Proud to anounce I am part of Deer Crossing Archery Shooting Staff

I had been hearing good things about Deer Crossing Archery online so I decided to check a little more into them.  After my inquires and discussion with them I was asked to be a part of the Shooting Staff. I like what they stand for and are doing in the industry. This is straight off of their website on the About Us,

Deer Crossing Archery was started on April 15, 2013 with the vision of creating a better arrow. Owner, Bart Lawhorn, has made carbon products for over a decade, and his experience brought a level of knowledge and efficiency unmatched in his field. Needless to say, we were quite pleased when we discovered that building a better arrow also meant building affordable arrows, and Deer Crossing Archery now holds its place as the Best Value in Carbon Arrows. We have expanded from our single spine hunter to a full line of hunting, target, and crossbow arrows for almost every archer. So if you want to know what its like to shoot great arrows without breaking the bank, look no further than Deer Crossing Archery.

I have been shooting the Deer Crossing Archery Hunter and SD Hunters for 4 months now. I have to say the quality of these arrows are great. I opted for the .001 straightness. At this time I have only fletched up 6 of each. They hit the target hard and group together nice and tight. The SD Hunters stands for small diameter, these arrows are just what they say small. At this point I only have only set up the glue in 100 grain heads. At 20 yards it hits the target in split second. The SD's fly so fast it is crazy. I have been shooting the Hunters more just because I have not set up all the SD's  with the outserts. I don't want to get sighted in on arrows that I will have to change once I get them set up with the outserts. That will be my project this week is to get all the SD Hunters set up with outserts. I also have the LD Target arrows on the way. They should be at my house tomorrow.

This high momentum small diameter arrow is perfect for the hunter who wants a TON of down range penetration and bombproof durability. It is also well suited for the field archer who wants wind drift free arrow flight. Featuring our patent pending outsert technology, the SD Hunter is the best value small diameter arrow available. Have us build your own custom design using the different vane and nock options, or purchase shafts and do your own custom build.
All outserts will be sent loose with instructions for installation. Make sure to add 1/2" to your Carbon to carbon length to accommodate the outsert.
All cut Shafts/Arrows are measured carbon to carbon
.166" Inner Diameter
Spines (Grains Per Inch) (Outside Diameter)
300 (11.6 GPI) (.254" OD)
350 (10.2 GPI) (.245" OD)
400 (9.2 GPI) (.238" OD)
500 (8.3 GPI) (.232" OD)
- See more at: http://deercrossingarchery.com/collections/dca-arrows/products/sd-hunter-series#sthash.GCyzEzi3.dpuf

SD Hunters

This high momentum small diameter arrow is perfect for the hunter who wants a TON of down range penetration and bombproof durability. It is also well suited for the field archer who wants wind drift free arrow flight. Featuring our patent pending outsert technology, the SD Hunter is the best value small diameter arrow available. Have us build your own custom design using the different vane and nock options, or purchase shafts and do your own custom build.

All outserts will be sent loose with instructions for installation. Make sure to add 1/2" to your Carbon to carbon length to accommodate the outsert.

.166" Inner Diameter
Spines (Grains Per Inch) (Outside Diameter)
300 (11.6 GPI) (.254" OD)
350 (10.2 GPI) (.245" OD)
400 (9.2 GPI) (.238" OD)
500 (8.3 GPI) (.232" OD)

Hunters
The Hunter is the arrow this company was founded on, and continues to be our most popular arrow for year round use. Whether you are on the 3D course, practicing in the yard, or hunting in the field or treestand, this mid-weight arrow provides a great balance of speed and momentum. Manufactured with our Y-Weave technology, the Hunter Series also has exceptional durability and consistency. Have us build your own custom design using the different vane and nock options, or purchase shafts and do your own custom build. Either way, you will be getting the Best Value in Carbon arrows.

Inserts and tips will be shipped unglued so that customers may utilize the PDP weight system or use third party inserts. Inserts/tips can be installed with super glue. Please clean and test fit before gluing.

