This may come as a shock, but if you happen to live on the East Coast, you don’t have to travel too far for impressive views and thrilling outdoor adventures. The East Coast is home to many amazing outdoor finds if you know where to look. Here are some of the best lesser-known hiking destinations of the East!
The Grandview (West Virginia)
The Grandview Area trails are situated within West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The area provides seven different trails to choose from connecting to three overlook points showcasing the park’s absolutely stunning geography. Although not very well known throughout the U.S., this hiking spot’s scenery contends with the best of the best!
Old Rag Mountain (Virginia)
Located within the Shenandoah National Park, this favorite amongst local hikers makes for the perfect day trip. Old Rag Circuit is a 9.4 mile hike that leads adventurers to the mountain’s peak. The mountain top has an exposed summit that provides outstanding rolling-hill views running as far as the eye can see from every angle.
Watkins Glen (New York)
This state park located in the Finger Lakes region of New York is home to a whopping 19 different waterfalls along its gorgeous Watkins Glen Gorge trail. The hike offers expert-level views along several beginner-level routes that anyone can enjoy!
Halibut Point (Massachusetts)
Along the coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts lies Halibut Point State Park. A lot is squeezed within this trail’s quick 1.6 mile loop, with tide pools, a quarry, and a view of the distant Mt. Agamenticus located over 80 miles away in Maine. This trail is another relatively easy hike that that can be completed in a single day.
And of course, never forget to not only protect your eyes, but the stunning views they see while exploring everything the East has to offer. Make sure to bring your favorite pair of Stagger Shades on your next hike, and have fun out there!
]]>
What is a shed?
This is actually not a silly question, most of the people that I've talked to this week about my plans to "Shed Hunt" this weekend ended in me explaining that I indeed was not headed to my local Home Depot to look for a new place to store my lawn mower.
While most people think that deer antlers are a fixed part of the skeletal system the American Whitetail Buck actually drop their antlers once a year during the late winter due to a drop in testosterone which triggers the release of cells called osteoclasts, which essentially eat at the base of the pedicle (where the antler attaches to the head) causing the bucks antlers to fall off. The buck will then grow a completely new pair of antlers during the spring and summer in preparation for the fall rut season (more on that another time).
The best part of shed hunting is the fact that you don't even have to be a hunter to do it. It's a great way to get out into the wild with your family or by yourself and enjoy a good challenge (and it is challenging). Theres something magical about finding a fresh shed, you find yourself standing in the exact spot that nature did it's thing, and it left you a trophy in the process.
When To Start
Northern Whitetail Bucks will tend to drop their antlers starting in February, so a good timeframe to start finding fresh drops is anywhere between February 15th and March 15th.
I typically will plan out 5 or 6 different places to look and will hit each one of them in this time frame. ONX is an amazing app that can help you navigate both public and private lands, you can easily drop pins and map your way through these lands. I tend to end my hunts towards the end of march as the spring vegetation starts to take hold it gets harder and harder to find dropped antlers.
Where to start
If you want to have any luck you need to find a good starting point. Any land public or private holds the potential for finding fresh antler sheds.
If you're going to go the public land route, ask around. Find a local park officer or someone who manages the land and ask them where the deer bed and where the deer feed. These are the two best places to find a good shed. You can also map out the area between the two and check beaten down deer trails as well.
If you have access to private land the best place to start is the edge of the fields. Bucks tend to hang back in safer places when they feed, they like to feed right on the edge of the fields just a few steps from the woods, this can be a great place to find fresh sheds.
Another good tactic is to follow the fence lines, check for anywhere that deer may be jumping over fences. Sometimes a simple hop over a fence is enough to shake an antler loose and cause it to drop.
Tips and Tricks
Binoculars are your friend in the field- When you're checking in crop fields typically the harvest has been cut down, allowing for a good visible landscape, binoculars can be a good tool that will allow you to stay put and scan the field for potential antlers, from there you can navigate to potential finds and save yourself a good amount of energy.
Don't be afraid to get deep- Especially when you're on public access land, most people like to stay on the beaten path or the easiest route. Get deep into the bedding areas, wear long pants and long sleeves and get ready to navigate thorns and thick weeds. This is where you'll find the bedding areas that are for the most part, untouched by others.
