I've become a health nut!  If you're gonna enjoy the outdoors it pays to be in good health and in shape so these are some WEIGHT LOSS TIPS I've put together for you all!  Hope you enjoy and can benefit from them!!!  Hunting season is almost here!

1.  Get the toxins out of your home which can be in cleaning products, soaps, make-up, etc.  Toxins will negatively affect your body in many ways but one that specifically affects women is that toxins can give women thyroid problems causing them to gain weight and not be able to lose it.

2.  Eat well balanced healthy meals.  Try decreasing the size of the plates you eat on so if you feel like clearing off your whole plate you trick your mind into feeling accomplished and eating smaller portions on a smaller plate. 

3.  Don't starve yourself, this will slow down your metabolism and your metabolism burns fat.  Don't go over 4 hrs without eating a healthy snack or meal.  GC CONTROL shakes are a patented shake that helps to regulate your insulin response in your body so you don't get in those snack cravings, as well as helps your mood swings stay minimized due to the peaks and valleys of your bodies insulin response.  When your bodies insulin levels are out of whack your body will tell itself to start retaining weight so make sure this is in control.  The other shake we've found to help with food cravings in between healthy meals is ATTAIN CRAVEBLOCKER which helps you feel full so you don't overeat.

4.  Take a regular fiber supplement to help clean out your system and get the toxins and bad cholesterol out of your body.  Good fiber will also help you to increase your metabolism so you can burn fat more easily throughout the day.  Many fiber supplements we've tried will make you feel gassy and bloated though.  The best one that we have found is called FIBERWISE which has 7 sources of soluble and insoluble fiber and you won't get the bloated, gassy side effects afterwards.

5.  Good fat helps to burn up bad fat so take your Omega 3's, the best one we've found that tastes good and doesn't give you a fishy aftertaste is VITALITY OMEGA 3 CREME DELIGHT.

6.  75% of weight loss is nutrition based and 25% is fitness and exercise.

7.  Muscle is a fat burning machine, the more muscle you have the more fat you will burn so focus more on strength training than cardio when you are focused on loosing weight.

8.  When you feel healthy you are more likely to stay healthy.  Take a daily vitamin that is proven to absorb in your body which will give you more energy and help your body function properly making you feel and be more healthy.  Just because your vitamins are soluble doesn't mean your body will absorb them.  The number one most absorbing vitamin technology in the world that is protected by patents is a technology called OLIGO.  This technology mimics the way you're body gets minerals and nutrients naturally so make sure your vitamins and supplements have the OLIGO technology.

9.  Creatine and Amino Acids will help you build muscle fast if you work out regularly.  Don't take them if you aren't going to be working out regularly and make sure to drink lots of water.  The most pure, best tasting, and inexpensive that we have found are called VITALITY ELEVATE PURE CREATINE AND VITALITY ELEVATE AMINO BOOST

10.  Good protein after you work out will help you build muscle as well.  There are 20 gram and 30 gram protein shakes that we recommend and seem to be the most pure, best tasting, and inexpensive out there that are called VITALITY ELEVATE ULTRA PERFORMANCE PROTEIN.

11.  Establish long term weight loss habits that you can do day in and day out rather than only short term challenges that will burn you out over time.  Keep the weight off by making those long term habits.

12.  Set goals for yourself and have someone that you can be accountable to for those.  One of my goals is to be in shape for hunting season in a few months!

13.  Take a probiotic to keep the good bacteria in your body which will help increase your metabolism.

14.  Get 7-8 hrs of sleep each day which will also help increase your metabolism and make you feel energized.

15.  Drink at least 64oz. of water each day.  As you sweat your body looses electrolytes that can't be replaced with just water so the best thing we have found is called SUSTAIN SPORT which is a powder you dump in your water that has twice the electrolytes as Gatorade and a lot less sugar.  It tastes awesome too, go with the Grapefruit flavor if you're unsure.  You will definitely feel more hydrated.  Your body needs these electrolytes to keep it going right.

