Eddie Bauer Bringing Back Classic Shooting Look with a New Twist

(Seattle, Wash.)– January 18th, 2012 – Eddie Bauer, the Original Outdoor Outfitter®, is proud to announce the launch of its new Sport Shop Collection, the next generation of hunting, fishing and shooting apparel for the modern American sportsman and sportswoman.  Continuing a legacy of 90 years of outfitting, today’s Sport Shop line is a mix of technology and tradition, and a tribute to Eddie Bauer himself, his wife and partner Christine “Stine” Bauer, and their embrace of the outdoors.

In 1920, Eddie Bauer, an avid Northwest outdoorsman, opened his first shop in downtown Seattle. Within a year, he had saved enough money to expand the shop to include hunting and fishing gear and the store soon became a gathering place for Seattle’s best outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen.  Eddie was more than a shopkeeper; he designed and built revolutionary products that remain functional and influential to this day.  In 1940, he patented the first down jacket in America, the “Skyliner”, and later began to design and build down apparel and sleeping bags for the U.S. military. In the 1950′s – 60′s, Eddie became THE American expedition outfitter during the Golden Age of Himalayan mountaineering, providing down apparel and gear for many of the historic American expeditions, including twelve epic first ascents.

Eddie quickly realized that the successful creation of a technical and authentic product line required expert testing in the environment for which the product was designed. Every Labor Day Eddie closed his shop for five months to go hunting and fishing and field test everything he made, gathering feedback from the local guides who lived in and counted on the gear he sold. This strategy is still deeply engrained in the Eddie Bauer Guide-Built, Guide Tested® process, and is the foundation on which the Sport Shop Collection is created. This approach was also part of Eddie’s dedication to superior service and commitment to offering products that were “worthy of your high esteem,” a mantra that remains at the heart of the Eddie Bauer brand today.

The Sport Shop Collection will be built through a series of product launches, the first of which is a full lineup of apparel for sporting clays, trap and skeet shooting for Spring 2012. The Spring 2012 collection includes a Clay Break Shooting Vest, which features a leather quilted shooting patch, removable air mesh recoil pad and an upper mesh back panel. The Palouse Shooting Shirt is designed with lightweight cotton and features a vented mesh back, button down collars with diamond quilt stitched overlay, and gusseted underarms. Among the spotlighted products will also be a signature Hunting Skyliner Jacket, an updated version of the original 1936 Skyliner Model Jacket, the cornerstone of the Eddie Bauer outerwear legacy.

Following closely behind the spring release of shooting apparel will be a full product offering for upland hunting available to consumers in July 2012.  Each piece was designed and tested by guides and experts, including John Burrell, President of High Adventure Company, certified wildlife biologist and award-winning outfitter; and our in-house Sport Shop Expert, Rebecca Etchen Peters, who has been shooting and hunting since she was strong enough to hold a gun. Both have logged hundreds of hours to ensure that this product not only remains authentic to the sport and the Eddie Bauer heritage, but is also pushing the limits of innovation for technical shooting apparel.

The Fall 2012 offering includes the Mabton Flats Jacket, which is built with water-resistant CORDURA^® in body and overlays and coated, nylon-lined bellows that serve as a game bag big enough to hold a brace of Ringnecks. The Microtherm™ Featherweight Hunting Jacket is a piece Stine would have worn back in the day. It is highly packable and warm with 800-fill power, making it the perfect piece for layering under an upland vest for mid day high altitude buck hunting in the Pasayton wilderness. The Methow Valley Upland Pant is our heavy weight upland pant with Cordura^® overlays. This is a great late season and wet weather pant, one Eddie would have also used for dog training, when he had a wet Labrador at heel.

Fresh and saltwater fishing apparel will round out the collection in Spring 2013.

For more information on the Eddie Bauer Sport Shop collection, go to www.eddiebauer.com/SportShop.

About Eddie Bauer
Established in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle. The Eddie Bauer brand is a nationally recognized brand that stands for high quality, innovation, style and customer service. Eddie Bauer products are available at approximately 353 stores throughout the United States and Canada, through catalog sales and online at www.eddiebauer.com. Eddie Bauer is proud to be named a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 40 companies so named in the U.S

When asked to review RedRam thermal underwear I was a little hesitant because it was August and not the very best time to review long underwear, so I waited.

