As you know from my video the other week, I have a Go Pro HD Hero. The little camera is awesome and will be our second angle cam during hunts as well as what I'll strap to me on my next Linville Gorge adventure. Which brings me to the point of this post. While browsing the internet earlier, I ran across a quick review of the Go Pro on a blog called Chinny's Convulsions and wanted to share it with you since the blogger lays a foundation by answering some common questions regarding camera selection and accessories before giving his final thoughts on the product. Even though I've been thinking about typing up a review myself on the Go Pro, the post I found nails exactly how I feel about it and answers the same questions I had when searching for a P.O.V. (Point of View) camera earlier this year (Plus it gives me a chance to take the easy way out by not having to type up something that would sound pretty much the same; I won't lie, the path of least resistance is one I'll take in this instance!) So give "My Life With a Go Pro" a read and hopefully you'll join us in using the HD Hero for filming your different outdoor activities.
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A trolling charm for many species of fish! ![]() The J-Plug has long been one of my favorite trolling lures. This plug comes in multiple color combinations (that can be found here) as well as come in three different varieties: Rattling, lighted and everglow, which gives you a lure for every kind of fishing you can think of from daytime to nighttime trolling. They also come in lengths from 4 inches to 5 1/2 inches. They are unique in a couple of ways: 1) They have a very cool darting action that really catches the attention of a variety of fish. I've caught bass, trout and even Northern Pike on these plugs. 2) Also, the lure has a hook harness that I have not seen with other lures. These harnesses usually have two treble hooks and thread through the nose of the lure where they can be attached to a swivel or tired directly to the line. I've usually fished these in combination with a Lurh Jensen Dipsy Diver, which I'll detail below. ![]() These Dipsy Divers are really a very nifty gadget! They give any fisherman the ability to fish lures including J-Plugs and spoons at a variety of depths very easily! You can fish from just below the service to the bottom by varying the size of the diver and the amount of line you let out. You can also vary the angle of dive to have these "plane" out to one side or the other. These divers can be found at Bass Pro and Cabelas, just do a search for 'Dipsy Diver' and you'll see the variety that is available. The larger 4-7/8" divers will go to about 100 feet and the smaller 2-1/4" will dive to about 20 feet. I use the following depth chart as a guide. Oh, did I mention that these come in different colors as well and can be matched to the water color in order to act as an attractant as well? Not everyone has the money to invest in down riggers and this gives you an easy and budget friendly way to troll, with prices ranging from $9 - $15. The setup is simple. You'll want to use a sturdy trolling rod and reel such as the following Dipsy Diver Model from Cabelas. I usually use 20lb test mono on the main line that will be tied from the rod to the Dipsy Diver, just as you would tie a lure to the end of your line. You then just need to add a leader to the back of the diver, I usually use 15 lb test but this can vary depending on the size and type of fish you are going after. To the other end of the leader you tie your lure, such as the J-Plug I detailed above. Once you have your rig set up, you are ready to hit the water and do some fishing! The only other note I have is that there is a release, much like that of a down rigger. When trolling, your rod will be bent quite a bit (this is normal due to the tension the diver applies); once a fish bites and is on the line, the added weight and fight of the fish will "throw" the release and the Dipsy Diver will stop diving and you can easily fight your fish to the surface. If you need to check your line for weeds, etc while trolling, you can give a good tug (just like you were setting the hook on a fish) to "throw" the release manually. This will allow you to retrieve the diver rig. Don't try to reel in the diver without doing this as it will be quite difficult! If you've used either of these, please let us know of your success stories as we would love to hear what color combinations you favor! - Paul Nicolucci ![]() I've been in the market for a rifle since moving to North Carolina a couple of years ago. I've been looking for a multi-purpose rifle for a left-handed shooter. After much searching, I believe I have set my eyes on a rifle. I'll detail my findings and rationale for wanting to make the Blaser R8 my next firearm purchase. I'm not positive, but it seems as though this German firearm has just started gaining popularity in the US. You can find their products here. Some of the unique features of the R8 are the following: 1) The R8 is one of the fastest shooting bolt-action rifles available. There is no upward lift on the bolt needed, just a straight pull back and a push forward is all you need to cycle another round. 2) The R8 is also a modular system. There are a variety of barrels that can be purchased. Each caliber has a caliber group, meaning you can switch from one caliber to another caliber in the same group by just switching the barrel. If you want to move a caliber in one group to a caliber in a different group then you'll need to purchase a corresponding bolt head. Each of the barrels comes with the correct magazine insert that is needed. This feature allows a hunter to purchase one rifle and use it for multiple species of game, making this the perfect all-around bold-action rifle. For details on the modular system see the information here. 3) The magazine is located in the trigger assembly. Doing this cuts down on the length of the rifle; it's a pretty slick design if you ask me! 4) The R8 saddle mount is a scope mounting system specific to the Blaser line of rifles. This allows the scope to be attached and detached from the rifle very easily, all without any need to zero the scope after removal and attaching of the scope. 