Spring Prep

This time of year brings about a lot of new outdoor activities many of us haven't been able to do during the winter.  As the snow starts to melt and you start preparing for your outdoor adventures, don't forget to make sure you gear is all up to par before leaving the house.  Of course we all want to make sure we our gear is working properly before we put it away and store it during the winter, but it is still smart to check everything before you head out on your spring adventures.  Here are a few things you want to make sure you check before leaving the house.

1. Boots
 There is very little gear that makes as much of a difference on your experience in the outdoors than what your boots do.  If you're boots are worn out, falling apart, or just not cutting it, then chances are you're adventures are going to be cut short due to wet or sore feet.  Before you head out of the house check the stitching of your boots to make sure everything is till good.  Also if you have leather boots, make sure the leather is not cracking or ripping.  It is also smart to treat the leather on your boots with some leather lotion to prevent cracking, drying, and even help waterproof the leather.  Another part of your boot you need to check is your insoles as well as your laces.  I always carry para-cord in case I have a shoe lace malfunction.

















2. Clothing
Even though it may seem like spring is here for good, we know that at any time of the year in Idaho, you can experience all four seasons in just one day.  Make sure you always have layers no matter what, and that you have clothing for every element you may face while outdoors.  With that said, if you are getting ready to hit the hills but you just realized that you may have put on a few extra inches over the winter, it may be a smart idea to not squeeze into your hunting gear just yet and risk ripping, stretching, or ruining that gear before the season.  Clothing that doesn't fit can cause a lot of irritation and be extremely annoying while trying to hike around.  Get clothing that fits and get out to lose that winter insulation!

3. Gear

Weather it is your binoculars, gun, scope, pack, or any other type of gear, be sure you do a good look-over before you head out of your house.  One example of this is that I had left a candy bar in the outside mesh pocket of a pack one time and a mouse had sniffed it out and chewed a hole in my pack to get to the candy bar... This was when we lived in a house we were renting and our storage shed was away from the house... Needless to say, when I realized one of my pockets on my pack wasn't going to do me any good, I knew I shouldn't have brought that pack on my outing.  With your guns, be sure to clean them and take care of them before you store them away for a long period of time.  When you get them out of storage, make sure they function properly before leaving the house while also keeping safety in mind!  With the other gear like your binoculars, if you house is anything like mine, as much as you tell the kids to stay out of places, they always seem to have their hands into everything.  You want to make sure every part to every piece of equipment is there as well as make sure nothing got broken without you knowing about it.  I am yet to figure out where the base went to connect my spotting scope to my tripod, but I'm sure my kids had something to do with it :)

Weather you're hitting the hills looking for shed, new hunting areas, or just getting out and enjoying the good spring weather, be sure to check a few of these items to make sure your trip isn't ruined or lessened by your gear failing.  As I said, of course we encourage you to always clean and take care of your gear so you know what condition it is when you put it away for the season, but it is always safe to check things before you leave the house.  Preparation is a key aspect of success for any type of adventure outdoors no matter how big or small it may be.  These are just a few tips of course there are many other items you could/should check before leaving the house.  Get out there and enjoy the outdoors!

Review: Hawke Sapphire ED 10x42

This week Hawke Optics released a new logo, tag line, and other facelifts for their company and website.  With all of this hype I thought it would be a good time to finish up and post my review of one of their products.  

For the past year I have used numerous Hawke Optics' products and I can't speak high enough about the customer service and the quality of gear I have used.  From their rifle scopes to their spotting scopes they make sure that every product and feature they offer their customer is of the highest quality at an affordable price, especially compared to their competitors. 

The products I'll share with you on this post is the Hawke Sapphire ED 10x42 binoculars.  These binoculars are listed at $479 on their website and are offered in either green or black.  I have used these binoculars now for about a year and have "put them through the ringer" sort a say.  I have used them on my back country elk hunts, my desert deer hunts, in my tree stand, all of my scouting trips, and I have even used them on random trips with my family for recreation.  I pack these things every where I go including indoor archery shoots.  While packing them everywhere and using them as much as I have, I feel like I have gained a pretty good idea of their functionality and durability that I want to share with you.