Check for rubs- If you hunt deer, this is obvious, if you don't hunt deer, you've probably seen tree rubs and may have never given it any thought as to ow those marks got there. Whitetail bucks rub their antlers on trees for several reasons, one reason is to remove the early season velvet from their antlers, and another is to mark territory. Bucks will typically rub on smaller, younger trees. Either way if you can find a location that has a lot of fresh rubs... well.. it tells you there are bucks that have been in the area. Scan these places slow and with any luck you'll come up with what you're looking for.
Beware the Deadhead
If you spend enough time hunting for sheds or in the woods in general, at some point you might be lucky enough to come across a fully intact Whitetail Buck skull. While these things are really cool and would look great on your wall, in most states it is illegal to remove them without following the proper procedures. Typically when you do find one, a call to your local wildlife officer is a good start. Some wildlife officers will allow you to send a photo of the skull, some may want to stop on site and see for themselves, they typically will then give you the proper documentation to take possession of the skull. Check your local regulations before removing any fully in tact skulls.
]]>
While multi-facet knives are not new, the Swiss army knife became standard issue for the swiss army in 1891. The "1890 knife" featured a can opener for field rations, a knife for various needs, a reamer for leather goods, and a screwdriver for rifle maintenance. Originally they were produced by Wester& Co. A German company, but by 1897 Karl Elsener began making knives domestically with a second smaller blade and a corkscrew. Elsener’s new knives were designed for officers, but everyone liked the corkscrew idea. By 1909 the knives were stamped with the Swiss flag. His company was renamed after his mother Victoria and used the french abbreviation for steel "inox," creating Victorinox. Victorinox still manufactures the knives today.
Victorinox makes a mind-numbing variety of knives designed to fit the needs of any hobby. Outside of the "classic," there are options for link separators for bicycles, a butane torch, even a USB flash drive. We could spend several pages talking about the wacky things encased in those red slabs of plastic, but for this article, we will keep it to the more useful camp functions.
The swiss army knife has a blade; actually, it has two blades. Two blades that can handle minor tasks like gutting a fish or cutting a length of paracord to your lean-to. While canned goods are not as common for backpacking anymore, the can/ bottle opener keeps the frustration down when you want to pop the top on a beer after a day on the water or the pull tab on the can of tuna has decided to part ways with the lid. The scissors help save my teeth when trimming excess line of a fishing knot or a loose thread on my jacket that a blade would be too awkward to use. Tweezers and a toothpick are embarrassingly two things I've used more than I want to admit. Not having to crack open the first aid kit to get a splinter out is worth the price of the knife any day.
The swiss army knife isn't as stout as a plier-based multi-tool, but it weighs half as much, and it's discreet enough that you can carry your knife without anyone taking a second glance.
A bushcraft or survival knife can be used in many more ways than the small blades of the swiss, but your Ka-Bar doesn’t have the other eleven tools in it that the little swiss does.
As an everyday knife, one that will go with you to the grocery store or the Grand Tetons, there's no better knife than the swiss army knife. I'm not suggesting you head into the woods armed only with a pocket knife, but in a battery of tools for camp or one that will stay on your life vest or day pack; I would choose that little red knife every time.
]]>Since childhood, many of us were taught to recycle and cut the sixpack rings after we were done with them. Many towns have banned plastic bags and mylar balloons, which can end up in the ocean, and are consumed by turtles and marine life. A form of plastic pollution new to me is in the form of "nurdles."
Nurdles are plastic beads that serve as the base for plastic goods. They are melted down with pigments and other additives to make the final product. Your everyday item was likely cast from the same type of bead from a solo cup to your office chair. Where this story gets interesting or upsetting is the wreck of the X-press Pearl. The X-press Pearl was a cargo ship that caught fire and sank off the coast of Shri Lanka. While the chemical spill was significant concern from the wreck, the lasting effects of 87 containers worth of plastic beads have been worse. Sealife, including fish, birds, and whales, consumed these lentil-sized pieces of plastic and died from blockage and starvation. Studies have found that toxins are prevalent on the surface of nurdles, so animals that ingest and safely pass these beads will now spread toxins through the food chain.
Srilanka's population relies on fishing for food and the economy. Since the spill in May, some 200,000 families have had to stop fishing, according to Hemantha Withanage, Sri Lanka's director of the Centre for Environmental Justice.
Beyond reducing our reliance on plastics, what can we do? For starters, we can tell the international maritime organization to list nurdles as hazardous cargo. Doing so would impose stricter shipping regulations and require immediate response to spills. While this article wasn't intended to do more than educate about a little known crisis halfway around the world from where I write this, it prompted a broader discussion from my peers in regards to plastics and conservation. I'll leave you with a call to action and a quote from Shawn, the man behind the shades.
