In MeatEater, author hunter and outdoorsman Steve Rinella will walk on the wild side where cliffs, claws and the culinary art all come crashing together in one nail-biting outdoors adventure.

Growing up in the Midwest’s great outdoors – hunting, fishing and trapping from a young age, Rinella has always viewed the world through the eyes of an ancestral hunter/gatherer. Entranced by early man’s skill, ingenuity and sheer determination to survive and thrive under challenging circumstances, Rinella has made it his life work to cultivate those same qualities.

In MeatEater, Rinella will deconstruct and master any hunting technique; track and pursue prey; and procure his own food, which he will turn into a mouth-watering fireside meal. Far from trophy or sport hunting, Rinella stays true to our ancestral tradition of sustenance hunting- nothing he harvests goes to waste. Whether tracking black tail deer in the remote Alaskan Wilderness, or rooting out Javelina in Texas, Rinella will defer to his back-country roots, challenging himself at every corner while providing nail biting adventure along the way.

On Target: Being an editor tends to cause me to be a little pickier than a normal viewer but the #1 thing i look for is “AM I ENTERTAINED?” While watching Meat Eater I found myself not looking for editing mistakes such as bad transition usage, poor color corrections, etc but the show actually entertained me. I’ve always been a fan of “Man vs Wild with Bear Grylls”.  Bear has the audience intrigued every minute just as Rinella does.  I really dig the way the MEAT of the show is put together, Rinella seems knowledgeable about what he is doing, quality cameras with nice angles and it’s a nice touch that Rinella is actually eating what he kills, something some shows have me questioning.

Off Target: Only watched two episodes so far but I’ll go ahead and take a swing here.  Viewer criticism first – I’m a big bowhunter and I’d like to see Rinella break out a bow for an episode, just a personal opinion.

In conclusion,  I recommend anyone wanting to watch some quality outdoor TV to tune in.  Airtimes listed below. Check it out on The Sportsman Channel.

With Gun Slicker you can keep your mind on the hunt rather than worrying about whether your rifle is in danger of becoming damaged. Gun Slicker protects your rifles from mud, moisture, and other harsh outdoor elements. It is constructed of water resistant fabric which employs a drawstring to contour exactly to your gun. Your rifles strap passes out the Gun Slicker for ease of use and convenience. Gun Slicker also comes with a handy pouch attached to the end for compact storage.

On Target – Quick easy protection for your rifle.  Do you take really good care of your rifles and hate to drag them out in harsh conditions? No worries now.  If it starts to snow or rain, pull this baby out of your pack and your gun is safe.  And you can easily slid your rifle out when you need to make that shot.   I’m not a huge rifle person, don’t hunt much with one but when I do you can bet I’m packing my slicker.

Off Target – I need a slicker for my bow!  Let me know when that’s available.

Check out the whole product line from Alpine at www.alpineproducts.com or order your slicker here.

In 2009 TASC Performance entered the apparel world with one mission – the reinvention of performance apparel.

After 2 and a half years of research, development, and engineering they’ve brought the performance market something completely new and revolutionary with their first generation Bamboo Performance Technology line, thriv Natural Performance.  tasc Performance has taken those initial Bamboo Performance Technology foundations, incorporated new fabric structures, fiber blends and technical details and is now staging a coup d’etat on the performance apparel industry.  tasc Performance isn’t an alternative to performance apparel, it’s apparel for true performers.

They forge the most innovative trail-running, training, outdoor, and lifestyle apparel the world has ever seen.  It’s Bamboo Performance Technology and it’s changing everything.

On Target - #1 the apparel feels amazing, I give tasc an A++ on comfort. #2 the apparel is lightweight.  After wearing the apparel through a couple workouts it’s as if I don’t have a shirt on.  There’s not movement restrictions, the stuff breaths fantastic and the apparel doesn’t seem to get heavier as it absorbs sweat. The sweat disappears!  I need 5 more outfits!!  A few other benefits the Bamboo technology has that I might as well mention is: anit-odor control, which is nice for being that I’m an avid bowhunter.  UPF 50+, the UV rays literally bounce off you.  4-way stretch, meaning any direction you and your muscles go the fabric moves and stretches and best of all it’s made right here in the great USA.

Off Target - Do I dare say it?  Price.  Yes, until the main stream is aware of Bamboo Performance Technology I think they’ll have problems selling a ton of this.  But I might be wrong.  I truly believe it’s a great product and I wish them the best.  I’ll continue to wear the apparel cause I have tried it first hand and believe in it.  I hope the hardcore athletes can look past the price and give it a shot.  It will be worth it.

Check them out online at: www.tascperformance.com

Guest Post:

Women comprise an extremely large segment of the outdoor sports retail market.  For that reason, manufacturers are doing what they can to create outdoor products with the female in mind.  If you love the outdoors, but also love the thought of comfort, safety and convenience fit for a woman, then have a look over this list of seven products geared towards women in the outdoors:

Adventuress Skin Care. Just because you prefer to spend time out in the sun, that doesn’t mean you aren’t aware of the sun’s harmful effects on your skin, and it certainly doesn’t mean you want to walk around with zinc oxide smeared over your nose.  Made by women who love the outdoors for women who love the outdoors, Adventuress skin care products are all-natural, contain sunscreen, and are odorless (so you don’t attract any of those pesky mosquitoes).