HUNTIN (not hunting) ON HORSES

HUNTIN (not hunting) ON HORSES

   (more pictures down below)

 I grew up under the shadows of the Grand Tetons and the Big Hole mountains of Teton Valley on a small farm and ranch.  We grew up raising 60 head of beef cows so naturally always had a horse or two around.  As I grew older I had gathered up a few more horses and had a small but successful business training horses for others.

I love hunting of any kind really wether it's on foot or horseback but if I could choose, I'd take a horse over anything else.  Not because I'm fond of them only but I really believe they are the ultimate hunting vehicle and increase the odds of a successful hunt.

One fall I had been riding in the mountains behind the house looking for big elk and deer.  It was getting late in the day so was riding back on a chestnut Quarter Horse mare and spotted a deer about 100 yards ahead of us and our scent was blowing right into to it.  It was a mountain muley for sure as I could spot it's white rump and big ears but didn't have a rack on it.  I was riding down the middle of a big logging road plain as day and it still didn't move the closer the horse and I got to it.  It had spotted me first and by the time I saw it the doe could have had plenty of time to scatter out of there. In my haste home I rode right on by it not spotting any other deer nearby and it didn't bother to get out of there until I had rode fairly close.  I was shocked that in the middle of hunting season with hunting pressure at it's highest, this lone deer didn't seem to bothered by us being there.  While I do believe that animals know when you want to kill them this wasn't the only time that had happened to me while on a horse. I attribute the doe to not feeling threatened by the scent of a sweaty horse and the looks of a four legged animal with a funny object on top seemed to intrigue it and keep it at ease.

If you've ever been around animals you know scent is a big deal to them and while a human scent will scatter a herd of elk or group of deer like no other, I do believe horse scent combined with humans can confuse wild animals long enough to get into a good position.  Even more so if an animal spots a horse, it has four legs rather than two such as us humans so doesn't appear as out of place in the wilds.  I've seen videos of guys shooting antelope within 20 yards that were able to get that close in a wide open prairie just by standing on the opposite side of their horses with saddles on and everything.

Something about being on a horse just brings out the inner outdoorsman in us all.  Horses can get you into some neat country fairly quickly, they are environmentally friendly, feed is usually provided by nature pretty good, and you can pack in and pack out a pretty comfortable camp.

Good horses are made by wet saddle blankets and are worth their weight in gold.  They can't be good horses if they don't get used often.  If you're a mule runner I do think mules are great hunting and pack animals but I don't know enough about them to trust them.  If you're looking to have a smooth fast ride in the mountains Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Fox Trotters are the way to go.  Coming down a hill they won't jiggle you to death like riding a Quarter Horse would but I never used my horses for just hunting so preferred a Quarter Horse to chase a cow in the off season and put up with a bumpy ride coming off a mountain during the hunting season.  I really feel like a registered Quarter Horse has a better chance of becoming a safe reliable horse due to it's breeding rather than any other breeds out there. I've also found a lot of times that it seems like the bigger the horse the more gentler they are and love a nice big draft horse for packing or a half draft as they can carry a big load and seem to be pretty easy going.  One trip up to Elk Flats one summer we were short on horses and I rode a big draft horse. Make sure you've done your stretches if you ever find yourself in the same situation.

There's an art to good horsemanship which comes by a lot of time in the saddle.  If you get skunked on a hunt with horses the ride back doesn't seem nearly as gruesome as it does when you're afoot.  If you down an animal your back will thank you for a friendly horse.  The quartering out method seems to me to be the best way to take out an animal when packing since it leaves some solid mass and bone that gives it form and is easy to tie up.  Boning out isn't all that bad either but leaves a pile of meat without any stability to it and needs a good set of panniers or bags to get out.

There's all kinds of ways to get a game kill on a spooky horse.  Tie up a leg, blindfold it, rub some blood and scent on the horses nose, take your pick and pray for miracles down the trail.

Many times if you're lost or not sure of the trail.  The horse will know the way home.  I remember a handful of times coming out the bottom of Mahogany canyon almost half asleep in the dark cause I knew the horse knew the way home.  Dad had shot a cow elk one year and grandpa had brought our gray horse Sam up to pack it out.  They managed to get the elk on the horse but all it took was one backward glance from Sam and they found him back at the ranch.  One other time I remember in the bottom of Blind Canyon we had tied up the horses and something must have spooked them because when we got back to where they were supposed to be we found pulled off halters and broken ropes and had a long walk  before we found them almost at home.

