Hunting

WATCH – Randall’s Adventure “Why Do You Train?”

I got a chance to stop by and chat with Randall’s Adventure and Training / ESEE today at SHOT Show 2018. and see not only a number of cool knives but got to talk with the fellows behind the blades. The folks there are super friendly and I even met the mysterious “Expat” of Expat knives. On display was the soon to be released Expat folding knife that uses on ESEE 3 blade in a folding platform.

They also shared with me they’ve created an outstanding series of videos on Youtube. These videos are expansive and detail the ESEE Knives, the designers, interviews, bushcraft, demonstrations, and more. One that caught my eye and is something I’d thought was interesting enough to share with you was “Why Do You Train.”

Check it out, as well as the outstanding content on the Randall’s Adventure / ESEE youtube channel.

Rock Island Armory 10mm Lineup

Rock Island Armory is showing off their long list of 10mm 1911s to include anything from a GI model single stack that holds 8 rounds, to a double stack that holds 15 rounds. Rock Island Armory is known for their long list of 1911’s, but their 10mm lineup is one of the more unknown. Around here in Alaska, I hear people asking about what kind of 10mm pistol they should get for defense against the wild animals up here. I had no experience with the Rock Island 10mm lineup, but knew they made them. In my limited experience with the 10mm, it can be a bit snappy, so it was quite surprising to see that the recoil was so low while the pistols managed to stay relatively light. The 10mm really felt like a mild 185 grain .45 ACP when shooting their 6″ single stack Pro Match Ultra.

by David Donchess

David served in the USMC for a few years. Deployed twice and got wounded. Retired and moved to Alaska. Has a passion for reviewing and testing guns and gear of all kinds. Enjoys working to dispel myths and show that you can train and practice in a realistic, safe, and practical way.

Seven Survival Keys That Every Hunter Should Know

Each time you get to step out and decide to go hunting, you are always looking to return home safe and with a game on your back, as a sign of a good hunting session. Well, that is not always the case as sometimes people end up with injuries, or get lost and they have to get back to where they started. It is crucial that you understand some of the survival tips while hunting. You have to know some of the best ways to respond to some situations whenever they happen.

Let us get to check out some of the survival tips you could use today.

1. Check the gear before leaving the house

You always have to be prepared for the trip ahead if you want to accomplish your objectives. This means that you get to pack the right gear and supplies that would last you for the entire time you will be out hunting.

You have to check the bag to see if all the necessary gear is packed. Some of the important supplies include water, food, clothes, a first aid kit and much more. Just ensure that the first aid kit comes with the necessary medicine that is still viable for use. You do not also want to forget the flashlight batteries when going to hunt overnight, as you never know when you might need them.

2. Alternative food options

As much as you might have thought to have packed enough food, sometimes you can end up having the food supplies running out. If this happens, you have to rely on the environment to get food that will keep you going until you get back home. You have to be careful with what you decide to use as food. The environment can have many different foods safe for consumption, but you have to be sure about them.

You could start with berries, edible flora, and fruits as a way of keeping yourself full. You can also resolve to hunt rabbits, fish, and amphibians. Whenever you are not sure about the animal or fruit, you do not have to eat it.

3. Keep yourself warm

Whenever outdoors, one of your biggest enemy would be the weather elements. Cold is often a notorious killer among many people. The temperatures would often drop significantly low during the night. You need to make sure that you keep yourself warm during this time if you are going to survive the whole night.

Before you can set out to go hunting, get yourself matches or a lighter so that starting a fire is not hard. You can keep the fire going so that it helps with maintaining the body warmth and still provide enough light for yourself.

Still as part of keeping yourself warm, you need to have more layers of cloth with you while on the trip. If the cold gets extreme, you need to consider also wearing gloves and insulated boots for hunting.

