Resources

Mathews VXR First Impressions

Mathews VXR First Impressions

By Alex Comstock

A couple weeks ago, I picked up the Mathews VXR from my local archery shop, Custom Archery & Outdoors. Randy, the owner of the shop set it up for me and tuned it, and within an hour, Randy had transitioned all of my accessories (rest, sight, stabilizer, etc.) from my Triax to the VXR and I was shooting great. It was a seamless transition and now after shooting it almost everyday for over a week, I wanted to give you my first impressions, because I’ve been absolutely blown away by this bow.

How To Self-Film Deer Hunts

How To Self-Film Deer Hunts

By Alex Comstock

Now that the 2019 deer season has concluded, it marked my fourth season self-filming my hunts. Self-filming is by no means a walk in the park, and you truly have to understand what your goals are that come with it before you set out to try and do it. When I first started, I wanted to just have fun with it, which if that’s your end goal, then all the power to you. But I quickly realized I wanted to become enamored with it, and turn it into creating content and so forth. So, I started a YouTube channel, and here we are a few years later, as I ultimately turned filming and photographing into my full-time job, even though a large majority of that is based outside of the hunting world. But, I still run a YouTube channel, and kick out videos weekly. With that, I’m going to link to a YouTube video which explains this blog post in it’s entirety, but if you’re not able to take the fifteen minutes to watch, I’ll run through it quicker here as well.

For The Love, Not The Likes

By Josh Smith

*Editor’s note: Today’s blog post with Wild Carrot Deer Attractant owner Josh Smith will hopefully hit home to some. Deer hunters all over the world have probably experienced instances like this at some point or another. I hope you enjoy this piece by Josh. - Alex

We’ve all seen the social media posts that depict a proud hunter and the success of their quest drawing negative feedback from the online community. Whether it’s a grip and grin with a nocturnal whitetail, a spring tom in that famous limb hanger pose, or a pile of pelts from a recent predator hunt, there are always questions surrounding the impact these shots might have on a potential future outdoorsman straddling the fence between our favorite pastime and a lifetime spent apart from it. While we must be conscious of the image we portray of the hunting community, are we really doing our sport any justice by refining it to the point of inauthenticity? 

We talk about how grip and grins are pushing some potential new hunters away from the sport, but isn’t that part of why we do what we do? Pictures of a successful hunt are a display of pride in the same way one might share pictures of their children. The real issue here is that the non-hunting community lacks the appropriate context to appreciate those shots. Graphic photos are not the way to go, but blood, death, and gore are a real part of what we do. Perhaps instead of displaying this for the outside world to see, we could instead discuss the impact these first hand encounters have on our souls as we process our emotions to reach the end goal of a filled freezer. 

While we need to show tact when displaying our lifestyle for certain, it may be our failures that will impact and win the hearts and minds of a non-hunter who remains undecided on his or her perspective on the sport. This rollercoaster we’re all strapped into doesn’t reach that  “hands in the air” high without sometimes plummeting to “heart in the shoes” lows. As a father, I’ve learned that some of my biggest teaching moments spring forth as my kids watch me struggle, wrestle, fight, and hopefully overcome the challenge at my door. It isn’t the success of the overcoming that they see, but the acceptance of the challenge, the refusal to quit when it would be easy to do so and the sometimes sloppy mess in between.

So much of the hunting community is centered on growing bigger, older, mature deer. Those who aren’t concerned with growing them are laser focused at showing their methods for seeking them out. Those who have the financial capability but not the time for either growing or scouting deer are able to seek out the helpful hand of one of many top tier guides who have done the arduous labor for them. While these things are all well and good we may be overlooking an important aspect and that is to allow room for growth. Growth by definition, requires that something is less advanced, less stable, less educated, or less experienced than it has the potential to become. Growth is an unavoidable and sometimes painful requirement as one progresses from beginner to expert. That growth can only be achieved through a healthy dose of failure as we fumble our way through the learning experience. Ignoring those missteps or pretending we all don’t encounter them can and does serve as a detriment to us all as it widens the gap between what hunting really is and what some would like the outside world to believe it to be. 