If you're going to camp overnight with the horses there's all kinds of tricks and tactics to keeping them around close.  You better tie one up or stake one out real good though cause no matter what there'll be a time in your life if you take them out often enough you'll need to play cowboy and find strays.  Never stake a horse by the halter or leave the halter on if you stake them out.  They find a way to get tangled.  Stake 'em out by the foot instead.

I don't know what it is about moose but they must really stink to a horse because elk and deer don't seem to bother a horse like a moose does.  We had a black pony once and I kid you not I came home from a ride through the field down wind of a moose and we were a good quarter mile away from it and that horse had a major freak out until it couldn't smell the thing.

If you're trying to be a good hunter on horseback there's nothing more annoying than a lonely horse neighing the whole rest of the hunt blowing your cover until you get it back with another horse friend.  Get them trained beforehand or keep them with a horse they like to be around to avoid that.  I'm already getting mad thinking about how many times that's happened to me.

If you ever get the chance go chase horses at the Siver Spur Ranch in Medicine Lodge, Idaho go and do it.  I had the pleasure of being able to fill in as a wrangler a couple times and learned a thing or two.  A horse will wear out pretty fast on a gallop but they can go all day on a good trot and really cover some ground and still have steam left by the end of the day.

Good hunts on horses start way before the hunt so put in your time and condition your horses and it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.  If not it'll be one of the worst experiences of your life.  Do us all a favor and spend quality money on a quality horse that has some proven pedigree behind it.  If you only use your horses once every year, trade them in for a motor vehicle and you'll thank me later.  Some of my most fondest memories were around horses or from the back of a horse that I could have never experienced on a motor vehicle.

Don't let yourself die slowly behind the edge of a desk.  Do what you're passionate about.  The bills will always be there.  Success and fortune favor the brave.  Grab a hunk of mane and slide up into a well oiled saddle on top of a trusty steed and you'll find a freedom that money can't buy.  Money is important but make sure your working to live not living to work.  Go out and make memories.

(the following pics are some of my grandpa and friends, my Dad, myself, and some good horses)

Nutrition for the Total Outdoorsman, can't live without it, literally :)

NUTRITION FOR THE TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN

WHEN I FOUND OUT HOW OUT OF SHAPE I WAS
Not too long ago I believed all you needed to stay healthy was water, some good farm produce, and home grown beef!  While that is still true to some degree my thought process has changed dramatically.  

What really opened my eyes to looking into proper nutrition and staying fit was when I was at my previous job, sitting at a bank desk staring at tootsie rolls all day and not doing a lot of physical activity.  I've always been passionate about hunting and fishing and for the little over two years I was a banker could never seem to get time off to go much.  Growing up on the farm I had always been really fit even when I wasn't trying so when I got a day off from my desk job I thought it would be no different.  

Brayden and I took Grandpa's razor up in the Big Hole's early one fall morning on the lookout for deer and elk.  We both could only afford to take a day off from work and try to hit it hard.  The horses got sold when we both moved from Driggs a few years ago so we drove up to a lookout peak and then were on foot hiking pretty much straight up and down the mountain sides.  For the first hour or so I didn't feel too bad but felt really winded and couldn't seem to keep up with Brayden as good.  Throughout the rest of the day though I felt drained all day and had too many frequent stops to catch my breath.  My muscles were out of shape and it didn't take very long and my legs would get to shaking from hiking up and down the mountain side and even became difficult for me to keep my balance with my legs giving out. I couldn't wait for the hunt to be over. I was dripping sweat and could not for the life of me regain energy and stamina after resting. 

That had never happened to me before and honestly scared me into realizing I needed some muscle back, to get in shape, and better nutrition.  

Over the past couple years since that experience I've been a lot more in tune with how the body works and what it needs.  