Be aware of how much plastic you are using. When possible reuse and recycle. When out hiking, fishing, or camping, pack out what you pack in. If possible pick up trash from others while in the woods or water. We can be the change thats needed, all it takes is everyone just doing "one more".
"Often people tend to narrow conservation down to hunting or fishing, when in reality, conservation is really about leaving things better than you found it. I try to implement this in every aspect of my life and within Stagger culture, wether it be people or the planet, I hope that I can leave it all a little better than I found it.” -Shawn Elam
]]>
R3 is a hot word that is thrown around in the hunting world. R3 is mentioned here and there. What does R3 stand for, and what are the impacts for the everyday sportsmen?
R3 is a catchy abbreviation for the three-step program aimed at saving hunting. I can feel the eye rolls from here. "Save Hunting"? Why do we need to save something like that? Well, the answer is simple. Funding. Hunting funds conservation. Ammo, guns, and gear are all subject to an excise tax that has generated billions of dollars in revenue used by the department of the interior to spend on conservation projects. This funding has an added potency when you realize that conservation funds are allocated by the number of license sales in the state. The more hunters buying licenses, the more money for conservation in that state.
R3 stands for; recruit, retain, and reactivate. In the following sections, we will explore what those tenets mean and how we can deliver on them.
Recruitment of new hunters is the most straightforward R to understand. If we want to stop the declining number of hunters, we need to get more people to hunt. States offer early youth seasons, and special opportunity hunts to encourage young people to hunt. The future of hunting America and the Plus one movement are both non-profits to recruit and educate new hunters. This push for recruitment has led to a soul-searching of what hunting means. For some, it's tradition. For others a way to eat locally. While there are no doubt generalizations as to who hunters are. The motivation to recruit new hunters means a group out there looks like you and hunts for the same reason, regardless of where you come from.
Retention of hunters is where there is the biggest struggle for state agencies. We can show people how to hunt. We can make their entrance into hunting easy, but the continuation of hunting into adulthood is a challenge. Keeping hunters in the field means more license purchases and more chances for them to be a mentor to new hunters. It's an ideal time to change up what we hunt and how we hunt it. If deer season lands in the busy season for work, try small game season. If the duck spots are becoming crowded on the weekends, try turkey hunting. We don't have to give up on hunting; we need to adapt.
Reactivation of hunters that have dropped out of hunting. Maybe this is a senior hunter who has hung up their boots or a person who has traded days in the tree stand for days in the little league soccer stands. The approach to reactivate hunters needs to be as diverse as recruitment and retention. If you hear "I used to hunt," you should press that. Not everyone will hunt again, but having a new friend to hunt with or educate can be as good a motivation as any to climb into your old hunting boots again.
As sportsmen, we must be active in protecting our natural resources. Hunting IS conservation. Without hunters and fishermen, the American model of conservation falls apart. We all must take steps to grow the ranks of sportsmen. This means all three Rs. We are introducing new people to the outdoors, Keeping sportsmen engaged with the sport and issues in our community, last but certainly not least, motivating those who have hung up their gear to get back out in the field. By a concerted effort from us all, we can make deer camp look like a cross-section of our community. Our lands and waters are for everyone, and as such, it's up to us to make sure they are still here for our and everyone's children.
]]>
In the field fire can be the difference between a hot cup of coffee or a cold breakfast. In extreme cases a fire can, be the difference between making it through the night or not. For the prepared there are always pieces of gear that will make starting a fire easier. But for those caught in a rain storm or stuck away from camp what options do you have?
You could go primitive and use a bow drill to make a fire but you need a spindle, bow, block, and a bearing block. That’s a lot of extra weight to carry. Not to mention the energy expended getting a fire going with a bow drill is a major calorie drain.
Lighter
A gas station lighter is cheap enough to be tossed in every bag you own and rugged enough to deal with bouncing around a glove box. While these lighters seem like an indestructible option if you are in cold weather keep the lighter closer to your body, the cold temperatures can cause the fuel to contract and you won’t get a good burn.
Matches
A packet or box of matches is even cheaper than a lighter. With matches you will need to keep them dry, opt for a waterproof case. Even better purchase a waterproof match like the Typhoon from zippo.
Flint and Steel
A ferro rod, or flint striker can be scraped against a pocket knife to create enough of a spark to ignite your tinder. Just like matches you will need to make sure you are out of the wind to keep your fledgling flame going.
