See A Note On dv’s Gear Reviews and Gear Provider Recommendations.

Product:  The Scout Guard 550 Game Camera

Overall Rating:  ****+ (4.5 stars)

Specifications:

- Extra small size 5 1/4″ H x 3 1/4″ W x 2 1/8″ D
- Motion Sensor with adjustable sensitivity
- 1.2 second trigger speed
- 3MP or 5MP picture size
- Up to 2GB SD card
- 1 second – 60 minutes programmable delay
- 1 – 60 second programmable video length
- Stand-by mode to preserve battery life
- 8 AA batteries – extra long battery life
- Wired remote control for easy programming and compact size
- Operates from -20c to 60c
- Available in camouflage for added concealment
- 1 year limited warranty   

Cost:  ***** (4 stars).  $199.95 including free shipping.  Compare its features and performance to comparable models and this is an excellent value.  I just hate spending this much for a camera. 

Performance:  ****** (5 stars).  I don’t ask a lot from my game cameras.  Take pictures or videos reliably and I’m set.  Trigger time is nice compared to my 3 second Moultrie D40.   

Battery life:  Outstanding.  Utilizing the camera on still picture mode with a single picture and one minute delay I put in a set of batteries on September 15th, 2008.  The batteries were still showing two-thirds battery life on January 3rd, 2009 after taking hundreds of photos. 

Picture quality:  Day time pictures and video are clear and some are so nice I want to frame them.  Night time infrared pictures and videos are a little grainy, but discernible.

Set up:  Set up is easy even without reading the manual.

Security:  Camera includes an integral groove for use with a cinch-able lock like the Master Lock Python series.  However, this is easily overcome by sliding the camera up the tree to a smaller diameter.  I recommend the use of a security box which I’ll feature in a future DIY blog.

Manufacturer’s Customer Service:  Not rated, not used.

Source:  Bee Busy Outdoors.  Ordering and shipping went smoothly.

General notes:  This is a great little game camera.  Easily concealable, well functioning.  I have to make one note about viewing pictures from it on common game camera viewers, digital picture frames or point-and-shoot cameras.  There are two common File Allocation Table (FAT) formats for removable media like SD cards, FAT 12 and FAT 16.  The SGs are FAT 16 which is the opposite of most devices.  This creates problems when trying to find a suitable field reader.  Your desktop or laptop PC will have no problems.  Just be aware of this going into a purchase.      

happy hunting, dv

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• Hamming With Game Cams
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• A dv Gear Review – Moultrie D40 Game Camera

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As you read this blog I’ll be in southeast Montana hunting pronghorn and trying to redeem myself for my miserable shooting performance in 2006.  Hopefully I’ll be ready.  For me, getting ready for a trip starts with a good gear checklist.  And I believe that it can help prevent disaster.  I suppose you could walk into the woods naked with bow and arrow and still bring home game.  However, a good checklist for that frightful adventure would still include five items; bow, arrows, broadheads, release and armguard. 

My lucky to have 2006 South Dakota pronghorn.

I create my check lists in Microsoft Excel and may have several versions for each species.  For instance I might have one for tent camp deer hunting and one for Camp Pug deer hunting.  A key aspect for me is my “three block” check-off method.  One block is checked off when the item is pulled out of some obscure box, readied and packed.  The next block is checked off when the item is actually placed in the vehicle or in luggage ready for airline travel.  Finally, as a sub-group is completed it is lined through.  Nothing is taken for granted and NOTHING is checked off until it is actually in the vehicle or luggage.  The last thing I do before giving Mrs. dustyvarmint an affectionate parting is check my check list for completion.    

Due to WordPress limitations, our blog’s engine, I can’t post a good sample of my Excel check off lists here.  If you want those that I have for whitetail, turkey and pronghorn drop me a comment with your e-mail address or drop me an e-mail from my About (link) page.  I’ll get them off to you.  Below is my check list for pronghorn hunting with the possibility of some varmint shooting afterward.

