The Hog Blog

So I’ve received a few emails from folks I met at SHOT wondering how things are going, and hoping, “by the way”, that I found the samples of their products satisfactory.  In other words, they’re wondering if or when I’m going to review their products.  A couple of Hog Blog readers are wondering similar things.  And it’s a fair enough question. ..

So my answer, in short, is that I don’t write reviews off of press releases and product labels.  I don’t sit and turn something around on my desk until I’m struck by the product review muse with some glibly positive commentary.  If I am going to review something, I intend to use it, try it as it’s intended to be used, and then I’ll write about it. 

For example, if it’s ammo, I will shoot it.  Ideally, I’ll use it on game, but at the very least, I’m going to see how it performs on targets and in my guns.  Is it accurate, does it chamber and cycle, and does it kill cleanly?  If it’s a knife, I’ll cut something with it.  How’s it hold up on a hog skin (if it can handle skinning hogs, it can handle anything)?  Does it keep an edge, and can I resharpen it easily? 

I’m not going to test optics by looking across the living room or out the back door.  I need to take them in the field, under real conditions.  I don’t have one of these high-tech testing labs either… I’m not measuring exit pupil or light gathering capacity.  I want to know if I can clearly see what I’m looking at.  How’s it handle rain, fog, or 100-degree heat? 

If it’s clothing, I’ll wear it… not just around the living room, but in the field.  Is it tough, waterproof, or whatever else it’s advertised to be?  Before review, I’ll read the book or view the video.  And so on…

Point is, all of this takes a little time and time is a precious commodity.  I’ve got a good-sized stack of things to go over, and some more that should be in the mail.  Included are the new, lead-free .22lr cartridges from CCI, some great new boots from RedBack (which I love so far), several hog calls (this is for you, Rex), a couple of books and videos, and some new “scent-blocking” clothing. 

There are a couple of exceptions to my rule, though… for example, some things are just great ideas that I want to share. 

One example is the “Shotkeeper“.  It’s a shadow-box designed to hold a photo from your hunt, with a special cutout to fit the shotgun or rifle shell used to make the shot.  You can get them for 2″x3″ or 4″x6″ photo sizes.  Simple, I agree, but it’s a really cool idea and a nice way to commemorate a hunt.  They also make a similar display, called the “Lurekeeper“, for fishing (a photo and a cutout for a special lure or fly).  I didn’t get a good photo, but check their site. 

So hang tight, as some reviews will be forthcoming over the next couple of weeks.  Others will take longer, but should be coming as my spring hunting kicks into high gear.

This is going to rub a lot of Hunter Safety Instructors and advocates the wrong way, but I don’t wear orange when I’m hunting unless I’m required by law to do so.  In CA, there is no Hunter Orange requirement, so when I take to the field for hogs, deer, or upland birds, I’m usually dressed in camo, or at least earth tones and neutral colors.  I’m not worried about being spotted by the game.  I do, however, worry about being spotted by certain other hunters.

What I have experienced, particularly on public land (but also on private) is that if you stand out visually in the field, you’re going to get looked over.  That, in itself is normal enough.  If you spot something out of place in the field, it’s perfectly natural to want to get a better look.  Unfortunately, way too many of the idiots out there do their looking with the rifle scope instead of binoculars.  It’s happened time and again to me, and with that in mind, I’ve consciously chosen to try not to draw attention to myself by wearing orange or other bright colors.  I’d rather not be seen than to have some yo-yo looking down the rifle barrel at me. 

Yeah, I called them idiots, and if you, dear reader are one of the individuals that uses the rifle scope to glass unidentified objects in the field, then this applies to you as well.  It’s a stupid, dangerous, thoughtless move, and it’s totally unnecessary.  For my own part, I get angry and usually offer the one-finger salute to anyone I see scoping me in the field.  But I know other guys who will return the favor by aiming back at the offending party… and that creates a pretty dangerous situation, even if it is all a bluff. 

Fortunately, it’s easy enough to change your ways. 

A pair of binoculars should be a standard piece of gear for any big game hunter.  While quality binos are better, and generally worth the higher cost, a reasonable pair can be had for under $100.  Even a $20, Wal-Mart special will help you identify the odd-colored shape down in the canyon without pointing a deadly weapon at it.  Better to have something than nothing, especially in the open country of the western states. 