.245 Inner Diameter
Spines (weights in Grains Per Inch)
300 (8.9 GPI)
350 (7.7 GPI)
400 (7.4 GPI)
500 (6.6 GPI) 
 

Deer Crossing Archery has a full line of arrows. From Target to Hunting and even crossbow bolts. If you are in the market for arrows check out Deer Crossing Archery. They sell high quality arrows at an affordable prices. For those of you interested in arrows you can use Brett104 for a 10% discount off your order on the Deer Crossing Archery website. I am proud to be a part of Deer Crossing Archery Shooting Staff and hope you give them a try. Why not save some of your hard earned money and shoot high quality arrows. You can have both.

Deer Crossing Archery was started on April 15, 2013 with the vision of creating a better arrow. Owner, Bart Lawhorn, has made carbon products for over a decade, and his experience brought a level of knowledge and efficiency unmatched in his field. Needless to say, we were quite pleased when we discovered that building a better arrow also meant building affordable arrows, and Deer Crossing Archery now holds its place as the Best Value in Carbon Arrows. We have expanded from our single spine hunter to a full line of hunting, target, and crossbow arrows for almost every archer. So if you want to know what its like to shoot great arrows without breaking the bank, look no further than Deer Crossing Archery. - See more at: http://deercrossingarchery.com/pages/about-us#sthash.Vo7hxTEv.dpuf

Deer Crossing Archery was started on April 15, 2013 with the vision of creating a better arrow. Owner, Bart Lawhorn, has made carbon products for over a decade, and his experience brought a level of knowledge and efficiency unmatched in his field. Needless to say, we were quite pleased when we discovered that building a better arrow also meant building affordable arrows, and Deer Crossing Archery now holds its place as the Best Value in Carbon Arrows. We have expanded from our single spine hunter to a full line of hunting, target, and crossbow arrows for almost every archer. So if you want to know what its like to shoot great arrows without breaking the bank, look no further than Deer Crossing Archery. - See more at: http://deercrossingarchery.com/pages/about-us#sthash.Vo7hxTEv.dpuf

My other Hobby Smokin' Bumz BBQ

When I am am not out setting trail cams, glassing hillsides, or hunting deer you can find me in my or one of my great neighbors backyard. Standing around the smoker, open pit or Weber. Between myself and my neighbors we have 2 griddles, 2 offset smokers, 1 Real Steel Pit, 2-3 Weber Kettles, and 1 Santa Maria style pit. When we BBQ we go all out.

I myself have my Real Steel Pit (The Tin Man), an Offset smoker, a griddle and a Weber Kettle. If you can't tell I love to BBQ. I started Smokin' Bumz BBQ to hopefully get more into cooking at parties and events but mainly just for fun. I cook anything from carne asada to beef brisket and everything in between. For now I am practicing as much as I can to perfect my flavors which my neighbors don't seem to mind.  My favorite cut of meat is the pork shoulder or butt. I love a good pulled pork slider with a splash of my home made BBQ sauce. I have been toying with a few good ideals that might take them over the top. You will just have to wait and see on that.

My go to pit right now is my Real Steel Pit. A great guy named Gilbert and son build these awesome pits in Las Vegas. They are as much piece of art as they smoker. I have been using this pit for over year now and I love it.  It has spots for 3 racks and 4 hooks on the top of  the inside of the smoker. The pit has a unique feature of the top, middle and bottom piece are old plow disks. They are thick steel and hold heat very well. You also get a discada that is made out of the plow disk.  I opted to get 2, one for cooking and one acts a second water pan.

 

This pit works great, I use half the wood as my offset smoker. The pit keeps great heat and I only have to add wood about every hour. Gilbert is on to something with this pit design. I haven't really found a bad thing to say about how this pit cooks. To me there is nothing better than starting the smoker at 5:30-6am and putting 6-8 pounds of meat on the smoker.  From the first time I met him he was always nice and friendly. He never tried to sell me on his pit. He answered all my questions from how the pit held heat to cook times. He told me this pit was a game changer and he was right. This pit changed how I smoke meat. The quality of how this pit was built speaks for itself. If you are looking for a new pit check these guys out at the Orange County Market Place or check out the web site at RealSteelPits.com. If you stop by the OC Market Place tell Gilbert I sent you.