VITAMINS AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS
Wether you're an outdoorsman or not, one of the main things I really believe in is vitamins and mineral supplements. Your body needs these to function properly and the lack of them will lead to many health issues now and especially down the road.  In my opinion vitamins are the most important things for you to take to be proactive about your health.  Our bodies cannot replenish lacking vitamins and minerals on it's own.  The truth is that it is almost impossible for our bodies to get all the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals it needs by eating fresh foods and so called healthy foods.  Due to the way our food is grown and processed now.  The way food is farmed now with intense farming practices, essential trace minerals found in soils have been highly depleted so the foods you eat are lacking in those as well.  Processing also robs precious nutrients from the foods you eat.  

I'll be honest, most of the vitamins and minerals on the market don't actually work and do more harm than good.  Why?  They might have everything your body needs but your body cannot actually absorb them so they crystalize in your small intestines and you have an expensive bathroom experience.  On top of that because your body is not absorbing those they trigger free radicals which attack your body doing more harm than good.  

Good news though is that there are vitamin supplements out there proven to absorb into your body and actually benefit you.  I have noticed a huge difference since I've been regularly taking Vitamin supplements clinically proven to absorb and work. Although I'm healthy as far as I know, I've noticed a dramatic increase in energy, focus, recovery, and improved immune system.  

Do your research and find out the absorption rates of your vitamin supplements. You'll be surprised at the lack of information with vitamin companies because they are well aware of the fact that most of them don't work and absorb.  

When you're in the back country and exposed to all kinds of fluctuating temperatures it's easy to catch a cold or fevers among other things and ruin a good extended hunting trip. A good multivitamin and other supplements will surely increase your odds of avoiding sitting back at camp not feeling good.

Fly fishing the Henry's Fork

HYDRATION DRINKS OR JUST WATER
I love water and since the days of high school wrestling hardly drink pop anymore.  What I realized in my studies though is when you're sweating or working out, your body is losing electrolytes and other important things that need to be replenished.  Water can't replenish those electrolytes which keep you hydrated and help keep your body going so in enters energy drinks like Gatorade and Powerade.  What I found was that although Gatorade had two electrolytes it also contained a lot of sugar.  I have since switched from using Gatorade and Powerade and use a drink mix I pour in my water bottle or Camel Back hydration system which has twice the electrolytes, 1/5 the sugar, and I personally think it tastes better.  My point being that there are alternatives to Gatorade and Powerade that work better and are healthier.  I have been amazed at the difference I feel in being hydrated when I'm hunting by not drinking strictly just straight water.  I really have felt more longevity and energy.  Once you get on a good electrolyte replacement drink if you aren't staying active when you're drinking it you will notice how much more hydrated you are by the more bathroom visits you take and less headaches you have.  

FITNESS BARS
Never thought I'd be saying this but I really believe in a good fitness bar to keep you going on an all day hunt as well as the other things I've mentioned.  Granted most of them are expensive and I'm sure a lot of you have your favorites for one reason or another. The main reason I take one before and during a hunting or fishing trip is that I've found one that has made a huge difference in helping me recover after a long hike or packing out an animal. It also has made a huge difference in
helping prevent the sore muscles afterwards by blocking the adenosine in your body which creates lactic acid causing the sore muscles.  Along with the recovery abilities, it adds some protein, a nice snack, and on those cold days the particular one I use burns fat to use as energy increasing my core temperature rather than burning muscle to use as energy.  There's no way I'm going to pay five bucks a protein bar so make sure you find one that tastes good to you and gives you the results you want.  

STAYING FIT
This is my biggest struggle.  I broke down and got a gym membership this year and haven't been super good at all about going regularly.  My goal this year is to be ready to do some hard hunting this year without the wobbly legs and getting winded all the time so really need to buckle down and get to work.  I'm a big advocate of regular exercise because I've seen what a big difference it makes when you have been lacking in that department and get into the high elevations when it can become a life or death situation.  Since high school the best shape I've ever been in was the year before I got married and didn't have a girlfriend so went hunting everyday. Haha.  I was an animal and felt like I could hike anything and it paid off being able to call in and stick an arrow in a rutting bull elk.  Those are the thoughts that drive me into being healthy along with the high cost of health care now days.  

I'm always curious to learn more about nutrition for the outdoorsmen and women.   Shoot me an email or something and I'm happy to share more info on what I've personally found.

What have you found to improve your nutrition and fitness in the outdoors?

