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Table of Contents

Introduction Pg. 1

Eberlestock Packs Pg. 2-8

Christmas Ideas Pg. 9

First Lite Clothes Pg. 10-11

Youth Bows Pg. 12-13

December 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2

Hello from the Trading Post! We hope your fall has been as enjoy-

able as ours have been. We’ve had a lot going on. First of all, the Trad-

ing Post family has grown! JC is a new father of a beautiful baby girl,

and Brent is also a new proud father of a handsome baby boy. The only

downside is that both bundles of joy decided to show up around the

first week of bowhunting here in Wisconsin (poor planning if you ask

me).

On top of the little ones joining us in September, TJ headed west

to Colorado at the same time for an elk hunt. Though unsuccessful, the

trip was amazing as TJ got to enjoy his first elk hunt and first backpack-

ing trip with his favorite hunting buddy and father, Tom.

All of this activity left Randy alone at the shop during the busy

season, but as the boss man often does, he rose to the challenge with

the help of his understanding wife Tammy and their arrow fletching fa-

natic of a daughter, Amber. It didn’t take Randy long to recover from

the long hours, as he dropped bruiser of a buck October 7th.

This article is going to cover a lot of the new products we started

carrying in the shop this year. In depth reviews of the Eberlestock

packs, First Lite clothing, as well as a breakdown of Mission’s Youth

bows. Hopefully this gives everyone some ideas for their Christmas

lists, as well as ideas for gear changes heading into next year’s hunting

season.

Good luck the rest of season, Happy Holidays, and thank you for

your business!

GIFT CERTIFICATES

AVAILABLE!!!

Eberlestock Packs 10% OFF

ALL FIRST LITE CLOTHING IN

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25% OFF!!!

The Tailhook: The Ultimate Pack for a Midwest Gear Junkie

As an admitted hunting gear

junkie, I carry a lot of gear with me

to the woods. Whether turkey

hunting or deer hunting, I try to

have the right equipment for what-

ever situation may present itself.

Having a pack that allows me to

carry all my gear comfortably, and

in an organized way, has been a no

win situation for me. I’ve had packs

that worked well at basic things,

but nothing that covered everything I needed to carry to a tree-

stand. That was until we got the Tailhook in.

The Harness

The Tailhook carries as a fanny pack with shoulder

straps. The waist belt is a heavy with a large lumbar pad in the

back to keep the pack riding off of your body while still offering

great support. Shoulder straps on the Tailhook are heavily

padded and loaded with options like the Ripcord Tether to hold

a rifle or bow in place, as well as attachments to hold the hose

of a hydration bladder in place for longer hunts. There is also a

large strap between the

shoulder straps and waist

belt that allows a person to

adjust for their specific tor-

so length, making sure the

pack rides just above the

hips for maximum comfort

and load bearing capabili-

ties.

The Layout

The most important aspect for me as a pack goes is how

the pockets layout. I need a lot of separate compartments to

put all of my gear so I know where it is when I need. That

holds true for me whether I’m just setting up in the morning

needing different items like tree-steps and safety ropes or if

I’ve killed and animal and need my knife, gutting gloves, or zip

ties to attach

my tag. The

Tailhook excels

in this aspect.

Starting

at the waist

belt, the Tail-

hook has one

good sized

pocket on each

side of the hips.

I rely on these pockets for gloves, facemask, my headlamp, an

additional small flashlight, my release, cellphone, and possibly

reflective tacks. These items in these locations allow me to get

situated as I walk to my stand in the morning or afternoon with

everything I might need during that travel time. They are easy

to get to and accessible quickly if I need these items in a hurry.

As we move to the actual pack body, we find a lot of dif-

ferent ways to organize gear to our needs. Along the sides of

the pack are 2 vertically long pockets. Both are compatible

with hydration blad-

ders in case the

hunter has prefer-

ence on which side

the hose runs, with

the other pocket be-

ing used for gear. If

you choose to go

without a water

bladder, than you

have 2 easily accessible pockets that can handle different gear

options.

The two side pockets are connected in the center of the

pack. When unbuckled, they open up in a butterfly fashion.