At 1.6 pounds (25.7 ounces) these binos are great for packing around no matter what adventure you are on.  They are light and compact enough to make them very convenient to have on back country without sacrificing magnification or clarity.  To give you an idea of the specifications, here is the info provided on Hawke's website about these binoculars:
 Key Features:

---

• Power:  10×
• Objective Diameter: 42mm
• Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated (FMC)
• Field of View: m @1000m / yds @1000yds: 113m / 339yds
• Close Focus: 2m / 6.6ft
• Eye relief: 15mm / 0.6″
• Height: 137mm / 5.4″
• Weight: 730g / 25.7oz
• Waterproof, fog proof and Nitrogen purged.(tested 1.5m for 3mins)
• ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass for maximum clarity
• Dielectric Prism Coating
• BAK4 Prism
• Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
• Lightweight Magnesium Alloy Body
• Quick Ratio Focus Wheel
• Twist-up Eyecups with Position Stops

Additional Features:
• Stay-on Lens Covers
• Water Repellent Objective Lens Coating
• Leather Carry Case & Padded Neck Strap
• Hawke® Worldwide warranty

Check out their site to see the specifications and overview in much more detail.

Now I will get into my take on the binoculars and share with you what I like about them.  The first thing I like about these binoculars is their size and weight.  Out of all of the different binoculars I have used, I have come to realize that no matter how awesome a pair may be, if they are too big, too heavy, or too bulky then they aren't right for the conditions I am using them for.  The Hawke Sapphire binos built with the hunter in mind being 5.4" (length) inches by 4.3" (width) inches and only 1.6 pounds yet jam packed with high quality glass and amazing features.

The second thing I like about them is durability... I will admit I have dropped them (in the field and down my stairs at my house), drug them through the dirt while belly crawling toward an animal, used them in the rain/snow, and even left them in my vehicle on the floor for my daughter to step on. I don't think these situations are all what Hawke had in mind when they made their binoculars, but I can testify that they work just as well after my abuse as they did right out of the box.  I will state that I did have one of the stay on lens covers come off during a stalk on an animal so just be sure to have the lens covers secure when/if you plan on crawling through the brush.

The third thing I will touch on is the quality and clarity of these binoculars.  I have used quite a few different optics from Bushnell, Tasco, to Minox, and have borrowed even borrowed some Vortex and Swarovski optics from other hunters during archery shoots.  My take on it is that optics do what they say they will do... no matter what brand you have or what style you like, they all magnify an object and help you see what you are looking at.  What is important to me is that I get the best quality of product for what I pay.  The last thing I want to do is pay 100 dollars for something that performs like a 5 dollar pair of binoculars my 3 year old daughter would use no matter what name is on it or how cool it looks. Vise-verse, I wouldn't pay 100 bucks for a pair optics that perform like a 100 dollar pair of binoculars when I could pay 80 bucks for a pair that does does as well if not better.  With all of my random analogies put aside, I choose the Sapphire ED 10X42 because they are worth every bit of what they cost and then some.  The construction put into these binoculars makes them the set of binoculars you will use year after year to give you the clearest look at the animal you decide to pursue.

I can keep writing a few things I like about these binoculars such as the light weight rubber coated magnesium alloy chassis, the science behind the ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass for maximum clarity which I doubt I could even get close to explaining, but instead I just encourage you to check out Hawke Optics to see what I'm talking about.  If you have binoculars that you are happy with, or a company you will always go back to, then I'm happy for you.  All I am saying is that if you haven't checked this company, or this product, out then you are missing out.  As I stated earlier, this company stands behind their products and takes care of their customers.  Use their dealer locator on their website to find a dealer where you can check them out.  If you are any where in my area I would be more than happy to take you out and let you use my Hawke Optics for a day, and I can guarantee you'll be impressed!

The Sapphire ED 10x42 Binoculars and their leather carrying case

"Aim Small Miss Small"

Panoramic at the shoot

For me 3D archery shoots are a lot of fun! I enjoy getting out and surrounding myself with avid outdoors men and flinging a few arrows at some targets.  A couple weeks ago I went to my first archery shoot of 2015 with my brother and sister in law and I had a few thoughts I thought and tips I would share which helped me during the shoot.
 

















