In this "In The Field" Review, or ITF, I review Blackhawk's Hydrastorm Strike Cyclone Pack in ACU.  The pack is a versatile medium sized, heavy duty pack. This pack would work best as a short term, in and out kind of bag. Its good for a few days in the field or woods (3 day assualt bag) or one day of heavy work requiring you to bring a lot of gear.  Just my perspective.  Not the size I would want for a end all be all "bail out bag" but its possible if you are a minimalist/very skilled and resourceful in the woods.

The pack has over 100 different MOLLE attachment points to incorporate outher pouches and miscellaneous gear, allowing you to store more, in addition to the already large capacity of 32 Liters the pack has in its inherit design. It also has quality conponents in sinch straps, padded shoulder straps, a heavy duty drag handle, waist belt, grommets for drainage, and a sternum strap.

The inclusion of a 100oz microban anti-microbial hydration bladder is a big plus for this pack. It inludes the drinking tube and tube sheath (color matching the color of the pack).  I would say the maximum loadout for optimal weight distribution is somewhere around 30-40lbs.  I have had this pack weighing in over 50lbs with gear contained within, in addition to my added pouched, and another few pounds loaded on the the modular webbing outside of the pack (fishing rod, sandals, empty gallon container, etc.). Because the pack is not tall, but rather deep, it makes it more difficult to carry those loads... That being said the quality of materials used are strong enough to stand up to the task!

This pack isn't designed to carry that much weight, so don't take that as a negative, take it as a positive that it didn't fail under that use. If you need a pack for a week long hike then you need an internal or external frame, something larger than this.

NRA-ILA :: Congress Could Consider National Carry Bill Soon!

NRA-ILA :: Congress Could Consider National Carry Bill Soon!

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Bivouac Camp And Survival Skill Priorities - Fire Wood and Making Shelter

In this video I detail how I prioritize tasks based on situation when setting up a camp. This could be applied to a survival situation, or anytime you find yourself outdoors for an extended period of time.

There are many important factors to consider when analyzing your situation.  Some main ones are Water, Food, Shelter and Fire. In this video we will be focusing on Shelter and Fire. In videos to come, I will go into more depth on these, as well as Water and Food.

Trailblazer Sawvivor 18" Saw In The Field Review

In this video I review the Trailblazer Sawvivor Saw in the 18" model. In this new take, I give you what I have appropriately called an "In The Field" Review. ITF for short. Its impossible to have gunfire and explosions in every video I make, but hopefully reviewing different items in the environment in which they are to be used will be more beneficial than embedding footage of when I have used them over a review on the table top in my workspace.

Anyway, this is a great light to medium duty tool for the outdoorsman trying to keep size and weight down to a minimum. 18"x3" (LxW) when folded down and only about 10 ounces. Able to cut through about 5.25", depending on situation. 5.25" is the distance between the blade and the top frame of the saw. You can cut wider diameters, within reason, if you can get the wood fall away as you are making the cut to allow space for the frame to saw within (as I show with the larger limb). But for a standing tree you would be limited to the 5.25". This saw can take abuse and also dish it out to wood that stands in your way. It is a perfect size for a minimalist or someone who likes to keep size and weight down to a minimum.

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A saw like this is a great addition to the gear pile for anyone who enjoys spending time in the woods, and is required to procure, and cut their wood to workable dimensions for a fire. Saws like this are a great option for making perpendicular cuts to standing or fallen wood alike to allow for easier movement back to camp. These saws don't replace a survival knife, like the RTAK 2, but have their own advantages. The energy level required to take down a tree with a saw like this is much lower than the striking that would be required with a survival knife, and energy conservation is something that is important to most campers who go on self sufficient trips (ie not in the backyard or out of the back of a truck). The size and weight advantages of this saw compared to full size saws or axes is also a major advantage. A full sized axe or saw would be great for a camper that is driving to their campsite, but carrying that weight is not very effective if you have a long distance to your location and are carrying everything in your pack. Those that would argue otherwise, are only showing their lack of experience. You can not argue with the fact that a small saw like this that weighs a thirteenth of a full sized wood axe is more efficient to carry into the back country.