Any camping isle will have fire starters for sale, if you are able to stash a chunk or two of Duraflame’s Quick Start log, will make your fire-starting much easier. However, we are focusing of fire-starting options in a pinch.
IF you need tinder in the woods you are in luck. We all know wood burns but to start your fire you will need a base of tinder. Form a nest of dry pine needles, grass, or old man’s beard moss to catch your embers soon you will have enough flame to ignite your kindling. Dry bark especially the phloem and cambium (inner layers of bark) work best for tinder.
Worst case scenario it's wet can cold. Odds are you still have tinder in your pack, even if you don’t know it.
Lint.
Between socks, your pockets, and the edges of your bag there’s probably a decent amount of flammable fuzz. Keeping a few wads from the dryer makes a great lightweight starter for your trip too.
Paper.
Some light reading material makes for a great additive to your fire. If you’re like me you probably have a stash of old receipts in your wallet; right where the money should be.
Hand sanitizer
That little bottle of Purell hanging from your pack is 60% alcohol and will ignite in a hot clear flame. A dollop will burn for about a minute so you can build a decent tinder pile of sticks in the meantime.
Duct Tape.
The adhesives of tape burn well and can work to make little bundles of dried grass or leaves. Wrap stocky side out for easier lighting.
Snacks.
Greasy chips and peanut shells will burn. I recommend using this as a last resort or in tandem with some other options mentioned.
The best piece of survival equipment you have is you brain. Preparing for your trip includes having some way to start a fire. We all live in a world where time is a luxury, make your compact fire kit using a watertight Altoids or Skoll can. Fill it with all the bits of tinder listed above to give yourself a little head start should you need to light an emergency fire.
]]>
In the fall of 1651, the surviving members of the Plymouth colony (the pilgrims) shared a feast with the local Wampanoag tribe. This celebration of the harvest and good relations has been celebrated ever since. Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1941. Until Norman Rockwell's "freedom from want" painting was created in 1943, there was little conversation about what the meal should look like.
Today, a wide assortment of dishes grace the Thanksgiving table, from fried turkey to sweet potato casserole to macaroni and cheese. But what did the first Thanksgiving look like? If an enterprising sportsman wanted to, could they reproduce the meal in question?
In short, yes, yes, we can. Let's put on our buckle hats and go through the checklist of what the pilgrims ate and didn't eat on the first Thanksgiving.
Turkey. Thanks to conservation efforts, Massachusetts is once again home to large numbers of turkeys. While these wild birds don't have the white meat ratio of a butterball, they do make for a rewarding fall hunt.
Ducks. William Bradford mentions waterfowl was eaten at the feast too. Geese, sea ducks, coots, and migratory ducks would all have been options at this point in the year. There wasn't enough wheat for stuffing, so birds would have been stuffed with fruits and onions. In reflection, that sounds like a lovely way to dress a whole duck.
Venison. It was mentioned that five deer were brought to the gathering that day. These were probably spit-roasted over a fire. In many states, November is the beginning of deer season, and I'm sure a few households will be serving venison this year for just that reason.
Ham. While Hernando De Soto introduced hogs to the united states in 1539, they hadn't spread far enough north for folks in Plymouth to get a taste of spiral sliced ham.
Seafood. The pilgrims and Wampanoag had a spread of seafood at their Thanksgiving. Lobsters, muscles, and quahogs (surf clams) could all be harvested from the shoreline. Codfish, flounder, and striped bass were also noted as being consumed. An amusing tidbit is that lobster was so plentiful in colonial America that there was a law that you couldn't serve prisoners lobster more than three times a week.
Potato. For fear of sounding like a hobbit, I will just say that there were no potatoes in North America in the 1500s. No boiled, mashed or stuck in stew potatoes. Potatoes are from South America and had only recently been brought to Europe.
Cornbread. Cornbread, cornmeal, corn mush. The pilgrims and the Wampanoag survived on the brightly colored native corn. In New England, the corn harvest is between July and August, so any corn brought to this gathering would have been dried and turned into a meal.
Cranberry sauce. This is a half yes, half no. Cranberries were a native plant and would have been eaten often. But, sugar would have been scarce for the pilgrims, so these tart berries would have been eaten just as is.
Pumpkin pie. Pumpkins and other gourds were consumed at the feast. These would have been roasted and eaten hot, possibly mashed. With no sugar and no flour or lard, there was no pie. Luckily this means no argument over whipped cream or cool whip.