1st - Aim Small Miss Small - With no surprise, this well know adage can help a lot when shooting your bow.  At 3D archery shoots I am usually with my friends and family and the archery soon becomes 2nd best as I am able to build friendships and relationships with those I love, but no matter what I need to remember that practice doesn't make perfect... perfect practice makes perfect!  To take a few more seconds prior to pulling back to pick out a small spot you want to aim at will help your accuracy dramatically!

I use my Hawke Optics to pick a spot to aim at!

2nd - Visualize - Yeah that's right... I'm not saying you need to be the type of person who pretends to be hunting the animal and sneak up to the target before you shoot it, but if you take a moment to visualize the target as a real animal and a real situation then the intensity and focus is likely to follow! Visualizing the situation you may/hope to see yourself in this fall can prepare you mentally to not have "buck fever" as bad when/if you are lucky enough to find yourself there.

3rd - Don't Get Discouraged - Just as I've described in an earlier post, many of the shots at a 3D archery shoot can be pretty questionable.  Some of the shots have debris in the way, difficult angles, or may even be unethical.  If you don't shoot every target right where you want or think you should, don't get discouraged and start to hang your head.  Remember that you are out there to have fun and to get better.

4th - Take It Home - One big thing that I feel is important, is to not rely solely on sponsored archery shoots to get you ready for the season!  Practice, practice, practice...  Take your gear home and shoot your bow!  Make sure every piece of your gear is functioning exactly how it should and make sure you shoot your bow more than the 30-40 times once a month at an archery shoot.  I know some of my friends and family have been guilty of putting their bow away at the end of archery season and never picking it up again until the next season... I am plenty guilty of not practicing as much as I should and this is the area I am focusing on this spring/summer to become a better archery/hunter. 

These were just four of the quick tips and thoughts I had while I was at the archery shoot the other weekend.  I thought they would be good to share with those who follow my blog and, like me, want to become a better archer.  I have other goals I have set for myself on the off season that I feel I will share in another post.  If you have any tips, pointers, advice, or questions about 3D shoots or archery practice please share them in the comments and lets help each other get better! Be sure to check out my video I made at the archery shoot the other weekend!  I was spending more time thinking about camera shots than I was about arrow placement... Ignore my poor shooting!

Hawke Optics Endurance ED 20-60X85 Spotting Scope Reveiw

I am not going to lie, when I started this review I was nervous I was going to be a little biased just because I have become some a fan and believer of the Hawke Optic products.  I have used Hawke’s binoculars, rifle scopes, and their spotting scopes this last year and I have defiantly become a lifelong customer of HawkeOptics.  Just like all of their products, the price is the absolute first aspect I appreciate about this spotter.  When you compare similar spotting scopes with the same bells and whistles, the Endurance ED 20-60X85 comes in the lowest cost by a few hundred dollars.   On Hawke’s website, this spotter is listed at $899 which is rare to find a spotter like this for under (or even close to) $1,000.  I have also seen this same spotting scope listed as low as $629.00 on websites such as Ebay or Amazon.  I will assure you that the low cost of this spotter is not due to any short cuts or lack of ingenuity.  Even though I can’t begin to touch on all of the different qualities that make this spotter so great, I will point out the key points that made an impression to me.

I could try to explain lots of the different components or mechanical/structural factors that make this spotting scope so great, but I will admit that even knowing what fancy technology they use doesn’t make me like this scope any more than I already do.  If you want to read all about the nitty gritty details like the phase correction coating, roof prism, or BaK4 Glass, etc. then The Best Spotting Scopes Reviews website reviewed many different brands of spotting scopes including Kowa, Vanguard, Celestron, and Swarovski after which named the Endurance ED 20-60X85 this years “Best SpottingScope of 2014”.  This proves it's not just me and my review is not biased! :) Their article will go into all of the little details about the structure and other treatments that make this spotting scope so amazing while still being offered at such a great price!  Instead of repeating what their review shares I will focus on my experience with the Endurance ED 20-60X85 spotting scope and why I agree that it is the best spotting scope of 2014!