I’m not going to run through a comparison of all the various glass on the market right now, because the list is pretty exhaustive.   If you’re shopping, I would recommend buying the best you can afford.  All of the major brands make some pretty good glass.  For most western hunting, I’d go with something in the 10x power range, with a 40 or 50mm objective.  If you get much over 10x, you’ll need to consider a tripod, because it’s difficult to hold high-powered optics steady. 

But again, if you can’t afford real quality glass, at least get something.  And when you see a shape, color, or movement downrange, use those binos to identify it BEFORE you put the rifle on it.  Do yourself, and the other hunters in the field a favor.

So this is another one that’s kinda remote from hunting, but I thought it was relevant right now, and I wanted to share it in a public way, rather than a little disclaimer on the side of the page or something. 

I’ve made a policy here on this blog to only review products and services I’ve actually put my own hands on.   It’s just the way I want to do business.  I get press releases and product updates all the time, and I appreciate being in the know about what’s going on in the industry… but before I review something, whether I’m recommending it or not, I want to put it to work. 

(If there is an exception to this, it’s when it comes to gear at a trade show, such as the SHOT Show, when I’m spotlighting new or innovative products.)

Anyway, this came up again today when I read about the new ruling from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding “endorsements” and product reviews.  Under the new rules, bloggers and celebrities who receive free or discounted products or services in exchange for a review must disclose that relationship. 

In other words, if Mathews sends me a new bow to try out (I wish!), I must tell you that they sent it to me in exchange for the review.  I can’t just pretend like I’m doing this review out of the blue. 

The rationale, of course, is the same as with print and television endorsements.  Consumers have a right to know if someone is being compensated in exchange for their promotion of a product or service.  There’s always a risk of the quid-pro-quo arrangement between the reviewer and the company, and folks should read this kind of review with their eyes wide open. 

I don’t really have a problem with the law from a practical perspective.  I know, for a fact, that there are people out there using their blogs as paid advertisements for various companies, and I think that’s just wrong.  But then, I put a lot of value on honesty and integrity.  Not everyone does.

Theoretically, the law will extend the “truth in advertising” ideal to the blogosphere.  Theoretically, folks looking for product reviews will be able to distinguish between the “paid commentary” and the honest reviewer.  The blogsites set up as false fronts for advertisers will be unmasked.  It will force bloggers and product reviewers to accept accountability for what they write.  Consumers will be able to educate themselves if all the cards are on the table.

But that’s all theoretical. 

In reality, nothing is really going to change. 

One only needs to look at television ads these days to know that the marketing and advertising industry is way ahead of these puerile regulatory controls on truth and honesty.  For every rule, there’s a loophole, and these guys are masters at finding them.  If the FTC can’t even control television and print media, what the hell makes them think they’re going to be able to get a handle on the blogosphere? 

This is another toothless effort by the Feds to appease angry consumers without actually changing any process or procedure.  The FTC is not assigning new agents to monitor and prosecute violators of the new law.  They’re not even setting up any kind of cohesive program to enforce it.  In short, it’s a waste of energy and tax dollars. 

Look folks, Caveat emptor  does not mean “empty cerebral cavity”! 

As consumers, we are all responsible for our own protection.  There’s a wide variety of fact and fiction out there, much of it masquerading as “truth”.  It’s up to the individual to pick through that miasma and double-check the facts before buying… whether you’re buying a product, a service, or an ideology.  We shouldn’t be expecting the federal government to play nursemaid over our shoulders.

Anyway…

For my part, I’ll continue to do as I have.  I’m always open about who sent me a product to try out, and I’m also always honest in my reviews.  Sometimes the folks who sent me the product might be a little sorry they did, because I’ll not hesitate to pan it if it’s no good. 

So if you’re a reader here on the Hog Blog, that’s my commitment to you.  And if you’re a company with a hunting or outdoors product to promote, I’d be glad to talk to you about doing a review… but be prepared to send me a sample, or invite me out to try your service. In return, you’ll get an honest critique here on this blog.

Many years ago, like many other hunters I discovered the benefits of using a head lamp instead of a regular flashlight.   The hands-free operation was the ticket for early morning hikes to the tree stand or the duck blind.  It was also handy for most tasks after dark, since it freed up my hands to handle the work. 