Additional items that would have been eaten include berries, grapes, onions, carrots, beans, squash, and cabbage. Carrots and cabbage were introduced by the pilgrims, while beans and corn were both native.
Lots of meat and no potatoes on the menu for Thanksgiving if you want to host a "traditional meal." As a hunter, you could bring all manner of game to the table, and it would fit right in. While fancy sauces and sous vide preparations are enjoyed today, spit-roasted meat is always a hit. For sea bass or flounder, a fisherman who doesn't live close to the ocean can substitute trout or perch. Freshwater fish may not have been on the menu per se, but it wouldn't have been refused either. Fruits, nuts, and berries can all be foraged by the hobbyist forager. If you felt enterprising enough, even cattails can be used to make flour, so it looks like you may well have a primitive pumpkin pie after all.
]]>
Stagger Outfitters 3 Season Mummy Sleeping Bag
This all season sleeping bag is perfect for those frequent backpackers or maybe those that are living the van life. Weighing in at only 1.9lbs, waterproof, down filled, rated at 25 degrees, and packed into a small compact compression bag for easy transport, this bag is not only built for a rugged climate, it's also quote affordable too. Snag it HERE
Trayvax Original 2.0 Wallet
Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, this front-pocket tactical designed wallet was built for the everyday carry. Holds up to 15 cards & 5 bills, comes complete with a durable pry bar, easy access ID window, and RFID Blocking protection. Find it HERE
First Lite Wick 150 Aerowool Beanie
Built for that hunter, late season hiker, or just anyone who's at the mercy of the elements during the cold season. This beanie is absolutely top notch. Personally owning this product I can say 100% it will not disappoint. SHOP NOW
Ridge Runner TR90 Shades
These shades are not only the perfect stocking stuffer but will make you the favorite for years to come. The Ridge Runner is constructed of TR90 Nylon which means they can be pushed to their absolute limit and then some (don't believe us? Try it.). Oh, and if they get destroyed, they come with free replacements. Get yours HERE
Anker Magnetic Wireless Charger
If you're in the airport or in the mountains, it's always nice to have the ability to stay connected. This wireless charger works on virtually any apple device and is the perfect addition to your day bag. Coming in at just $55, it's a gift that will pay for itself in no time. Get yours HERE
Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle
This has got to be the most functional bottle on the planet, it's amazing for hiking or a day in the field, it's wide mouth makes it easy to fill in any situation and it can be attached to your bag. Admittedly, I bought mine to keep in my day bag and now it is my daily bottle. Definitely worth a look.
At the end of the day, the holidays are all about spending time with those who matter most, but sometimes....... it's nice to come in clutch.
]]>
Spooky season is upon us, why not turn in with a batch of spooky short stories. I scoured the web for the shortest yet the scariest stories I could find. Don't forget to use promo code SPOOKY at checkout for scary savings at staggershades.com
Last Messages
-I love you mom
-I can hear footsteps on the stairs I think he’s outside my room
-I hear sirens but they’re far away
-I’m hiding in the closet I hope he didn’t hear me
-hang on I heard something downstairs
-the cops are already here looking for him, they’ll catch him
-Don’t worry mom, I’m SAFE, I love you.
-The cops said he’s some escaped serial killer and he’s been breaking into homes around the area
-Yes mom it’s on the news now. I’ll keep my doors locked.
=======================
Messages are displayed in chronological order, with most recent at the top
There's Someone Under The Bed
“I begin tucking him into bed and he tells me, “Daddy, check for monsters under my bed.” I look underneath for his amusement and see him, another him, under the bed, staring back at me quivering and whispering, “Daddy, there’s somebody on my bed.””
The Ghost At Home
“Last night a friend rushed me out of the house to catch the opening act at a local bar’s music night. After a few drinks I realized my phone wasn’t in my pocket. I checked the table we were sitting at, the bar, the bathrooms, and after no luck I used my friend’s phone to call mine. After two rings someone answered, gave out a low raspy giggle, and hung up. They didn’t answer again. I eventually gave it up as a lost cause and headed home. I found my phone laying on my nightstand, right where I left it.”
Visitors
The last thing I saw was the alarm clock flashing 12:07 before she pushed her long rotting nails through my chest, muffling my screams with her other hand.
I sat bold upright thankful that it was only a dream, but as I saw my alarm clock read 12:06, I heard my closet door creak open.
