A couple of years ago, I made a post about artist Ryan Jacque. Now, I can’t even remember where I ran across his work, just that I was struck by it, and wanted to spread the word about his incredible talent. Well, today I heard from him, out of the blue. A couple of months after my post about his work, Ryan was seriously injured in a fall from a treestand (November 2008). Ryan let me know that he is just now getting things back on track with his recovery. As it turns out, Ryan didn’t want anything, he just wanted to say thank you for making the post about his art.

Anyway, I can only imagine what being out of commission for a year and a half does to your life, your family, your psyche. If any of you are regular or even occasional purchasers of fine art, I would ask that you check out Ryan’s work. Honestly, it is amazing. I’m sure a bump in his sales would be a blessing right about now.

For some real inspiration, you can read about Ryan’s injury and journey to recovery here : RYAN JACQUE

Doug Paymer of Camera Land has become a great friend of the Desert Rat Blog. Doug is well-known through his participation on a bunch of hunting message boards across the internet, including our own AHT Forums. If you are interested in purchasing cameras or optics, please contact Doug. I guarantee his knowledge will impress you. They are also a dealer for Vortex. Thanks Doug, for taking the time to answer some questions! ~DesertRat

1) You are one of the few companies that really seems to utilize the power of the internet, especially when it comes to participation on message boards, forums, etc. How did that strategy come about for Camera Land? We are a family owned and operated business, here since 1957, and Dad has taught us that we must make the difference in how we present ourselves and providing the best customer service we can. Everyone carries the same goods so we must be the difference that separates us from everyone else (BTW, Dad still comes in twice a week and will be 80 in August). The forums/message boards a community made up of the people that use the goods that we handle. It makes good sense to get involved and provide what assistance we can.

2) How much of your sales volume is internet versus local? I would say about 1/3rd

3) You’ve become very well known around the ‘net, especially on the hunting sites. Are you a hunter yourself? I am a fisherman. Every July I spend a week fishing in Alaska, I try to go down to Central America in the Spring and being on the South Shore of L.I. in NY, from Spring thru Fall, whenever I can find the time, we Deep Sea out to Hudson Canyon (about 80 miles off shore) for Big Game Sport Fish. My wife has informed me that if I add anything else to my “away from the family time” I will have all the time I can use as I will have no family :>) I do manage to go to the range with buddies when time permits

4) What are some of the most common questions from hunters when it comes to optics? How about cameras? I do not know if you’d have enough space to post this “interview” to completely answer this question. There is no such thing as a “common question” when it comes to the needs/wants of people. We get lots of “How would you compare this to that” questions and “What power is suggested for…”, “What camera is best for…..”, Eye Relief questions, ED vs Standard glass, Best way to Digiscope, etc.

5) You’ve been in the business a long time – what are some of the advances or trends that have surprised you, in the past few years? On the camera side it was the coming of age of Digital and the basic extinction of film. Wow, is all I can say. Cameras that for under $200.00 can go under water, be dropped from 5′ and take super high quality images. On the Sports Optics side it is the improvements in sub $1000.00 and sub $500.00 options from the Asian mfg’s. The $1500.00 Alpha Euro glass of 10 years ago can now be had from Minox, Pentax, Vortex, Promaster, etc for less than $750.00. it’s amazing

6) If you could offer one piece of advice to hunters considering new optics, what would it be? Bragging rights mean nothing. Have an open mind to what is now available. Seeing what is best for you is the best way to choose, not what hype says would be best.

7) What are some common mistakes to avoid, when buying a new camera? Over buying. A 6MP camera will make a perfect 8×10. Most folks never make more than a 4×6 print. Everyone is different, however, I have found that for 80% of consumers a camera that is simple to operate, can produce great family, vacation, children and game shots is all that is needed. Key word……simple. Most people are picture takers, not photographers and have no interest in Photography per say. They just want a good shot.

Thank you for your continued support.
If there is anything else that I can assist you with please let me know.
Doug
212-753-5128

Please visit our website @ www.cameralandny.com

A couple of years ago, Camp Patriot was a fairly new organization and I made some efforts to help promote their awesome group. I have reconnected with the Clarks, and friend Bill was kind enough to provide an update. We promised to stay in better touch, so that I can help spread the word about Camp Patriot! ~DesertRat

From Bill Clark:

Camp Patriot is moving along nicely. In 2009 we climbed Mt. Rainier with three new injured vets. Two Army Green Beret’s (SF) who were both badly wounded in Iraq and a third Army Officer Ranger that months before the climb was paralyzed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Video of some of the climb can be seen on our web site at www.camppatriot.org under the 2009 Rainier Climb.

There are a number of still photos there and at the bottom of the entire page; you will find a link to the video. On the Video the first person you see is Ryan Job, wearing a light blue t-shirt with a grey pack. Ryan was our National Spokesman that we tragically lost this past September 24, 2009 from complications in surgery. Ryan was a Navy SEAL totally blinded during a fire fight from a snipers round. Ryan left behind his young bride and their unborn baby. We miss him terribly. The other vets are in the video as well as the climbing team.

