I just picked up a new, used rifle the other day.  I was at a popular sporting goods retailer in our region and there was a very, very clean Weatherby Vanguard in .300 WSM with a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x BDC scope for a steal of a deal. It was marked down $100 from an already-decent price, so it had to come home with me.

Now, perhaps since I am not the trusting type, I did not just bring the rifle home and put it in my safe to be pulled out five days before a hunt.  After once watching a sales associate at the same chain of stores once begin mounting a scope with the turrets turned 90 degrees before he was corrected, I always assume that whoever previously mounted a scope on a rifle with which I am unfamiliar did not know what he or she was doing.

My new rifle confirmed that fact.  I noticed when I was buying it that the only flaw was a mark on the front ring, extending to a scratch on the base.  Since it had Leupold rings on it, I assumed that the previous owner had trouble turning the front ring into the base.  (Tip on installing Leupold mounting systems: get a 1″ piece of steel or aluminum round bar, or at the very least a dowel.  Screw the ring down tight on it and use it to turn the front ring into the base. It’s what the pros do.)

Of course, I didn’t stop there.  I dismounted the entire ring/base assembly and I found something interesting.  The front screw on the rear base was completely stripped and not holding the front of the base down to the gun at all.  The culprit?  The previous owner had used the wrong screws in the wrong places.  In this particular installation, two longer screws are used in the front base, and two shorter screws are used in the rear base.  He had used a long screw in the front of the rear base and probably gorilla-cranked it when it stopped turning, thus stripping all of the threads off and creating a situation where I doubt the rifle shot very well.  Luckily my gun parts box produced the proper Torx head screw and the problem was quickly remedied.

Among other things, the illustrious previous owner had also used red Loctite on all of the screws (always use blue) and had also mounted the scope extremely far back on the gun for my liking, especially on a harder-recoiling rifle.

I think out there somewhere is a man with a black eye who is running around telling all of his friends that Weatherby Vanguards don’t shoot worth a darn, who is out about four hundred bucks because he paid way too much for the gun that he screwed up and took a bath on trading in on a horribly over-priced model from a different manufacturer.  I hope he’s not too bitter that I’m working up a really good 1/2 moa load for his gun and that I bought it for about half the price he probably paid for the package.

I found this video on Fox News.  Apparently, American Idol judge and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has inspired feathery hairstyles for women that are sending beauticians to the fly shop for hackle.  Maybe next pheasant season I should weave some downed birds into my hair and wear my prey in a celebration of the hunt.  I could be a trendsetter.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

Tipped off by Buster Wants to Fish, I link to the following video which you must watch if you own a retriever, or even if  you don’t:

Woody EX Pro flanked by my Irish Setter hunting boots (L) and LaCrosse Insul-Pac (R)

For sporting men and women everywhere, boots are arguably the most important piece of gear we rely on.  As a North Dakotan who may encounter wetlands, snow, mud, rocks, and generally unforgiving conditions in the outdoors as the temperatures might range from 100 degrees to 60 below, I willingly admit that I don’t spend enough on footwear.  On a recent trip to the Boundary Waters, I very unwisely did not pack hiking boots in an area that turned out to have very unforgiving rocky terrain.  I lived through the trip and didn’t turn an ankle, but it was summertime and the stakes were not as high as they are on some of my trips.

In the wintertime, my footwear has to keep my feet dry and warm. Period.  I have been known to wear Sorels rated to -60 for ice fishing, LaCrosse Insul-Pacs in wet snow and for hunting when covering scent is an issue, and my favorite pair of Irish Setter hunting boots for late fall and winter conditions when the snow isn’t too terrible.  For any pair of boots, the maximum amount of money I have spent has been probably 60 bucks.

Enter the Muck Boot Woody EX Pro.  When I got the opportunity to do this gear review from my association with the Outdoor Blogger Network, I told my wife, “Well, my Insul-Pacs are getting a little bit long in the tooth, so it can’t hurt to try them.”  I was a little bit skeptical about the street price at close to $200, thinking “How can a rubber boot cost that much?”  Keep in mind, I grew up in Montana wearing four buckle overshoes that retailed at probably $5.99.

Although it is spring in many places, it is still basically the end of winter in North Dakota.  Since obtaining the Woody EX Pros, I have used them for chore duty, blowing snow, extended plowing sessions on the four wheeler, and shoveling snow.  When the mud appears, I am sure I will post another account of how they work in the spring.  And if they work the way they have so far, I’m sure it will be a positive account.