The Surgery
After struggling desperately to move any part of his paralytic body to alert the doctors that he was conscious before they made the first incision, he was relieved to see that one of the nurses had noticed his pupils dilating from the bright light. She leaned in close and, in a whisper that tickled his ear, said “You think we don’t know you’re awake?
Items
Neatly laid across my dining room table I found a dull kitchen knife, a torn crusty towel, and a Flip video camera which seems to be recording, I own none of these items.
The End
The heart attack came and went, knocking Mike into unconsciousness, as he awoke he could hear the graveside service around him. Somehow the casket was translucent to him and he could recognize his friends and family, but his body wouldn't move and he realized with terror what death really was.
]]>
Alex of Tight Line Rush takes on Dale Hollow bass fishing. Including tips, tricks, and a few missing lures. Tight Line Rush fans can save 15% on your next pair of Stagger Shades with promo code TLR.
]]>
The Mountain Lion followed the hiker for a little over six terrifying minutes, charging him several times. Burgess, who stated he didn't quite know what to do, slowly backed away, capturing the entire incident on camera. Eventually the hiker was able to grab a rock to throw and startle the cat finally ending the incident without harm to the cat or himself.
]]>
Hunters like to draw comparison between Spring and Fall Wild Turkey hunting, while there are some similarities, Fall hunts have different options as far as approach or strategy, you choose which one is best or hell which one is more fun for you.
One huge comparison and sometime cause of debate is that Spring Turkey is all about the pursuit of a Tom, or a "bearded" bird if we're going by what the law typically states, but we all know a Tom from a Jake and even a bearded hen, true Spring Turkey is all about that gobbler.
Fall Turkey on the other hand is all about dropping a nice bird thats getting plumped up for the winter. During the fall hunt all birds are fair game in my book, I like to look for a nice mature bird wether it be a Tom, Jake, or Hen.
Don't Skip The Scout
Scouting is actually one of my favorite things to do for almost any game. Just as you would scout velvets, you need to scout for Turkeys. Turkeys travel in flocks, so typically where you see one you'll see more. Although they are quite dumb, they are habitual. If you catch them in a corn field in the afternoon, you'll likely see them there the next day too. If you find where they roost, take note of the time they roost, because you'll likely be able to pop up a blind and just set your timer. Find your birds first and the rest gets a lot easier.
Stir Things Up
One of the best methods for getting a Fall bird is to run in like a nut and disrupt the flock. The birds will scatter to safety and that gives you time to get set up. Turkeys, once separated will rely on verbal cues to regroup. Set up a blind with a single hen decoy and start clucking away with your call.
One tip on this method is to sneak up VERY VERY quietly, get as close to the flock as possible before breaking things up. Success will come when you can get the birds to scatter in different directions versus all the birds moving away from you in one direction, you'll end up just chasing the entire flock from field to field.
Hang By The Roost
This is where I sometimes get into a moral dilemma, I don't want to get whacked on my way to bed, but hey, if it's my time... If you've done your scouting, you should know where the flock is roosting and about what time they are headed in. This method is just all bout time and place, no need to call, no need to do anything but wait until they get close enough to take your shot.
Call The Loner
There's always exceptions to the norm, in almost every flock there's usually a bird that likes to run alone. This is where the decoy and pop up blind comes back in handy. Hens don't like outsiders chowing down in their fields, and a lone Tom may see a lone hen as good company. Set up your blind, use a diaphragm call and cluck, cluck, cluck. Once the bird gets a little closer, switch to a scratch or box call until they get close enough to take your shot.
However you plan to bring in your thanksgiving bird, the biggest thing is to have fun, be safe, and be ethical.
]]>In the 1990s Gary Yamamoto already a fisherman of renown decided to create a soft plastic bait that could be fished by “doing nothing”. His creation: the Senko was a slow sinking soft rubber bait that looked like a thinned-out cigar. Its slow falling action and gentle taper makes it flutter ever so slightly when its sinking or even in the current if fished in a river. Now 30 years later every lure company makes a version of this deadly invention.
Now the magic of the Senko is more than just its flutter. Its shape being almost symmetrical and tube shaped allows fisherman to rig this any way they wish depending on where the fish are.