A great deal of what I continue learn about hunting and how I’ve developed in my journey as an outdoorsman has been a direct result of the not so pretty, not so fun, and sometimes painful failures I’ve endured along the way. Ive logged countless hours in a tree without a single sighting and in doing so I began to seek sign, watch for commonly used terrain features, and seek out frequented feeding and bedding sites. I’d like to think I’m not the only one familiar with the lows of half-assing my studies only to be infuriated when it’s made obvious come test time. Ive spent what feels like an eternity with knots in my gut as a I clung to hope and watched blood trails disappear into the leaf litter with no return, and thus committed myself to shorter shot distances and more range time. 

Putting in the time to practice shooting, no matter the weapon, has become a labor of love for most avid hunters and for good reason. I still feel the sting of the poor shots I’ve put on game and it drives me to put in the time to produce the most ethical shot possible. Ive grown as a hunter and as a man since those early days and now find myself passing on far more potential shots in order to have the confidence I need to respect the animal I’m after with nothing less than my best. I hold myself to a high standard to be sure, but its not a standard I would ever expect from someone new to the art of hunting and to tell the truth its not even I standard that I live up to in every circumstance. In a constantly changing environment with many factors influencing every decision, mistakes are often made. 

It’s been said (and we all know it to be true) that one cannot appreciate the sunshine without days spent in the rain. People, on the whole, are excellent detectors of bullshit and more often than not are turned away by it no matter the context. It is my belief that we must portray honesty, integrity, and humility as we share our stories of time spent afield. Learn to appreciate and revere the lows along with the highs. We’re not all hunters, but we are all imperfect people and that is one common ground we all share.

Gear Review: BioLite Solo Prep Kit

Gear Review: BioLite Solo Prep Kit

By Alex Comstock

Recently I got the chance to review a few products from BioLite Energy, and let me tell you, this kit of products is pretty cool. Coming from a hunter’s perspective, I’ve found these products to not only be beneficial for being outdoors, but they’re also great to keep in your home in case of an emergency. With that said, let’s jump into what these products are, how they perform, and how you can put them to use.

#Velvetfest 2019 Has Kicked Off!

#Velvetfest 2019 Has Kicked Off!

By Alex Comstock

If you’re not familiar with #VelvetFest, it’s a kick off to deer season started by our good friends over at Exodus Trail Cameras. #VelvetFest is meant to help get people excited about deer season and summer scouting. Velvetfest runs from June 12th to July 12th and there’s a lot more than just simply getting excited about summer.

Film Review - Stars in The Sky: A Hunting Story

Film Review - Stars in The Sky: A Hunting Story

By Alex Comstock

If you haven’t heard of the TV show MeatEater, you’re missing out on one of the best hunting shows out there. It’s such a great show, in large part because of the infectious personality of host, Steven Rinella. Rinella in my opinion, is one of the best public advocates for hunting for a variety of reason, and he is able to articulate about hunting so well. He shows not just the hunt in his show, but everything that goes into it and what comes after it. That includes the butchering, packing out meat and cooking it. But today, we’re not talking about his show MeatEater. What we are talking about though is Rinella’s film that was recently released, “Stars in The Sky: A Hunting Story.”

5 YouTube Channels You Should Be Subscribed To For Deer Hunting

5 YouTube Channels You Should Be Subscribed To For Deer Hunting

By Alex Comstock

 In 2019, there’s more people than ever consuming not only whitetail content online, but high quality whitetail content. In today’s world, there’s a ton of places on the internet you can find great deer hunting content and in this blog post, I wan to focus on YouTube. YouTube is mainly where I consume all of my video content and there’s a lot you can learn from and enjoy on YouTube. With that said, here’s what I would consider as five of the best deer hunting YouTube channels out there.

6 Ideas When Introducing Kids To Hunting

6 Ideas When Introducing Kids To Hunting

By Scott Spitzley

When it comes to connecting and engaging young children into the outdoors, there may be some uncertainty as to where to begin—it is in my opinion, overlooked. 

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife national survey conducted every five years, our hunting community is declining, despite the population increase.  I can only speculate that this is attributed to modernization as well as a lack of interest in hunting, especially amongst our younger generation.    

3 Budget Friendly Products From The 2019 ATA Show

3 Budget Friendly Products From The 2019 ATA Show

By Alex Comstock

Last week I attended the ATA show in Louisville, Kentucky and as always everyone is always excited to see what products are coming for the upcoming year. This year, there didn’t seem to be many buzzworthy products, but I’m always looking for those smaller, budget friendly products. Below I will go through three of my favorite products from this year’s ATA show that won’t force you to take a big hit in the wallet.