I am used to Under Armour and other  non-wool thermal under garments and the only thing I knew about wool clothing is that it comes from sheep  and I can’t wear it comfortably.  Wool is supposed to make you itch and sweat, stink and feel awful and it truly does…well it used to.

When I was a kid  my mom shuffled me off to grade school in -42 blinding blizzards in my dad’s wool hunting socks and wool flannel shirts. Sitting…ok, maybe not -42 but pretty darn cold…in my classroom I vowed I would rather freeze to death in front of David Peterson than EVER wear wool again and I have pretty much stuck to that theory since.

I wore my black, long-sleeved RedRam thermal shirt when I shot my bear and it was super soft and cozy that morning but it wasn’t super cold and I didn’t wear it very long so I wanted a better gauge of the product.

When Tony and I went pronghorn hunting late last fall I threw my long black RedRam leggings and black long-sleeved RedRam tank shirt to wear underneath my  hunting clothes into the bag and off we went.

The dawn arrived after setting up camp and I getting dressed, I realized that I hadn’t thrown another shirt to put under the RedRam shirt. Because of course you DO need something between you and the wool  if you are going to be in it long! I pulled the shirt out of the pack and put it on. It was really soft , but the real test would be wearing it all day hunting in different temperatures.

I quickly scrambled into it hoping the scratchy-itchies wouldn’t show up and Tony and I left camp. He drove me to where we had spotted the pronghorns the night before and I got out of the truck and crept to my hiding spot. It was around 30 degrees with a slight breeze with frost on the ground. It wasn’t horribly cold but keep in mind I don’t like to be chilled AT ALL so was a bit apprehensive about my outfit being too light.

I wore my Prois Pro-Edition jacket which is compact and  light but wind-resistant  and my Prois Pro-Edition pants over my RedRam wool long underwear and stuffed my Reversible Prois Sherpa Vest into my pack preferring to layer my clothes when I hunt.

I sat in the grass for a couple of hours and thought I might get cold or itchy but  I never did. I had a perfectly comfortable time sitting under the windmill, right where the  pronghorn weren’t.

Tony and I hunted for several days and I wore my RedRam long underwear (yes I do have several different shirts) the whole time we were out. RedRam is an  excellent product and was comfortable whether out in the field in the cold morning or alone with my jeans in the warm afternoon.

Here is how the RedRam folks describe their products and I wholeheartedly agree!

“I am breathable and soft against your skin, I am a natural fiber and am not stinky. I am warm and comfortable, I am not itchy,I am sustainable, I am pure merino.”

RedRam made a true believer out of me and  I HIGHLY recommend it. I have worn it since on several occasions even just to work when I want a great looking top to wear with jeans. The RedRam folks didn’t just make their products functional but REALLY nice looking also.

My bear and I. RedRam kept me cozy on several hunts this year and will continue to do so for many years!

RedRam products are reasonably priced and well worth any investment you put into them, they wash beautifully in the washing machine and line dry and will last for years. They come in several great colors and styles for ladies and men.

Cami

Leggings

Long-sleeved Crew

Check out their website www.RedRam.com to find the location of the nearest retailer including, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Dillards and Gander Mountain.

The Top 60 Hunting Blogs

Presented by VeteransBenefitsGIBill.com, your guide to Post 9/11 GI Bill Military Education Benefits.

Hunting is far more than a ‘hobby’, and far closer to a way of life. From scouting out the area to finding your prize after making the perfect shot, hunting is more than a cheap thrill. Since hunting skills are gained mostly by experience, you can read all of the books you want, but it will never prepare you quite like a day spent out pursuing game. But that’s not to say that isn’t worth reading about!

These days, you can find a wealth of hunting information online. The internet has become a treasure trove of valuable information that can help you improve your hunting skills and connect you with other hunting enthusiasts. From novice hunters who are documenting their journey into the sport, to expert hunters who are fully qualified to offer training and tips, a wide variety of people at different skill levels are now sharing their love for hunting with millions of others around the world.