Typically, the Senko is fished as a precision lure. Rather than casting and covering large expanses of water hoping to draw a fish in; a fisherman tries to place the lure directly into a spot where the fish will most likely strike out of curiosity or aggression. The most common rigging method for this lure is Wacky Rigged. Wacky rigging places the hook in the middle of the lure so that the senko has the maximum amount of flutter. An example of where I would pitch this lure would be if bass were using a boat dock for cover from the noon sun. Casting the slow fluttering senko directly in front of the dock would draw a reaction from the fish camped out in the shadows.
If you are fishing an area where there is heavy vegetation like lily pads a Texas or Carolina rigged Senko may produce more favorable options. Rigging this way greatly reduces the chance of snagging lily pads and the added weight helps bring the lure to where the fish will most often be. Since the hook is now imbedded in several inches of the lure it won’t flutter on the way down but will still wiggle and can be made to “dance” while sitting on the bottom with just the slightest flick of the rod tip.
If your fishing spot has a rocky or even sandy bottom give a jig head a try. This will help get your Senko to the bottom and make a bit more fish attracting noise than the sinker on the Carolina rig. Play with the cadence of popping the jig off the bottom and letting it rest, many times a bass will strike as the lure sits nearly motionless on the bottom.
Traditionally Pumpkin, Watermelon, and June bug are money makers but I’ve caught fish with just about any color of the rainbow. For the cost of a bag you can afford to get plenty of colors. Fish them with any hook you have and develop a game plan for your local spot. If nothing else seems to work give the Senko a try.
Cameron Bissell- Contributing Editor
3 Tips to Find Your New Secret Spot
With the global shutdown of 2020 many people found themselves looking to the outdoors. Whether they were looking to get away from the noise of zoom calls and the city, find a new way to exercise, or for many folks looking to secure food instead of relying on grocery stores; they added to the number of people outside. As outdoorsmen and conservationists, we love more people enjoying the woods. However, many of us have had to share what was once a “secret” or low use spot with more people. So how do we find new spots to hike, forage, hunt, and fish? Here is a rundown of 3 tips to help you find a new spot.
1: Get on the Internet
It seems counter intuitive that you can find a new piece of ground by sitting on your phone but its true. Google earth can give you a bird’s eye view of a clearing next to an oak patch that should be money for deer, or a sunken creek bed in your home lake that will hold big bass all summer long. I use OnX maps as they also contain topography and property lines so I can keep from straying onto someone’s property. This can also fill up the time between seasons or a fun way to stay connected to your home turf when off on a business trip (protip avoid looking at these during a meeting).
2: Get to Know Your Neighbors
Raise your hand if you’ve ever driven past a piece of land and said “I know there’s geese in that field” or “I wish I could fish that farm pond”. Getting to fish or hunt those properties may be a simple as asking. Be polite, introduce yourself and be a good neighbor. If there’s some hesitancy that’s fine, the end goal is for you to build a community with lasting benefit all parties. If you are able to leave a business card and potentially an offer of help your sincerity and respect will go a long way.
A number 2: part B to this is listening to your neighbors and friends. On more than one occasion I have been invited to hunt with a customer of mine simply by listening to them complain about animals destroying their gardens, when you offer to remove the hogs rooting up the flower beds the response is sometimes “how much sausage can we get?”. Finding a fishing spot may require a slightly different tact. Most fisherman are tight lipped about areas that produce well but you can often break the ice with a statement about your spots or techniques. Dropping a statement like “have you ever fished the pier? It doesn’t matter the tide all I can ever catch is seatrout” any decent fisherman won’t let you leave without showing you a phone full of “best catches”. Keep working the angle of give and take and you may wind up with some good information and a new fishing buddy.
3: Bite the Bullet
As frustrating as this is it’s not a bad piece of advice. I’ll out myself here and say it would have saved me a lot of miles driven had I just listened. If you have a spot you love then love it more. If your bass lake is now crowded with pleasure boaters try using finesse baits or fish after dark. there is no more exciting sound than a fish crashing a surface plug in the dark. If another dove hunter or six want to hunt the same field as you make it an event, pool decoys and wager the worst shot buys lunch. Extra activity in your area will probably affect the patterns of animals that live there, but you have an edge you know where they bed or forage. Take your hard-earned knowledge and dial into what the game is doing and how they are reacting to the extra human traffic
]]>
The Missouri Department of Conservation reported Thursday that Tim Owings was fishing at Lake Remembrance in Blue Springs MO, and snagged a massive gold fish. The fish, a Butterfly Koi Goldfish, weighed in at a staggering 9lbs.