Over the last few weeks, I have worn these boots in 20 below weather all the way up to about 35 above.  The first thing that struck me was how easy they go on and off.  I am used to practically prying off my boots, but the designers of the Muck Boot deserve a lot of credit for shaping the ankle area perfectly for easy-on, easy-off.  I have not had to enlist my wife once for a tug of war session, or had evil thoughts about removing the boots with my pocketknife.

The insulation in the boots is rather brilliant, combining a breathable mesh with arctic fleece for a comfort range of -40 to 60 degrees F, according to the manufacturer.  Not once have I felt my feet get cold, even when outside for extended periods of time.  My feet sweat less than with traditional rubber boots such as the Insul-Pac, which I have always regarded as a good boot, but does fall short at the lower temperature ranges I experienced with the Muck Boots.

In addition to the most important features of waterproofing and insulation, I like many of the other design features of the boot.  It is a nice length, a couple of inches taller than my old Insul-Pacs.  That certainly doesn’t hurt in the winter time, and a couple extra inches doesn’t hurt when one steps through ice into a slough or puddle.  The soles have an excellent lug pattern which seems to self-clean (this will be a feature I will have an eye on when the mud comes this spring).  In addition, there is reinforcement at the heel, toe, and even the shin area on this top-end model.

Finally, the comfort level in the boots is unmatched in any of my other boots, including my favorite pair of Irish Setters.  They have an insole that has me feeling springy even after shoveling snow for over an hour.

Insul-Pac sole (L) and Woody EX Pro sole (R)

I have found nothing to complain about with these boots, and can unreservedly recommend them for everything from turkey hunting to chore duty.  My biggest question for the Muck Boot company is if they are going to enter the wader market.  I’d like to see something that feels this good on the bottom of a pair of hip boots or chest waders, and I would gladly pay the price.

Disclaimer: I received the Muck Boot Woody EX Pro boots mentioned in this post free of charge for review. No other compensation was paid in exchange for the review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my honest, independent thoughts and experiences.

Since bloggers seem to love lists, I thought it would be useful to list my top 5 for utility guns. I have some pretty guns, some useful guns, and some guns just for fun. In the useful category, I elect the following to my top five useful guns of all time:

1. Ruger 4 3/4″ .357 Vaquero. This is my current choice, but the same role has been filled by several Speed Six, Security Six, SP-101, Blackhawks, etc. A solid wheelgun in .357 makes a good all around holster gun when performing a number of tasks outdoors, makes an easy-to-use firearm to introduce newbies to handguns, and will do just fine as a primary home defense gun.

2. S&W Airlite 2″ J-Frame. This is the gun I clip in an inside-the-waistband retention holster in the top of my waders, throw in my gear bag for the Boundary Waters, use for concealed carry purposes, and generally use when anything else gets in my way. The old adage “any gun is better than no gun” applies here, but it’s a more useful gun than, say, a two-shot derringer.

3. Weatherby Vanguard Varmint .223 Rem, 20″ heavy barrel with tan stock. I love these for their value and that’s why I mounted a Tasco Varmint Mil-dot 6-24 (also an excellent value) on it. The pair shoots 3/4 moa or better out to 200 yards and cost a whole lot less than a Cooper. It stows in the pickup nicely because of its shorter barrel and doesn’t ever fail to do what I ask.

4. Benelli Nova .20 Ga. I’m not a big fan of the 12 ga. Nova, since it hammers the shoulder a bit harshly (I like an auto in 12 ga) but I love my 20. It’s light, built to withstand just about anything, and was cheap enough to help me avoid crying when it gets scratched. This is a gun that can do duty in the grouse woods, jump shoot ducks off puddles, and be used as an easy-to-find-and-load-in-the-middle-of-the-night home defense gun.

5. T/C Icon .243. OK–this one is a little on the nice side for a utility gun, so if I had to choose a more utilitarian alternative, I would choose the T/C Venture, which looks to be one of the best deals of all time. The .243 will handily drop everything from ‘yotes to speed goats to deer, doubles as a good gun to introduce kids (or the recoil sensitive) to deer rifles, and is just simply one of my favorite cartridges to handload and shoot.

So there you have it. If I had a sixth spot to choose, I might throw in a Marlin lever gun in .444 in case you live in bear country, or a .44 Mag wheelgun, or a 30-06, or . . .

Nothing like a little snack on the fourth hole fairway of the Fargo Country Club. The report is that the coyote killed the deer.  Lacking a comprehensive story, I wonder if the deer was sick or dead already and the coyote just had an opportunity for a meal.

