The Realtree Team has set the bar even higher with this latest edition of the most popular turkey hunting videos ever offered. All-Stars of Spring XIII packs all the action you’ve come to expect and more into 27 exciting hunts.

Watch as Bill Jordan, Michael Waddell, David Blanton and friends use old tactics and new tricks to score big on toms across seven states in North America.

On target- The Realtree crew does it again. They are almost perfect in every aspect when it comes to providing the viewer with great hunts, close up action and solid camera work. The video was very well done. I like how they pumped up the natural sounds and didn’t add any unnecessary music. I really felt like I was right there with them.

Off target- Finding flaws in Realtree’s work is always tough but not tough enough. I had already seen Waddell’s hunts on his own show. Also, Jordan and Blanton’s boys had no excitement in them, and the bows were hardly brought out. I like the hunters to act as if they really enjoy the sport and I’d like to see the videos broken up with bow kills.

www.realtree.com

Sportsman Camo Covers specializes in camouflage seat covers to protect your factory truck seats from damage and fading. These seat covers are made from 500 Denier Cordura and are custom fit for your factory truck seat. All are padded and quilted for the best possible look, and double stitched for a stronger hold and to cover any raw edges.

On target- Sportsman Camo Covers offers quality removable custom seat covers for many makes and models of trucks. I received mine about a year ago and they still look brand new. Mr. Andrews, the owner, was a pleasure to talk to and he sent my order right out to me. He really aims to please the customer and hopes in return they will spread the word about his great product.

Sportsman Camo Covers have protected my new truck seats from duck dogs, wet waders and many other things. All outdoorsman who want to prolong the life of their interior should consider giving Sportsman Camo Covers a call.

Off target- The seat covers are water resistant, which helps tremendously, but it would be nice if they were 100% waterproof.

www.camotruckseats.com

Paul Newsom’s Great Outdoors is one of the longest running outdoor shows on TV today. Each week, Paul takes viewers all across North America on exciting “Real Life Adventures,” featuring “Wild things in Wild Places.”

Paul is an eleven-time national award-winning outdoor writer and producer and an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).
Follow the famed professional outdoorsman, record book hunter, guide, game calling champion, award-winning outdoor writer and producer Paul Newsom as he uses over 40 years of experience to honor our great hunting heritage.

On target- Paul is a true outdoorsman and has always stuck to his guns in the outdoor industry. He shares a great knowledge and passion for his work and has never fallen short of tradition. His show appeals to a little older audience and I think there is a place for that. There should be a show out there for everyone.

Off target- The show hasn’t changed its intro in the last two years. I think a show should update its opens and closes annually. This small touch gives a fresh new feeling to the production.

Having worked with Paul in the past, I have come to know him and his family well. He is an extraordinary person who knows the outdoor industry in and out. I’ve learned a lot from him and thank him for allowing me the opportunity to work with him.

www.paulsoutdoors.com

Since 1976, Jimmy Houston has entertained and educated outdoor lovers. He is best known for his blonde locks and trademark laugh.

Whether he is tempting largemouth in Florida, enticing peacocks in South America, catching crappie on Lake Tenkiller or trying to outsmart the elusive whitetail buck in “Indiana”, Jimmy strives to make you feel like you’re right there in the boat or tree stand with him.

On target- If I look over his past hunting incident, Jimmy’s a great guy. I’ve worked with the man and have to say he’s a pleasure to hang out with. The show is very informative and fun. He is very passionate about fishing and loves introducing it to kids. There’s never a dull moment with Jimmy’s laugh.

Jimmy has been in this game for many years and his energy and fun personality has never diminished. He is always great on camera and consistently provides the viewer with a number of interesting and helpful tips. It says a lot when a guy in the business for so long still manages to have one of the top-rated fishing shows out there.

Off target- I’ve noticed a lot of footage from several years back re-aired in new episodes. Flashbacks are great, but I know Jimmy’s got to be on the water enough to give us more new footage.

www.jimmyhouston.com

Maybe it doesn’t take getting up before the crack of dawn to bag a trophy buck. I like getting in there early to hear nature awaken, but not 16 year old Nate Golden. He managed to sleep in until 9:00 and still harvest himself a wall hanger.

It was the morning of November 18th and Nate had decided to do a little still-hunting in an area he’d spotted several good bucks working. He was slipping through a low hardwoods funnel, when he and his cameraman spotted a buck standing over a doe. Nate takes advantage of the stealth tactics he’d learned watching Spiderman and attempts to crawl to a nearby fence row to see if he can get a shot.

He and his cameraman crawl for over a hundred yards and finally get within Mossberg shotgun range. Nate rests his trusty banging stick on the rusty barbwire fence and puts his mind in cuttin’ down mode. Nate has yet to kill a buck of this caliber and he knows his buddies will give him all he can handle if he misses. It’s a warm shotgun season in Illinois and small sweat beads begin to form as buck fever sets in.

As the safety flips off, images flash before his eyes of the movie “Bambi” which he still watches before he goes to bed. Then he begins to think of what his hero Buzz Light-year would do and at that moment an instinct hits him like nothing he’s ever experienced. He puts the crosshairs on his objective and BAM!

Unsure if he’d hit his mark, Nate’s excitement level is in limbo. He approaches the area where his target had stood and checks for any sign to indicate he hit his mark. To his surprise, the huge 10 point had just ran 30 yards. I don’t think words can express the relief and excitement in this kid’s eyes.

