A few years back, I started experiencing some pretty bad bouts of target panic in my archery game. It was so bad that I’d flinch and completely miss my target. The dents on my brick wall in the backyard are proof. Target panic has a few different forms, but for me it chaotically rested in my anticipation of the shot. I’d anticipate when the shot was going to go off and react to that before it would actually go off. A very similar situation to when one is behind a rifle and either forgets to take the safety off or forgets to rack another round in the chamber and pulls the trigger. Nothing happens with the gun, but the shooter, in many cases, tends to flinch in anticipation of the explosion that didn’t actually happen. After coaching and countless hours behind the bow, the only solution I could come up with was to change the process entirely. This is what lead me to bowhunting with a thumb button release aid in the first place.
Early spring is approaching and sooner than later hunting seasons are going to start up again in full force. Like many of you out there, I’ve been trying to dial in my eating and fitness for the coming events. With spring bear hunts in my near future, I want to make sure that I’m feeling my best and performing to my fullest. In the past, this would mean going on a clean eating diet and spending a hefty amount of time in the gym. With the new world we are living in now, the gym isn’t really in the cards for me. So, when I caught word of the 28 day reboot from Wilderness Athlete, my ears perked up. It was a program that laid out diet, grocery lists, and gym/home workouts. Could this be the perfect reboot for hunting season? Time would tell.
Anyone that has followed this blog for any stretch of time probably has picked up on the fact that I dig First Lite Clothing. The stuff has never done me wrong and I’ve been wearing it since they had like 3 things on their website. Since then, they’ve grown into something much bigger, with way more options. Back when there wasn’t a whole lot to choose from, picking what to buy was pretty easy. Now though? Things are different and there is a load of options.
During the 2020 hunting season, I ran a variety of different clothing items from the company First Lite in a variety of different terrain and weather. From scalding hot deserts to blizzard like conditions in the mountains, I put the stuff through its paces. Finding out what pieces to actually purchase though can be tricky. Especially, because this stuff is pricey. You absolutely get what you pay for, but let’s face it, buying the wrong thing and having to go through the whole ordeal of sending it back and waiting even longer for what you hope to work better stinks.
In light of that, I’ve decided to put together somewhat of a guide to what I used last year. With it, hopefully it will give you a better idea of what First Lite items might work best for you and what you might not want to pull the trigger on after all.
I hope that clears up any questions you may have about different options that First Lite offers. If you do have any other questions, feel free to drop them down below or email me. I’d be happy to chat with you.
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The internet is a wild thing. A few years back, I was connected to a fella named Brad Brooks, owner of the hunting company Argali. Brad wanted to come down for an archery coues deer hunt during the month of January. What was once just a conversation on tactics turned into us planning to hunt together that year and the start of a friendship. We had an absolute blast during the 2020 archery coues deer season, so naturally, we made plans to link back up the following year for the 2021 season.
The previous season, Brad had quite a few opportunities at coues bucks, but in the end, came up empty handed after his arrow rest malfunctioned. This caused him to actually miss a really great buck not once, but twice. That was a hard pill to swallow after grinding 9 days out in coues country. You can actually watch that hunt unfold via a Vortex Select Series.
This year, we returned to our 2020 stomping grounds for the 2021 season. We saw countless numbers of deer, had a lot of great laughs, and even loosed an arrow.
As you can see, we had a great hunt. Yes, it was a bummer that we couldn’t find Brad’s hard earned buck, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Hunt long enough with a bow and these things are bound to happen. It’s all about having a positive attitude during these unfortunate times, and Brad hit the nail on the head with that, which is something I admire. He’ll be back down here in Arizona coues country I’m sure. And I’m sure we’ll again have a fantastic hunt together.
I cannot believe it! Season 1 of Dialed in Diaries is officially over. It has been a dream of mine for many years to put something like this together, so to see it all come to fruition is pretty special for me. Thank you all so much for the kind words and support through the season. I had some pretty low moments, as well as some pretty high ones. It was a great hunting season to say the least, and I can’t wait to get Season 2 started! First up is going to be backcountry spring bear here in Arizona. After that, I’ll travel to Idaho for, not one, but two spring bear tags! Many adventures lie ahead and I’m truly looking forward to sharing it all with you along the way.
Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube and blog to stay up to date with all future posts and videos. And until next time, stay safe out there, and good luck in the draws! 2021 has officially started!
January in the Arizona desert is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. For a bowhunter, it’s a winter wonderland to say the least. We get to chase both mule deer and coues deer with our bows, during the rut. The weather is phenomenal, and it’s a fantastic time to be out in the field.
Backpack hunting is always high on my list this time of year and this past January was no different. My good buddy Gabe would be joining me in a brand new spot, which would mark his first backpack hunt ever. That in itself made the juice worth the squeeze, getting to bring him on his first backcountry hunt.
In this next episode of Dialed in Diaries, watch as Gabe and I backpack into the Arizona desert and pursue archery coues deer. Hunting coues with archery equipment is never an easy task, but always a rich experience. We saw a ton of deer, had a great time, and even came out heavier than we went in…
It’s funny how fast things can unfold in the field. This was a prime example of that. Getting to share that with a great friend was even better.
Thanks so much for watching and I hope you’ve been enjoying these episodes! I’ve got one more episode to show you all, that will wrap up Season 1 of Dialed in Diaries. My buddy Brad Brooks hit the hills for more archery coues deer together and make some great memories. That will be Episode 8. Keep your eyes out!