5) These rifles are available in left-handed models so this is perfect for left and right-handed shooters! Now the only thing that has stopped me from purchasing one of these rifles right now is the hefty price tag. From all of the reviews that I have read, the rifle is well wroth the money in every way. You can purchase a R8 Profession Package which include the rifle, case, scope, scope mount, flash light and a hunting knife for about $3600. I believe I'm in love with the rifle so I've started saving to make a purchase! For a more detailed review check out the RealGuns review. If anyone has any personal experience with these rifles please post your comments! -Paul Nicolucci I was born left-handed and have shot right-handed firearms most of my life. A couple of struggles for a left-handed shooter shooting a right-handed gun are the following:
- If you are shooting a semi-auto gun, then you find that your eyes take a beating from debris from the ejected shot. Also, the expired shell can sometimes come back to land on your arm (ouch if it's a rifle shell and you are shooting in short sleeves ). - The reach around is uncomfortable! Now get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about the safety...jeez. Especially in those quick off hand shots where you only have moments to acquire a target and make a successful shot, that difference in a second to reach around to the other side of the gun to click the safety off is sometimes all it takes to make you miss that shot or miss your shot opportunity. - Shooting a right-handed bolt action gun left-handed is very difficult and making a follow-up shot almost impossible without taking your eye off of the target. Through my years of struggling I have done in-depth research and have found and bought a couple of guns that have solved these issues for me. Shotguns: 1) The Browning BPS - I bought one of these about two years ago. I purchased the 3" model with the cantilever barrel and mounted a Nikon 2X7 scope on it after purchase. The gun is also covered in Mossy Oak camo. Pros: - Multiple configurations and options available including additional barrels and camo options - Bottom load and eject very similar to the Ithica back in the day - Moderately priced at around $650 - Top mounted tang safety, making this a true ambidextrous gun Cons: - Can't buy a configuration with a slug barrel and a 3.5" chamber. You will need to purchase the 3.5" version and then a 3" slug barrel in addition if you wish to have a dual-purpose 3.5" gun. 2) The Benelli Super Black Eagle II - I searched high and low to find a good semi-auto shotgun before I ended up purchasing the Super Black Eagle II. Benelli has a good selection of semi-auto shotguns in various configurations. You can research the different models here. I settled on the 3.5" model in Black Synthetic. These usually run between $1500 and $1600 at your local firearms dealer. I've used this gun for multiple outings for duck and crow hunting as well as countless outings for skeet and trap. Pros: - A true left-handed semi, including left-handed safety and ejection - Multiple aftermarket options including barrels and chokes - Very reliable in the field - Strips down easily for cleaning; the barrel goes all the way to the start of the stock, fully exposing the bolt for easy cleaning and removal - Cycles all shells reliably Cons: - The price tag can be scary, but if you think about the amount of use you'll get out of it, it's not so bad after all. 3) Remington Model 870 - Remington also makes a left-handed model, making their trusty and proven Model 870 in a left-handed configuration. I have not had the chance to shoot the left-handed version personally but I have a great deal of experience with the Model 870 in their right-handed configuration, so I'll talk to that as it's the same gun just with the safety and ejection port on the left side of the firearm. Pros: - The proven reliability of the 870 that has been around for years - Many aftermarket options including chokes, stocks, forearms and barrels - The cheapest price tag yet, about $450 Cons: - Only a 3" chamber. So for those of us looking to shoot 3.5" turkey or goose mags we are out of luck with this one. Rifles: You might be thinking by now: "What about a rifle for the lefty??" Well, I don't have any first hand experience but I have a few on my radar. 1) Savage 2) Blazer - Another post detailing these firearms in the days to come. They have a unique bolt design and allow you to switch calibers pretty easily! 3) Tikka T3 4) Weatherby 5) Remington - Remington has an entire section of left handed firearms on their website. 6) Browning Handguns: I've started researching handguns as North Carolina is a carry state and I'd like to pick up a couple in the next year or so. I'll share what I know so far. 1) Beretta PX4 Storm - Many other manufactures offer ambidextrous slide catches, mag releases and safeties that can be converted for a lefty. It's really just takes some talking to a knowledgeable dealer. Any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments section. -Paul Nicolucci Today I deviate from my gun collection to showcase my bow, a 2008 Bowtech Guardian. I knew whenever I first shot this bow that I would have one; it has a smooth draw cycle, felt good and fit me well, is dead-in-hand and is extremely quiet. I have my 50-60# limbs maxed out, giving me a draw weight of around 62#, which is plenty enough to zip my arrows through the rib cage of an unsuspecting whitetail.