The inside of the wings

each contain a pocket

suited for carrying water,

a spotting scope, or a

smaller tripod. Carrying

extra clothing in to pre-

vent sweating can be

done by securing your

clothes inside the wings

prior to buckling and cinching your straps.

The main compartment, when opened up, has two mid-

sized pockets located on the top flap. Rangefinders, spare re-

leases, compact binos, snacks, etc. will fit nicely and be at the

right height for quick use while on stand. Attached to the lower

of the two pockets is 3 smaller, elastic lined pockets, perfectly

sized for deer scent containers. Inside

the main compartment is a large open

pouch with room for lunch, large

binos, a handheld video camera, or

whatever else you choose to throw in

it. It is lined with 4 long elastic

pouches that are perfectly fit for grunt

tubes, bow hangers, hand saws, rat-

tling bags, folded topo maps, Therma-

cells, etc.

Included on the Tailhook is the

Butt Bucket by Eberlestock. The Butt Bucket allows the hunter

to place either the top cam or idle wheel of

his/her bow or the butt of his/her gun.

Once placed in the bucket, the upper end of

the weapon is attached to the Ripcord Teth-

er allowing the hunter quick retrieval of

his/her weapon to shoot without having to

take off the pack.

An Answer to a Mobile Hunter’s Prayer

95% of the time in which I hunt from

treestands, I hang that stand up that day. I

use a combination of climbing sticks and

lightweight, quiet, hang on treestands. I

have chosen this treestand method over

climbing stands because with practice I am

just as quick getting a stand set at my de-

sired height, I’m quieter, and I can hunt any

tree I choose to regardless of straightness

or branches. The companies producing

these type of stick and stand systems have made them pretty

compact and they can be packed in a very neat, easy carrying

package. Unfortunately, they can’t be carried very well with

any packs I’ve used prior to the Tailhook.

Similar harnessed waist belt packs allow for the stands to

be strapped to the hunters back, but the stands lie at an awk-

ward angle causing the weight to ride uncomfortably and en-

tirely on one’s shoulders. They were however, the best option.

The other option was either swinging a regular backpack style

hunting pack over a shoulder and walking at an angle, or try-

ing to secure that backpack to your stand and having the

weight far away

from your body.

That puts extra

stress on your body,

heats you up even

more on your walk

in, and once again

puts most of the

weight directly on

your shoulders.

With the Tail-

hook, I can put the

narrow base of the

stand into the Butt

Bucket and secure

the stand using the

Ripcord Tether. I

can then have the

sticks either attached securely to the stand, or place them in

the wings to be cinched into the pack. No more carrying my

pack and my stand, or my stand and my pack. I now have a

pack with all the organization needs I have, plus it carries my

treestand system comfortably. No extra straps, no one or the

other, no extra hassle. Just streamlined hunting efficiency that

allows me to hunt the way I want to hunt. And this information

goes for turkey guys as well. I can fit the hubs of my hunting

blind into the Butt Bucket, strap down

the blind with the Ripcord Tether,

pack in two Double Bull Magnum

Blind Chairs in the packs wings, pack

in my decoys, all the calls I could

want, water, binos, rangefinder, a

camcorder and tripod, and have the

pack ride comfortably up a big hill to

set up for the morning. I’ve done it

more than once.

The Tailhook retails for

$189.00. That may sound steep to

guys looking for a whitetail pack, but

consider the fact that similarly de-

signed harnessed fanny packs run an-

ywhere from $99.99 - 139.99, and

they don’t offer anywhere near the

room (1700cu. in.) that the Tailhook

does, they are not hydration bladder

compatible, and they cannot double as treestand/hunting blind

packs. As a gear junkie with many pack purchases, take my

word for it. Don’t spend $130 for a pack that only meets your

requirements halfway. Drop the extra $60 for a pack that not

only does everything you ask of it, but that also carries a life-

time warranty.

The Tailhook attaches easily to a tree to keep all of your

tools easily accessible and ready to use. Click on the

picture above to see a video review of the Tailhook.

The Mini-Me: A Hydration Pack for Hunting and Everyday Life

The Mini-Me is a pack that can easily be overlooked by guys.