We took two more vets on an elk hunt at a ranch in Idaho. On our web site there are news clips and photos of that hunt. A Navy SEAL that had lost a leg, has severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and is mostly confined to a wheel chair along with an Army Reservist from Illinois who had lost a hand and forearm. Both bagged beautiful bull elk.

We did a motor cycle ride through Glacier National Park with two injured soldiers from Ft. Lewis WA.

Other functions in 2009 included taking vets fishing, attending some Seahawks’ games and hunting in Texas.

2010 is shaping up to be another busy year. Our Rainier Climb this year will be July 10 – 15, tentatively. We have four injured vets, three SEAL’s and one Marine. We will have our second annual fund-raising banquet at Quest Field home of the Seahawks. Camp Patriot will be working with the Pony Express memorial ride to put several injured vets on horseback for several hundred miles of that ride.

Actor Cole Houser and his brother are putting a fund-raising golf tournament on in So Cal. this summer. A local lady in SE Washington State is also planning a gold tournament as a fund raiser in honor of her son who will be discharged after honorable service in the Marine Corps, this summer.

We will be planning another Motor cycle ride this year among many other adventures.

More on Camp Patriot:

Our Mission

Camp Patriot exists to take Disabled U.S. Veterans on outdoor adventures.

The task is monumental. Today, there are over 2.3 million disabled veterans in the U.S. The number of disabled men and women veterans is growing with each day the war on terror continues.

These brave veterans sacrificed much in order to ensure our safety and freedom. All of these veterans had dreams about the future, but many of those dreams were lost due to injuries suffered in the line of duty. Outdoor activities that they hoped to do in the future have vanished due to their disability. We want to thank these veterans by showing them that with the right help, they can again enjoy the great outdoors.

Our Vision

We are attempting to provide a great gift for those Veterans among us that have paid a tremendous price for our freedom. They have provided us protection from terrorism, oppression and tyranny. Consider for a moment the world outside these United States and you will understand what I mean!

Camp Patriot wants to renew the dreams and visions of our disabled veterans for a meaningful future. We will be bringing disabled American Veterans to the great State of Montana for outdoor adventures of their choosing. However, outdoor adventures are just some of the activities we provide disabled U.S. Military Veterans at Camp Patriot. We want to create relationships for them through outdoor adventures that will promote positive, life changing experiences.

With the construction of a first-class lodge outside of Libby, MT, we will be able to accommodate up to 20 Veterans per week. We will provide a range of outdoor activities, and will be equipped to accommodate Veterans with an array of disabilities. There will be no cost to the Veteran.

Our Quest

How can we ever repay an American Veteran who has endured so much personal loss while defending our great nation?… losses that can never be replaced!

Our actions will say, “Thank You for Your Service!”

Will you help us by your actions to say “Thank You” to the millions of disabled American Veterans?

Camp Patriot is a non-profit 501(c) 3 Corporation. A simple monetary “Thank you for your service!” could help us go a long way, and bring us closer as a nation in repaying these great patriots for their service and sacrifice.

Mike (Sparky) Sparkes and I have been having some e-mail correspondence and I thought my readers might enjoy learning more. Sparky owns M2D camo. They have a great looking product. You’ll also want to check out their TV Show – “Livin The Dream”~DesertRat

1) Thanks for taking the time for an interview Sparky – how long has M2D Camo been on the market?
I designed M2D CAMO in the fall of 2005 and unveiled it at the ATA and Shot Show in Jan of 2006. So we have been on the market about 3 seasons.

2) How have sales been in this economy?
Sales have been okay. As a small company we have grown in our 3 years of sales so that is good. We continue to get new customers, because we have a very good word of mouth product. People that wear M2D CAMO love to tell others about how great it truly does work. It’s hard to argue with that. I think the economy has made things more difficult for a small company as Dealers don’t buy new products as much, and big dealers stick with what they know has proven itself already.

3) Why did you decide to develop your line of camo?
I was sick and tired of all the camo out there because no matter what you wear, it all BLACK BLOBS at a very short distance. I wanted a pattern that stayed light in color, and actually created a pattern that has the ability to appear to change colors, no matter your environment. It truly is amazing to watch it change colors when you move from one location to the next. We believe anybody that truly gives it a shot in the woods, will love it. That’s why we offer a 100% money back guarantee. We have a lot of naysayers, that tell us our photos are photo shopped, or that it really doesn’t do what we say. Well, if it didn’t, we sure wouldn’t offer a 100% money back guarantee, now would we?

4) From concept to marketplace, how long did the process take? What were some of the more surprising challenges along the way?
It took about a year and a half to develop and actually make a small run of fabric. Then about another 7 months to actually get to market. There are lots of challenges, when you know nothing about what you are getting into. I didn’t know anything about fabric, dealing with China, clothing, etc. The other major surprise is how loyal some people are to the camos that all look the same, but they want to wear them because of what they say, not because of how they work in the field. Most camo today is designed to look good on the hunter in church, at school, yet does very little to actually conceal you in the real world of hunting.