Wilderness Athlete: Hydrate and Recover and Energy and Focus

Since the beginning of the year I have tried to cut down on my daily energy drink intake. For me I love a Monster in the morning like most have a coffee. I don't like coffee, I have tried everything from 7-11 to the high end Starbucks stuff. Either way I just don't Like it. Take for example my hunting partner Al and I one morning while deer hunting A-31 in the Los Angeles National Forest. It was 29 degrees, cold and windy. When we me up after glassing for 2-3 hour and seeing nothing we pulled out the jet boil and heated up some water. Al pulled out his coffee and I pulled my Swiss hot chocolate. You should of seen the look on his face, priceless. Ok lets get back on track.

I had been reading about Wilderness Athlete for some time and decided to give it a shot. After talking to a few buddies I came to the conclusion I was going to get a tube of Hydrate and Recover and Energy and Focus.

Hydrate and Recover

NEWEST GENERATION OF SPORTS DRINKS FORMULATED TO REPLENISH AND REFUEL YOUR BODY.

Nearly fifty years ago, the era of sports drinks began with the introduction of Gatorade® to the marketplace.  Scientific research, however, has continued to uncover the body’s “thirst” for specific nutrients that keep us operating at peak levels.  With this new infrmation, sports drinks have evolved beyond simple fluid and electrolyte replacement products into versatile performance enhancing fuels.  Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover is the latest generation of sports drinks, incorporating all the current science related to rehydrating and refueling your muscles to meet the demands of physical activity.  By replenishing the broad array of nutrients that are consumed during exercise, and by refilling fluid “reservoirs,” Hydrate & Recover keeps your body and brain fueled for increased endurance and ready to meet the next challenge.* Gluten Free

HYDRATE & RECOVER ADVANTAGES:

• Precisely balanced electrolyte and mineral composition to support proper hydration, energy metabolism, and physical endurance*
• Isotonic formulation ensures fast gastric emptying, rushing fluids to muscles and organs where they’re needed most*
• Contains no artificial colors, flavors, stabilizers, or preservatives*
• Low Glycemic Index (GI) sugars combined with complex carbohydrates and L-Glutamine help support increased endurance and prevent fatigue*
• Includes Glucosamine to maintain and nourish joints and retain their proper fluid levels*
• Provides energy cycle cofactors and standardized botanical extracts for sustained ATP (energy) production throughout the body*
• *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Energy and Focus

FINISH STRONG BY INCREASING YOUR ENERGY AND BOOSTING MENTAL CLARITY.

We’ve all tried them, one or more of them, in fact – convenience store energy drinks.  These are the beverages that seem to share some very common traits: interesting, provocative names, non-stop advertising, and almost cult-like following.  The reality is that these products usually end up taking far more of our energy than they could ever give — producing roller coaster highs and lows, all the while depleting vital nutrients and overstressing our physiology.  Wilderness Athlete Energy & Focus is a notably different type of energy drink, uniquely formulated to feed the energy producing mechanisms in the body while boosting mental clarity and increasing physical output.  Originally developed for professional, Olympic®, and other elite athletes, Energy & Focus is the healthy, effective alternative to  “cult” canned and bottled products, and is now available to the athlete in each of us.* Gluten Free

ENERGY AND FOCUS ADVANTAGES:

• Contains no simple sugars to interfere with normal blood sugar metabolism and regulation – a true “no crash” formula*
• A comprehensive profile of neuroactive nutrients to support optimum brain and nervous system energy and physiology*
• Potent antioxidant profile of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Mixed Carotenes protects tissues from free-radical damage*
• Fast acting, steady energy boost – Feel it in minutes, enjoy for it hours*
• Includes adaptogenic botanical extracts to support physical stamina*
• Naturally flavored and colored, contains no artificial ingredients*
• *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

I have been mixing them together in what mountain firefighters have dubbed the Blaze. It is a great tasting and fast working energy drink. There is no crash like with regular energy drinks, less than half the calories, and has vitamins and minerals. I have been drinking this now since the beginning of the year. The Blaze has became my go to morning drink.