Luna Bars. These nutrient-packed energy bars are just what you need for long, active excursions in the great outdoors.  Plus, they were formulated with women in mind, containing things like soy protein, calcium, green tea extract, and folic acid – all things that support female health.

Venus 11 Kayak. This kayak, by Ocean Kayak, is one of the lightest kayaks that can be found on the market, making it ideal for women.

Go Girl Urination Device. Okay, so now to address the big white elephant in the room: the problem of urinating in the wilderness when you’re with a group and without any privacy.  This invaluable device is small, discreet, sanitary, and the perfect solution to this ages-old problem, actually providing women with the means to urinate while standing.

Stholquist Cruiser Personal Floatation Device (PFD). This PFD is made especially for women.  It’s smaller cut and shorter torso design, combined with its supportive inner cups, make it a prime choice for women who plan on spending time in a kayak, or in the water, swimming after their kayak.

Teva Dozer III Water Shandal. What’s a shandal, you ask?  Well, it’s a combination shoe-sandal . . . and it’s also a perfect fit for women who want to traverse any type of environment – wet or dry.

CamelBak Hydration Backpack. This water-storage device is designed to sit on your back, and is cut small, to fit the female physique.

The next time you plan on spending some rough and tumble time in the great outdoors, remember that it is not necessary to settle for the best closest fit.  There is a wide array of outdoor products that were developed with you, the female adventurer, in mind.

About the Author: Marcela Spafford is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for bringing the wilderness into the lives of more women. When she’s not camping, she is often writing about jobs in healthcare, politics, and personal finance.

YOU CAN ALSO CHECK THEM OUT ON THE WEB HERE

The NEW Fire Cam Mini HD Fire Helmet Camera is the best High Definition Fire Helmet Camera we have designed yet! It is also the SMALLEST HIGH DEFINITION HELMET CAMERA IN THE WORLD. Recording in 1280 x 720P High Definition, the Fire Cam Mini HD is built by firefighters, the camera is made of heat resistant anodized aluminum with a heat resistant glass lens specifically designed for interior firefighting. The camera can take on temperatures upwards to 900F.

This is what is INCLUDED with this order:
1. Fire Cam MINI HD Fire Helmet Camera. THE ONLY FIRE HELMET CAMERA SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED BY FIRE CAM FOR INTERIOR FIREFIGHTING CONDITIONS.
2. 2 spare / rechargeable batteries.
3. The modified BlackJack Fire Helmet Mount to mount the camera to ANY style helmet.
4. Water resistant cap for audio, used for firefighting, so you can hear everything including radio traffic.
5. Water Proof cap for NO audio used for underwater incidents up to 50ft.
6. USB cable for connecting to computer and charger.
7. AC Wall Charger to charge the camera after use.
8. Hardback Water Resistant Carrying Case to store the camera and equipment.
9. Rubber straps and plastic mounts to mount the camera in other locations besides the fire helmet.
10. Instruction Manual.
11. 6 MONTH WARRANTY WITH DAILY CUSTOMER SERVICE if you have ANY questions that are answered by FIRE CAM (FIREFIGHTERS).

The Fire Cam MINI HD camera records onto a Micro SDHC CLASS 6 card up to 32GB which is NOT INCLUDED. We sell the Transcend 8GB CLASS 6 card in our store which works perfect. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU SHOULD USE A CLASS 6 CARD FOR THE SMOOTHEST VIDEO. Any CLASS 6 card will work.

ON TARGET – I’m using the firecam to film myself hunting, sort of another angle that the cameraman might not get.  The footage looks great and I love how easy the camera is to operate and work with the captured footage.

OFF TARGET – During the sunny part of the day it is tough to see the little LED lights to know if the camera is recording or not.  I have to shade it a bit to make sure I have the thing rolling.  Only downfall at the moment.

Check it out here

Looking to book for 2012?  You can benefit huge for booking early!

www.huntccwo.com

The online lottery application period for non-resident Illinois archery combination deer permits for the 2011-2012 deer season will open on June 1 at 8:30am. Non-resident hunters can apply for the lottery through DNR Direct Online License Sales.

FEES

NON-RESIDENT FEES

· ARCHERY EITHER SEX AND ANTLERLESS APPLICATION – $411.00

Grills, lanterns, tiki torches and fireplaces all require a certain degree of precision when being lit. And that’s where the Flexible Neck Utility Lighter comes in.

It’s slim, powerful nozzle easily fits into the openings on most grills and lanterns, and with wind-resistant dual-flame technology, it’s ideal for any outdoor setting.

• Wind-resistant dual flame technology
• Flexible extended neck, topped by a slim, powerful nozzle, easily fits all lighting openings.
• Available in two finishes; satin silver and rubberized flat black
• Rugged metal construction
• Advanced ignition system
• Fuel-level indicator
• Adjustable flame
• Patented child-resistant safety button

ON TARGET- The above is all true, it does all this and some.  Great lighter for any outdoor enthusiast. I found it easy to use, strong flame and compact.   I even dropped it in a creek and the sucker fired right up.  Not recommending that but it did still work. It’s the last lighter you’ll ever have to buy.

OFF TARGET- Issues that may surface i see:  Flying and crossing borders with the butane gas bottles.  Please check ahead on this before security trashes them or they explode in your luggage.  Really I found no problems with the unit itself.  It was easy to fill with butane and was easy to operate. I do wonder and I hope to find out where the ZIPPO butane containers are being sold????

If you are interested in getting your own ZIPPO lighter check them out at: www.zippo.com