4. Service your hunting rifle

Having a rifle that works is crucial for the hunting period. You need to make sure that it is working before you can start the hunting. You can have the riflescope inspected and changed whenever necessary. Having the riflescope for the rifle is important for accuracy. The same thing goes for the trigger too. You can always find new AR 15 triggers so that you are confident about the working of your rifle before you can start hunting. A working rifle is important to use it for protection whenever danger arises while hunting in the wild.

5. Know how to read the map

The worst can be when you have no idea how to read your map and you have to get back from where you started. It is important that you get to a class on reading maps and using the compass so that you can navigate to your starting point easily whenever you get lost. Also with the knowledge of the area, you are likely to choose a safer route as compared to the others.

For places with mountains, it is better to choose routes with gentle slopes so that walking is also easier for you. Do it right and you should easily get to hunt and get back home safely without any incidents.

6. Notify people about your hunting activities

You do not just want to leave home without telling anybody where you are going. Let your friends and family know that you are out hunting and they expect you to return on a certain date. This is important so that whenever anything happens and you are late on your return date, they know where to start looking for you.

In some cases, the park rangers have managed to rescue lost hunters thanks to the information offered by the friends and family members. Just like that you could now be saved as compared to someone who never leaves information about his whereabouts.

7. Keep yourself hydrated

If you are going to survive when lost in the wild, then you have to consider keeping yourself replenished with enough food and water. Hydration is important to keep you moving even when the food is over. It is always important that you do not get to panic when you are lost, but rather conserve as much energy as possible.

It is the reason you would be advised to always have a hydration system with you when hunting. The system can be used to filter more water from the forest so that you get to drink clean water and stay alive.

Conclusion

You have to always take precautions when it comes hunting so that your survival is not compromised. Do not take dangerous routes when you clearly know that is the case. Take the time to understand the hunting grounds so that you get to hunt in the right and safe areas. To make survival even better, you have to be fit for the hunting process. Even if it means working out, make sure to do so to keep yourself safe.

This post first appeared on blackmanwithagun.com

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They will never see it coming: Sightmark IR illuminator for night hunts

Instantly increasing your night vision visibility with a click of a button, the powerful Sightmark SS1000 IR Illuminator (SM27000) is the perfect accessory for your night vision and digital night vision devices. The 1,000 mW, 850nm LED IR light enhances night vision capability in low light environments and features adjustable brightness settings for close to long range.

The SS1000 IR Illuminator can be held like a flashlight or mounted to your gun for maximum versatility and boasts 100, 500 and 1,000mW settings. Ideal for nighttime hog and predator hunts, the SS1000’s aircraft grade aluminum construction; Type II Mil-spec anodizing; and shockproof, waterproof, and dustproof design make it one of the most rugged IR Illuminators on the market.

The Sightmark SS1000 IR Illuminator features a 60 hour battery life on low setting, and comes with a rechargeable 18650 battery kit. The focusable beam, varying from spotlight to floodlight, allows the shooter to choose the best possible setting for their low light visibility needs.

About Sightmark®

Sightmark manufactures award-winning products including riflescopes, gun sights, laser sights, night vision, flashlights, bore sights and other cutting edge, premium shooting accessories. Inspired by military and law enforcement technology, Sightmark products are designed for competition, shooting, home defense, personal safety and other tactical applications, as well as hunting. For more information about Sightmark products, visit www.sightmark.com. For media requests related to Sightmark, please email [email protected].

Photos courtesy of Sightmark

Cut processing time with the 12 Survivors Bare Bones Field Dressing Kit

Helping you process game meat as fast as your pumping adrenaline, the 12 Survivors Bare Bones Field Dressing Kit (TS71006) stays sharp to put the finishing touches on your successful hunt.

When it comes to filling your freezer, you need tools specialized for the job. The Bare Bones Field Dressing Kit includes two unique blades, a guthook and caper. The Gut Hook Knife boasts a razor-sharp 3.2” drop point blade, complete with an integrated guthook notched into the spine near the blade-tip. The included Caper Knife features a 2.6” blade, perfect for your game-processing needs. Both blades are constructed of heavy-duty 5Cr15MOV stainless steel and feature a skeletonized handle for decreased weight and increased ergonomics.