5) What is your favorite game to hunt?
I love to hunt Elk in the rut with my bow. I love a good mule deer hunt, as I think a BIG mule deer is one of the hardest trophies out there to get. I love it all, but those are my two favorites.

6) What’s your dream hunt?
I have been very fortunate to go on many hunts over the last few years, harvest some nice animals, meet some GREAT people along the way, and just have good times with good people. I love all hunting from predators and birds to big game. My dream hunts are hunts I can afford, and that pretty much keeps me in the US and Canada. BUT, if costs were no object, and I could hunt one thing and not worry about it, I would want a nice male lion from Africa. I am a Leo, and have always loved lions. So regal. Second would be a Grizzly bear hunt. Maybe someday I will be lucky enough to go hunt one and film for my TV show….you never know….that’s why they call it a DREAM HUNT

7) Where would you like to see M2D Camo five years from now?
I would like to see M2D CAMO still growing and gaining a bigger following. The longer we stick around, the more customers we continue to become true believes in M2D CAMO. I hope we still have our TV show, and my biggest hope is that we are finally in the big box stores so everyone out there can have access to M2D CAMO in their own local markets.

8 ) Anything exciting coming in the near future for M2D?
We have a great fleece line that we introduced this year, that people LOVE. We also made our pattern available for the water transfer process, or dipping as it is called. I have developed a pretty cool snow pattern that we just got the samples for, so we may come out with that for the fall of 2010. We hope to have more specialty products this fall like pop up blinds, lay out blinds, decoy bags, back packs, fanny packs, and maybe a few more items.

Thanks so much for taking some time for my readers!

Your very welcome, and Thank you for taking the time to learn more about myself and M2D CAMO.

Folks, I strongly encourage you to check out M2D Camo’s website. It’s a site that has a lot of neat stuff, and it is put together well. You can order M2D online at their store. DesertRat

I stopped making New year’s Resolutions a long time ago. They’re too cliche, and it’s too much like failure if/when they don’t come to fruition. That being said, it doesn’t hurt to have some goals. Here are some of mine, in no particular order…

1) To take my daughter hunting more – if she wants to. We make it out once or twice a year. She seems to enjoy it, but it’s hard to tell. It’s hard for us to get out, but I am going to make a concerted effort to take her afield more this year. It’s hard to tell sometimes whether she really wants to go hunting, or whether she just doesn’t want to hurt dad’s feelings. If she wants to go, we will. If she wants to do something different, we’ll do that instead. I’m feeling more and more mortal these days, so I think its important to spend a little extra time with her. She’s a good girl, and a pretty darned good writer.

2) Do more fishing. I used to love to fish, even more than hunting I think. That being said, I haven’t been in well over a year. I want to get fishing on a “natural” waterway this year, preferably a river. I think the Urban Fishing program is an awesome program, but it in the past, it just hasn’t “done it” for me. I grew up in fishing paradise (to me anyway) – alder choked streams for brook trout, big rivers for smallmouth bass, the mighty Miramichi for salmon, beautiful wilderness lakes for landlocked salmon. It’s time to expand my boundaries here in Arizona. Hit the urban lakes for sure, but beyond as well. I really miss fly-fishing.

3) Buy a new rifle. I’m not a “gun guy”, more by economics than by choice. Basically I keep a deer/elk rifle, a predator rifle, a muzzleloader, a bow, a handgun, and a general purpose shotgun in the safe. Last year, with a heavy heart, I sold my deer/elk rifle. Finances were tight. The rifle was a Remington .30-06 Semi-Auto, the 3rd one I have owned in my life. It was a gift from my wife and I hated to part with it. That said, the funds got us out of a bind, and we are back on the road to some stability. I’m really sold on the .270 WSM and have my eye on the Weatherby Sage Country, but we’ll see. I try pretty hard to only spend “side-money” on hunting stuff, so we’ll see how the economy treats me in 2010.

4) Go dove hunting. I didn’t get out once this year. ‘Nuff said. I prefer the evening shoots.

5) Learn more about predator hunting. Go to the AHT Forums and there’s a bunch of guys who eat this stuff up including my good friend John Petrello. This is gonna be my year when I officially become a “beginner” instead of a “dabbler”. Mikaela too, if she’s up for it. See #1.

6) Improve my photography skills. As long as I’ve been writing magazine articles, pictures were a part of the job. I seem to have a knack for this, and am ready to move on to a new level. Maybe a course or two. Besides, based on my hunting skills/luck, I think my efforts would be better spent towards photography! My employers hosts community art exhibits constantly and this year we held a staff exhibit. I have some photos entered, and I kind of dig it. I enjoy the compliments, and it’s nice to have some recognition.

7) Shoot an elk. My first and only elk hunt ever was a disaster. Time for redemption. I don’t care if it’s a cow, a spike or a 380-class bull. Whatever I have a tag for. Time to get drawn again and kick this particular monkey off my back!