When hanging on the hook it

looks a small pack that couldn’t

possibly handle the gear for a

day hunt. It is, however, possi-

bly the best Midwest day hunt-

ing pack for hunters who don’t

need to bring the kitchen sink,

or are looking to travel a lot of

ground.

The Layout

The features of the Mini-

Me makes this pack more than

just a hydration pack. The

small frame keeps weight to a

minimum, while padded straps

allow it to be comfortable with

a full water bladder (3Liter bladder included). There are two zippered

vertical pockets that go down the length of the pack, allowing for extra

gear such as rainwear, insulating layers, hats, gloves, or whatever else

you’d like to pack it with. On the outside, there is a third vertical pocket

with a buckle enclosure to secure any gear that is too large to fit all the

way down in the pocket. At the bottom of the pack is a zippered pocket

that has organizational compartments perfect for a wallet, keys, small

snacks, a small flashlight, or reflective tacks. On the front of this small

pocket is another zippered pocket that is waterproof and fleece lined to

protect a cell phone or GPS from the elements.

Those were the basics that already set the Mini-Me ahead of other

hydration packs. These next features are what puts the Mini-Me in a class

of its own. The large pocket positioned closest to the hunters back can be

unzipped fully, allowing the bottom to open and a rifle scabbard to be

added to the pack. This feature allows gun hunters the ability to carry

their rifle close to their bodies, hands-free, for tough hikes through brush

and steep inclines that require the

hunter to use both hands and pre-

vents snags on brush that slings can

cause. Located on the bottom of

both sides of the pack are two zip-

pers. Hiding inside of these com-

partments are a waist belt, in case

you find yourself needing to handle

heavier loads heading in or coming

out of the woods. And the final hid-

den treasure is zipped into the bot-

tom of the pack. Unzipping this

compartment reveals a mesh bag

that can be secured to the shoulder

straps for comfortable carrying, and

more than doubles the carrying ca-

pacity of the original pack from 800

cu. inches to 2000 cu. inches! This pack is also compatible with the

Eberlestock Butt Bucket for those who want to carry their bow on their

back for the walk.

Hunting Uses

This pack can cover you on a lot of different types of hunts. For

the guy who goes out for a day hunt but doesn’t carry a lot of gear, it al-

lows him to haul everything he needs, while using the mesh bag to pack

in his bulkier insulation layers. For a gun hunter looking to carry a few

necessities and hike the landscape in pursuit of deer, this pack can carry

the items he/she wants, including different clothing options for possible

changing weather conditions.

Another great use of the Mini-Me includes upland bird hunting.

Walking in the fields all day chasing up pheasants doesn't require much

besides room for extra shells, a place to store clothing as temperatures

rise and fall, water and snacks to keep energy up, and a place for your

birds. The mesh bag is in fact called the Bird Bag.

Scouting and shed hunting are yet another place the Mini-Me ex-

cels. It lets you bring your essential gear for the long hours walking, in-

cluding water, and the Bird Bag can be used to haul out whatever you

may find in the woods (sheds, Morels, etc.).

Setting up treestands is usually a labor intensive project and, un-

fortunately, most of us tend to tackle this project during the warmer sum-

mer months. Having your water on your back at all times (halfway up a

tree, trimming lanes, 25 ft. in the air) and not having it interfere with your

safety harness is a nice luxury to have.

Hikes, Bikes, Trout, and Canoes

The Mini-Me will also become your go to pack for many activities

besides hunting. Using it to carry extra gear and water during family

hikes or biking trips will be a no brainer. It also works well for anyone

looking to chase trout. Riding on your shoulders above water level with

enough room for your food, water, and extra fishing supplies, the pack

will do as you need it to. Heading on the canoe or the boat? Save room

while keeping your water at hand as well as the other essentials. There

are few outdoor activities this pack will not be your first choice for.

The Mini-Me retails for $129.00. For the many uses you will find

for it plus the lifetime warranty, it is money well spent.

These photos show how small and how big the Mini-Me can become. The

photo on the left shows the Mini-Me in Hydration Pack mode, i.e. basic pock-

ets filled and bladder full. The photo on the right shows the capabilities the

Mini-Me has to haul gear. It has the optional Rifle Scabbard installed for

hauling a weapon into the field and the Bird Bag is deployed to haul extra

layers for the stand. Extreme versatility in a very small package.