The problem with those early headlights was that they were usually big and bulky, with huge battery packs and traditional bulbs.  Wearing one for any amount of time was guaranteed to give you headache.  But they were powerful and bright.

Technology moves fast and seems like everything gets smaller and smaller (have you seen cell phones these days?), and headlights are no exception.  The arrival of the “micro” bulbs and halogen meant that flashlight and headlight bodies could get smaller and smaller.  To keep things small, tiny batteries were implemented.  Unfortunately, the bulbs in use still burned through the juice pretty fast. 

Then somebody figured out that LED lights could be just about as good as traditional bulbs, were much smaller, and they barely drew any juice.  I’ve got a couple of old LED headlights right now that are several years old and still going strong on the same AAA batteries! 

Smaller headlights certainly made it nicer to use them for all the standard tasks, but one limitation always bugged me.  These little lights are cool, but they simply don’t work so well for blood-trailing and tracking.  I made it a mission to look for a small headlight that provided enough light to follow a tough blood trail and pick out tracks on a dark night. 

So far, I’m still looking, although I saw a couple at the 2009 SHOT Show that were promising.  Unfortunately, getting test samples didn’t pan out in the months following the SHOT Show, and I sort of put it off for the time being.  I simply don’t have the funds to go out and buy all of these things myself, so I’ve been making due with my Princeton Tek Aurora, and a couple of others I’ve acquired over the past couple of years.  When I need to trail, I break out the big MagLight just like I’ve always done.

Well, a couple weeks ago I got an email from Steve Remington, the fellow who pays the bills to keep this blog running as part of the Skinny Moose network.  The folks from Energizer wanted to know if a few of us bloggers would be willing to try out their new, 4-LED headlight and provide a little write-up.  Well, heck yeah!  Read the rest of this entry »

This is my first attempt at a video gear review… My DriDuck (DDX) Storm Jacket…

If the video doesn’t work, trust me… I really like this jacket!

OK, so the fact is that my third day in Vegas didn’t really reveal anything too mind blowing.  I did see a lot of cool stuff, but there’s a saturation point at this show, where you’ve seen so much that anything else just kind of rolls off.  I mean, how many new camo patterns does it take to hide on this earth?  Seems to me that there are more new deer scents and “scent elimination” products than there are deer in the woods.  And how many different ways are there to cause a firing pin to impact a primer and send a projectile flying through the air?

OK, if I sound a little jaded it’s probably just because I’m tired.  There’s an awful lot of walking around involved here, and I have entire sections of the show I have yet to even visit.   I even broke down yesterday at the Kick-Eze/Sorbothane booth and bought a pair of new insoles for my boots to ease my poor feet.  And I have to say, they really do help!

There are some pretty nice new offerings from companies like Nikon who has released a new line of rangefinders that include the angle compensation.  The Archer’s Choice and the Rifle Hunter rangefinders calculate range over a full 180 degrees, and come in at a pretty reasonable price as well.  The Archer’s Choice will retail in the neighborhood of $249, while the Rifle Hunter will come in around $279. 

Nikon’s new EDG binocular is another new item that puts Nikon into the market with the likes of Zeiss and Leica.  Available in 7×42, 8×42, and 10×42, these new glasses offer extremely clear glass (as best I could tell inside the convention center), and a nice feel in the hands.  The price reflects the quality, as these binos will retail in the range of $1800 for the 7×42, to $2000 for the 10 power version.

And just in case anyone is tired of looking at conventional stuff, I even got some wonderful ideas for modifications on Petunia (my Samurai).   What do you think?  Is this a worthy pig hunting buggy or what? 

Here it is, Day Two of the SHOT Show and I realize I’ve been quite remiss in providing updates.  I’m afraid I’m still working pretty hard on getting more information regarding non-lead bullets and ammo, so that’s kind of kept me from seeing a lot of other stuff.

Speaking of unleaded ammo, I’ve got some good news as pertains to availability.  Options are coming!  I’ve got a ton of detail for later, but to summarize you’ll see non-lead ammunition in a small range of calibers from all of the major manufacturers this year.  Winchester, Remington, and Federal all have options… and they’re all different.  Winchester has the ETip, Remington will be loading the Lapua Naturalis, and Federal has been offering various flavors of the Barnes bullets for a couple of years now.