Hunting Blogs are excellent sources of information when it comes to searching for hunting tips, getting information on this season’s best locations, and reading stories of other people’s hunting experiences. Need to find a new gun? Want to know the best place to hunt in Montana? You can find all of this information and more on the blogs found below, the best of the best hunting blogs currently online!

Here at Veterans Benefits GI Bill, we know that hunting enthusiasts are always searching for the latest news and information about the sport, so we’ve scoured the web to bring you the absolute best Hunting Blogs currently online. If you’re looking for any hunting-related information, you’d be hard pressed to need to search beyond the 60 Blogs we’ve compiled below.

We are thrilled to share the list of winners with you, and we hope you find them as entertaining, insightful and helpful as we did.

Congratulations to our winners!

• Marian’s Hunting Stories
  http://mariandeer.blogspot.com/
• Ben G. Outdoors
  http://beng-outdoors.blogspot.com/
• The Hunter’s Wife
  http://www.thehunterswife.net/
• A Blessed Crazy Life
  http://crazydogslife.blogspot.com/
• Deer Camp Blog
  http://bodocktimes.blogspot.com/
• Low Country Hunting
  http://lowcountryhunting.com/
• Michael Waddell’s Blog
  http://www.michaelwaddell.com/mw-blog/
• My Hunting Buddies
  http://www.myhuntingbuddies.com/
• The Suburban Bushwacker
  http://suburbanbushwacker.blogspot.com/
• Hunting Legends in Africa
  http://www.huntinglegends.com/
• Outdoors International
  http://gothunts.com/
• The Buck Hunter’s Blog
  http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/
• The Hog Blog
  http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/contact
• Deer Hunting Big Bucks
  http://www.deerhuntingbigbucks.com/
• Bill Howard’s Outdoors
  http://www.billhowardoutdoors.com/
• Give em’ the Shaft
  http://giveemtheshaft.blogspot.com/
• TK14 Ranch
  http://www.tk14ranch.com/
• Kill More Ducks
  http://killmoreducks.com/
• Big Buck Zone
  http://mikehanback.com/
• Bright Idea Outdoors
  http://www.mattcoughlin.typepad.com/matt_coughlins_weblog/
• Camo Underground
  http://www.camounderground.com/
• The Hunt and Fish Blog
  http://www.thehuntandfishblog.com/
• Annie Got Her Gun
  http://www.skinnymoose.com/annevinnola/
• Outdoors with Othmar Vohringer
  http://outdoorswithothmarvohringer.blogspot.com/
• Hunting Life
  http://www.huntinglife.com/blog/
• King’s Outdoor World
  http://blog.kingsoutdoorworld.com/
• Deer Slayer
  http://deerslayercom.blogspot.com/
• NY Bowhunter
  http://www.nybowhunter.com/
• My Hunting Fishing
  http://www.myhuntingfishing.com/
• Bushmen Safaris Blog
  http://bushmensafaris.blogspot.com/
• Doubletough Outdoors
  http://doubletoughoutdoors.com/
• Whitetail Woods
  http://whitetailwoods.blogspot.com/
• Hunting News Daily
  http://huntingnewsdaily.com/
• NorCal Cazadora
  http://norcalcazadora.blogspot.com/
• The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
  http://trochronicles.blogspot.com/
• Rob’s Hunting Journal
  http://robshuntingjournal.blogspot.com/
• Scent Free Lip Gloss
  http://www.scentfreelipgloss.com/
• Simply Outdoors blog
  http://www.simplyoutdoors.net/blog/
• The Outdooress
  http://www.outdooress.com/
• The Wild Life
  http://thewildlife2.blogspot.com/
• Wild Ed’s Texas Outdoors
  http://wildedtx.blogspot.com/
• Wildlife Callers
  http://www.wildlifecallers.com/blog/
• Winded Bowhunter
  http://blog.windedbowhunter.com/
• Wired to Hunt
  http://wiredtohunt.com/
• Bowhunting Blog
  http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/
• Basecamp Legends
  http://www.basecamplegends.com/
• Outdoor Freaks
  http://www.outdoorfreaks.net/
• High Country Archer
  http://highcountryarcher.blogspot.com/
• Hunting with Mike
  http://www.blogsmonroe.com/hunting/
• Deer Passion
  http://deerpassion.blogspot.com/
• Okie Rednecks
  http://brodricks.blogspot.com/
• Cocked and Loaded
  http://fillyourhands.blogspot.com/
• Shed Hunting
  http://goshedhunting.com/index.php
• Goon’s North Dakota Redneck
  http://redneckndgoon.blogspot.com/
• Montana Elk Hunting
  http://montanaelkhunting.blogspot.com/
• My Hunting Spot
  http://steveshunting.blogspot.com/
• Women’s Hunting Journal
  http://womenshuntingjournal.blogspot.com/
• A Mindful Carnivore
  http://www.tovarcerulli.com/
• Great White Hunter
  http://greatwhitehunter.wordpress.com/
• Hunter 4 Life
  http://hunter4life.com/
• Hunting in Georgia
  http://www.huntingingeorgia.info/
• Fred’s Hunting and Fishing blog
  http://hunting-fishing-fred.blogspot.com/

