Raptor bow and arrow placed on a boulder

Raptor from Simon’s Bow Company

A modern interpretation of the traditional Asian Horse bow.  What are horse bows you ask? Well, it’s a broad term that generally covers many different types and sub-styles of bows that were common in Eastern Europe and Asia. If we can for this discussion, we’ll exclude various bow styles from Native American tribes, many of …

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Muck Boot Company Artic Ice knee-high boot and the ankle high Outscape Chelsea waterproof slip on shoe

Muck Boots Product Review

I recently had the pleasure of trying out two new products from the Muck Boot Company. The Artic Ice knee-high boot and the ankle high Outscape Chelsea waterproof slip on shoe.  Two very worthy products.  Muck is well known for their high quality neoprene barn and hunting boots.  Muck has been a top provider of …

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hand hold fish

South Fork Trout Fishing

Something told me we were in for a whale of a day of fishing, as we readied the drift-boat near the ramp of the Snake River in eastern Idaho. Across the pavement crawled a salmonfly the size of a chubby, winged golf tee. One creepy-crawly insect was followed by another and another. They flitted about, …

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Orvis Waders

Breathable Boot Foot Waders

I’m not always a fan of technological advancements and new ideas. Some seem ill conceived or forced. Solutions to non-existent problems are everywhere you look. Some threaten to throw a wrench into the complex mechanism that is the global economy and our constitutional republic. There is no shortage of harebrained ideas born of what some …

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Mirage Reel

The Reel Deal – Orvis Mirage

Fishing reels come in many different styles, types and sizes. They’re available in just about any color, price point and quality level. Whether for casting, spinning, trolling, deep sea fishing or fly-fishing, there is a dizzying selection, and features, proper application and costs can be tough to figure out. High price points used to be …

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OregunSmithing Carbon Fiber Stock for Howa Mini Action

A Major Upgrade for Howa Mini

For anyone that has read this column before, you may recall our review of the Howa 1500 Mini-action bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel.  It’s a great rifle in its relatively low price point.  Metalwork is good, as is accuracy.  Overall it’s a great value, it’s a great design and it’s a light handy gun. About …

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Orvis Mission Switch Rod

Orvis Mission Switch Rod

Product review Spring steel-heading is a lifelong passion that I look forward to as much as any other fishing or hunting activity.  For steelhead, fly-fishing is my tonic and I guess I’ve tried just about every sub-category in fly-fishing in order to catch steelhead.  From Alaska, the pacific Northwest and all around the Great Lakes …

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Brandon Vaughan holding a Muskie

Muskies – Lake Leviathan Lying in Wait

Feared, coveted, cause of consternation, frustration, exultation and obsession.  The Muskie, aka muskellunge, from the Ojibway word maashkinooze, meaning “great fish”, or mashkinonge, meaning “big pike”…or possibly the Algonquin word “mashkinunga”, or about a dozen variations from French Canadian, tribal dialects and English mash ups, Muskie….or maybe Musky is the common term.  In Latin, it’s …

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Gear Up for Bird Hunting

Gearing up for bird hunting! Orvis.com After a pretty slow start to my archery season that included some unseasonably warm weather, I decided to take a few days in the third week of October and switch gears.  Leaving my tree stand in late October isn’t easy and it takes a pretty attractive plan “B” to …

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