8 ) Start a new organization. I’m passionate about matters relating to hunting and fishing but due to my situation have limited time afield and not much ability to travel. I want to contribute though. I have an idea floating around my head. I have tossed this idea at another media member and he seemed to think it might have merit. here is how I presented it to him. “What about some kind of “southwest media for hunting ethics” organization where we hyper-promote responsible hunting, anti-poaching, education, recruitment, etc? We could form the nucleus and invite other media members to participate.

I am driven to eradicate “slob hunters” from our midst as it is becoming harder and harder for the rest of us to disassociate ourselves from the irresponsible jerks. I just don’t quite know how to go about it. As you know, there are lots of Arizona hunting-related conservation groups that promote habitat improvement, etc. I envision a local group focused on raising the bar for ethical hunting and I think as media members it would be a great fit for us to lead the charge…..” Stay tuned, we’ll see if this picks up any speed.

9) Buy a new camera. I have a great used camera that I bought from friend and outdoor writer Tony Mandile. I’d like to have one with more “oooomph” – the Olympus I bought from Tony has a max size/resolution of 3 MP. Modern cameras boast 10 or better. Maybe the guys at CameraLand will hook me up with an awesome package. Not sure if I want Canon, Nikon, Pentax or something else. Will need some help sorting through that from the experts. See Goal #3 though, this must be financed via side jobs!

10) Grow the site. I have been extremely happy with the growth of my blog, but feel there is lots of room yet. I want more than traffic – I want to be a “Who’s who” in the outdoor industry. I want to build strategic partnerships with manufacturers. I want to make the blog better known. That sounds a bit egocentric, I suppose but I don’t want it to be. I’m just driven to be better.

The AHT Forums have also grown nicely. Friends Dan and Roger have done a great job building the site but I think we are still a diamond in the rough. There are good folks and a lot of great features on that site, and it is still relatively unknown. I’m hoping 2010 is a breakout year for the Forums.

Finally, the main site needs work. Owner Steve Remington and I want to find some willing contributors/volunteers and jazz the central site up some!

All of the best to each and every one of you in the new year. Interested in sharing any of your goals?

I can’t really say that these are my “best of” 2009, but I did review all of last year’s posts and try to pick out some that were the “best” and some that were the “biggest stories” and some that were just the most interesting for that particular month. There are some good ones here, if I do say so myself!~DesertRat

January 2009 – My daughter went on her first ever big game hunt – a javelina hunt in Unit 33. No piggie for us that day, but a great day together and some lessons learned too! Read Miky’s Javelina Hunt

February 2009 – Jaguar Captured and Collared in Southern AZ. This was a big story for a number of reasons!

March 2009 – Macho B re-captured and subsequently euthanized. A sad continuation from February’s big story. This controversy is still simmering. Read that story HERE.

April 2009 – My interview with Lennis Janzen of Crooked Horn Outfitters was April’s top post. Lennis and Brenda Negrete over at Crooked Horn Outfitters have been very supportive of the Desert Rat Blog. Lennis helped out by participating in a great interview and supplying some awesome photos as well.

May 2009 – May was a weird month at Desert Rat, in that it generated 3 entries in this post! First was the “regular” top entry of May – my coverage of the NRA Convention which was held in Phoenix this year. What a great time! Next, my post about booth babes was the top-ranking single-day traffic post in Desert Rat history. A bigger gun blog linked over to my post and “voila” – well over 1000 unique visitors which is a standing record! Finally, another odd record. I reprinted a press release that I had received regarding the Can Cooker and that post has directed a ton of people to my site via Google (and other search engine) searches. Although it has slipped to Number Two (Elite Archery currently leads by 0.6%) for a long time, it reigned supreme. Odd – one vanilla post – and I’ve never even seen a real can cooker!

June 2009 – For June I selected a “Most significant, but not very noticed” post. Being in the business of Facilities Management, I know what an achievement it is to build a LEED-certified building. Arizona Game and Fish should be extremely proud of their LEED Platinum facility! This press release actually led me to seek out a tour. I toured their great building with two co-workers and gained a lot of valuable info that I can use in my own facilities! Well done, Game and Fish!

July 2009 – July’s cool post selection was my interview with Dr. Cade Smith, owner of The Claw. The Claw is an innovative product, and a cool company with Arizona roots! You can read that interview HERE.

August 2009 – Top honors for August go to my interview with Laura Francese. Laura is an amazing lady, being a spokesperson for Martin Archery and a Buffalo Jills cheerleader to boot. She is involved in a number of charities as well. Coincidentally, someone else liked this post too – it got a “Top 50″ mention from another site.

September 2009 – My post about Trophy’s Steakhouse made my list for a couple of reasons. Number One, it was my first ever attempt at a restaurant review. Next, it is a great restaurant in my town of Queen Creek and I want to do what I can to help them be successful! Finally, Trophy’s is a great public face for hunting, introducing folks to wild game meat while they dine in a classy environment full of awesome big game mounts!