If you head to your local sporting good store you will soon be awash in a sea of camo. There are your huge companies  who market to serious hunters as well as making trendy fashion duds, like Realtree and Mossy Oak, and there are a few smaller companies also, but the one that has really caught my eye lately is Elusion Camo. THIS is some cool CAMO!

I see many of them each year at SHOT Show and  many different companies send me press releases when they launch things through the rest of the year. I like most of them in one way or another,(except that one with the naked girl profiles which is just tacky) but I was REALLY excited when I found Elusion Camo on Facebook. I was curious enough to contact the developer and genius behind the brand. What he told me made me really sit back and take notice.

Lee Dufresne owner of Elusion and the man behind the creative process, said he wanted to generate  better camo patterns that had the ability to blend in naturally. “Our camouflage is by far the most advanced camo to ever be released.”

Lee went on to say, “For the past few decades we have seen camouflage evolve from the basic woodland patterns to the more intricate and artistic renderings of outdoor-scape and  settings yet none of the patterns were derived with natural colors and generally stand out like a black blob past ten yards.

Skeptical and having heard it all before, I had him send me a unit in the Forest Ghost pattern so I could see for myself how well it worked.  I put it on went outside and stood by a big tree and had my son take a look. He was totally impressed.  A fierce and highly successful hunter,  Tony  saw the value of this camo and wanted a unit for himself. What was REALLY interesting was the fact that no matter where I stood I blended in, whether blending in to tree bark or appearing as a tree against a green background.

Elusion...NOT your grandfathers CAMO!

My husband Jerry came home a few minutes later and also had some great things to say. A hunter his whole life, he has worn just about every other brand and pattern one time or another, but he quickly saw the difference in Elusion.  I now know what I am getting my guys for Christmas!

OK, so I am impressed, but what makes Elusion so good?

Elusion utilizes true high definition images, incorporating a patent pending sublimating process  to create a linear, non-repetitive, highly natural camouflage pattern.  “HUH, Lee can you ‘splain?”

Elusion camo is a unique correlation of true HD images developed into the fabrics. Our patterns can’t be printed as they are too detailed and require a specialized process to even be applied to fabrics. With Elusion camo the fact that w use natural images and colors makes the pattern not invisible, but not distinguishable by a game animal or bird as a hunter in regular old camo, due to  the absflection ability to adjust itself into any habitat. Absflection is defined at the ability to absorb and reflect light the same way as in nature.

Mr. Dufresne has been creating and perfecting this technology for over 16 years and has launched 11 patterns so far with the newest being the Winter Dawn pattern which is amazing!

One of the things I appreciate most about Elusion Camo is the dedication to being a 100% made in America product, made by Americans.

I see a new tide sweeping across the great camo sea, and it’s name is Elusion!

Elusion Camo; real to life patterns for real to life hunters!