Weight:

One of the most impressive aspects of this spotter is how light weight it is for its size and quality.  I am not going to act like this spotter is pocket size and is small enough to not even notice it, but even with it being a normal size spotter the fact it is so light makes it a great spotter to pack around on every hunting or scouting trip without bogging you down.  The body is built out of alloy of magnesium which not only makes it light weight but also makes it very durable.   The Endurance ED measures in at 15.4 inches long, 4.1 inches wide, and 7.1 inches tall which gives it a total weight of 56 ounces (3.5 pounds) most of which is the 85mm objective lens.   The fact that Hawke made this spotting scope as light weight as possible without sacrificing the durability really makes me impressed with the scope. The spotting scope also comes with a light weight soft shell cover which protects it from the elements. 

Lighting:

Of course we all know that many of the times the animals we are after don’t get up and move around until right before dark or early in the morning when the lighting isn’t always the best.  The Endurance ED is a great spotter for those low light conditions!  With the 85 mm lens, the Endurance ED gathers a lot of light which is then focused through the extra low dispersion (hence the ED in the name of the scope) glass which not only brightens the image but also increases the quality of the image.  Another quality concerning lighting that I found to be useful is that the Endurance ED has a sliding sleeve on the end of the objective lens which can be used to reduce glare as well as protect the lens when glassing in rainy or snowy conditions. 

 

Adaptability and Focus:

So the Endurance ED has a mounting plate which is attached to a metal collar that runs around the body of the scope.  This collar allows the Endurance ED to rotate 360 degrees to adjust/adapt to whatever viewing conditions you may be in.  After you are able to adjust to the viewing conditions, the collar can be locked into place to avoid unwanted movement.  The Endurance ED has two focus knobs which allow you to fine tune your focus.  The dual focus feature was one thing I really enjoyed especially when I was using the Endurance ED for digiscoping.  The fine tune smaller wheel is awesome to adjust the image to get exactly the right focus for pictures or other close up decisions that this spotting scope will help you make!

Quality:

The last thing I will focus on is that this spotting scope has worked the same for me from the moment I took it out of the box, as it does now after putting it through countless back pack trips, quick hunting adventures, and a few unexpected two year old girl encounters.  My daughter thought she was helping dad put his hunting gear away and tried to carry my scope all by herself down the stairs… I won’t act like I’ve tossed this thing around carelessly or used it as a soccer ball, but the Endurance ED has been with me all over South Eastern Idaho this season and has performed perfectly every time I have used it.  Hawke does provide a Limited Lifetime Warranty for all of their products which gives you comfort that they stand behind their product and its durability!

Digiscoping the moon

I have used some other spotters which have been good and have worked great for me.  I have either been disappointed with how heavy and large the spotting scopes were or I was disappointed in the quality and power because the spotting scope sacrificed these attributes for size and weight.  The Hawke EnduranceED 20-60X85 is the spotter that I have been completely happy with regarding size, quality, weight, and performance as well as the fact that Hawke provides such an amazing scope at such a good price!  I couldn’t be happier with the scope and encourage you to check out the EnduranceED 20-60X85 if you are looking to get a spotter.  Be sure to check out any of the Hawke Optics products at their website!  You won’t be disappointed!  

 

Once again if you want to read a much more extensive and lengthy review of the Hawke Endurance ED 20-60X85 Spotting Scope and why it was named this years "Best Spotting Scope of 2014" you can visit http://www.bestspottingscopereviews.com/HawkeEnduranceED20-60x85SpottingScope-13.htm to read why Best Spotting Scopes Reviews website agrees that this spotter is a great find!

Disclaimer:

As with all reviews on Idaho Pursuit, the following review is my honest opinion. I received the Hawke Optics Endurance ED 20-60X85 to review as a member of the Hawke Optics Field Staff.  Hawke Optics gave me open permission to review this product honestly regardless of the outcome.  Hawke Optics did not give me any instructions or guidance on how to review the products so everything written on this post is based on my experience and opinion with the product.

The Hawke Sport HD IR 3-9X40 Rimfire Scope Review

 

This review is one that I feel strongly about and was so glad to have the opportunity to do!  This Hawke scope has solved one of my poor man problems that I have struggled with for quite some time now.  I have wanted to buy me a .223, .22-250, or .243 for varmint and coyote hunting for quite some time now but when the rifle alone will cost me $200+ and then I will have to buy a decent scope to put on it for another $150-$200... I have come to the realization that a separate rifle just to shoot varmints is not within my budget right now in my life.