Although the Butterfly Koi is a breed of common carp it is a domesticated fish as well as a nonnative fish. Releasing a nonnative fish or any other nonnative species for that matter into an environment that they are not meant to be in can cause damage to the local ecosystem.
The Missouri Department of Conservation officials said to instead contact a pet store who may take the fish or a local aquarium club.
]]>Camping season is about to be in full swing, so why not throw out some of the tricks we've learned along the way.
When I was a kid, camping was LIFE! On any given weekend my parents would load us up and we'd head south to Kincaid Lake State Park. I would take off on my bike and my parents likely wouldn't see us until it was time to eat. Now that I'm a dad, I want my girls to have the same connection to the outdoors that I had as a kid and still have today. From my days roaming the campground years ago, to living and learning as an adult, we've certainly picked up some pointers. Wether you're planning your first camping trip or even if you camp every weekend, this article has something for everyone.
Fire Starters
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not the best at making fire from nothing. There's nothing more frustrating than spending a half hour trying to get a fire going only to burn my last piece of newspaper and still not have a solid fire. This is why I always have a fire starter. You can buy them commercially, you can get them off of Etsy, or you can even make your own. There are several types of fire starters but the concept is pretty similar, mix wax or petroleum product with wood, paper, or cotton. The wax will slow the burn of your solid and will also create a larger flame. This will save you tons of time and frustration when you set up camp.
Eggs In A Bottle
This is something my wife came across on Pinterest and we've done this ever since. Egg cartons take up a lot of space in your cooler, they also can easily get broken while you're out camping, so prep them before you go. Crack your carton of eggs into a large bowl and whisk ( I also add a splash of whipping cream). Once you've beaten the eggs pour them into a bottle or mason jar and tighten the cap. You can apply the same concept for pancake batter, just put some dry instant batter in a bottle or jar then add water and shake.
Coffee On The Go
If you're one of those that just HAS to have your morning cup of coffee, this one is for you. Lugging around an entire coffee maker just isn't practical or you may not even have electric. This hack makes for a quick cup of coffee and takes up very little space. Take a standard coffee filter and scoop out enough ground coffee for one cup. Take the filter filled with coffee and tie it up with a piece of string or twine and Voila! Boil some water over the fire, put your filter in your mug and steep for a bit, remove the filter and enjoy.
Microfiber Towel
This is a great item to keep in your camping bin or in your backpack, microfiber towels are extremely absorbent, dry quick, and they take up very little room.
Portable Shower Bag
If you're really roughing it, you don't have to skip showering. These bags have actually been around quite some time. We used them when I was a kid when we would camp somewhere without water or electric. You simply fill these bags with water and lay them out in the sun. The bag is made to absorb the sunshine and heat your water for a nice warm shower.
550 Cord and Carabiner
Ya'll... I cant stress this enough, if you're staying in a 40 foot RV or if you're in a pup tent on a hunt in Montana, please take a bundle of 550 cord and two carabiners. You have no idea how may times this can come in handy as convenience or even in a survival situation. It's very inexpensive, do yourself a favor and always have this in your bag.
Condense Your Spices
There's a few ways to knock this one out. You can do it DIY or you can simply buy it at the store. Either way there's no reason to lug around an entire spice rack. I LOVE to cook, and when I cook at home the 4 spices I use the most are salt, pepper, garlic, and cayenne. This multi-spice pack can be picked up at any big box store or you can build your own.
Polarized Sunglasses
What... You think I was going to hammer out an entire post and not at least throw some Stagger Shades at you? Seriously though, sunglasses are an important thing to keep with you, while you're out you certainly don't want to break or lose your $200+ pair of sunglasses from "the other guys". Grab some Stagger Shades, 100% polarized and built to stand up to the outdoors, and reasonably priced, plus you're helping fund wildlife conservation efforts!
Hope this helps! we'd love to hear your favorite camping hack! Drop us a line below!
]]>We’re not just a sunglasses brand, we’re a community. A community of hikers, hunters, fishermen, and adventurers.
Today I’d like to announce our plan to solidify our position within the outdoor community.
Starting this year, a portion of every sale will go towards wildlife conservation efforts here in The United States.
Wear your Staggers proudly knowing that your shades are helping preserve our precious natural resources, bringing balance to vulnerable ecosystems, planting new trees, and protecting endangered species.
The outdoors is where we’ve been called, the outdoors is where we will serve.
We’ll see you out there.
-Shawn
]]>As always, we did this for you, but we couldn't have done it without you.
Thanks Stagger Nation
-Shawn
]]>