If you are an outdoor clothing manufacturer and would like more information to acquire licensing to use Elusion Camo patterns contact:

Lee D DufresnePresident / CEOElusion Camo LLC, 1100 North Branch St. Bennington, VT 05201

HECS Tigh Tech Camo!

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ‘HAWK’

HECS™ HIGH-TECH CLOTHING – THE EVOLUTION OF CONCEALMENT™.

It is a proven scientific fact that every living creature creates a significant EM Field. It has also been proven that animals are capable of detecting and reacting to these fields. Hunters know too well that game animals become more wary and more cautious the closer they get to humans even when silent, in favorable wind conditions and while remaining still while wearing camouflage clothing. Now the innovators at HECS – Humans Energy Concealment Systems have designed a line of clothing that features a special conductive grid that effectively blocks human EM energy emissions making the wearer significantly less detectable to animals. “ With our advanced line of hunting clothing, our goal was to attenuate the Human EM signature that science has proven animals detect and react to.” said HECS President Mike Slinkard “Wearing HECS allows hunters to get closer to more relaxed game than ever before. Our unique fabric is designed with a special interlocking grid of extruded conductive carbon yarn that blocks the EM Field. This grid works much like the conductive door grid which protects the user from the kitchen microwave oven.” “HECS has been thoroughly tested by qualified independent research groups as well as some of today’s most successful hunters. We have recorded astonishing interactions where HECS clothing has been proven effective in keeping animals calmer and more relaxed when in close proximity to humans.” HECS – Humans Energy Concealment Systems clothing may be worn under or over other clothing and is extremely lightweight and breathable. Each garment is made of 14% conductive carbon/86% polyester and is machine washable. HECS represents one of the most significant technological advancements in the science of human concealment and truly represents the Evolution of Concealment.

For more information please contact: HECS LLC, Inc. 58000 Industrial Park Rd. John Day, OR 97845 (541) 575-4327 www.hecsllc.com

Rich Walton HAWK ASSOCIATES Marketing Inc 2322 W. Labriego Dr. Tucson, AZ 85741 * 520-742-4862 * hawk60@comcast.net

I was recently asked to be on the Pro-Staff for an amazing optical company that creates super high quality binoculars, rifle scopes, spotting scopes and so forth. I have used their binoculars for a few years now and jumped at the chance to tell everyone about their products and the fine people involved with  Alpen Optics.

I do not take a pro-staff position lightly or accept each invite, because I want to represent a high quality product and company and be able to do them justice in the outdoor world. I have used several different binoculars and spotting scopes in the past and by far like my Alpens the best!

I use both the  8X25 and the 10X42 Alpen Optics pink binoculars not just because they are pink, but because they are very comparable to much higher priced binoculars and fit me very well. I appreciate the breast cancer donation that Alpen makes each year from the sales of the pink binoculars, and also love that I can find them when I need them! But the bottom line with optics is if you can’t see with them you won’t use them!

After I became a pro-staff member I realized that while I know when I have  good optical equipment, I am not exactly sure what makes it that way.There are a whole bunch of things to know about outdoor optics and how to purchase them. Sometimes we use equipment for years without really knowing much about it. Since I use binoculars the most, that is where I started with my education.

The first thing you see when you go to buy binoculars is a set of numbers such as 8X 25 or 10X 42. I had never known  this (or frankly thought about it)  but it is simple once explained. The first number is the magnification of your binoculars. It measures how many times the view comes closer to you. So 8X25 means the image is 8 times closer to you. The second number is how big the objective lens is…(the lens on the end). The larger the objective lens the more light is gathered which gives you better viewing in lower light.

As for focusing, most binoculars make it possible to focus them with a center focus wheel. There is a right diopter that is also used to help focus. It took me a few minutes to get the hang of this. I knew how to focus the center wheel but didn’t quite know what the thingy on the right side was for. When I learned to close my right eye and focus the right diopter THEN use the center focus wheel I had an even clearer picture than before.

Pro Huntress Melanie Schomaker demonstrating how to focus the Right Diopter on the 10X42 Pink Alpen binoculars.

