Brandon Vaughan

Brandon Vaughan has over 40 years of personal and professional experience in a broad array of hunting and fishing disciplines, from Alaska to Belize. Past professional experience includes working as a professional guide in Alaska and around the Great Lakes region. In addition to hunting and fishing throughout the lower 48, Canada and Central America, Brandon has been an Orvis Endorsed Fly-fishing guide, a fly-fishing and fly-tying instructor, a hunting guide and shooting instructor.  
Fishing net

Fixing and Recycling Gear

Outdoorsman tend to accumulate stuff.  Experienced outdoorsmen accumulate a lot of stuff.  Spouses may refer to this “stuff” as junk or crap and may refer to the aforementioned outdoorsman as sentimental fools at best, or mentally defective hoarders at worst. As experienced outdoorsmen (aka mentally defectives), we should, at a certain point in our sporting […]

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a rifle for high places

A rifle for the high places

Am I a gun nut? I don’t know.  Non-hunters or shooters would say I was, but they almost never get anything right when comes to guns, shooting or hunting.  I do admit to having a bit of an obsession with great gear, lightweight gear, great design and construction in any gear, whether it be designed for shooting,

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Five fly-fishing rods with a tape measure showing length

Tenkara

I’m a fly fisherman. I’ve been a fly fisherman for over 45 years. As such, I gravitate towards that tradition. Years ago, when I first discovered Tenkara fly fishing, I was perhaps, a little dismissive, a bit amused, but in general, not overly intrigued. Why would I consider wasting my time on this goofy, less

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Torso of main in turquoise shirt wearing Simms waders

Simms G3 Guide waders and boots

If you’re a serious and avid fly-fisher, you’ll likely know the name Simms – Simmsfishing.com.  You’ll also likely know that wader quality matters, because you’ve also probably had waders that didn’t live up to your expectations if you’ve been at it for a while. I’ve been fly-fishing, and wading in lakes and rivers long enough to

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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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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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