October 2009 – The Desert Rat Blog reached a personal and professional milestone with the celebration of its 100,000th Visitor! My contests were made possible through the generosity of several companies!

November 2009 – My choice for November included a relatively insignificant event which was, however, another personal milestone for me. Thanks to Jim Solomon over at Xplor The Outdoors, I made my radio debut! You can read about it, and have a listen HERE. Thanks Jim!

December 2009 – OK, another odd choice to round out the year. I do receive comments now and then regarding my photography skills. Even I am starting to admit that I am a better photographer than hunter. Anyway, it was a total fluke that I managed to capture an image of a hummingbird in mid-flight. So, not an amazing post by any measure, but a neat photo, nonetheless.

Thanks again to everyone who has visited my site in the past year – whether you’re a die hard regular, or a drive-by Googler, I appreciate you visiting. Here’s wishing you all the best in 2010!

I am excited to be invited to appear on Jim and Patti Solomon’s radio show Xplor The Outdoors. You can hear their show every Sunday morning from 7:00-9:00 AM on KDUS 1060 AM.

Listen for my radio debut on November 15th, at 7:40 AM.

Thanks Jim!

This is the second of a two-part interview with Marlon and Alisha Holden from Graylight Productions. Thanks Marlon! ~Desert Rat

1) How/why did you decide to make a DVD?
This one was fairly easy… I love hunting and I wanted to share my hunts with everyone. With so much emphasis on guided hunts or treestand hunts and whitetails, I thought it would be fun to share some of our Western DIY hunting adventures. Worst case scenario, I get to watch what I did in the hills when I’m old and gray!

2) I reviewed your DVD and it was awesome; was this your first? To what do you attribute the quality of this one?
This was our first DVD… I have had no formal editing training, just a good understanding of what I wanted to convey with the footage I had. I purchased the computer and Alisha gave me Final Cut Studio for Christmas and that’s how I got going! You see it is very hard to film and hunt without a dedicated cameraman, so getting footage enough to tell your story can be an overwhelming challenge! We managed to do just fine though and let me tell you… there are great kill shots in the upcoming DVD!!! We are dedicated to improving on every production and making each video the essence of the field. It’s work that we love!

3) When can we look forward to another one? Will it be the same type of hunts and regions?
We are going to release the new DVD this spring and you will see a 180″ Muley stalked to 29 yards and shot in his bed at 12,000 ft. Also, California hybrid hunts as well as Arizona again this January… Who knows what will happen then as it is still the future. We are mixing it up though, as Alisha and I are going to Kansas to hunt Whitetails this November… we have never been before and I think it’s time to go and see what all the fuss is about! Who knows – I may like it! I have always been very impatient when it comes to sitting all day, so keep your fingers crossed for me!

4) You mentioned you just had some exciting news related to marketing – wanna share that with my readers?
Recently , we just signed a licensing agreement that will place our DVD’s nationwide in most box shops that we all now about and shop at for our hunting products… It is very exciting and we are happy to be making good progress with Gray Light Productions.

5) Well, your first DVD s out, and you guys have some cool merchandise out as well – where do you go from here? Where do you want to see Graylight Productions in 5 years?
What a question! I have always strayed from business plans as I am constantly evolving. As such I am looking forward to working with our partners creating a great brand that people of all walks and ages in life can enjoy and appreciate. Even though we are bowhunters, we appreciate all sportsmen and women; bottom line is that we all appreciate the same thing. Being in the outdoors, on top of a peak at sunrise, breathing in the still fresh air and peering through glass readying ourselves for what lay ahead. I love the field and first and foremost, I want to continue doing what I love. Gray Light Productions is an extension of who we are and what we love. We are looking forward to letting people know about us and growing. It’s great people such as yourself that help with our growth and traction within the industry and for that we are thankful. As for 5 years from now… Who knows? We will have to work diligently and in the end, let the people be our voice through doing excellent work and being great ambassadors to this awesome lifestyle.

6) OK, what is your dream hunt?
Believe it or not, I am living the dream… I have no “dream hunts” because I am a hunter’s hunter and what I mean by that is that I hunt where everyone else hunts too. I hunt these locations regularly and they are like homes away from home. They are close to my heart and places I long to be. I lose sleep over it sometimes and wait till the opener like everyone else! DIY is my favorite… It’s the most rewarding and the most difficult. Taking a big buck on land where big bucks are not frequent is like getting in a spaceship and going to the moon, talk about an awesome feeling! Walking up on fallen game with antlers sticking wide and high on public ground also allows our viewers to identify with us. It’s how most of everyone hunts… It’s what everyone can afford! It is taking the everyday guy and saying “you can do this too”. Everything on TV now days is all about this ranch and that ranch or plots that the average guy will never hunt… People get tired of seeing unattainable goals, especially with a family and a real job. If we hunt private it is because we asked for permission like anyone else and we will never hire guides to help us… We will remain DIY and we will always welcome our friends to come have fun with us! Making friends, building relationships and coming back year after year to hallowed ground is the best hunt I could ever draw, year after year; like tradition. Now don’t get me wrong I put in for a ridiculous amount of tags each year but if I draw them great if I don’t who cares =)

7) When are you guys coming back to Arizona? Are you going to try to get a Coues on video?
We will be in Arizona this January, chasing big ole’ ruttin’ muleys… My favorite time of year! I am definitely interested in a Coues deer one day but I still have my sights set high on taking a 200″ desert buck… As I see it, that could take some time, so it might be a while before Coues deer have to worry about me!