Like many other hunters, I have a .22 caliber LR which I use for a number of different things but have never considered the possibility to use it varmint hunting at the distances that make varmint hunting fun.  Even with a good scope, the drop for a .22 LR is so great at further distances that being accurate at multiple distances with a .22 is nearly impossible... UNTIL NOW!

Hawke Sport Optics has developed a scope that is specifically made to make your .22 LR into a rifle you can accurately use at short or long distances without making any adjustments. The Rimfire SR Reticle Scope is designed to be sighted in dead on at 50 yard and then drop compensation is already calibrated in and etched on the glass to allow you to be sighted in at 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 yards! The .22 LR has always been one of the funnest guns to shoot and now thanks to the Hawke Vantage IR Rimfire scope it is now also one of my most versatile guns! 

The Hawke Sport HD IR 3-9X40 Rimfire scope on my Henry .22 LR lever action!

I won't waste my time sharing with you the dimensions and specifications of the scope I will just put the link to their website where you can find and read them yourself and check out their other awesome products:  http://www.hawkeoptics.com/vantage-3-9x40-rimfire-22-high-velocity.html


What I will tell you about is my experience using the scope and my opinion on it:

First of all what I like about the scope is the price! Like I said I am not in the position right now to pay bunch of money for a varmint rifle and a scope to put on it.  For $179.00 this scope is an awesome deal especially considering the versatility it gives you with a gun you already have!  

Secondly, the scope was simple and easy to use! The adjustments were super simple and clearly labled so that I knew every click adjusted the shot 1/4th of an inch at 50 yards.  The adjustments felt durable and were easy to use with my fingers.  I used a shooting sled to help me hold still while sighting in the scope and with the these adjustments I was sighted in dead on at 50 yards within 5 shots (not bad considering I almost missed the cardboard box my target was taped on with my first shot).  The scope has the aiming crosses etched into the glass along with the yardage so you don't have to memorize yardages, and the aiming crosses can also be illuminated by red or green to match your lighting while shooting! The eye relive can also be adjusted to make everything just right for how you want it!

Thirdly, this scope was accurate! I honestly didn't think I would be as accurate as I was just by sighting in at 50 yards.  It is almost to good to be true!  I thought I would sight in at 50 and then be somewhat close to my target at 100+ yards, but honestly I was able to hit Mt. Dew cans from 50 all the way out to 200 yards without any adjustments! This scope was awesome! When I have shot a varmint rifle, what makes it fun is being able to shoot such a small target at further distances and this is exactly how I felt shooting Mt. Dew cans at 200 yards!  I will note that out at 200 yards, my bullet had enough force to puncture the can but it did not pass through it.  This is just a general note so that someone doesn't think it is a good idea to try and shoot a coyote or something at those distances (you're all grown ups you can do what you want).


Lastly, the scope was fun! As much as I enjoy shooting guns I will admit that I don't get out my .22 as much as I used to because I was a little bored shooting it... I knew what it could do and I would get it out now and then just to mess around.  Now the Hawke Vantage IR brings my little .22 into a whole new view!  Finding .22 ammo may still be an issue for some, but when you are able to find it in bulk it is a good feeling to have 525 rounds in a box and know that you can fling a few rounds down range to 200 yards! This scope has helped me appreciate the sport of shooting just a little more than what I already do! This scope has taken such a traditional gun and innovated it into something new and exciting every shooter can enjoy!

I have a friend who competitively shoots at long distance competitions tell me that shooting a .22 LR at 200 yards is like shooting a .223 at 800 yards when you consider the drop compensation and how much wind is a factor... So even though it took me two shots to hit the Mt. Dew can at 200 yards I'm still pretty impressed.

 I encourage you all to check out Hawke Optics and give them a shot! If you have a .22 LR you seriously need to give this scope a try.  Hawke also has scopes for every rifle you own including your AR, deer rifle, varmint rifle, shot gun/slug gun, cross bow, and pistol!  They also have a huge selection of spotting scopes and all of their products have amazing warranties and their prices are simple the best around for the quality you get!