|
…..
Visit Prois Hunting - Hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows - “The mark of perfection” in crossbows
Note: Advertisements on this site to not reflect any belief or opinion of Mia Anstine, her sponsors, partners or employers.
Head on over to NRA Insights. It is a great interactive Ezine put out by the NRA for our youth. This month there just happens to be a post in there by Yours Truly. Check the whole magazine out, but look for my article, “Hunter is now a Hunter” on page 22.
What do ya think?!
NRA Insights Ezine. Page 22
…..
Visit Prois Hunting - Hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows - “The mark of perfection” in crossbows
Note: Advertisements on this site to not reflect any belief or opinion of Mia Anstine, her sponsors, partners or employers.
Hey! Guess what? There is a new post up at the WON. Check out show I had the opportunity to chat with at SHOT Show in Vegas this January. Boy is LG a little upset about this one too. Some day she’ll be old enough to attend.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Eva Shockey, co-host of “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures,” airing on the Outdoor Channel. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she is even more genuine in person than on television. The young huntress was filled with enthusiasm as she gave me some insight into her love of hunting and closeness of her family. …Click HERE to read the full interview.
…..
Visit Prois Hunting - Hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows - “The mark of perfection” in crossbows
Note: Advertisements on this site to not reflect any belief or opinion of Mia Anstine, her sponsors, partners or employers.
In visiting with other instructors, shooters and outdoor enthusiasts post SHOT Show I have been asked the same question numerous times. “What was your favorite thing at SHOT Show?”
There are always many things that impress me at the show. I will over the next few weeks, be sharing some of the great new releases I was able to view at Media Day at the Range as well as SHOT Show.
Being a handgun, rifle and shotgun instructor I am always looking for things I may possibly use as training aids. The one thing that caught my eye, above all, was Winchester® Ammunition’s soon to be released AA® TrAAcker™. I personally continue to work on following through on a shot with a shotgun. I also have sticks, balls and other props I use to demo for kids what it means to be shooting behind or not following through. While hunting in the duck blind with a group you would be able to see your shot, thus knowing who hit which bird. 
The minute I saw Winchester® Ammunition’s AA® TrAAcker™ I was impressed. They have come out with both a game and target load that has a weighted wad. The wad retains the velocity of the shot allowing the shooter to more easily see where his or her shot is going. The wad is available in orange or black and marked on the box. Orange is excellent when hunting or shooting targets in a treed area. Your eye can easily track it. The black wad was simple to see in the skyline, and below you will even see where I caught the wad in flight on my basic point and shoot camera.
Winchester Unveils Innovative AA® TrAAcker™: See Why You’ve Been Missing
EAST ALTON, Ill. – A fired 12-gauge shotgun shell unleashes a cloud of shot from a shotgun barrel at about 1,200 feet per second – too fast for the human eye to see the pellets in flight. This can make it extremely difficult to master the correct lead on flying clay targets or game birds.
What if that changed? What if it was possible to track the flight of the shot cloud?
Thanks to Winchester® Ammunition, it’s happening in 2013.
Legendary innovation at Winchester continues with the AA® TrAAcker™, the first game and target load to feature a weighted wad that actually tracks with the shot cloud. This allows the shooter or an instructor to quickly determine where the shooter is missing – making it easy to adjust and nail flying targets shot after shot.
“A new shooter now can learn how to lead a clay target or game bird almost immediately – that’s the results you get with AA TrAAcker,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing, sales and strategy. “The new AA TrAAcker is a great training tool for shooters, hunters, and shooting instructors.”
The secret of AA TrAAcker is in the revolutionary wad. Loaded with 1 1/8 oz. of shot like a standard AA shotshell, the innovative wad design includes longer, notched petals, and captures 1/8-ounce of shot, which stabilizes wad spin and ensures that the wad remains in the center of the shot cloud for optimum tracking. The AA TrAAcker load is available in two highly visible colors: orange, for overcast conditions or dark backdrop; and black for clear skies or light backdrops.
AA® TrAAcker™ specifications:
Symbol
Condition
Gauge
Shell Length
Shot Weight
Shot Size
Velocity
AAHA127TO
Overcast/Dark Backdrop
12
2 ¾”
1 1/8 oz.