Here is the first of a couple of interviews that I am really excited about. Thanks to Alisha and Marlon of Graylight Productions for agreeing to do interviews. I did a review on the first DVD and I must tell you, it was awesome! These 2 interviews were fun and I am looking forward to doing more projects with Marlon and Alisha! ~DesertRat

1) OK, some of my readers are going to want to hear the “girl meets boy” story, so how did you two meet?

Marlon and I met at a nightclub in Newport Beach. I was a dancer and no – not the kind some of you might be thinking! He was at the club hanging out with his friends, As I walked by him to go back to the changing room he grabbed my attention and asked me my name.

2) Did you know Marlon was a hunter when you met him? Were you already a hunter or did he “convert” you?

When I met him, initially I had no clue he was a hunter. We went on our first date December 27th 2006, the very next day he left @ 5am to go on a hunting trip to Arizona. Now, I didn’t have a clue about hunting. In Los Angeles and Orange County there aren’t many hunters. So to find out he was going hunting kind of took me by surprise. I mean, on New Year’s Eve, I was choreograph backup dancing for a musical performer and he was in a one-man tent in the desert. It was kind of weird, I almost didn’t believe him. When he got back (2 weeks later) he had me over for dinner, he showed me a video he had taken while he was out there. So I knew then he was telling me the truth.

3) In my review of your DVD, one of the things that struck me was the quality of your videography; do you have professional training?

Okay, a lot of people tell me the same thing. I haven’t had any real training with the use of video cameras. I was raised in the movie industry (my father is an actor) I too have done some acting so being in front of the camera, then looking back at yourself, gives you a better idea of what looks best to the viewers. When I am filming I look through the viewfinder as if I’m watching T.V., it allows me to get the better angles. I have realized the zoom button is not preferred. It can be distracting to the person watching the video, people like to see everything, and people don’t like looking with tunnel vision. Unless there is a specific item I want the viewer to capture I usually will stay zoomed out for the most part. Also, looking up looks better to the eye; since I am only 5’2” I guess I naturally have an advantage. Lol..

4) For the techies amongst my readers, talk a little about your camera of choice…

Well to be honest I don’t know much about many cameras, I know the Canon works well. It seems to be the best buy for the price. Any camera that is HD is going to be the camera to buy. Other than that you will have to go to your electronics store and talk to a professional..

5) What has been your favorite hunt to date (filmed or not)?

Okay my favorite hunt…. Well, I kind of have two that I like the most. The first year we went to Idaho, it was so much fun – I had a huge 4×4, 60 yards from me, Marlon was pushing him towards me, he got about 50 yards away when he got spooked and started to run, jumping in my direction. I literally stood up and pulled my bow back, he was about 15 yards from me and literally turned right and ran off. That was the first time my heart rate jumped out of my chest!!! I felt that energy and adrenaline pulse through my body-wow! What an experience. The other hunt I like the most is when we go to Utah. I love hunting with the Badlands folks, and their friends. I have to say the land plus the great people out there make it a hunters dream!

6) What is your dream hunt?

Okay this one is easy to answer… sitting on my porch in Colorado, having a huge 370-inch non-typical mule deer standing broad side at 20 yards from me. I shoot him and he drops right there! Perfect! Lol…

7) What message do you have for ladies who hunt, or may be interested in giving it a try?

This is the hardest question to answer… hmmmm… practice practice practice!!! There is nothing worse then seeing a deer run off injured and never recovering it, or getting a second chance to take it down. There’s no sense in doing it if you aren’t going to do it right the first time! And good luck!

I want to thank Alisha again for answering my questions. Well done! ~Desert Rat

Thanks very much to Maggie Armstrong and Pete Crawford at Elite Archery for making this interview happen. I’m predicting you’ll be hearing more and more of Elite, in the future! ~DesertRat

1) I understand Elite is pretty excited about announcing their 2010 Line-up this fall. What’s new for Elite?

We have a new bow called the Judge. The Judge has a 6” brace height, 34 7/8” axle to axle, IBO of 343 – 347 fps and is available in 26” – 30” draw lengths at 50 – 90 pounds. We will be outfitting our exiting line of patent pending, twin-track binary Revolution Cams, Z Cams & Cuda Cams with a modular system. All bows will have LimbSaver Vibration Damping Components. The XLR, GT500 & Judge will be available in Elite’s new target color: Anthracite Metallic. The XLR, GT500, Z28 & Judge bow models are available in Realtree AP, Realtree Max-1 (new for 2010), Ninja, AT Edition (AP & Max-1). We are also announcing a line of bow accessories. We partnered with Stokerized Solid Aiming Solutions and Doinker to bring a 7 ¼” and an 11” stabilizer. We will have a one piece and a two-piece quiver as well as a hip quiver for our target & 3D Archers. After much dealer & consumer demand, we now have an Elite Archery branded soft bow case.