3 Reasons Deer Season Can be a Mental Grind

3 Reasons Deer Season Can be a Mental Grind

By Alex Comstock

As a hardcore bowhunter, deer season truly never ends. We’re doing something deer related every month of year. But during the actual time of year when we can shoot deer, everything gets intensified. For months during the fall, we spend hours upon hours in a treestand or blind, and when we’re not in the field, odds are we’re looking at the weather, maps, etc. It’s non-stop and can sometimes end up being a mental grind, especially when we get to this time of year. Here are three reasons deer season can end up being a mental grind and what you can do when the grind hits you.

How To Handle Other People While Hunting Public Land

How To Handle Other People While Hunting Public Land

By Alex Comstock

Public land is a great thing in the hunting and outdoor world, no doubt about it. But sometimes, when you hunt public land, you are going to deal with people that just don’t quite get it. Unfortunately, some hunters don’t understand ethics or respect others. I wish everyone did, but it’s a sad fact, and it can put you in a uncomfortable position. So how do you handle sticky situations? That’s the goal of this blog post.

3 Reasons To Join the QDMA

3 Reasons To Join the QDMA

By Alex Comstock 

If you aren't a member of the Quality Deer Management Association and you love deer hunting, it's time to look at becoming a member. Whether you own property and want to learn how to manage it more efficiently, are a public land weekend warrior, or somewhere in between, there's a lot to be learned from being a QDMA member. Here are a few specific reasons why you should consider joining today. 

Why The Term "Trophy Hunter" Needs to Be Explained More

Why The Term "Trophy Hunter" Needs to Be Explained More

By Alex Comstock 

The term "Trophy" buck. What does it mean to you? I'd be willing to bet that it's different than what I consider a trophy, or what your friend considers a trophy. Yet, the phrase "Trophy Hunting" often is associated with deer hunting negatively, and I don't like that. But, at the same time I think it can sometimes be partially our fault as hunters. I believe we ought to explain to people what we mean by trophy hunting, and that just because someone says they are a trophy hunter doesn't mean they only care about antlers and not anything else. 

How To Hunt Out of State on a Slim Budget

How To Hunt Out of State on a Slim Budget

By Tyler Jones

Having toured in a band for nearly 10 years, I find traveling easier than most, I guess. All the time I hear, “I wish I had the guts to just go like you do,” and I’m thinking, “I wish I had your paycheck.” I feel like I’ve been tough for some time now, but I think I’m also just plain callused because since age 18, I’ve never known what it was like not to scrape by. The lifestyle can be stressful, however it also has a freeing quality to it, and because I have chosen to live this way, I’ve been forced into learning how to travel and hunt out of state on a slim budget.  

How To Effectively Prioritize Work, Family, Hunting and Life

How To Effectively Prioritize Work, Family, Hunting and Life

By Adam Crews

As a kid, I always remember my dad and his yellow legal pad with his “To-Do List” penciled at the top. He's the hardest working person I know and he always has a plan. If anyone had the right to tell me my priorities were wrong, it was him. He may not admit it, but he gets stuff done, and it’s all because he has a plan.

5 Life Lessons To Be Learned From Hunting Mature Bucks

5 Life Lessons To Be Learned From Hunting Mature Bucks

By Alex Comstock 

As I sit here and type this, I'm thinking hard about exactly what deer hunting has taught me, not only about animals, wildlife, and as an outdoorsman, but as a human being. When deer hunting is one of the most important things to you in life, you'll inherently spend a lot of time working at it. In turn, deer hunting will actually teach you a lot about life, and it's my baseline on how to be successful. Don't believe me? Well here's five life lessons that deer hunting has taught me. 

Understanding The Love and Respect Deer Hunters Have For The Animal

Understanding The Love and Respect Deer Hunters Have For The Animal

By Alex Comstock 

In this day and age of hunting, with numbers continuing to fall, especially with the number of deer hunters, I think it's important we reach as many "non-hunters" as possible to explain the intricacies that people may not understand about hunting. Deer hunting is such a multi layered activity, and there's so many different levels to it. I think sometimes people get it misconstrued and think we only shoot big bucks for chess pieces on the wall, or that we don't respect whitetail deer.