You can drink the Hydrate and Recover of Energy and Focus alone as well. I have tried both. I like the mix the best but alone they both taste great. I have also used the Hydrate and Recover after a long night of drinking man sodas. The next morning I drink a Hydrate and Recover and I'm back to 100%. Not that I condone long nights of man soda, but they happen. The Energy and Focus to me did not do to much. But when you mix them together the magic happens.

Wilderness Athlete also sells both the Hydrate and recover and Energy and Focus in single serving packets. This will be great for backpacking, hiking or even out with the family at the county fair. For my Colorado backcountry Elk hunt in September I will be mixing the two into milk shake straws and heat sealing both sides. So when I am ready for a boost I grab a straw cut it open and dump it into my water pouch. I am very happy with both products and I will continue to purchase these as well as trying out a few of Wilderness Athlete's other products. 

Pros
-Great Taste
-Fast acting
-No Crash
-Packed with good Vitamins and  Minerals

Cons
-Best with a shaker bottle.

A great product for this would be one my hunting partner reviewed on his blog The SoCal Bowhunter  (http://socalbowhunter.blogspot.com/2014/04/product-review-easygo-dispenser.html) It is a great product for those who do not have a shaker.

Peaks and Valleys. Peaks and Valleys

As April passes I find myself hearing Coach Mcginnis (Varsity Linebacker Coach) talking about peaks and valleys at practice and games. At the time it didn't mean anything. I was a 17-18 year old know-it-all punk, I thought this was b.s. to put it lightly. After being on a Peak for 3 months, with work, a 11 month old, and house work. My training for the Elk Experiment has dropped from 5-6 times a week to 1-3 days. Last week I found myself in a valley. Much like one you would find while elk hunting. I was out for a run in the afternoon, while I was running (jogging for you real runners)I could hear Coach Mcginnis talking about peaks and valleys in practice. He would explain that you can not be on a peak 100% of the time. You are going to go through valleys. That elk might be on that next ridge and you must cross the valley to reach him. Or you could find yourself with lack of motivation to hit the gym(myself). It could also be  home, work, or school issues, the list goes on and on. You have 2 choices either, one foot in front of the other and climb out or accept the valley and trudge on. I for one am a fighter. I'm climbing out of this valley and regain my stance on the top of the peak.

There is no time limit that one can be in a valley. For some it might be a day or two. For others it could be years. One of the main things you will need to climb out of the valley is some sort of Motivation. Positive people send positive and will help you drive your goal in the right direction. It will not happen over night and you are going to need a push every now and again to keep hammering up the peak. No matter how you find your motivation be it music, a video, your best friend, or a coach from the past. Just get motivated.

In the past few weeks of May, I have been back in the gym 4-6 days a week. My hunting partner Al and I have hiking with our packs once a week 2-3 miles, loaded with 80 plus pounds. I am pushing my way up the slope. 121 days left till we leave the sunshine state and head for the high country.

The Elk Experiment.

Welcome to the Elk Experiment. I want you to join me, as I prepare for my Over The Counter Archery Elk hunt in Colorado. This is my journey from your average out of shape beer drinker to an in shape high country bow hunter by September. When I started this journey I weighed in at 247lbs. As of today April 16 2014, I am 3 months and 9 days in and weigh 217 lbs. That leaves 156 days till we hit the road to Colorado. My goal for this journey is to be 200lbs, running 8-9 minute miles and pulling a 70lb bow. I ran a 10:53 mile last night. Our camp in Colorado will be anywhere between 8000-11,000' elevation. At these Elevations just walking to your car leaves people short of breath.

Now try hiking 6-8 miles a day minimum for 4-5 days. If you are lucky enough to tag out, then hiking was the "easy" part. The real work is on the pack out. Taking 80-100lbs loads back to camp. This is when the training, both mental and physical will come into play. I will also be hunting with my hunting partner Al. If we are lucky enough to both tag out then the work has been doubled. Sit back and enjoy my journey as I prepare myself for elk in 2014. Till the next time on the Elk Experiment. Its all about the release.

Test Shooting the 2014 Prime Alloy and Impact.

