossbow models have pistol grips to make handling easier. You will realize it takes longer to load crossbows that it usually takes to shoot. Practice is always paramount if you’re to load faster and hit your target with the highest precision levels.

Once the arrow is loaded, just aim, pull the trigger and release. It is quite simple in the same way you use a gun. Having said this, you will need to train how to use a crossbow properly to be able to counters issues of weight, size, and imbalances.

Another benefit when shooting with crossbows is that you can light it on fire and use it to shoot fire at your assailants especially when they are unaware. Find a way to make flaming arrows (perhaps use an oil-dipped rag) and gain the advantage over your enemy.

We’ve seen all the good things that make crossbows great for hunting is times of survival, but they also have disadvantages. This is where learning how to use a crossbow can help you counter some of the disadvantages and make good use of your weapon. One of the biggest disadvantages when using a crossbow is that you can only load one arrow at a time. It also takes a lot of time to load which can cost your life. You need to be highly skilled in loading faster, and hit your target with the first aim.

The size and weight of the crossbow make transportation quite difficult. Crossbows are heavy and bulky to carry around. They are also more difficult to conceal around. However, most come with a good strap that helps you carry them over your shoulder. You can easily lock a bolt and carry the crossbow around all ready to fire.

Are crossbows the ultimate survival weapons?

To protect yourself, guns seem a good option, but a crossbow will certainly be great for hunting. One of the best ways to survive is to stay in a stealth mode and avoid people. Crossbows surpass guns when you need to be in a stealth mode and stay hidden thanks to their silent nature. You can hunt without alerting people around you.

Final verdict

The few disadvantages of crossbows have not stopped them from being a popular weapon among many preppers. They are fun to use and come in handy when you need them the most. When hunting for survival, I strongly believe stealth is crucial, and this is where crossbows have the edge over other weapons. Starting learning how to use a crossbow today, test your accuracy at different ranges to be ready for the unexpected.

*Photo courtesy of Shutterstock by Sergey Shubin

Author – Brandon Cox is the founder of StayHunting, who is passionate about all things of hunting and fitness. Through his hunting website, he would like to share tips & tricks, finest tech that will excite all of the intricacies of hunting whether you be an amateur or a professional.

These 4 Tips Will Help You Bag As Many Deer As Possible With Your Recurve Bow

Thousands of years ago, before the modern bows, e.g. compound bows, become the most preferred choice for hunters, most hunters relied on the traditional recurve bow to hunt the game. Yes, it could easily take down the deer, elk as well as other big games you can think of. Sadly, most hunters tend to look down up the recurve bow today, not knowing that it still makes a great bow for harvesting the deer. If you also have your share of doubts on the traditional recurve bow, the tips shared in this article will change your perspective of this bow once and for all.

Let me begin by giving you a personal story…

Back in 2011, when I was a beginner bowhunter, I received a takedown recurve bow as a birthday gift from a friend and a mentor. This presented me to do something I’ve always longed to do – hunt the deer the traditional way. So I visited my hunting spot for around 3-4 times in the same year, waited in my trusted for close to 5 hours on each visit (in the lousy weather), but luck wasn’t on my side. Not that I didn’t see any deer. Instead, they would appear at around 60 yards from my stand, and that translated to 40 yards out of range as my optimal accuracy distance was around 20 yards then. But things changed in November 2011, when I finally struck down my first deer with my recurve bow – a feeling that still runs fresh in my memory. Years have passed since then, and my experience with the recurve bow has only gotten better. Below, I’ll share with you FOUR surefire tips that will help you bag that 8-pointer, monster buck effortlessly.
Here we go:

#1. Observe Dead Silence

One thing I learned the hard way when using a recurve bow is that its bows tend to fly much, much slower unlike in compound bow. And this has some huge effects on the deer you are hoping to hit. That is, the slow speed of the arrow might alert your target deer of an incoming arrow, enabling it to “jump” the string and result in a miss. In worse cases, it might end in a poorly hit deer.

So, how do you keep up with the slow speed of your recurve bow?
It’s quite simple. The market offers you a wide range of accessories for silencing your bow, like the string silencer, that you should consider using to remain as quite as possible.

Additionally, you should consider tuning your bow and arrows to make your arrows fly as silent and smooth as possible.

#2. A Recurve Bow Too Calls For Real Practice!

Just like the compound bow, I’ll advise you to prepare for your hunting day by practicing shooting with your recurve as much as possible. This would mainly play a huge role in preparing those hunters who prefer to shoot instinctively rather than using devices such as sights. The best way to practice with your recurve bow is taking shots in various potential field positions. In fact, you should consider taking your active sessions to your hunting zone to align you with the real shooting scene. You should also familiarize yourself with firing shots with your bow held at different angles as it might be required of you when the actual shooting day comes.
While still at it, your recurve bow practice sessions should not only help improve your skills but also determine your limit. Though the bow is capable of taking on deer as far as 40 yards, many hunters find it pretty hard to make shots at this distance.

Take my advice: if you can’t keep your shots in an 8-inch target at a given distance, do not try to shoot your target at that range.

#3. Remaining Concealed Will Increase Your Odds of Success

Another thing I’d advise you to take seriously when waiting for your deer put there, with your recurve bow in hand, is keeping yourself totally hidden.
This arises from the fact that the effective range of this tradition bow is way less than that of the compound bow. To decrease the chances of the deer spotting you, consider wearing camouflage from head to toe and eliminate/mask scent that might make the game sense your presence. Also, don’t forget the basics of staying upwind and staying still in your waiting stand.

#4. Hunting With Your Recurve Bow in a Hunting Blind Pays off

And so does hunting from a treestand that’s entirely covered by a blind. This is a helpful tip I learned from my own hunting experience with the traditional bow… that recurves lack the mechanical advantage offered by the pulleys of the compound bow. As a result, you might get difficulties trying to hold your recurve bow at full draw for an extended period of time. Luckily, you can escape this struggle by hunting in thick cover (with small shooting lanes). Hunting from a ground blind tree stand covered by the blind allows you to draw as the game approaches your shooting range and release when it enters your range. As a bonus, concealing yourself in a blind helps cover your movements when drawing your bow, further reducing the chances of the deer noticing your presence.

Bonus Tip:

Remember to pay attention to the type of arrowhead you use alongside your recurve bow. I’ll recommend you to consider using the two-blade, broadheads – they’ve always worked incredibly fine for me. Alternatively, you can count on the three blade broadhead models to get the job done (but you’ll have to do your part).
Beware: Traditional expert hunters advise against using the mechanics and heads that come with large cutting diameters, as these can rob your arrow the energy that would otherwise have been used to achieve a deeper penetration.

Final Thoughts

The recurve bow, or simply the precursor of the modern bow, has existed for hundreds of thousands of years. It enjoyed wide usage from our ancestors who would kill the game from a distance and earn their daily bread.
Though we enjoy the modern bow designs today, the recurve remains a handy hunting equipment, and it will help you take down the big bucks as you’d do with the compound bow. The secret to successfully hunting the deer with your recurve bow involves implementing the simple tips I’ve offered you above.
As with any other hunting equipment, practice is the key to bagging as many deer as possible with your recurve bow.
Good luck!

Author – Jennifer is the founder of BuckWithBow.com, a great blog that focuses on helping you learn how to hunt deer with a bow. As an experienced bow hunter, she will guide you through the Do’s and Don’ts of the bowhunting world and transform you into a better hunter. Whether you are an experienced bow hunter or an absolute beginner, you will find BuckWithBow a gem!