Most hunters traveling out

West require no more than a day

pack to hunt with. They will either

be taken to their camps by outfitters

on horses, or hunting the mountains

from their basecamp at the truck.

Hiking in and out everyday with

what they need for the day. Having

a pack that can adapt to different

situations is a must, and having one

that can comfortably haul out an elk

quarter is a bonus. Thus, the X2.

Daypack with a Frame

The X2 is equipped with a lightweight, tubular aluminum frame.

This allows the pack to handle heavy loads while still carrying extremely

comfortable. Successful hunters will appreciate this frame in the fact that

they can haul the first load of meat back to camp without needing their

full-fledged frame packs. Fewer trips back and forth to camp will help

prevent meat spoiling as well as wear and tear on the hunter’s body. The

internet is full of reviews from guys packing out entire mule deer and

antlers. Clearly, this pack can handle the work.

The back panel of the X2 is mesh with padding. Mesh allows air to

travel between the hunter’s back and the pack itself, preventing uncom-

fortable heat. The padding at the hips, back, and shoulders ensures com-

fort when dealing with heavy loads.

The Layout

At the top of the pack, located directly behind the hunter’s head, is

a quickly accessible pocket perfectly sized for an essentials bag to include

food, first aid, and emergency gear. On the opposite side of this compart-

ment is that cell-phone pocket with fleece lining and a waterproof zipper.

This top pouch buckles to the “FlexChasis,” which can be used to sup-

port a load of meat or gear, or be used as a seat when sitting or glassing

in the field.

The X2 feature the same “wing pocket” design as the Tailhook.

With longer verticle pockets that are also hydration compatible, the X2

can easily handle a fully loaded 3 liter water bladder, spotting scope, tri

-pod, bugle tube, or other gear that requires length in a pack. Clips on

the top of the pockets keep a water bladder in an elevated position, pre-

venting it from sinking to the bottom of the pocket and causing the

weight to be carried low. On the outsides of the pockets, cinch pockets

at the bottom allow water bottles, calls, tripods, or spotting scopes to

be placed for quick access, while Padlock webbing on the top half al-

lows hunters to add additional pouches for storage or a side scabbard

when carrying a gun into the field. On the inside of the of the wings in-

board pockets that offer yet another location for spotting scopes and

tripods to be located, and versatile enough to fit many other gear choic-

es.

Unbuckling the compression straps of the FlexChassis and wing

pockets reveals the main top-loading compartment of the X2. This com-

partment gets very big for such a compact little pack. Located on the out-

side of the main compartment is a pocket for miscellaneous gear and per-

fectly sized for a folded, laminated, topo map. There is also an adjustable

elastic strap crisscrossing the length of the compartment allowing differ-

ent layers of clothing to be attached as temperatures change throughout

the day.

Along the waist belt are two roomy hip pockets. You can fit a fair

amount of gear in these side pockets, however, they are very functional

as far as quick access go. They are the only knock against the X2. Great

room, but hard to get to while the pack is

on.

Built to Haul

The true beauty of this pack is it’s

ability to haul gear or meat while still

performing flawlessly as a day pack. For

those heading out West with the possibil-

ity of spending a night or three on the

Mountain, the X2 can be packed with

enough gear to be perfect for short 2-3

day trips. The FlexChassis, when used

with the compression straps, can still

haul an elk quarter with your camp

packed into the main compartment.

If you want to haul extra gear and

feel the need for more cubic inches, this

pack offers a lot of accessory options. There is Padlock webbing located

on the top pouch of the bag, on the outside of the wing pockets as well as

on the inside of the wings. Padlock webbing on the outside of the

FlexChassis is perfectly located for the ButtBucket attachment. All of

these locations allow the additions of pouches (large or small), gun scab-

bards, a ButtBucket, or the mountable fanny pack in case you want to go

even more lightweight while on the mountain. If you choose not to add

storage, the Padlock webbing can be used to for attaching rope or cord to

the pack when securing a load of meat.

