Cost
$32.49 online

Product features

• Patented, precision-engineered, multi-angle flip-over knife clamp
• Sharpening hones on color-coated, finger-grooved safety holders
• One guide rod for each honing stone
• Specially formulated honing oil
• Extra long knife clamp screws
• Custom molded storage/carrying case to hold all system components
• Complete easy-to-follow multi-lingual instructions

Lansky sharpening angles

• 17 degree – A severe angle recommended for razor blades, X-Acto blades, scalpels or similar tools.  Provides an extremely sharp but delicate edge.
• 20 degree – A commonly used angle for higher quality blades and provides an excellent edge for kitchen cutlery and filet knives
• 25 degree – The recommended angle for most knives that need a durable, sharp edge.  Ideal for hunting and outdoor knives
• 30 degree – An outstanding angle for knives that see the heavy use of cutting cardboard, wire or carpets.  Recommended for heavy duty use.

Personal Assessment of product

Until coming across the Lansky Sharpening System, I was never able to put a sharp durable edge on my knives.  I’ve tried whetstones and though I could put a serviceable edge on my knife, it was never truly sharp.  I had friends, and family who were willing to sharpen my knives for me, but I was always bothered by not being able to do it myself.  I came across the Lansky Sharpening System from a co-worker.  He was telling me about his knife sharpening kit and offered to let me try one of my knives on it.  After receiving the kit and a few instructions from my friend, I gave it a shot.  I took the system home that evening and brought my dull hunting knife to a razor sharp edge on my first try.  This was the first time I was able to get a truly sharp edge on my hunting knife.  I was amazed at how easy this system was to use and purchased a Lansky that night.  After receiving my system in the mail, I had all my hunting knives honed and ready for the upcoming hunting season.  The great thing about this sharpening system is that it takes the “art” out of sharpening knives.  Just put your knife in the clamp, decide what angle you want on your blade, attach the rods to the hones, and use the slots built into the clamp to bring you knife to a razor sharp finish.  Though I already had an idea how to use the sharpening kit, the instructions were thorough and easy to follow.

Product Limitations

There are only a couple of things I could mention as “limitations” when using the Lansky Knife Sharpening Systems.  This system is used by running a hone over the knife as the fixed surface, as compared to running a knife over a whetstone as the fixed surface.  A little more care is needed when using the Lansky Sharpening System. The same friend, who introduced me to this kit, also cut himself bad when the hone slipped off the blade and ran his finger into the knife edge.  This is completely avoidable ,and the system is safe to use, but always use care when dealing with knives.  Also when doing large knives (above 6-7 inches) it is recommended to do ½ of the knife at a time.  When trying to sharpen the whole knife at once, the angle changes too much and the rods might not be long enough.  I have done our chef’s kitchen knife ½ at a time, and though it took a little longer, the end result was great.

Recommendation

The Lansky Sharpening System is easy to use and has brought out razor sharp edges on knives I have never been able to get sharp before.  The process of sharpening my knives before owning the Lansky Sharpening System had been frustrating and often times impossible.  After using this system, I believe this product would work great in any outdoorsmen’s home.

With more and more hunting pressure, geese are being educated faster and are less likely to work your spread. As a waterfowler one is always attempting to put more birds in the shot path of our decoy spreads and defining the X.

I have found that Larry Juhl’s “the Goose Tree” does just that. The goose tree defines the X and enables the waterfowl hunter to use less decoys.  The simulated landing of geese allows incoming birds to honor the landing birds ahead and lock on the X.  The birds are focused on the X and birds ahead and not on your location in the blind. Thus giving the hunter a better opportunity to be successful.

I along with fellow Field Staffers, Don Ott, Eddie Wise and Bob Miller had the privilege to hunt with the Owner and Creator of the Goose Tree, Mr. Larry Juhl in Wisconsin and saw The Goose Tree first hand in action.  Needless to say the way the birds worked with this decoy system was amazing. At one point it was the ONLY decoy left standing in the field after shooting hours and the birds circled and kept trying to land behind it.  It was totally amazing. We put the Goose Tree to use back here in Pennsylvania and it pulled birds from a large flock right into our gun barrels. Does it work, I can safely say YES!

The Goose Tree took only minutes to put up, was quick and simple. Not to mention your setup time was cut down due to using less decoys in your spread.

I would highly recommend The Goose Tree to anyone who wants to get an advantage on weary decoy shy birds, or if a hunter is looking to add a different look to their spread.  This is a great alternative!