Hunting

Blind (Darkhorse)

Bow w/Quiver

Arrows, 12

String wax

Broadheads

Headlamp & spare batteries

Flashlight, tracking

Bug Spray

Forschner knife & Selector

Wind checker

GPS & spare batteries

Range Finder & spare battery

Release, Scott

Release, Caliper

Sharpener, ceramic

Binoculars

Compass

Walking Stick

Scent killer spray

Blind chair

Predator Call

Pronghorn decoy

Blind hog

Blind stakes

Thermocell, pads, ctdgs

Spare sight pins

Bow stake

Bow sling

Clothing, Hunting                 

Pants, camo x _2_

Shirt, camo x _2_

Black out tops x __2__

Gym shorts??

Neck cooler

Belt

Boots x _1_

Socks x _4_

Jacket x _1_

Miscellaneous T-shirts, etc.

Bandanas x _1_

Underwear x _4_

Ball cap x _1_

Balaclava black

Balaclava camo

Gloves, black

Gloves, camo

Backpack

Field dressing towel

Other

Hygiene Bag

Toothpaste

Toothbrush

Deoderant, hunters

Chapstick, hunters

Lotion, hunters

Electric razor

Sun screen

Camera, spare batteries & card

Video camera

Video camera tri-pod

Cell Phone

Cell phone charger

Towel

I-pod & charger

Notepad w/pen

Shower shoes

Book/s & magazines

Wallet & Money

Allergy & Headache Meds

Pronghorn Tag

Bow & Arrow License

Conservation Licsense

Contract

Money for outfitter & tips

Camp

Ice

Coolers x _2_

Nalgene bottles x __2__

Duct tape

Sleeping Bag

Pillow

Sheet

Trash Bags

Food

Snickers

Propel mix

Kashi bars

Soda

Water

Jerky

Animal Crackers

Gorp

Clothes, Regular

Tennis shoes

Socks x _2_

Underwear x _2_

Trousers x _2_

Shirts x _2_

Jacket

Hat

Belt

Rain Top

Varmint

17 HMR

.204 Ruger

17 HMR Ammo

.204 Ruger Ammo

Shooting Sticks

Sling

happy hunting, dv

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It’s hard to believe, but with the help of Steve and Tom at Skinny Moose and Michael Adams at the Up North Journal I started dv’s Mostly Archery six months ago.  The goal was and still is trying to help readers avoid the same bowhunting mistakes I have made over time.  It should be obvious by now, but I’m no expert on anything except maybe making mistakes.  I’m just an excited bowhunter who likes to write and share his adventures. 

Since inception dv’s Mostly Archery has gone from zero visits a day to just under seventy.  And while that isn’t much in the cyber world it is at least interesting to me.  Conventional Wisdom says that many bloggers start hot and then run out of things to write.  I have no shortage of topics, but I do have a shortage of time.  It is hard to blog when you’re in the blind, treestand or shootin’ fish.  Additionally, Word Press, the Skinny Moose blogging engine, is unkind enough that I sometimes have to write my blogs twice (or more).  That makes me want to bonk my head on the screen.  And that’s why dv’s Mostly Archery generally sticks to a once-a-week publishing schedule.  I typically just don’t have the time for more.

So, I’m asking for you, the reader, to tell me what you think of dv’s Mostly Archery.  This will give me the opportunity to assess if it is worthwhile continuing or I need to spend Monday nights in the shop turning out calls instead.  Please tell me what you think.  It’s easy.  Just click on the Comment link below and leave your remarks. 

happy hunting, dv

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Here is July 2009′s best trail cam photo.  

While it may not be all that exciting to most, this is our first bear picture from Camp Pug and is right behind the cabin.     

A bear crosses approximately 70 yards behind the cabin in the background.

happy hunting, dv

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Here are some of my favorite 2008/2009 season trail camera photos.

This spiker was unlucky enough to catch me off guard.  

He ended up in the freezer about a week later.

I placed a camera over the entrail pile from the spike pictured above to try to catch some coyotes, foxes or racoons.  Instead, I got a surprise.  

This buck is checking out the entrail pile from the spike, above.  

This is my mineral block.  There are many like it, but this one is mine…

The zoo.  Turkeys to the right, a deer in the front and a racoon just to the left of the deer.

Spike and Rick out partying.

We call this guy forky, but he’s really a 6-point.

Forky dropped both his antlers in the same spot.

happy hunting, dv

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