The instinct of hunting needs to reach all kids out there. The only way to do it is to get them involved and let them see how truly cool it is. Trust me it will be worth every penny.

The Elite® Feeder was developed through years research and testing and is revolutionizing the computerized feeder industry. Constructed of high quality materials and workmanship, the Elite® surpasses military specifications. The Elite® is so easy to program and operate, that you won’t need instructions. Premier features include: flawless, robotics-built housing; waterproof LCD; customized feedings and a high torque, 3-speed motor. This unit throws feed 25 to 75 feet by simply adjusting the motor speed on the built-in digital timer. This unit is backed by the On Time® Feeders Lifetime Warranty.

On target- Now, I haven’t used every feeder on the market but I can safely say that if I don’t it would be OK. On Time has done a remarkable job in designing the elite series and I have yet to encounter any problems. I have been using them for the last 3 years and I don’t remember it not going off once. That is if the batteries were good. I think their a great buy for outfitters whose clients depend on them going off. The Lifetime Warranty is well worth it. I had a cow get into it and somehow destroy the spinner, everything else was fine. On Time went ahead and sent me a brand new unit. That’s top notch in my book.

Off target- Some of you might think their a little pricey. Hey, you get what you pay for. Also, I recommend getting the optional C-cell battery pack which has a 1 year plus battery life. Otherwise your going to be changing out a whopping load of 10 AA batteries every so often.

www.ontimefeeders.com

A suped- up version of the rubber boot that changed it all, a stout Sport Chassis™ outsole gives you the kind of hunt- all- day stability and comfort that has a way of ending in a good story. Like, a three- hour, blow- by- blow account of the one that didn’t get away.

On target- Straight up, the boot feels like your wearing a comfortable pair of tennis shoes. The boot prides itself in comfort-ability and dryness. I have been through two pairs and will continue to purchase them until something better pops up. I would recommend this boot to anyone looking for a scent-safe, light-weight, comfortable, sure enough keep your feet dry rubber boot.

Off target- After sporting the boots for a couple of years I have found that if you aren’t semi-careful you can puncture the outer layer. Also you may experience a little foot sweat when hiking back to BFE for that ole mossy horn ghost.

www.lacrossefootwear.com

Each week host Dave Watson takes viewers on two different hunts for two different species in two different locations. The show will travel farther, dig deeper and investigate more thoroughly to reveal more new hunting secrets and tips.

On target- What I did liked was that Dave Watson and his guest hunters are willing to talk to you instead of at you; while I didn’t like the interruptions of the hunts at times, the tips offered looked practical and useful to someone hunting in similar conditions. This I find unique; a lot of the hunting shows you see follow the standard prescription: Wait a while, kill something, shake some hands, show some advertisements, repeat as needed to fill time remaining.

Off target- Watson can be a bit corny at times, what with trying for the laid back country feel that every hunting show seems to want. It would be refreshing to see the hunters in front of the camera acting naturally, but, as usual, unnecessary talk often fills in the scenes while the game approaches, and you can most likely tell that most of the things done and said on this show are scripted. Along with that, the interruptions for tips, techniques, and commercials got a bit bothersome, I was really intent on watching the hunt and BAM an interruption.

www.bushnelloutdoors.com

Leading the ratings on The Outdoor Channel, “Mossy Oak Classics” stands as one of the most-watched hunting shows on television. Rebroadcasts of Mossy Oak’s Hunting the Country have been exclusively shown on The Outdoor Channel since the late 1990s. Mossy Oak Classics remains one of the original cornerstones of outdoor programming and one of the top-rated shows on The Outdoor Channel to date.

On target- Besides the fact that they’ve got a great group of guys who have been in the industry for sometime, the production quality is solid. Together they exhibit why MOC is a top notch program. I have always been a fan of Mossy Oak’s shows and hope they will continue to remain amongst the elite outdoor production teams.

Off target- Now to the part I love. First, let’s start with the obvious; REBROADCASTS. If you’re a regular at watching Mossy Oak’s Hunting the Country then you’ve pretty much seen all the Mossy Oak Classics. Prehaps I watch too darn many outdoor shows, but still I like seeing new stuff. We all love watching ESPN classics, even though I probably will try to never watch the great Fiesta Bowl game again. I don’t think I could watch my Sooners lose another heart-breaker. Overall, there are some of us who enjoy watching the great hunts over and over, but I like a little variety myself.

www.mossyoak.com

The SCI Field Scoring Kit is the perfect item to document your family’s lifelong hunting experiences. Each score sheet contains features like easy to follow measuring instructions, method of take, place and date taken as well as Hunting outfitter. Now you have the tools needed to score just about any trophy in the field and document the details of every hunt. The SCI scoring system is the only world wide recognized scoring system.

On target- This small kit has it all. You get everything from the measuring tape to a scoring diagram on Rhino’s. They’ve made it really easy for the not so savvy scorers out there to get it right or should I say to get it close. In Oklahoma we always round up and it’s always the gross score we talk about.

Off target- Now, I’ve looked through the books several times and it looks as if there is only 3 pages to score whitetail on or any other game. I don’t know about you but I hope to harvest more than 3 SCI scoreable bucks in my lifetime. There must be a way to order more sheets, but I’d sure like to get more in my kit.
www.scimember.com