 Brayden's bull shot in the bottom of the deepest ravine. Haha.

The Log Hollow bull 

MY QUEST FOR TROPHY TROUT

About a year ago I became so frustrated with my fly fishing.  I never had a problem catching fish but I couldn't seem to keep the 12-14 inchers and the white fish of my line.  Not always a bad problem to have right?!  I decided I needed to step up my game and start a quest for some large trophy trout!

My Dad introduced me to fly fishing when I was young and I couldn't wait to someday get my own fly rod.  As the years progressed I started tying some of my own flies and educating myself more from books, video's, and the local legends around Teton Valley about fly fishing and how to be successful.  It has become an addiction that has become fulfilling and aggravating at times as I have progressed.

When I realized that I needed to change up my game and that I was consistently not catching larger fish I started to watch every fly fishing video I could find on youtube and vimeo trying to see what I was missing.  I did countless google searches about catching larger fish and my wife will attest to that when I get my mind on something I'm stuck on that until I figure it out.  I came across many people and resources willing to help fulfill my quest for a 25" + trout on the South Fork or the Henry's Fork! I'm still working towards that and closing in.

The selection and style of streamers I've been chucking lately, can you tell which one's I tied?

This is what I have learned so far.  Trophy Trout are trophies for a reason.  If you want to catch them you have to stop worrying about how many fish you catch during the day and start thinking about the quality of the fish you are catching.  Don't be discouraged when you see another angler catching twice as many fish as you twice as small and giving you the look like you're an idiot for not catching the same amount.

You've gotta cover more water to find those few and far between larger fish. When trout get to be a certain size the primary source of their diet becomes meat instead of insects and they are turned into a predator preying on other fish and larger meals.  A big fish won't normally spend all of it's energy going after little meals and begins to take in some bigger meals to keep up with it's nutritional needs.  Big trout often feed at night or in darker conditions.  As a hunter of big game when the moon is out so are the animals and it is no different for the fish. A lot of big fish that I've seen were caught after dark legally and in the late evening hours or early morning hours.  During the day big trout will find slower water that they can hold in and rest and these are often the best place to find them during the daytime hours.

I've heard it said that just before, during, and just after a low pressure system such as storms, will cause fish to go on a feeding frenzy. So the next time it's raining out don't pack up your gear and head home unless you're in a lighting storm.

During the day from what I've learned, and I believe it, big fish aren't as active but can be enticed or aggravated to attack a large fly that spooks or scares them even though it may not be hungry.  I've also heard that the same fish that a large trout will feed on in the evenings or early hours will often times allow it's minnow or smaller fish meals to swim around by it during the day time hours with no harm.

Articulated Streamers are quickly becoming, if not already the most popular weapon for enticing these big trout but I'm not so convinced yet they are the go to style of streamer.  Streamers imitate that larger meal the big trout are looking for and I know you can catch big trout on chironomids, nymphs, and dries but I've become addicted to throwing a streamer.  As I've been fishing streamers I really have cut out those littler fish than what I used to catch and am starting to see the size of fish I'm catching grow.  When concerned which color streamer to fish, a good rule of thumb is "Dark skies, dark flies, bright skies, bright flies."

Zoo Cougar and Sex Dungeon Articulated Streamers

While faithfully fishing large articulated streamers I'll admit that I haven't had a whole lot of luck and am not so sure at this point in my fishing that they are my go to for big trout.  I have caught fish on them but honestly I've fished a lot of hours with them in some nice waters and haven't had the success I hoped or worked for.  Now I think I am going to go back to fishing #4 Wooly Buggers and streamers more often and see if that produces any more strikes with bigger fish. A good friend and fisherman I look up to told me this was his opinion as well and that even a #2 hook size was too big for what he's noticed. I have to say I have had better luck with the smaller streamers and have seen some of the hogs he's pulled out with them and am definitely leaning to his way of thinking.  The largest fish I've caught out of the river yet was I'd say 22"-23" or so (never actually measured it) and was on the Henry's Fork during spring on a yellow #4 Wooly Bugger streamer.  I'm not professing to know anything about fishing big trout because my wife is getting used to me coming home without a good fish story as I've been on this quest making mistakes.  I've fished weighted streamers on a floating line and am now fishing a sinking line with both weighted and non weighted streamers depending on current and depth.