My bow is decked out in Realtree APG and has the inVelvet finish, which is supposed to protect against dings in the bow's aluminum riser and limbs as well as keep things quiet if you hit the riser against, say, your stand, while a P&Y 8-pt is standing right below you. I will note that while it does help to dampen noise in a dull "thud" fashion, the camo portion of finish is rubbing off in certain areas, especially around the grip (but not the inVelvet itself). This bow is a family member, along with the General and Commander, of Bowtech's 2007 and 2008 top of the line, binary cam bows that feature Center Pivot technology. I won't go into the specifics of what this means as far as performance as you can follow the link to see all about it and decide for yourself, but I will say that this bow is considered by many (from what I have read online in both articles and forums) to be one of the finest shooting bows ever produced and I have to say I agree. (Why do you think I chose it over the Matthews DXT and Fred Bear Truth when it came time to make a decision on what to spend my hard-earned money on?) The bow may not be a speed demon, its birth certificate has an IBO speed of only 308 fps at 60 pounds, but I am able to produce enough arrow speed and kinetic energy to use expandable broadheads. As for what accessories I have on the Guardian and what I shoot, I'll just post up a list of my set-up below:
-C.B. So I thought I'd do a small series on what you can find if you took a look in my gun and bow cases, while giving you my brief opinion on each gun/bow. First up is my CVA Optima .50 Caliber Muzzleloader. I've had this gun since 2007 and love the way it shoots, especially with its thumbhole stock. The break-action is definitely a great thing to have as it makes putting in the 209 primer (ignition source) a snap as well as getting the breach plug out and cleaning very easy. I shoot two White Hots pellets as my powder behind a 295 grain Powerbelt hollow point and it has killed them dead every time (A cowhorn spike, 6 point and two does).
I have missed two shots around 125 yards or so however, but both times I believe operator error was the cause. I missed the 6 point a day before I was lucky enough to get a second shot at him because I did not have a steady rest and rushed my shot. I missed last years doe before I had dropped her in her tracks at 50 yards due to forgetting about tree branches I was using for cover being right in front of the barrel. In neither case do I believe the bullet dropped too much at the 100+ yard distance. Ideally I like to keep my muzzleloader shots within a 100 yards but I make sure to sight in 2 inches high at 75 yards to allow for some drop with my heavier bullet in my allocated effective/maximum (and comfortable) range of 150 yards with this gun. I'll leave you with the only con I have for this gun: The ramrod. It has a twist out end used to lengthen it by a few inches that I find annoying to use as it doesn't want to hold very well when extended. My original ramrod also had issues with rattling and not stay put in its holder area under the barrel, though the new one I got for it at Christmas does stay put, so far. All-in-all, CVA makes great guns and my Optima is one of them. I'd suggest it to anyone looking for a new muzzleloader or wanting to get into the sport. -C.B. ![]() I don't know about you, but if I am wearing pants then I have at least two knives on me. Pocket knives are just incredibly useful tools. Almost every day I find myself needing to open a box, trim some cardboard, cut a rope to length, or accomplish any of a myriad of other precise cutting tasks and I find myself extremely grateful that I have an appropriate tool on my hip that I can access, one handed, in a matter of seconds. That convenience and efficiency is the primary reason why clipping a pocket knife into my right hip pocket has become as much a part of my morning routine as shaving or putting on my socks. There are of course fringe benefits to having such an essential tool on your person at all times. These will be realized if you ever find yourself in a survival situation, be that situation of the wilderness, trapped-by-seatbelt, or two legged predator variety. Another fringe benefit comes from watching your metro-sexual coworkers nearly faint when you deploy one of these blades to make quick work of a task that would have sent them running for their safety scissors. I've been through a fair number of daily carry knives, but for the last few months I've been carrying the SOG Twitch II and I've been very happy with it. The edge of the 