Source: Urban Wildlife in Fargo, story on KFGO’s website.  Their source was listed as Jim Monk.

UPDATE: This WDAY story reports that a woman witnessed the kill and that the coyote took about 15 minutes to bring down the deer.  She took photographs but has asked not to be identified.

The first time I used Kiwi Camp Dry  several years ago, I used it in place of another product I had been using to treat shoes.  Since then, it has worked so well that I have used it exclusively.  Almost every pair of shoes that is purchased by our family is treated for water repellency with Kiwi Camp Dry.  Not only does it help to shed water, but it keeps shoes looking newer longer because the dirt doesn’t stick.  Most recently, I used the better part of a can of Camp Dry to prepare for a Boundary Waters trip this last June.  I treated a pair of brand new Salomon trail shoes with it, took them to the Boundary Waters and got them filthy with three days of mud, brought them back and hosed them off, and I am still wearing them to work since they look new.

For that same Boundary Waters trip, I treated my tent and other various fabric items with Camp Dry, and was glad that I did.  It was one of the wettest summers we have had, and it was so wet in the woods that it was almost impossible to find dry firewood.  In addition, it rained steadily much of the first evening and overnight. Upon our return to civilization, what I noticed was how easy it was to clean up all of our gear.  Not only did the Camp Dry help us stay dry by helping shed water from our equipment, but it also “slickerizes” (hey, I can invent words if I want to) the surfaces and makes the dirt come off very easily.  Kiwi’s slogan for Camp Dry is “Defy the Elements” and I can say it’s very appropriate.

Receiving a can of Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent and a can of Performance Fabric Protector to do a gear review was very timely, as our region is under several feet of snow this winter.  I have been doing a lot of outdoor activity that I would rather not do, such as blowing snow, shoveling, plowing, etc., and my clothing is usually soaked when I’m done.  For this gear review, I thought it would be useful to test several items and see how they hold up in the snow.  If there’s one thing I hate, it’s damp gloves, hats, bibs, and jackets.  

For this test, I treated my lineup of freshly washed outdoor outerwear: a pair of Frabill gloves, a knit winter hat, my Vexilar Cold Snap jacket, and a pair of NatGear snow camo bibs that I use for the dual purposes of hunting and snow removal.

My observations on all items are that the Camp Dry repelled the moisture from the clothing, allowing them to last much longer before becoming soaked.  In the case of my Vexilar jacket, its shell is already good at repelling water, but it was definitely easier to wipe off dirty spots from leaning over things in the garage, etc.  For my snow camo bibs that are constructed of a more moisture absorbing material, the Camp Dry was beneficial for repelling moisture and keeping them drier longer, especially at the knees where they become soaked quickly from kneeling in the snow.  The knit material of the hat, always a moisture-absorber, was also much improved in its repellent qualities by the product.  Finally, my pair of Frabill gloves was also a material that naturally repels water, but it was also improved by the Camp Dry.  For ice fishing, I think the combination of those gloves and the treatment of Camp Dry will be very welcome, since my usual method of operation is to take about three pairs of gloves and change them as they become soaked. 

I am pleased to have discovered that Camp Dry is not just something to use in the summertime; it works great to keep the clothing that we use to play in the snow drier and cleaner.  Looking ahead to summer, I have also realized that my boat cover is a good place to apply the Heavy Duty Water Repellent.  The cover collects dirt, as we live in an agricultural area where the black dirt blows across the prairie, and attaches itself to everything.  Since it is an expensive custom-made investment, I am expecting the Kiwi product to extend its life and save me a few bucks along the way.

Now, let’s see…I’ve got some ball caps, rain gear, fishing vests, and who knows what else to spray down in anticipation of our wet spring and the summer activities around water.  They’re predicting a flood here in the Red River Valley, and I’m going to be ready.  

Disclaimer: I received the Kiwi Camp Dry products mentioned in this post free of charge for review. No other compensation was paid in exchange for the review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my honest, independent thoughts and experiences.  

In about a month, I will be eligible for a new discounted phone on my wireless plan, and the iPhone has finally arrived on Verizon’s network.  I plan to pick one up, as I like the robust quality of all things Apple.  In anticipation of my phone upgrade, I’ve identified some of the apps that look promising. My research is unscientific, but based on Internet chatter, I think these are on my download list:

Ballistic: The ballistic trajectory computer for the iPhone.  This one has a large library of loads and includes a mil-dot estimator and range log.