Cost
M100 Hang on Tree Stand with Receiver Mount $219.95
M102 Receiver Mount $28.95 (included with the M100 stand)

M200 20’ stick ladder $69.95
Product features
Durable Powder Coat
Comfortable quiet easy setup
All aluminum construction
Seat folds against tree
Stand folds flat for backpacking
TMA certified full body harness included
Lifetime warranty

Product Specs
Capacity – 300lbs
Weight – 14lbs
Platform size W20” D38”
Seat Size W20” D17”

Personal Assessment of product
The most important thing to me when hunting from a hang on stand is comfort.  I believe, when spending long hours in a stand, comfort keeps me sharp when the moment of opportunity arrives.  The Millennium M100 is the most comfortable stand I’ve ever hunted. The comfort Tech Seat is made of Textline non-stretch fabric, which does not absorb water, and is quiet to the touch.
Another feature important to me is the weight and portability of a hang on stand.  The Millennium M100 only weighs 14 lbs. It has built in shoulder straps, and the ability to fold completely flat. This stand is a breeze to pack in, even on long trips.  The Millennium M100 stand attaches to the tree in a completely different manner than any other stand I’ve used.  From start to finish it took me less than 10 minutes using the Millennium M200 stick ladder and the M100 stand.  First, I hung the climbing sticks.  I then attached the receiver (shown in the picture above) to the tree by the chain included.  Then it was just a matter of sliding the male fitting on the stand into the quick mount receiver, and the stand was ready to hunt.  Another benefit to this system is that you can increase the value by purchasing and hanging several receiver mounts  in different areas.  Carry the stand with you and slide the stand into the receiver in place and hunt.  This allows you the mobility to hunt different areas with just one stand. The stand literally slides into the quick mount in seconds.

Recommendation
The ability to hunt several locations with the same fixed position stand is a great benefit and makes the Millennium M100 an incredible value.  I have never experienced the level of comfort and portability this stand provides and would recommend you to give it a try.

Cost
Drift sock  $19.99 – $44.99

Drift sock Harness $9.99 with purchase of sock

Product features

Fast drying 420 – denier oxford nylon
Weights and floats sewn in for easy opening
Recommended for winds up to 15 mph
Winds over 15 mph… add another drift sock to your setup
Extremely puncture resistant
Drift sock harness with float is $9.99 with purchase of drift sock

Personal Assessment

I have been using the Cabela’s Advanced Angler Pro Series drift sock for a couple years now, and I consider it a must have when drift fishing.  I position myself at the top of the area I want to drift and throw the sock into the water attaching it to a cleat on the boat.  The weights and floats, sewn into the sock allow it to open quickly and position the sock when in the water.  One of my favorite lakes to fish always seems to have a chop and blows up often.  Without the drift sock, fishing this lake would be difficult on most days and impossible on others.  As everyone knows, when drift fishing or trolling, presentation is what puts fish in the boat.  The drift sock greatly increases my odds by slowing my baits down and holding them in front of the fish longer.  I also purchased the harness with the float for $9.99 and found it well worth the price.  Attach the harness to your sock and you have the capability to disconnect the drift sock from your boat should you hook into a big fish and don’t want the sock in the way.   After landing the fish motor back to the float on the harness and recover your sock.  The Cabela’s Drift Sock is definitely a great product and well worth the price if you want controlled drifts in the wind.

Recommendation

The Cabela’s Advanced Angler Pro Series Drift Sock has helped me boat many fish by slowing up my presentation and allowing me the control I otherwise wouldn’t have on a windy day.  The durability and construction of this product is just as impressive as its benefits on the boat.  After two years of use, the Cablea’s drift sock looks as if I just took it out of the box.  Overall, I would consider the Cabela’s drift sock an essential item when tackling choppy waters while drift fishing or trolling.

Key Features

Fits Bows 30″ to 40″

Snaps (3) close for secure carry

Molded foam cups to protect your cams

Fits all parallel limb bows

Available In Realtree Hardwoods Green HD and Mossy Oak Break Up Patterns.

Suggested Retail Price around $22.00-$27.00

Protecting your bow and its components while hunting, especially in the brushy cover is tough, but I found the Primos Bow Sling is made for this undertaking. The Bow Sling is an extremely easy to use product; You simply slide the molded foam pockets/cups around your cams, hook the two elasticized bands, then secure the 3 snap closures around your string.  Your bow is now ready for travel, hiking and/or storage. I used the Bow Sling all last archery season. Hiking 3 miles back into my stand I found the sling helped make carrying the bow easier that distance. It was barely noticeable on my shoulder with no issues, totally hands-free.  I liked the fact when walking through the timber and brush your string was protected from cuts and snags from brush and limbs. The ends are cushioned and rounded to protect the cams. It comes with easy pull tabs to remove quickly. The camo pattern is a bonus and comes in various patterns to satisfy anyone’s preference. I have heard stories from other hunters where they are ready to draw on an animal and have noticed their bow string was cut only to shorten their time afield.  I think this is a safe alternative to protecting your bow and string and your hunt! The bow sling would really be helpful on the long hunts where you are backpacking in long distances. I know I have even had twigs that were stuck up in my cams after hiking back in the woods. It folds up easy and small so that it can easily be put into a backpack or large pocket out of the way once you reach your destination. You could also hang your bow once home out of the way if you do not place it in a hard case. If you’re looking for a safe and secure method to pack your bow into the woods, the Primos Bow Sling is a great choice that protects the most valuable and fragile part of your bow, the string & cams.