As mentioned, the perfect combination of wood procuring tools is a small packable saw like this and a survival blade. The saw obviously can be used to cut the tree down, or separate it from the stump if fallen, and then use it to divide the log into manageable pieces. The knife enables you to easily remove branches before subdividing with the saw, finish off horizontal cuts that run into knots in the wood, and also increasing the space created with a cut if the wood is larger in diameter (5.25"+). Additionally, and one of the most important steps, is then batoning the wood. Obviously the knife should be your first choice here. While you could split the wood in smaller dimensions with the saw if its all you had, it would be a lot harder and require a MUCH larger expenditure of energy.

All in all this saw is a great stand alone tool, and when paired with an appropriate survival knife makes you more than capable to do some serious work.

NRA-ILA :: Sunday Hunting Needs Your Support in Pennsylvania!

NRA-ILA :: Sunday Hunting Needs Your Support in Pennsylvania!

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NRA-ILA :: National Right-to-Carry Bill Under Attack

NRA-ILA :: National Right-to-Carry Bill Under Attack

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Compound Bow Mods - $5 DIY Kodak Playsport Mount

In this video, we take a look at BownHunter's compound bow, the Martin "Cheetah", and build a mount to attach his Kodak Playsport.  To me, its counter-intuitive to have a camera mounted on the part of the bow that is supposed to absorb vibration from the release... so we created out own set up for under $5 using metal and synthetic washers, a bolt, and a nut.

Detailed description:
We used a bolt to thread through an "Insane Archery" mount, with 2 metal washers and 3 synthetic washers (with a diameter wide enough to span the space of the bow structure) placed to provide strength and ridigity (the metal washers) and absorb vibration (the synthetic).  Specifically, the synthetic were in contact with the bow, and the third synthetic was at the end up of the top of the bolt. We used a nut on the other side with a lock washer to secure everything in place. It is very easy to adjust or remove if necessary.

It is my goal to get at least one whitetail harvesting on film this year, and with as many hunting trips as are planned we shouldn't have a hard time exceeding that goal.

Scouting For Whitetail and Bivouac Camping Sites

A link to my video on a trip in the woods with Jemma.

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In this video I go to some isolated land, just under approximately 4,000 acres in size in the north eastern USA. I've got three goals on this trip, in no particular order:


1) Scout for whitetail deer. This is a newer location and as such I do not have as much information on deer patterns, bedding, feeding and watering locations. I was here late last season once or twice, but only did a little scouting. While I may not get enough information in time to do any serious damage before the end of this season, there are a lot of tags left until very late in the season for this management unit, so it may pay off. If not, it certainly will pay off for next year after I've had time to put in some work.


2) Scount for bivouac camping sites. In particular, bivouac sites that allow for fishing, and obviously provide a water source. I have done my research with high resolution satellite imagery on my handheld GPS's program (Delorme PN-40 on TOPOUSA software) and have found a few isolated small lakes that may provide this, assuming there are natural occuring fish present. None of these lakes will be stocked because of their isolation, and relatively small size. Apart from the water source, it would be beneficial to locate an area of older woods, that will be populated with sufficient standing dead wood to sustain a fire easily without having to drag the limbs long distances.


3) Introduce a new member to the channel: Jemma the sheepdog! Jemma is my 1 year old border collie. I am taking her out to get her use to exploring with me off leash, listening to commands, and having a good time. Taking a dog out into the woods with you (as anyone that has done it can tell you) is a very rewarding activity. It builds a strong bond between you... and its a hell of a way to get the dog a serious workout!

Video Playlists!

Hey everyone, the Video Playlists page is now updated and functional! Check it out!

Groundhog Hunting Headshot 140 Yards HD