#4 Wooly Buggers in Yellow and Olive

The Brown I caught spring of 2013 on the Yellow Wooly Bugger above (Henry's Fork)                             

Some of my weaknesses as I'm looking for the 25"+ trout are that I don't cover enough water as I am limited to where I fish since I don't have a boat, and that I don't always go out when the big fish are feeding actively.  If I'm going to step up my fishing game I think these are definitely two things I'm lacking among many others I'm sure :)

The Line I'm currently fishing.

For those of you who like to follow good fisherman that can get it done this is a list of some of my favorites that I like to follow.

  Randy Berry- Check out Teton Valley Lodge youtube video's
  Brian Berry- Check out the Teton Valley Lodge youtube video's to see the man in action
  Beau Price- Check out Mountain Made Media and the Obsession video he's in
  Jake Forsline- Look him up with the Loop Army and on Vimeo
  Kelly Galloup- Got some great instructional videos on how trophy trout habits are
  Mike Lawson- He's got the history and the Legends to back up whatever he says

I'm always open to add to this list and see what you've learned and done!

WHAT I LEARNED AS A BOY SCOUT!

My earliest memory of scouting was as a kid tagging along with my Dad before I was even of scouting age to different activities and visiting him while he was a scoutmaster on campouts.  I've been wanting to do a post about my love for scouting for a few weeks now and this is the perfect timing with my Dad soon to be awarded the Silver Beaver award for his commitment and dedication to scouting all these years!  He's changed many lives because of scouting and has taught my brother, myself, and countless others many knots, values, skills, and life lessons through scouting!  He definitely deserves the great recognition and award!

Not only have I been able to be a scout but I've been able to participate as a scout leader and watch boys become men through the help of the scouting program.  

Not a day goes by that I don't use something I learned from scouting.  My true love of the outdoors was developed through scouting and I often recollect many scout trips and burnt marshmallows.  As a scout I learned how to tie the Bowline Knot, make a wilderness camp, start a fire with a magnifying glass, to do a good turn daily, and to always be prepared!  Through countless merit badges I developed many skills and opportunities to be exposed to different situations that prepared me for life.  Through awkward years as a teenager scouting taught me most about what I was capable of, what I loved, and gave me the confidence to stand up for what is right.  

Some of my favorite campouts were going to Packsaddle Lake, Treasure Mountain Scout Camp, The Big Eddie, Hebdgen Lake, Green Canyon, and Palisades Lake.  I still remember sleeping under a tarp in the middle of winter at Mike Harris Campground waking up to frozen boots in the middle of a blizzard.  Another time at the Big Eddie getting eaten alive by mosquitos and sneezing my guts out from allergies.  Fishing at Packsaddle Lake and almost watching a forest fire get started there in a wind storm.  Jumping off the rope swing in 40 degree water and talking in the tent all hours of the night about the most random stuff.  Winning the Battle of the Tetons at scout camp numerous years with Troop 89 and lugging the daily ration of food from the mess hall in a milk crate up a narrow and windy trail back to camp.  

Countless volunteer hours were put in by many parents and scout leaders that understood the value of a scout to his country and community and made my scouting experiences some of the fondest times of my life.  Some of the leaders and volunteers I remember among many are my Dad (Kerry Buxton), my Mom (Kathy Buxton), Mark Wade, Troy Harris, Randy Berry, Syd Thompson, Greer Jones, Harold Robison, Dave Richardson, Randy Burnside and many many others.

As a scout is where I learned to develop leadership skills and how to always leave things better than you found them.  We learned by memory that a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. We learned how to be self sufficient and to be an asset to our communities as we always were taught to look for opportunities to serve and give.  One of my most favorite things I learned as a scout among tying knots and how to camp was dutch oven cooking.  Even the nastiest food tasted good on a campout and our leaders were brave enough to let us cook and teach us how. 

What a great experience to be able to camp with my Dad and Brother while developing life long friendships with my fellow scouts and leaders.  