The Center Focus Wheel

There are a few more things I think are interesting to know when purchasing binoculars:

PRISMS

There are two main categories of prisms, Roof prisms and Porro prisms. They are distinguished by their shape. Roof prisms are more straight and streamlined and porro prisms tend to be larger and have a definite offset to their body.

A PORRO prism example, notice the offset shape.

ROOF prism design, straight line from eye-piece to end.

COATED OPTICS

Thin layers of transparent magnesium fluoride are applied to the lenses and or glass surface as an anti-reflective coating. Light likes to bounce off of glass and the Magnesium Fluoride lets the light through the glass to the viewers eyes. The more coatings, the more light and the better the clarity and resolution.

FIELD OF VIEW

The field of view is the size of the area that can be seen through the binocular or spotting scope at 1000 yards of distance. The higher the magnification the narrower the field of view. On Alpen wide angle (WA) binoculars a special lens design allows a wider field of view than normal.

These are just a few of the things I have learned so far. I appreciate knowing what to look for in optics now and feel I can help others find the right binoculars. So far though, I just hand them an Alpen catalog and point to my favorites. That seems to do the trick!

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ‘HAWK’

Clean-Shot™ Archery Introduces Spot-On™ LASER Broadhead

“The Ultimate Evolution in Broadheads”

Oh Yeah! Spot On does it again!

For the archer/bowhunter product quality, performance and accuracy always take center stage and at Clean-Shot™ Archery all these features have been combined into the newest innovation in the modern broadhead, the Spot On™ Laser Broadhead.

“The Spot-On Laser Broadhead was a major hit of this year’s 2011 ATA show.” Noted VP Sales & Marketing Chip McBroom.   “With hundreds of new products being introduced each year at the ATA show, it’s gratifying to receive top honors with the Spot-On Laser Broadhead! Rightfully so as this product represents a quantum leap in technology for the bowhunter.”

The new patented Spot-On™ Laser Broadhead is the first Field Sighted broadhead to combine modern laser technology with superior broadhead design, material and construction.  The internal micro-laser module is integrated into the broadhead which is activated at full draw by a simple bow mounted magnet.  Every Spot-On Laser features an adjustable set screw that allows the beam to be adjusted 24” of elevation at 30 yards as well as for windage. This allows each broadhead and arrow to be ‘sighted in’ with deadly, pin-point accuracy out to 70 yards.  With the Spot-On Laser Broadhead – where the laser beam aims is where your arrow hits!

The replaceable three blade Spot-On™ Laser Broadheads not only fly true but provide, when compared to other three blade broadheads, increased penetration. The reason is the newly patented technology of the Spot-On Hollow-Point Tip that cuts on contact and cuts a core hole from the target as the 1 1/8” cutting diameter also creates a massive wound channel.

The Spot-On™ Laser Broadhead come in 125 grain base grain weight but can be adapted upward to 150 grains by simply changing the patented Hollow-Point Tip from Standard to Large.  The convenient Broadhead Kits include a 12Volt car charging unit to recharge battery power for hundreds of shots or disposable battery packs good for approximately 100 shots each. This innovative laser broadhead was designed for low-light hunting conditions which will add at least an hour per day to the hunt.  Spot-On™ Laser Broadheads can be used with or without sight pins and will aid in set-up and calibration as well as the ability to field check your pins for accuracy.  If you use a peep sight the Spot-On™ Laser Broadhead eliminates the parallax error inherent with peep sight usage for greater accuracy.  Spot-On™ Laser Broadheads can be used with all archery bows including crossbows.  Spot-On™ Laser Broadheads -accuracy is the name of the game, performance in the field is the result.

Tough, Durable and Reusable, the innovative Spot-On™ Laser Broadheads are

“Changing The Way Modern Day Archers Prepare, Practice and Hunt!”

For more information/dealer information or to purchase contact:

Chip McBroom, VP Sales and Marketing

Email:  chip@clean-shot.com Phone: (800) 242-9023

visit www.clean-shot.com

Rich Walton

HAWK ASSOCIATES Marketing Inc

2322 W. Labriego Dr.    Tucson,    AZ  85741       *       520-742-4862      *       hawk60@comcast.net