I’ve also been talking to the NRA-ILA (legal resources group) about possible responses to the lead ban.  I’ve got another conversation on tap with the Hunting Policy folks, but a brief chat this afternoon revealed that they are researching legal challenges.  In the meantime, the recommendation is if you’re not registered to vote, do it… then get to the polls and put it work.

I’m also planning to meet with some of the other large organizations.  But what I’m seeing so far is the exhortation to CA Sportsmen to get together and stand up.  I’m also being reminded to remind you folks in other states to follow suit, because it’s highly likely that this lead ban will  be coming to your state soon.

OK, on other topics… how about a few pictures?

The first day of the show is always a little mind-numbing.  It’s hard to describe just how much hunting and shooting stuff there is… and it’s almost all represented at SHOT.

It’s a dizzying sight to behold, with acres and acres of “toys”.  After six years of attending this event, I still get a little shaky in the knees and it’s pretty tough to keep a focus on what I’m supposed to be doing.  I just wanna walk around and pick up everything.

It’s really funny to watch the faces of first-timers, though.  Like my brother, Scott who managed to come out to see the spectacle.  Here he is playing with new toys, in this case, the bull-barrel slug gun from Marlin.

At the end of the day on Saturday, the SHOT Show organizers, the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) threw a big bash for the industry folks.  Not one to miss a party, I attended with a few members of our ProStaff from Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors.   In the photo below you can see (from left to right),  Brad Swadley, Holly Heyser (AKA NorCal Cazadora), and Bryce Mann.

The entertainment for the evening was country music star, Randy Travis.

It’s always a great concert, especially because you’re able to just walk right up to the stage and really enjoy the show… like these folks.

Not so much partying tonight, but lots more to tell.  Stay tuned!

If anyone is wondering where I am today, I’m preparing for the kick-off of the 2008 Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show here in lovely Las Vegas, NV.  OK, I doubt anyone is really wondering… but it’s a nice way to start a post, isn’t it? 

What’s the SHOT Show all about?

In its 30th year, the 2008 SHOT Show will be the largest ever. With 1,948 exhibiting companies encompassing more than 715,000 net square feet of space, it is one of the top 30 trade shows in the country, as well as one of the fastest growing, regardless of industry. More than 50,000 industry professionals have registered to attend the SHOT Show from the U.S. and 75 foreign countries.

If you ever felt overwhelmed walking into Bass ProShops or Cabelas, then you would have a tiny fraction of an idea what it’s like to step into the front door of this industry event.  After six years of attendance, it still takes my breath away every time.  If it has anything to do with guns, ammo, hunting clothing and gear, it’s represented here.  It’s where the big dogs like Cabelas and Bass Pro come to snack, where folks like Mossy Oak, Realtree, Browning, and others come to show their stuff.  Mingled and mixed you’ll find the suppliers and manufacturers of every tidbit and trinket… some supporting existing business and others hoping to get “discovered”. 

The show floor will be crowded with representatives and buyers of all sorts, from small countries to owner/operators of mom-n-pop sporting goods shops.  In amongst the crowd will be the members of the sporting media.  Celebrities of hunting and outdoors television like Michael Waddell, Bill Jourdan, and Ted Nugent will be seen tripping from booth to booth, while outdoor writers of every caliber will be taking notes and photographs. 

Every evening when the show floor closes, the Vegas hotels will ring with hospitality suites and industry parties, as sellers wine and dine the buyers, while those of us in the media just hope to be in the right spot at the right time to catch the sporting scoop of the year… and to get some free food and spirits in the process.  These aren’t small-time events either, as the crowd is entertained by folks like John Michael Montgomery, Joe Diffie, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, and this year, Randy Travis! 

The show-proper actually opens on Saturday, but today I’ll be out at a couple of live fire range events where firearms manufacturers like Winchester/Browning, Remington, and Smith and Wesson will let members of the press and media get some trigger time with their new offerings.  I’ll share photos and notes when I get back to the hotel this evening.  I’ll also be providing updates throughout the weekend as I wander the aisles in search of news that you can use.

Well, by the time you see this, many of you will have already seen these press releases.  But I found it worth mention anyway.