7
1250
AAHA127TB
Clear Sky
12
2 ¾”
1 1/8 oz.
7
1250
AA128TO
Overcast/Dark Backdrop
12
2 ¾”
1 1/8 oz.
8
1145
AA128TB
Clear Sky
12
2 ¾”
1 1/8 oz.
8
1145
Since 1965, Winchester AA target loads have set the industry standard for performance on the range and in the field. Known for the legendary High Strength Hull, Winchester AA ammunition is a favorite of reloaders everywhere.
With a company heritage dating back to 1866, Winchester Ammunition was there for the taming of the American West, the Allied Forces’ victory in World War II and through the years, millions of fond memories made in the great outdoors and at the range.
Known as The American Legend™, Winchester is a global leader in sporting, law enforcement, military and personal defense ammunition production. Winchester continues to raise the bar with innovative products like Blind Side® waterfowl and PDX1® Defender® personal defense ammunition.
For more information about Winchester Ammunition, visit www.winchester.com, or connect with The American Legend on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.
…
Read Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News
Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
Note: Advertisements on this site to not reflect any belief or opinion of Mia Anstine, her sponsors, partners or employers.
The latest left-hand model from Benelli is the M2 Field in 20 gauge, available in a black synthetic stock with GripTight®, a synthetic, high-tech over-coating bonded to the stock and fore-end that is weather-resistant and provides a sure grip, wet or dry. Optional combs are available to adjust the comb height from standard, to raised or extra-high heights.
The ComforTech® stock features a gel butt pad specifically designed to fit the left shoulder. The Benelli Engineers studied the surface of the shoulder and then designed an ergonomic gel-pad made from material developed by the medical industry that’s specifically contoured for maximum contact with the shoulder surface for maximum shock absorption. Optional butt pads include a short pad providing a 14-inch L.O.P. a medium pad providing a 14â…œ LOP (standard) and a long pad providing a 14¾ LOP. The M2 Field 20 Ga. left-hand also comes with a set of shims for adjusting the buttstock’s drop and cast.
“Benelli has always provided our customers with the largest selection of semi-automatic shotguns in the world. That includes the largest offering of left-hand shotguns as well, but until now, only in 12-gauge,” said Stephen McKelvain, Benelli USA’s VP of Marketing. “Our selection just increased with the introduction of the first left-hand semi-auto 20-gauge on the market. Our customers asked and we responded with a 20-gauge version of the M2 Lefty-a gun the southpaws have been dreaming about for a long time.”
COMMON SPECIFICATIONS: Magazine Capacity: 3+1 Crio® Chokes: C,IC,M,IM,F
Sights: Red bar front sight Length of Pull: 14-â…œ” Drop at Heel: 2-¼”
Drop at Comb: 1-½” (Includes shim kit to adjust drop and cast). Overall length: 47.3″
Finish: Black synthetic. Weight: 5.8lbs. Minimum Recommended Load: Use 2-½-dram, â…ž-oz. loads in all Benelli 20-ga. semi-auto shotguns MSRP: $1519
For the latest news and product information visit www.benelliusa.com
Brutal. That is how I would describe Media Day yesterday. Range day was, as always, run professionally and the suppliers were great. The weather just wasn’t cooperative. I hear it was 32 degrees, but the wind howled so it felt like -30. I did get a little shooting time in between the times of shivering and shaking. Here are just a couple products I managed to get photos of for you. I’ll be taking a closer look at more today at SHOT Show.
TenPoint Crossbows – I shot three of the new crossbows released by TenPoint. Pictured here is the Stealth SS. This bow is a smaller, compact bow. It is a shorter, lighter, and more powerful version of TenPoint’s Stealth XLT. It is 34.4-inches long and is the most compact crossbow TenPoint has ever built. I was impressed by the weight because I do so much spot and stalk hunting. At 6.8 pounds, this bow would not be a burden. I will be posting more info on the TenPoint bows later. 
KRISS Guns – I had the opportunity to shoot Kriss guns Vector CRB .45 ACP. The action KRISS has designed is a system that significantly reduces recoil, allowing you to have more on target shots. This tactical gun is available to civilians in semi-auto. I was thrilled to shoot a full auto version as well. Lots of fun! Click here to read more about the unique action design this company has created.