Yesterday I took the day off from going to the gym as I wanted to head over to my local archery shop Archery Outpost. I had a few issues with my bow that I wanted to get looked at. I had thought my rest release cable was sliding up, causing my rest to not drop as quickly as it should. Once Conner watched a few shots he informed me that it was not my rest, but my nocking point was to low. He took it back and into the bow vice it went. Re-set the nocking point, dialed it in through paper and it was shooting bullet holes. (My next project is to make a DIY paper tuner.) Back out to the range I was shooting low. I had to turn my single pin to 36 yards to hit at 20 yards. Now I will have to re-set my sight tape, another project.

After I shot 100 arrows with my bow I wanted to try a few new bows. I am thinking about getting a new bow before my trip to Colorado this year. I shot 2 of Prime's new bows for 2014. The Impact and The Alloy.

 IMPACT

 

• IBO (FPS): 340
• AXLE TO AXLE (IN): 35"
• BRACE HEIGHT: 6.25"
• MASS WEIGHT (LBS): 4.5
• DRAW LENGTH: 26" - 30"
• DRAW WEIGHT (LBS): 50, 60, 70

Drew from Archery Outpost let me shoot his Impact. He was dialing it in for an upcoming competition. We have the same draw length and draw weight. His bow is not stock off the shelf let me tell you. He had all the stabilizers, magnified sight and vibration dampening. As I shot it there was zero after shot vibration. He had change his set up so there was no valley which was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was really impressed after shooting this bow. It is a little long at 35" ATA but shoots really fast at 60 pounds. I really want to see what it can do at 70 pounds.

ALLOY

• IBO (FPS): 335
• AXLE TO AXLE (IN): 33.25"
• BRACE HEIGHT: 6.75"
• MASS WEIGHT (LBS): 4.2
• DRAW LENGTH: 26" - 30"
• DRAW WEIGHT (LBS): 50, 60, 70

The Alloy was just off the shelf. No stabilizer or sight, just a rest. I really liked this bow. Even without all the bells and whistles, this bow was smooth. The draw was smooth and transitioned to the valley very easy.  The Alloy seemed to want to drive the arrows to the target. This bow was set as a shop demo so it was set at about 50 pounds. This bow felt great in my hands and was very well balanced with just the display hook. This is a big ranking contender for my 2014 hunting bow.

I went back to my bow for 5-6 more ends and it felt great. I am not sure what I want to do this year. I know I am going to venture to a few other shops to try out the Elite, Hoyt and a few other manufactures this year before I do anything.

Rain and wind in the forecast, Lets go hiking

My hunting partner Al and I talk all last week about getting out and scouting a new area on the opposite side of our hunting spot. The forecast for the end of the week was looking to be the hardest rain we had got in 3-5 years. This year has been extremely dry with hardly any rain. So we needed the rain, but Al and I needed to get out of the house and hit the trail. We emailed back and forth Thursday and Friday with weather maps, models and road closers for the surrounding area we would be hiking. I made the call to give its go and at least get to the trail head. Expecting the worst I was ready for a warm breakfast instead of a hike. When we arrived at the trail head there was a light sprinkle but it seemed to be letting up. As usual we were the only car parked at the trail. That was fine since I'm not out there to hike with the masses, we want to get away.

At the start of the trail we had a few stream crossings to get over to access the trail. With the rains the  streams were now mini rivers. On 2 of the crossings I had to jump from my last rock to other side of the bank, about 4' to clear the water. At this point I was trying to stay dry. I knew the rain was all around us, so it was only a matter of time.

    

                                                               View of the incoming rain

We hiked a total of 12 miles that day. We did glass a little, with the conditions we were faced with we both knew the deer would not be moving. It felt great to get out and enjoy the day on the trail.  We had to put the rain gear on a few times but it quickly passed. Then we would strip layers off and continue on. It rained on us the last 45 minutes. I figure it was getting myself ready for elk in Colorado this year. When we got back to the car Al had brought 2 Pats Backcountry Brew. Check out his review on http://socalbowhunter.blogspot.com. Mine will be following as I just picked up one.

                                                                      Crazy Manzanita 

I was glad we ended up going and not being a typical Californian. It was a great hike and lots of talk about our upcoming elk hunt.