2) Is there a common theme running through your new line-up? What was your goal?

Many of our dealers and customers are just starting to get to know the product line. Rather than scrapping our existing bow models and coming out with all new bows, which is something Elite did in the past, we wanted to keep the same line up but incorporate some new changes. We’d been getting some great feedback from our consumer base about wanting a “Speed” bow. We wanted to create a bow with the desired speeds, yet not compromise the draw cycle and smoothness of the bow. We believe we’ve accomplished this with the Judge.

3) With so many bow companies and so much technology, how do you stay competitive?

We listen to what our dealers and customers need in a bow. We are also avid hunters and 3D shooters, so we understand the demands for a great bow. We know we have great technology with our patent pending twin track binary cam system and would rather improve on these cams than try to reinvent the wheel.

4) What is Elite’s biggest accomplishment with the new line-up? What are you most proud of?

We are very excited to be able to provide our dealers with the adjustability of a modular cam system, but we don’t have to sacrifice performance. Our design team really did a great job with this new mod system. We are very happy with the Judge. We wanted to develop a speed bow, but it wasn’t worth it for us to give up a smooth draw cycle. So many new speed bows will shoot lights out, but really aren’t that fun to shoot.

5) Do you hunt? If so, what’s your favorite species? Where?

Yes. I enjoy hunting Elk in Colorado.

6) I may have some readers not familiar with your bows. What would you want to tell them about Elite?

We are a bow company run by hunters and archers. We strive for excellence in design technology, fit and finish as well as customer service. Our goals aren’t to be the biggest bow company, just the best. If anyone has questions regarding our line of bows, we invite them to visit a local Elite dealer and just shoot the bow. Many times we hear that customers will walk into a bow shop to purchase a particular brand of bow, then they shoot an Elite. Those customers usually end up walking out the door with an Elite bow.

Want some camo accents on your truck? Boat? ATV? How about a clock? The folks at Camo Da Dogg took some time out to talk to me about their interesting business. I especially want to thank Camo Da Dogg President Cheryl Arellano for answering some questions.

1) How long has Camo Da Dogg been in business? We’ve been in business for 2 years

2) How did you get into this? We were watching a hunting show and saw a truck camoed out and I wanted to do that to my FJ Cruiser. We tried to find someone to do it, and couldn’t find anyone so we did it ourselves and then started the business.

3) How did you come up withe the name? That took some time. We were watching hunting shows again. Eddie saw a dog in one of the shows and that is how we came up with the name.

4) Talk about some of the products/services you offer…. We offer a variety of kits from Truck kits, Jeep Kits, Quad Kits and Boat Kits, We can camo anything if you want it camoed just email and we will figure it out. We carry all the major camo patterns so if you have one you like we have it or can get it. We install if you want us to.

5) What is your most popular product? In what pattern? The most popular product so far is Quad Kits. There is not really one popular pattern..

6) Anything new coming to your line-up this year? As of now we don’t have anything new coming up. We do custom so if anyone wants something different we can come up with it. As you can see from our trucks, we do a lot of different things.

7) How has business been in this economy? It has been slow. The biggest thing is people don’t understand is that our prices can beat any custom paint job.

8 ) Do you hunt? What’s your favorite thing to hunt? Yes we hunt. I don’t have a favorite thing to hunt as long as I am with friends and family, it is great. Eddie loves to hunt turkey but feels the same as I do.

We’ll be profiling some of Cheryl’s products in the future. In the meantime, check out their reasonably priced accent kits.

Thanks again to Cheryl for taking the time to visit with the Desert Rat Blog.

You may recall a post I made recently about DeadOn Rangefinder. Rob Efinger was kind enough to answer some questions about this nifty product!

1. How long has the Deadon Rangefinder been on the market? How have sales been?

Not being the founder (my buddy Jason Nordberg was the brains behind the idea), I think it has actually been on the market since 1999 – about the time we started Ghost Camo. Shawn Hoagland and I bought the company from Jason this Spring and it has been a great year. We bought the company with enough product to fill all the orders he shipped in 2008 and we ran out of product in August, and had to build more. The cool thing about this business is that we can be back in business with new product in less than 30 days. It is much different than the clothing business where you need at least 90 days lead time to get anything done. We are looking for sales to be up at least DOUBLE over last year and probably more (it depends on how strong 4th quarter stays). Our goal is to NEVER be out of stock and ALWAYS ship orders withing 24 hours. It is working so far…..