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So, we are in the thick of it now on this elk hunt. In the last episode of Dialed in Diaries you saw me play cat and mouse with a bull. After several attempts, he just kept on avoiding me. Whether it was by his own doing or because of an outside source, like the quail hunters. These things happen in the field and we didn’t get too down about them. That’s bowhunting and it’s all part of the game. To get mad about it, would be doing yourself and the whole experience a disservice. We’re out there to have fun, so petty things like that don’t deserve our energy.
In this episode, I finally catch up to the bull from the last episode. This time, he put himself in a fantastic spot for an approach. It was a 2.5 mile stalk with an hour left of daylight. I ran the whole way in order to get into position on the bull. Watch Episode 6 down below to see how it all shook out.
I really hope you enjoyed that episode as much as I enjoyed creating it. Sure, this one stung a bit, but it’s always fun looking back at moments like these. They provide learning opportunities, as well as opportunities for clarity. And in foggy times like that, clarity is absolutely needed to find your way through.
Like always, thanks so much for watching and please SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel to stay up to date with future videos! Next up is Archery Deer here in Arizona. One of my all time favorite hunts of the year. Backpack bowhunting for coues deer at its finest. Backpacks were heavy on this one. Stay tuned and stay safe out there!
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We’ve reached a new chapter! High country mule deer is behind us and late archery elk hunting lies ahead. This hunt took place in my home state of Arizona and is one that has grown on me through the years. Most folks want to get out and chase screaming bulls during the month of September, and rightfully so. I love the early hunts. However, spot and stalking bulls in our Arizona deserts is something that has become more and more appealing to me with each passing year. The tags are easier to draw, the weather is great, and you get to hunt the same bulls that hunters wait decades to hunt on the September hunt. They might not be screaming during the month of November, but it is a fun hunt in its own right.
In the past, my brother Jake and I have never had an elk tag together. This would be the first time both of us head afield with an elk tag each. So, that in itself was a win for the both of us. As we grow older, it seems we get more and more busy. This has a negative effect on how much time that we get to spend together. So, when hunts like this pop up, where we can both hunt at the same time, it is much appreciated. From glassing side by side, to hanging out around a crackling fire, we soak it all up.
In this episode of Dialed in Diaries, we’ll kick off the very hunt I’ve been talking about. Late archery bull elk hunting in Arizona, during the month of November.
If you haven’t already, please SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel and blog to stay up to date with future posts. Thanks so much for the support through the years. 2021 is going to be the most hunts I’ve ever done, and I plan on sharing it every step of the way through Dialed in Diaries. Keep your eyes out for Episode 6 in the near future. Hint, hint. SHOTS FIRED!
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In the last episode of Dialed in Diaries, you watched my brother and I backpack into the Colorado backcountry in search of mule deer. No deer were harmed in the making of that film, but my brother was unfortunately. This caused us to pull the plug and head home 5 days early. It was a bummer all the way around, but necessary. He was in no shape to trek into the area we were planning on going. 2 weeks later, I’d head back to Colorado with a good buddy and try my luck again, which lands us here, episode 4.
Alright! Hope you all liked the first chapter of Dialed in Diaries “Bear.” I had such a blast filming and putting all of that together. The fact that it all came together in the end after a slow hunt was icing on the cake for me. While I wish all of the great friends that were in camp were by my side helping me pack out that bear, it was still a hunt I’ll cherish. Plus, you all know how much I love bear hunting. I’ve got a big year planned for the bruins for 2021, hint hint…
At the close of one chapter there is an opening of the next. This next chapter is called “High Country Mule Deer.” I drew a tag in Colorado and was joined by my brother on the first half of the trip. High Country Mule Deer will be a 2 episode chapter and finds me in two different backcountry camps throughout it. Colorado is an incredible place, and while this hunt was a struggle, I had a blast.
I hope you enjoy the episode above as well as the ones to come. If you have not yet, please SUBSCRIBE to the Youtube Channel and blog to stay up to date with future posts! Thanks again and good luck out there!
Alright! As you saw in the first episode of Dialed in Diaries, spring bear was a ride on the struggle bus. While I did have an opportunity to shoot a small bear that came in to a call, it just didn’t feel right, so I let him walk and enjoy the rest of his spring. Maybe next year he’ll be ready. So, I left spring bear hunting without taking home a bear. This was a bummer, but also it excited me. Fall would be here in no time.
Fall bear camp has really become more about hanging out with buddies for me. It’s a time when we all break away from our busy lives at home, kick back, and try to do a bit of hunting. We don’t get to hang out nearly as much as we’d all like, so we cherish these times. Along with that mushy stuff, Fall bear is really where I learned how to bear hunt. It’s where I spent the majority of my time in my early years of hunting bruins. So, for me it’s a huge wave of nostalgia between buddies and Fall bear.
The first part of this trip was tough. Food for the bears was hard to locate as was water. We’re going through a severe drought here in Arizona. In all honesty, the bears were slim pickings when compared to years past. These were areas where I’d seen in upwards of 10 bears a day. Now, we were lucky if we’d see one. Which is exactly what happened during our trip. I saw one bear for all of about 2 seconds and a friend saw one the day before the opener at last light. That’s it.
After spending time with friends for 4 days, I was left to hunt alone the last day. It came down to the last evening of the last day for me. Check out episode 3 of Dialed in Diaries below to see how this all shook out!
The above episode concludes Chapter 1 of the series and I hope you all enjoyed it! Chapter 2 will be released on Monday December 7th over on my Youtube Channel. This will kick off my Colorado high country mule deer hunt. It was a grind in some gnarly country! Keep your eyes out for that one and thanks so much for all of the positive feedback you’ve given me. These episodes have been a pleasure to put together and I can’t wait to keep sharing the season with you as it progresses.
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