The 12 Survivors Bare Bones Field Dressing Kit includes a rugged piggy-back sheath complete with a built-in knife sharpener, designed for safe storage, easy carry and quick sharpening. When things get messy and excitement is high, the Defense Grip coating provides safe, slip-resistant cutting.

About 12 Survivors®

12 Survivors is a modern brand concept built around positive principles and support of the outdoor lifestyle, providing quality products such as knives, multi-tools, tents, first-aid kits, backpacks and other innovative gear to meet the demanding needs of survivalists, preppers, campers, hikers and hunters. For more information about 12 Survivors products, visit www.12survivors.com. For media requests related to 12 Survivors, please email [email protected].

Chestnut Hill Mast-Bearing Trees: Spice Up Your Plot for Bigger Bucks

Variety is the spice of life, and if you’re a white-tailed deer, that certainly applies to food. That’s why Chestnut Hill Outdoors, home of the very best food plot tree, the Dunstan Chestnut, provides a large selection of both hard- and soft-mast trees for use in food plots and attracting wildlife.

Whitetails and most other wild game make use of a wide variety of food sources, and since plants, fruit and nuts product at different times of the year, it is very important to plant a diversity of crops, so that you continue to attract game throughout the season.
The secret to teasing a deer’s taste buds is to provide a variety of food sources in a concentrated area. The more variety, the more deer will come and spend time on your hunting land. And the best way to create an irresistible deer buffet is to enhance your food plot with both hard-mast and soft-mast trees from Chestnut Hill Outdoors.

“Deer and other wildlife seek a variety of food types every day,” said R.D. Wallace from Chestnut Hill Outdoors. “If you’ve ever watched whitetails move through the woods, you know they stop frequently to nibble on leaves and mast. When you concentrate a variety of preferred foods in a relatively small area like a food plot enhanced with mast-bearing trees from Chestnut Hill, it creates a variety deer can’t resist. The deer are seeking the nutrition that other leafy foods do not provide. They’ll spend more time on your plot, which increases your chances of success.”

In addition to providing variety, Chestnut Hill trees dramatically increase the amount of time your food plot is effective. A variety of tree species that provide both hard and soft mast entices game with food that becomes favored at different times. This creates a series of high-activity windows that help draw and hold game even when your main food plot crop isn’t at its peak.

Even if your food plot has naturally occurring oaks nearby, adding soft-mast trees like apple, pear and persimmon will increase its drawing power. Also remember that oaks don’t produce acorns every year, and that game prefer the taste of white oaks over red oaks, because of lower tannin in the acorns. Chestnuts are sweet, with no tannins in the nut kernels, and are very high in carbohydrates and protein that other mast foods do not provide, so deer prefer them over all other hard mast. In areas with no other chestnuts, your plot becomes a magnet.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to plant a few extra Chestnut Hill trees, and an even better idea to add several varieties of soft-mast trees that produce fruit and draw animals every year. And if you really want to drive them wild, plant a few of our Dunstan Chestnuts.

Finally, if the idea of planting trees is intimidating, visit the Chestnut Hill Outdoors website for all the information you could ever need.

It’s surprising now easy it is to do the actual planting, and the website will tell you when to plant, and which trees will do well in your area. You might have to wait a few years for the trees to begin producing, but probably not as long as you think. Best of all, your Chestnut Hill hard- or soft-mast bearing tree will continue to add to your food plot experience for years into the future.

Chestnut Hill Outdoors is the source for wildlife-friendly trees and information. Visit our website to learn about the amazing Dunstan Chestnut or for information on how to plant and care for your food plot trees, at www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com.

Chestnut Hill is the best place for you to purchase your food plot and deer attractant plants because they offer a large selection, their plants are specifically bred to attract deer, and they offer customers different sized plants at different levels of growth.