2. Tell us a little about the rangefinder, and how it developed from concept to market

I would really like to take credit for inventing the Dead-On Range Finder, but I have to give that credit to my buddy Jason Nordberg and his wife Jen. You see…. Jen had an interest in her husbands passion – elk hunting with archery equipment, but she was really concerned about making a bad shot because of “mis-guessing’ the distance. So, Jason started goofing around with some different ideas around bracketing and figuring out the math. I think first, they tried just gapping her pins so they would be the correct spacing for the size of an elk, but that it kind of tough because it limits the ranges that you can have sighted in. For instance, your spacing may be correct, but your pins are sighted in for 25 yards, 38, yards, 44 yards………. There needed to be another device on the bow just for range which would allow you to leave your bow sighted in for 20, 30, 40, 50…… I own a printing company called Trinity Graphics and I helped Jason print the labels and create the packaging and the Dead-On Range Finder was born. You had to buy the label for your draw length and for the animal that you wanted to hunt, but it was pretty effective. Then he took it to the next level when he incorporated in the fiber optics and the movable pins (giving it the ability to adjust for any animal and draw length and match the color of the ranging pin with the sighting pin). Now you just have to bracket the animal, read the color of the back pin and shoot that color of sight pin. I will need to check with Jason, when Jen killed her first elk, but I think it was that first year. Then she started having babies and her hunting days were pretty limited……… as were Jason’s.

3. How has public reaction been?

It is really interesting to me that we haven’t had ANY negative comments about the product and people that are using it are really excited about what it does. That is the toughest job for us – selling hunters on what the Dead-On Range Finder DOES and not what it IS. I was in talking with a sporting goods dealer this spring and he took one look a the product in the package and said “what a rip off…. you guys get 20 bucks for that?????” What Lowell didn’t “get” was what the precious little device DOES. It solves the biggest problem in archery hunting – accurately ranging animals in the field so you don’t have to “guess” the yardage. I am very pleased to say that absolutely all of the comments that I get back are from happy hunters who absolutely love the product. The challenge we have is getting the word out and educating archery hunters about the product. For 20 bucks, it is literally something that EVERY archery hunter should have on their bow. I don’t have a single accessory on my $1000 X-Force bow that cost less than the Dead-On Range Finder and there is nothing on there that I value more. Heck…… I could even do without the sight as long as I know what the yardage is.

4. Your site says “200% Moneyback Guarantee” – tell us about that

Ok….. this may be the 10,000 elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about, right?? Actually, though, I am really glad you asked about it. To be completely honest, the device works (it is just math), and if you set it up correctly, it will accurately range animals at full draw (just like we promise). If you read the 200% money back policy and what you need to do in order to make a claim…… it would be very difficult to make a case because math never lies, right? In all the years that Jason was running the company, he never had one person even inquire about the opportunity or even ask for their money back. To be honest, we had one guy this fall that sent his range finder back with a very nice note saying that he was very sorry that he couldn’t make the product work for him (he had a hard time focusing on the rangefinder while keeping the target in view of it). At the end of the day, I was glad to refund his money and take his product back. He is the only guy…. and even though his claim wasn’t that the product didn’t work, he was unhappy with it so we refunded his money. I actually think that is a better value than the 200% Money Back Guarantee – we offer a 100% money back offer if you don’t like it……… what other company can say that?

5. Are you sticking with the rangefinder, or can we expect other products in the future?

Dead-On Archery will be expanding the product line very soon. However, what I did learn from my days at Ghost Camo (growing as quickly as we did) is that you need to manage your growth and allow the company to fund the companie’s expansion. That is why we won’t release any new products until it is time. Probably not in 2010, but for sure in 2011, we will be introducing a Dead-On Bow Sight which will be the industry’s first and only self -ranging bow sight which will be legal in every state. We currently have an arrangement with Terzo Products to sell their Zoptic Bow sight and we are including the Dead-On Range Finder for free with each one of those that are purchased – we may launch off of that platform which is really good (the really cool thing about the Zoptix is that it is the only sight that you don’t have to use a peep – it has an aiming reticle which acts just like a no peep and also shows you if you are torquing your bow or not), or come up with something completely new… Whatever we do, it will be centered around accuracey in archery hunting. Stay tuned…….

6. I know you’re a hunter – what do you have lined up this fall? What’s your dream hunt?

This fall, I am doing it…….. chasing elk around the woods of Montana (as long as God gives me the ability to do that, I am a happy camper). Any time I can get in the woods with my Dad, it is a good day
For my dream hunt, I would like to do a fly in archery hunt for an inland Griz. I just think that the rush of hunting an animal that could just as easily hunt you would be really awesome. Talk about keeping you on your toes, right? First, we will probably do a Hall Road, Caribou hunt next fall/summer. This Spring, Dad and I bit the bullet and paid for our first guided hunt ever – Dome Creek Outfitters, in British Columbia, does spot and stalk archery hunts for black bears and it ended up being really fun (you see LOTS and LOTS of bears). I am not sure if I am much of a “hunt with a guide” kind of hunter, but Kiff and Caleb were great and we did shoot some bears. Not my “dream hunt” but really fun.

Thanks Rob! Be sure and check out their site at DeadOnRangefinder.com.