First, Browning Arms has announced the release of their new “X-Bolt” rifle.  The new design is intended to build on the success of the very popular “A-Bolt”, with a handful of key improvements. 

Taking a cue from Savage’s “Accu-Trigger”, Browning has rolled out the “Feather Trigger” on the X-Bolt to provide an easily adjustable trigger pull… offering the user a custom-quality trigger pull on a production rifle.  In addition to the adjustability, the trigger angle has been optimized for even better performance. 

The X-Bolt will also offer a bolt unlock function.  Like many bolt actions with tang safeties, the current A-bolt rifles require the safety to be disengaged before the bolt can be opened for loading or unloading.  While this offers only minimal risk, I have never been really comfortable releasing the safety with a round in the chamber… especially with other people around.  The bolt unlock button alleviates this minor discomfort and adds a new level of gun safety. 

The X-bolt will also come equipped with the new, Inflex Technology recoil pad that will reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb by directing the recoil forces away from the shooter’s face.  I know that one of the few alterations I had to make to my A-bolt was to add an after-market recoil pad.  The recoil wasn’t terrible, but a good pad goes a long ways toward reducing flinch. 

Additional new features include an innovative new scope mount that incorporates four screws into the bases instead of two for further stability, and a rotary magazine that will feed cartridges straight up into the chamber, directly inline with the bolt which should make for cleaner, faster cycling…especially when combined with the short, 60-degree bolt throw. 

The short-action X-bolts will weigh in at around six pounds, five ounces, while the long-actions will come in right at seven pounds.  The rifle will be chambered for calibers from .243 Win to .375 H&H.  MSRP will run from $799 to $1049, depending on caliber and configuration.

The other big news may come as a welcome surprise to Winchester fans. Read the rest of this entry »

If you don’t already know, four fellas in Minnesota are taking Scent-Lok and some of the distrubutors to court in a lawsuit claiming that the product doesn’t do what it’s advertised to do.  According to their argument, Scent-Lok is falsely advertising its product to block or contain human scent, making the hunter olfactorily invisible to wild animals.  You can read one of many articles on this topic here.  You can also find someone writing about it just about anywhere in the blogosphere.

I’ve taken kind of a backseat on this whole fiasco, mainly because there’s a big part of me that says, “what’s the news here?  Of course this stuff doesn’t work as advertised.” 

I mean, let’s think about it for a second.  Deer can detect scent in parts per billion.  Pigs are even more attuned.  To even think, for a moment, that a pair of pants and a jacket are going to keep a deer or wild hog from getting a whiff of human… well, that’s just about silly.  Now, even if you add a head scarf, Scent-Lok booties, and a face mask…  do you honestly think you’re going to keep animals from smelling you? 

I don’t think so.  Call me the perpetual cynic if you like, but if you’re not hermetically sealed in some kind of plastic bubble, you’re putting human scent into the air. 

OK, so if I make a common sense challenge, what does that say about our litigation-loving Minnesotans?

Have you ever read Chaucer?  There was a “friar” on the trip to Canterbury, who made at least part of his income selling bones from the fingers of the saints.  Of course, we know (or should know) that the bones were actually chicken bones.  How would that go over today?  We do, after all, have laws in this country regarding false advertising… and those laws are designed to protect the consumers from fraud and abuse. 

I guess my point is, there’s a fine line between caveat emptor and fraudulent advertising.  I’m still not sure which side of that line I see this Scent-Lok controvery standing on, which, of course, is why I’ve been so quiet about it. 

As a hog hunter, a product that really does make you “invisible” to animals would really be a heck of an advantage.  But I’ve stalked hogs with Scent-Lok, Contain, and Scent-Blocker gear (all sent to me to test… I haven’t purchased any of it)… and still, everytime I feel that wind at the back of my neck, the hogs are gone.  Maybe, just maybe there’s some slight advantage…especially if you cover yourself from head to toe in the product.  But honestly, I never bought into it when it first hit the market, and I don’t buy into it now.

That leaves the question…

If it doesn’t really work, then is it right for the company to continue to sell the product?  Is it the fault of the consumers who buy into the advertising hype?  I have a hard time deciding this one.  My guess is, there’s a loophole somewhere in between, and may the best lawyer win.  Unfortunately, that solution seldom resolves anything of substance…  but I’m certainly interested in seeing how it all plays out.