Benelli USA – I was happy to shoot the Benelli Performance shotguns. These shotguns can be used in hunting, but are also shotguns used in three-gun competition. It was fun to take my hands out of my pockets for a moment and knock down some plates. The synthetic stock makes this shotgun light and easy to hold as you shoot from a standing position. You may know, I love my Benelli’s. This shotgun was no different. Shot like a dream.
…
Read Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News
Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
I was just at my local gun store and the clerk said their gun sales have been at a record high. He said that conceal carry are at the top of the customer’s wanted list. I hope carry & self defense courses are at a high as well. It got me to thinking of an event that happened last month when the Little Gal and I were hunting.
I thought I was going to actually have to USE my CC (Conceal Carry) today. Are you, or husbands, are your wives prepared in an event like this? Have you taken courses and are you practiced?
Here’s the situation:
The Little Gal and I had just returned from hunting. We were parked more than twenty miles from town on a busy highway in the mountains. We had just loaded the horses in the trailer and gotten into our truck.
The Little Gal and I sat in the truck a minute to warm up. Then we saw an unmarked, white mini-van, with no plates, pull up and park in front of us. Two men sat in their vehicle and waited several minutes as a trooper ticketed someone else on the other side of the highway. After the trooper pulled away the men got out of the van and approached our truck.
I thought the situation was very strange so I prepared.
I mentally rehearsed pulling my pistol.
Little Gal knew, and without me telling her, immediately locked her door. I took out my cell phone and as they headed our direction, I took a picture of them and their vehicle. I pressed send and texted just the pic to a police officer friend of mine. LG asked me why I was doing that. I explained it probably wasn’t the best picture, but at least if something happened, someone would know who to look for.
The two made their way to my side of the truck. One man was on a cell phone and the other waved hello. I cracked my window about an inch and asked what he needed.
The man said they had broken down and asked if I would drive them to town to get transmission fluid. I declined, lying to them that we were waiting for my husband and friend who were hunting, but told them I would call for help. I immediately pressed one button and phoned my officer friend who is on speed dial. I gave him a description and location. He immediately called dispatch to send an officer.
I told the strangers help was on the way.
The Little Gal and I waited as they walked back to their vehicle and once they were in I put our truck in gear and we left.
In the end, there was no immediate threat – so the CC remained on my belt.
What would you do in this situation? Husbands, what would your wife do? Would your child know what to do?
Do you have a CC? Would you have mentally rehearsed using it if your or your daughter’s life were in danger? Would you have just brandished your pistol without just cause? Would you have spoken to the men? Sped off? (We were in a one-ton truck with horses loaded in the trailer. Speeding off was not an option). Would you have taken their picture and texted it to someone?
Also, would you be prepared for the consequences if you had to use your CC?
I surprised myself at how calm I was. It is because I have rehearsed quite a bit. I have taken many pistol courses. I have practiced pulling my gun, and I am fully aware of the consequences of using it. I am prepared to protect myself and my Little Gal if our lives are threatened. How prepared are you and your family? How often do you practice? What courses have you taken?
…..
Read Mia & the Little Gal’s adventures at the Women’s Outdoor News
Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
It’s that time of year again. Just after big game is done, and predator hunting takes full effect. I thought I better share this one again. We are still using (enjoying) this call and demo-ing another which I hope to report on soon!
I was excited to head to the post office counter yesterday with my yellow slip. In our little town that of course means you have a package to pick up! I handed the piece of paper to the man on the other side of the counter with a big smile and then stood there to wait. He came around the corner with a box and blandly stated “More hunting things.” I immediately knew what was inside. It was going to be my new mini Phantom combo kit from Extreme Dimension Wildlife Calls. An electronic predator call which I planned to try out on the coyotes that have been lurking around looking for our turkey. They are continually waking me up in the evening just after I fall asleep and in the morning just before the alarm has a chance to sound.
I opened the box to find my prize! The mini Phantom is a digital predator call that I was hoping would be compact, easy to set up/use and realistic sounding. On first glance it appeared to be all I expected. I carefully opened the packaging to be sure not to lose any parts. Included were the mini Phantom call, three interchangeable sound sticks, a mini Phantom speaker and an adventure CD. Everything I could need in the field.
mini Phantom digital call. Small, contoured and easy to operate.