I carry with me in my wallet everyday my Eagle Scout card reminding me that once a scout always a scout and it is one of my most prized possessions.  Reach out and get involved in scouting in your community and make sure to take your kids to scouts especially when they don't want to!!!  They'll thank you later and you won't have to worry about your kids wandering the streets when they're sitting around a campfire or playing night games in the woods!  If the scouting program in your area isn't what you'd like it to be, step in and make it what it can be.

DO A GOOD TURN DAILY

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

What have you learned as a scout or what do you remember?

What Gauge or Caliber of Firearm Would You Choose If You Could Only Pick One?

 So I'm loving watching the show from National Geographic Ultimate Survival Alaska!  Check it out on the National Geographic channel on the internet for the older episodes and watch the newer ones on Hulu (internet).  I love the show because they don't have a lot of options of firearms they can carry in a survival situation and it got me thinking which gauge or caliber of firearm would I choose if I could only choose one?

Lucky you, I've figured out my choice!

Keep in mind, the situation where I would most likely be in survival mode is in the mountain areas.  Not like the desert areas where there is nothing in sight for miles.  With that being said my personal preference was to not choose a big game rifle or large pistol caliber because I don't feel like they are as adapt to as many certain situations as others.

Coming in as my 3rd choice is the .22 LR caliber.

 Who doesn't love to shoot a .22?  If you can find some ammo there's not much a .22 can't do in the right hands.  Especially in survival mode.  With good shot placement and a little bit of luck you can bring down big game as well as small game accurately.  You won't be weighed down too much either carrying a lot of bullets for your trusty .22 firearm.  I've shot coyotes and foxes well over 100 yards with a .22 Long Rifle while holding high above where I wanted the bullet to land and dropped them effectively.  I've also shot many a grouse, squirrels, and killed lots of trees with a .22.   It's not too good for fishing though.  Keep reading and you'll understand.  The main reasons I ruled out the .22 is because on a charging large predator it's not the most effective and not the best for shooting flying targets.

Coming in as my 2nd choice is the 20 gauge shotgun shell.

Why was this my 2nd choice?  Because if I can't have a 12 gauge I might as well have a 20 gauge.

My personal #1 Choice would be the 12 gauge shotgun shell.

Maybe more specifically I just like the 12 gauge shotgun because it is so versatile.  A 12 gauge can be a trusty companion for predator defense by throwing in some heavy shot or slugs but also just as effective for small game, flying game, and even fish with the right shot shell.  How do you use a shotgun for fishing.  One time when out hunting ducks on the Teton River with a high school buddy we were walking down the river bank when he spotted a fish not too far away and blasted at the water. To my amazement although the steel shot didn't make it down to the fish the force of the blast knocked the fish unconscious and it floated right up to the top.

While carrying around enough shells for 12 gauge can get a little heavy especially in a survival situation, if you're around any kind of game the 12 gauge can do the job in my opinion.  You can still reach out and touch the further big game with a rifled slug in a smooth bore and dispatch some flying critters with some smaller shot while not having to be Annie Oakley or Deadeye Dick.  You can be pretty accurate still with shot placement on a 12 gauge without destroying the game your shooting at.

If you don't have a slug with you and your only carrying bird shot you can still jimmy rig a shell to shoot like a slug.  We were shooting clay pigeons for an activity once with the men in our church group and one friend showed me how to do it.  Not that I recommend trying this because I've heard it will swell and expand your barrel as it travels out and can destroy your shotgun. Safety first :) He proceeded to take out his pocket knife and cut a thin line around the outside of the shell, at the base of the plastic wad tucked away inside the shell separating the powder from the shot so when the gun fired it would send a missile of everything intact above where he cut the line. He did this a few times and I was shocked to see that it penetrated a large solid tree stump a good 3-5 inches.

What I'm saying is, if you're ever on the show Ultimate Survival Alaska don't throw out the 12 gauge!  

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10 Things I Don't Go To The Great Outdoors Without!

The 10 things I don't go to the great outdoor's without!

Wether I am going down to the river to wet the fly line for a few hours or heading into the Sasquatch backcountry to connect with the wild outdoor's or even just to spend the night on a campout, these 10 items are always on me!  I can survive the zombie apocalypse with these items and so can you!