2.68" blade was razor sharp out of the box and has so far proven itself to be quite durable despite frequent abuse. In the past I've usually carried significantly larger knives in the 4" range and I was initially skeptical of the comparatively compact blade. However, I am happy to report that I've been using the knife for nearly four months and I have yet to encounter a situation where I caught myself wishing for a longer blade. I should also note that the Twitch II has a straight edge from tip to base. I consider this feature a must-have in my carry knives, I find that pocket knives which have both serrated and straight edges on the same knife offer too little blade real estate to function effectively in either capacity. The hinge mechanism has also impressed me. The fit and finish of the knife in general and the hinge in particular is exceptionally good. There is absolutely no noticeable play in the hinge joint and the overall machining quality is higher than you would expect for its reasonable (~$50) price point. The opening is a lightning fast spring assisted affair that can be initiated either by using your index finger on the "kick" that protrudes from the back or by using your thumb on the more traditional stud. There is a safety lock on the back of the knife that prevents the spring assist mechanism from opening the knife. However, employing this feature dramatically impedes your ability to quickly press the tool into action. So, I employ Glock safety philosophy and keep my finger off the "kick" until I'm ready to get the party started. Your mileage may vary, enter at your own risk. Now, I don't use the Twitch II as a hunting or a fishing knife. For those specialized applications I have fixed blades that I carry on my belt. But, for an everyday carry knife, I've yet to come across a product that I would recommend over SOG's Twitch II, and that's saying something given the pile of worn out and broken folders I've left in my wake. Pros:
![]() I recently purchased one of the Johnny Stewart Compact Digital Game Callers for a Coyote hunt that I went on about two weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the call. There are five different models: 1) Predator 1 - Baby Bird, Cottontail, Puppy Cries, Rodent, Woodpecker. 2) Predator 2 ( Call being reviewed ) - Cottontail, Howls, Coyote Pup, Fawn, Jackrabbit. 3) Deer - Buck Grunt, Doe Bleat, Estrus Bleat, Rattling, Snort Wheeze. 4) Turkey - Cluck & Purr, Cutting, Excited Hen Yelp, Locator Gobble, Soft Hen Yelp. 5) Crow - Come Here, Crow Attack, Discovery, Distress, Owl Attack. I purchased and used the Predator 2 model. It is affordable at a price point around $40 and comes pre-loaded with sounds, meaning there is nothing more to do except take it into the field and see if you can call in any critters. We were hunting a small lot of woods and while the sound was quite loud, if you are looking for a very long distance call I would recommend picking up a set of external speakers. One of the Cass Creek Bighorn remote speakers would work perfectly with this unit and can be found for about $50 at CassCreek. The included remote was also a nice addition as it allows you to change sounds easily.
Pros: - Light weight - Pre-loaded sounds (no need to download or purchase others) - Remote that works up to 50 yards away - Reasonably priced - Quality sound from such a small unit - External speaker jack to hook up your own speakers - Speaker pivots 180 degrees Cons: - There are only 5 sounds and no way to add additional sounds (though for the price this is still not a bad value) - Volume not remotely adjustable So if you are looking for an affordable caller for a specific species of animal, I would suggest looking into one of these units. You can read more about the unit at Johnny Steward Attractor Calls. You could even purchase multiple units and use them with the same external speaker and you would still have spent less than purchasing one of the bulky programmable electronic callers. As for one result from our first time using this unit, during our first hour of the hunt we had a coyote answer back and were able keep him interested for about 15 minutes with this caller. While we never were able to get a shot, I plan to use this call again in the near future; hopefully this time with a dead predator or two by the end of the day. If anyone has had any experience with the other versions of the call or if you'd like to share your experiences with this Johnny Steward call with others, please leave us feedback with your comments. -Paul Nicolucci |
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