I am very pleased that at 5 inches, the mini Phantom call is small enough that it can easily fit into my vest pocket. The contoured non-slip grip fits easily into my small hand still allowing ease of operation. The mini has a terrific volume range that is clear all the way up to its maximum, 10db. The volume control is easy to operate with the roll of your thumb while you can still reach to press the individual buttons of each sound with little to no movement seen in the field.
The sound sticks that came with the mini Phantom Combo Kit are stout and durable. Each stick contains five calls and the electronic call can even play two sounds at one time. The sounds overlap to mimic two animals interacting in the field You can have squealing and snarling simultaneously. With a simple pull and swap you can put a new sound stick into the mini with tremendous ease. There are no screws or covers to remove or lose while changing the sound sticks. One flaw I see is that there is no great spot to store the unused sound sticks other than in my jacket pocket. I suppose I will have to designate a pocket specifically to the precious items so they are not lost in the field when I am pulling other items from my pockets. Fortunately I can always purchase additional sound stick separately if necessary. Extreme Dimension has a total of 13 different sound sticks available.
mini Phantom with detachable/optional speaker
All in all the mini Phantom Combo Kit by Extreme Dimension Wildlife Calls is even better than I had anticipated. The mini Phantom is a digital predator call that is compact, easy to set up and use and is extremely realistic sounding. We took the call out right away and set up near the back pond with the speaker 25′ away from us. We pressed a button initiating some howling. A moment later I selected another button and squealing and snarling sounds emitted. In fewer than five minutes we had a bobcat headed our way. Once I have time to take a break from my new Extreme Dimension call, or at least get one or two of those pesky coyotes, I will have to sit a while and watch the bonus CD that came with it!
…..
Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
We hope you were lucky enough to harvest your turkey dinner. What is your favorite, most amazing recipe? Share it with us!
It has been an excellent year and we are very thankful for each an every blessing. Thanks to you, one and all, who have touched our lives. We are happy to know you and look forward to meeting those of you we haven’t.
THANK YOU to every man & women in the military. Without you we would live in such an amazing place.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
…..
Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
My weekdays are primarily shared between the Little Gal and work so on the weekend I do my best to get outdoors. I don’t watch TV often, but last winter I did get to catch an episode of a friend/fellow Prois Staffer’s show on the Sportsman’s Channel which I really enjoyed.
I first met Jana Waller in 2011 at the annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas. As we introduced ourselves at the Prois booth my first impression was that she was kind hearted and genuinely down to earth. She and her camera man, Jim Kinsey, chatted with Hank and I and told us of their mission to create a show incorporating hunting, conservation and Jana’s famous skulls. We both thought the idea was great and couldn’t wait to see the huntress on the flat screen.
I caught the first episode last winter and truly enjoyed it. As I said, I am not around often so I felt it was unfortunate that I didn’t get to see more of Jana’s shows. When I saw the season 1 dvd set come available, I purchased it right away along with a Skull Bound T-shirt for my Little Gal. The Little Gal just loves the shirt and is currently watching Jana’s shows. Me? I watched nearly four hours of content right away and enjoyed every minute of it. The cinematography was outstanding, and I have been told season two will be even better. I’m going to have to get that one too.
I highly recommend the show to hunters and non-hunters alike. It is great to “travel the world with” Jana Waller as your host. She share’s the highs as well as the lows of her hunts (which I find impressive because not every show ends with a harvest). She and Jim have included a “Conservation Minute” in each episode to help educate the viewer on hunting, conservation and how we can all make a difference. They share the cultures of the people in the areas they spend time in with you the viewer, and you feel the friendship that is created along their journeys. You of course will also see unique and amazing skulls, both raw as well as embellished with Jana’s one of a kind beading and painting.
I am excited for my Little Gal to watch the excellent hunting and conservation ethics portrayed in the episodes and think you should take a moment to enjoy them as well.
Visit Prois Hunting for hunting and field apparel for women.
Visit TenPoint Crossbows for “the mark of perfection” in crossbows
Advertisements on this site are random and do not express or represent the opinion of Mia Anstine.