GPS Kit: Full-featured GPS for the great outdoors.  Differentiating itself from the Tom-Tom style street navigation systems, this one has the features you’re used to seeing on your outdoor GPS.

iSOlunar: This app is for you, if like me, you use the solunar tables to identify good fishing times.  I don’t plan my whole season around these, but they definitely come into play.  This appears to be the most professional-looking app for this purpose.

I’m on the hunt for more, so please post a comment if you have an app on your iPhone that you just can’t live without in the outdoors.

Trijicon has released a new product: an illuminated bow sight system that doesn’t require batteries.  If you’ve ever looked through an Accupoint scope, you’ll recognize the concept.  This is very interesting to me, as I prefer a single pin sight.  The only thing I question is whether it will be affordable, but sometimes good gear just simply costs money.  At one time I bought one of the original Accupoint 3-9x scopes for around $500, and now that looks like a good deal. I let it go with a rifle I was selling, and now wish I had kept it.  

On another note, Trijicon’s website says that they will be introducing more new products within the next couple of weeks.

Here’s Trijicon’s video:

While others are going ga-ga over the new compact Ruger LC9, I’m going ga-ga over their latest rifle offering.  The official Ruger press release follows. I’ll be doing a post soon on the scout rifle concept, and discussing the new Ruger as well as lever action scout rifles.

From www.ruger.com:

Ruger Introduces New Platform in Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle 
December 29, 2010 
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is proud to announce the Ruger® Gunsite Scout Rifle, the ideal “fighting carbine” in .308 Winchester that is a credible rendition of Col. Jeff Cooper’s Scout Rifle concept. Cooper called for a relatively lightweight, hard hitting, do-all rifle that in the hands of an accomplished shooter was able to place accurate, sustained fire out to long ranges, yet was quick-handling and light enough for all-day carry.

Developed in conjunction with Gunsite instructor Ed Head, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle is a new platform in the Ruger M77® family. While the Scout Rifle has M77 features such as controlled round feed and integral scope mounts (scope rings included), the 10-round detachable box magazine is the first clue this isn’t your grandfather’s Ruger rifle.

“Ruger has taken an in depth look at the intended purpose of a Scout Rifle and developed a full-featured rifle designed to meet the Scout Rifle criteria of hunt, fight, defend,” says Head. “This firearm offers outstanding features in an affordable, versatile and reliable rifle designed to deliver .308 Winchester performance in a variety of situations. It is compact, lightweight, offers 10-round box magazines, can be fit to the individual shooter, and accommodates a host of optics. It is a serious rifle for those serious about rifles.”

The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle has a 16.5″ medium contour, cold hammer-forged, alloy steel barrel with a Mini-14® protected non-glare post front sight and receiver mounted, adjustable ghost ring rear sight for out-of-the-box usability. A forward mounted Picatinny rail offers options in mounting an assortment of optics – including Scout Scopes available from Burris® and Leupold®, for “both eyes open” sighting and super-fast target acquisition.

A Mini-14/SR-556® flash suppressor is effective on reducing the muzzle flash that may be present on some .308 Winchester loads when fired out of the short (16.5″) barrel. The 5/8-24 muzzle threads allow most standard .30 caliber muzzle accessories – flash suppressors, muzzle brakes, and sound suppressors – to be installed. 

The Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle features a matte black oxide alloy steel barrel and receiver on a black laminate stock with sling swivel studs and checkered grip and forearm. A soft rubber recoil pad, with three 1/2″ spacers allows the length of pull to be adjusted and allow the rifle to be properly sized for different shooters, or to give the shooter the proper fit with outerwear or defensive gear of varying thickness. With its compact size and weighing in at just under seven pounds, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle combines ease of carry and shooting for the serious Scout Rifle enthusiast. 

The rifle’s trigger guard and magazine well are formed with glass-reinforced nylon. The magazine release is a push-forward Mini-14 paddle just ahead of the trigger guard. “Gunsite Scout Rifle” is engraved on the grip cap of the laminated, weather resistant stock, and the receiver is roll-marked “Ruger Gunsite Scout”, commemorating the collaboration of Ruger with Gunsite Academy, America’s oldest private firearms training facility.

As they say, beware the man with one gun, for he probably knows how to use it. Never has this been more true than with the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, the one rifle to have if you could only have one. It is the perfect lightweight, hard-hitting, do-it-all bolt-action rifle – where rugged, reliable Ruger meets the practical, tactical.

For more information on the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, or to learn more about the extensive award winning line of Ruger firearms, visit www.Ruger.com. To find accessories for the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle or other Ruger firearms, visit www.ShopRuger.com.