Here's to the bowhunter in you.

Selecting a bow can be just as confusing as buying a new car. There are so many varieties so many options so many subtle differences that you may or may not know what exactly they do. The best thing that you can do once again is research. The second thing that you can do is find a really great archery shop that is local to you that you can make a few visits to, asking questions and hopefully they will allow you to shoot the bows. One of the few things that I have been told over and over and over is that you will know when you have the right one. Just yesterday I came to experience such a thing. It started by me getting off work early and deciding that I was going to meet my friend Joe at the local archery shop, Joe is one of my good friends and mentors that knows a ton about bows. I went in there with no intentions of buying a bow that day but I wanted to look around, see my options, feel them, and get measured for what size of bow I would need to be looking for. What I wasn't prepared for was falling in love with a bow that somebody had taken in. This bow was not new but new to me and it came as a full set up. I looked at three used bows shot all three and made the determination of which one I felt suited me best. There's a little give-and-take between weight and balance, that is something that is really hard to explain and something that you really just must experience in person. The way the bow is held and feels in your hands, how heavy it is and the stability it gives you, and how the arrow fires from the bow are all things to take into consideration. Yesterday I fell in love with a pre-loved Mathews bow. I didn't know what I was looking for to start with I just knew that I would know when I found it. There are a few brands that are well-known such as Mathews, Hoyt, PSE, and a few various other names out there. Mathews and Hoyt are like the Chevy and Ford when it comes to trucks. There's this fun-loving battle that rages on between the two, I experienced this even with my friends. Regardless of the name it's all about the feel, the confidence that you have in the bow, and how it shoots for you. You can Google or YouTube the parts and how they work, what they do, and how to choose something that suits you best. I started with a PSE bow 16 years ago as a young girl. I needed a bow that would grow with me as my stature changed and my skill progressed. It was a good little bow that treated me well. There have been a lot of technological advances in the last 16 years and I felt that it was necessary and time for me to upgrade if I was going to become a lethal Archer. The idea in my mind of being an Archer means that I need to do my due diligence and practice, I don't want to wound an animal and leave them to suffer and maybe regain health or die and going wasted. Therefore I feel it is important to be the very best that I can be when it comes to this sport and harvesting meat for the freezer. For me it will never be about the rack on their head, the color of their hide, or any reason other than simply providing for myself or family when the day comes. Hunting provides you with the most raw, natural form of meat. People talk about grass-fed beef, what's best for our health, whats best for the animal needs, etc. In my opinion this is as pure as it gets. I know I am getting off on a tangent and I will redirect to my bow. One thing to remember is that this is an investment piece and you will get what you pay for in terms of: will it last, can I get replacement parts if need be, does it hold it's value. By buying an already used and well cared for bow I saved about 50% of brand new price, now this won't happen in all cases but I got lucky and knew if I didn't jump on the deal it would be gone. The shop I stopped into was Advantage Archery in Twin Falls, Idaho. Caleb, the owner has a great wealth of knowledge and treats his customers well. After all, when you live in a small town that's how you stay open and get repeat business. Keep in mind you do not have to have top of the line when you first decide to get into bow hunting, but having good and reliable gear is just as vital as practicing every day. If you are brand new start with the bow hunters ed class nearest you, then ask local places that carry archery supplies where you can take classes to learn more. Remember, SAFETY FIRST!

A pack is a pack is a pack..

For anyone who has taken an interest in backpacking, we all know that a pack is the pack is a pack right? Wrong! Each and every person has a different build and packs come just as different as people do. The best thing that you can do for yourself is your research. Getting online looking on forums like rokslide, going to your local hunting store, doing YouTube searches and reading the comments section below the videos can really give you the advantage to figuring out what is going to suit you the best. They will ask loads of questions, discuss personal experiences, and give honest review of the gear because they are not affiliates of the brand. I for instance am looking for a pack that fits a small framed woman, I'm 5'6" and my weight fluctuates between 125 and 130. Not everyone with this stature will carry the weight the same, for example I have longer legs and a shorter torso. So when it comes to looking at hunting packs that fit my needs the top things I am looking for are quality, adjustability, weight, options for add-ons if needed, good customer service with the company, good reviews, and will the pack do everything I need it to. One thing I suggest doing is making a list; what do I need from this pack, which companies have bags that fit my criteria, how am I going to make a decision on something that is a long term investment. Packs can range from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars with all the bells and whistles. My friend Abe made a great suggestion to me and I'm going to share it with you. If you can narrow the packs down to your top 3 contact customer service of the companies and ask them when and order would need to be placed for expected arrival just before a set weekend and be sure to ask about their return policy. You can put the three packs on your credit card and have them shipped all the same time. Load the packs with some weight (say a bag of dogfood) and test them all out in the comfort of your home. Look them over, make comparisons, and pay attention to how each pack feels to you carrying the load. You will be able to adjust the packs and compare how the weight is carried. Ideally you want 70-80 percent of the weight to rest on your hips and not your shoulders. You also want to be able to keep the load high and tight. This will help with your center of gravity. So far the packs I am considering are EXO mountain gear 3500 cubic inch

( https://youtu.be/27zKzJvah30 , https://youtu.be/6yJWGxZuNP0 ), kifaru native and nomad 

( https://youtu.be/1psQxhGbvXI , https://youtu.be/QwOJwQ7Ckus ), and the mystery ranch metcalf ( https://youtu.be/2EUSy7Usgvk ). Once you have decided on a pack simply send the other options back to the company and it will be credited back to your card. All it costs you in the end to be able to compare all of them at the same time is shipping. That's a small price to know you made the best decision. I will follow this post with a part two when I decide which pack I'm going to go with and why. For now I am still researching.