By Mike Bell, Sportsmen Portal Field Staff

Cost
$12.99

Product features

• Unique Jaw design – Holds lip of the fish
• Durable Materials – Plastic and stainless steel
• High viz colors – Easy to see day or night
• Weight scale slot – Attach to scale, deduct 5 oz
  Wrist lanyard – In case it slips
• Available in 4 bright colors – Orange, Glow in the dark, Green, and Blue
• It Floats

Personal Assessment of product
I enjoy fishing for toothy critters (walleye, pike), and have been witness to several accidents which have occurred by not having control over the fish while landing. I don’t know if there is such thing as control over a 10-20 pound pike after landing him (especially in a boat), but The Fish Grip has come in handy when safety is my primary concern. The Fish Grip is designed to grab the lower jaw of the fish, and locks providing a safe handle away from teeth and hooks. They are extremely effective when handling these creatures, and have not let me down. Another concern, when handling any fish at the boat is the hooks involved. I have been victim to wayward hooks which have somehow found their way into my skin past the barb. The hooks often hurt going in, but are much more painful coming out. The Fish Grip greatly reduces the opportunity to find a stray hook by controlling the fish, without having to reach in the fish’s mouth to land it.

Recommendation
I enjoy reviewing products such as the fish grip, which are inexpensive yet perform their intended task extremely well. I have been using this product for years and as said earlier, they have never let me down. They do not harm the fish you are handling, and help to keep the angler safe from stray hooks and teeth. They are well constructed, inexpensive, and are a great product to have in your tackle box or on your boat.

Product features
Pot Calls
Glass over Slate/purple heart striker with birch top
Crystal over Slate/purple heart striker with birch top
Bronze Glass over Slate/purple heart striker with birch top
Slate over Slate/Hickory Striker with birch top
Box Calls
All Sassafras Box Call
All Walnut Box Call
Mouth Calls
7 Different style cuts on mouth calls
Water Proof striker works on all friction calls including slate when wet

Personal Assessment
Spring turkey hunting is one of my favorite outdoor pursuits.  Through many years turkey hunting, I’ve tried several different calls.  Even though I own several different kinds/brands of calls, I consistently find myself grabbing my Bear Hollow Slate, Walnut Box, and 2 favorite mouth calls (The Batwing and Ghost Cut) before heading into the woods.  Since buying my first Bear Hollow calls 5 years ago, I’ve been extremely pleased with the sound, durability, and looks but most important, I have enjoyed the confidence in my calling and success in the field.  Click here for my turkey harvest journal using the Bear Hollow Ghost Cut mouth call.

About the Company
Since the Bear Hollow Game Calls is not a major player in the turkey call market, I wanted to meet with John (the owner of the company) to get familiar with his business.  I found him to be quite friendly and passionate about turkey hunting and making turkey calls, and I wanted to share some of the high points of our conversation.  Bear Hollow Game Calls is a small local (NW PA) operation consisting of four individuals who love to turkey hunt.  They make a variety of different calls, each with its own distinct sound.  All of their pot and box calls are hand made, one at a time,  from start to finish.  Each pot and box call is personally tested and tuned before it ever leaves the shop.   At the end of our meeting, I had the pleasure to listen to him run several of his mouth calls as well as his glass call, fresh from the packaging.  It quickly became apparent he can use his calls as well as he can make them.  After talking with John, it’s clear he is extremly passionate about turkey hunting, and prides himself on quality construction, and performance in the field for every call he sends out.

Recommendation
I would recommend this product to anyone who enjoys hunting turkeys.  These are top quality calls with a very reasonable price tag.  For more information contact John by Email at bearhollowgamecalls@hotmail.com

Cost: Approximately $40.00

We all know how hard it can be hunting the wild, weary and educated big gobblers.  I know every year I am looking for an advantage to out smart the boss gobblers. This year I have an A-Way Hunting Turkey Skinz to try out.

I know that sometimes the birds I have hunted can be decoy shy. Some decoys have a glare or just don’t look too realistic. Even to the turkeys.  In my opinion this product helps to the hunter’s advantage. Actually Don and I have talked about this idea for years but someone beat us to the punch.