1.  Swiss Army Knife- This faithful Swiss Army knife is more trusty than man's best friend (dog).  I carry this in my pants pocket every day wether I'm at church or lounging around the house.  What can't a Swiss Army knife do?  Just ask McGeyvor.  I can't tell you how often every day this comes in handy with all of it's functions and what I especially love about it is that it easily fits in my front pant pocket and doesn't take up hardly any room. I've gutted elk with this knife, made hot dog sticks, filed my nails (you'll understand if you tie fly fishing flies), and built small kingdoms with this :)

2. Smart Phone- Who goes anywhere without their smart phone these days?  Even in the mountains you'll forget to turn your phone on silent and that unexpected text notification will make you feel like a rookie when it echoes through the next draw.  To it's credit though it does come in handy.  One of my good friends was involved a severe atv accident 12 miles into the backcountry and without a way to call in the life flight he wouldn't be here today.  Verizon service seems to work the best for me in the mountains.  Plus it comes in handy for all those sweet pictures!  With all kinds of apps to add now the list is endless what your phone can do as long as the battery has juice.

3. Flashlight- Your phone might have a good flashlight but it's best to save your battery use on that for when you really need it.  I love these flashlights and they are only $1 at Cal-Ranch or your local dollar store.  They're even glow in the dark so are easy to find in a dark tent or when you're half asleep and need to go see a man about a horse in the middle of the night.

4. Multi-tool- A good multitool will come with attached pliers good for pinching barbs down on a fish hook and bending wire, cutting wire, picking up hot dutch oven lids, etc. It's always nice to have an extra tool that can back up a swiss army knife in case a blade or tool breaks.

5. No Fail Fire Starter- I learned this one from watching too many episodes on the hunting channel.  Grab some cotton balls and rub them around in Vaseline real good, then stuff them in a container.  I use an old film canister (who remembers what those are) and can get about 5 vaseline soaked cotton balls in there.  Wether these have been rained on or not these things will catch any sparks and each cotton ball with burn for a good couple of minutes and give you plenty of time to ignite some kindling.

6. Blast Match- I don't even carry around matches anymore and a lighter is tough to start when your fingers are frozen or the wind is blowing.  Press down on the thumb piece and shove the pointy end into a vaseline ball or some dry tinder and you'll be impressed with the torch of sparks this will send out.  It can get wet all it wants and it'll still work.  You won't be bored anymore trying to see what stuff you can light on fire with this blast match.  I like the florescent orange color so I can find it when I set it down on the ground.

7. Ziploc bag- Make sure to pack this one to keep your electronics or wallet dry if you go for a swim or get caught in a mountain thunderstorm. Among other things it can pack any mountain huckleberries to camp as well.  If you forgot yours at home, check any dumpster or road side gutter and you've got a good chance of finding a spare :)

8. Belt- Among keeping your pants up this comes in handy if you forget your wading belt.  It will literally save your life if you've forgot your wading belt and slip on a mossy rock up to chest high water.  Wading belts will help minimize filling up your waders with water and sinking straight to the bottom.  It can be used as a tourniquet, a whip for fiesty dogs, carry all kinds of dead birds on a string, and even your trusty side arm or favorite hunting knife.

 9. Water bottle- The water is of course essential and I dump an electrolyte pouch in mine that has twice the electrolytes as gatorade (4 vs 2) to keep me hydrated, 1/5 the sugar as gatorade, and it tastes better than gatorade.  Once the liquid is gone the bottle can be used to boil unsafe water if your careful not to melt it, transport water as a temporary solution to a radiator problem, it can be cut in half to be used as a cup, carry all kinds of other treasures and then be washed out to be used for a water bottle again.

10.  Allergy pills (medication)- I can't hardly see anything once I get rubbing my eyes from allergies and I am sure to ruin any hunt if I don't take my allergy medicine with all my sneezing.  The pure joy of being in the outdoors gets taken right away the second I feel a sneeze coming on. These are the exact same number of pills and formula as Claritin but I get them for about $7 less along with all my other over the counter meds at discount.  Don't forget any other medications that you can't live without.  It will make all the difference!


These are all just my essentials that I carry on any given day in the field.  What do you carry!?

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