The Turkey Skinz is made of real turkey feathers that are layered and look very realistic. They are attached to a waterproof material with Velcro straps that would fit over any decoy on the market other than the full strut models. They could be used on hen or jake decoys. The skinz lies flat when it is off the decoy so it makes it easy to transport and is light weight. If it gets wet you simply hang the skinz by the neck strap and let it dry out once you get home. They do suggest not folding the skinz in order to keep the feathers in tact.
Upon taking the Skinz out of the packaging it took me literally seconds to put it on my existing hen decoy. And it does look realistic even from a distance. The feathers moved with wind like a real turkey and there was no glare at all. I think that this product puts a whole new dimension to your hunt. Helping to lure in those old tom’s.

I have seen on many television shows lately that some hunters are using actual mounted turkeys as decoys. In my opinion the A-Way Hunting Turkey skinz will give you the same realism for a fraction of the cost. It’s light weight, easy to use and very convincing. I cannot say on the longevity of the product without having used it a full season yet. However, I am looking forward to see how the turkeys react to my decoy this upcoming season with the more lifelike look to it.

The difference in regular decoys and decoy with the Skinz is very clear by these pictures.

Cost: $269 MSRP

Product features

Axle to Axle  – 31 in
Let-off – 70%
Brace Height – 7.25 in
Extruded Riser
Draw weight – 16 – 52 lbs (adjustable)
Draw Length – 17-30 in (adjustable)
Bow weight – 2.92 lbs
Rubberized Grip
Zebra Bowstrings
2 Cam Perimeter Weighted Modular
Available in Black, Blue, Red, Pink, Yellow, Real Tree Advantage Max 4 HD, Real Advantage Max 4 HD

Personal Assessment of Product
I purchased a bow for my wife several years back from a friend of mine.  I wasn’t going to spend big money on a bow because I wasn’t sure if she would like archery.  This bow really didn’t fit her, and the draw weight was a little heavy for her, but we made it work.  After showing interest in the sport, I made up my mind to purchase a new bow this year which would fit all her needs.  I went to my bow shop and asked for opinions on which bow I should be looking at.  Her draw length is 23 inches, and she is limited on how much she could pull due to an injury to her shoulder.  The Menace was immediately suggested, and I couldn’t wait to get my wife to the shop to try it out.  Last weekend was our first opportunity, and she was finally able to shoot the bow.  Immediately, she was shocked at how smooth and quick her arrows were coming out of the bow.  I was amazed at how smooth and quiet this bow shot even cranked down at 52 lbs with a 30 inch draw.  The strength of this bow comes with the modular system which leads to almost infinite adjustability.  This bow is perfect for small framed shooters and entry level archers.  That being said, after shooting the Menace, I could tell there were no corners cut in quality or performance of the bow.

Product Limitations
I used the word quick in my assessment of the Mission Menace.  This bow is not built to be a speed demon, but the speed was respectable.  Unlike many high end bows today, this bow is built around versatility and forgiveness rather than speed.

Recommendation
This bow sold itself to my wife the first time she shot it.  The feel and forgiveness of this bow ranks with some of the best I’ve ever shot.  I would suggest the Mission Menace to any entry level or smaller framed shooters wanting to upgrade to a very solid bow.

Features:

• Fleece lined
• Fitted pockets for gear
• 2 zippered pockets
• Fully adjustable belt
• Ergonomically designed
• Retail price usually around $30.00

Available on line at www.huntersafetysystem.com or at most larger outdoor retailers.

For whatever the reason it seems I get cold very easy when it is damp or chilly while in the woods. Even in archery season. However, like most archery hunters I don’t like the bulk of big gloves or a big hand warmer around my waist.  This can hinder shooting. This year I found a great alternative. The Hunter Safety System Muff Pack.

I usually carry a fanny pack in to the woods in archery to carry my calls, range finder, etc. The HSS muff pack has the pockets built right in to carry these items you need. It has fitted front and back ventilated pouches and 2 zipper pouches. Keeping your hunting accessories at your  fingertips.  I also liked the fit. It hung almost in a V shape off your waist.  You can tell this accessory was designed by a hunter.  The fit allowed for the muff to sit low enough not to get in the way of your bow string. The openings are almost facing upward and you can place your hands in and out of the pack with ease of movement. It was a “natural” position for your hands.  The fleece lining kept my hands warm while waiting for a shot to present itself.  The muff was also fully adjustable to fit over any type of clothing you may be wearing.  I also liked that the muff pack was not bulky. It was stream lined, again with an archery hunter in mind. Although I have used mine for archery, rifle, muzzleloader season, late season waterfowl and while out hiking and ice fishing.  The material is noise free, made of soft quiet fleece.

I feel that to any hunter, quiet, simple and easy to use, and cost effective, will  help dictate what gear he or she will use in the field. Well I have to say in my opinion the Hunter Safety System Muff-Pak, helps keep hands warm, gear at the ready without a lot of movement or bulk, and ease of use. I would recommend the item to any hunter.