Comfort in the Whitetail Woods

Not only will the X2 perform for guys headed out West, but it

won’t have to be set aside when

you come back home. Being hy-

dration compatible, having com-

pression straps and elastic

straps for carrying in layers,

compatible with a ButtBucket to

haul in your bow or tree stand, a

wing design that can handle

climbing sticks/camera arms/

tripods, and compatible with

gun scabbards for the gun sea-

sons, the X2 can handle every-

thing a whitetail hunter can

throw at it. For hunters who go

deep, the X2 also allows boned

out bucks to be hauled back to

camp without needing a search

party to help drag the Big One

out.

The X2 retails for $189.00 with lots of options. There are guys

who like specific gear for specific situations, and then there are guys that

like gear that can perform no matter the conditions or environment. The

X2 is a lot of both.

X2: The Perfect Western Day Pack with Midwest Possibilities

The X2 hauling an elk

quarter. A lot of hauling

for a smaller frame pack.

The Blue Widow: Go In Light, Come Out Heavy

“Go in Light, Come Out Heavy” is Eberlestock’s motto, and no hunt-

ing pack embodies this phrase more than the Blue Widow. The Blue Wid-

ow can be cinched down and the top fanny pack removed to be used as a

compact 1900 cubic inch day pack, and expanded out to haul almost 4600

cubic inches without adding storage to the standard pack option. If you

want to come out heavier, we’ve got choices.

Frame and Harness

The Blue Widow comes with Eberlestock’s Shooter’s Harness and

hybrid IntExt Frame. The Shooter’s Harness allows the pack to handle

heavy loads comfortable while also providing comfort and freedom when

shooting with the pack on.

The IntExt Frame is a hybrid that combines the best features of

both internal and external frame packs. The thick lumbar pad on the back

rides directly on the aluminum stays, and is also adjustable vertically to

carry properly for people of different torso lengths. Bending the alumi-

num stays to fit your body allows the pack to be customized to people of

different shapes and sizes while still providing comfort and heavy load

carrying capabilities. With the thick pad, the pack provides solid contact

to the hips while carrying heavy loads, but keeps the pack far enough off

of the hunter’s back to allow air in, keeping the back ventilated. A heavy

duty, padded hip belt helps provide secure and comfortable use.

The Layout

Like all the Eberlestock packs, hidden features and pockets are lo-

cated everywhere. Starting at the top of the pack, a removable fanny pack

is attached via the Padlock webbing to the top flap of the lid. This 300 cu-

bic inch fanny pack can be used as an ultra-light day pack after hunters

have hiked in to setup camp, removed to allow the Blue Widow to become

a more compact day pack, or left on the pack to add carrying capacity.

The fanny pack contains 2 pockets with one of them being the hydration

compatible and being one of 3 hydration compatible compartments on

the Blue Widow. Additional storage can also be added to the fanny pack

by way of the Padlock webbing outlining the top.

Directly behind the hunters back is a full length compartment with

zippers at the top and bottom of the pack. When opening the top zipper,

this provides storage for gear and also reveals Padlock webbing on the

interior of the compartment. Unzipping the bottom allows for a gun scab-

bard to be attached to the packs internal webbing, letting the hunter carry

his/her gun directly behind them.

Unbuckling the FlexChassis reveals 2 full length vertical pockets

separated by a zipper that runs the length of the pack. Both pockets are

zippered at the top and along the sides. This allows the pockets to be

loaded and accessed from multiple locations, providing access to gear or-

ganized at either the bottom or the top of the pockets. Located on the

outside of each vertical compartments are 2/3 length open pockets per-

fectly sized for spotting scopes, tripods, or other gear needed in camp. On

the bottom sides of the 2 compartments are mesh pockets with draw-

string lids that can be used for spotting scopes, tripods, water bottles,

rangefinders, or other gear that needs to be easily accessible.

The zipper separating the two long compartments reveals the

main storage compartment when undone. The large compartment is top

loading with a draw-string enclosure. Along the inner sides of the main

compartment are hydration compatible pockets that run the full length of

the pack. These pockets are equipped with clips to keep the water blad-

ders riding high on the pack and preventing the bladder from sinking to

the bottom of the pack. This also lets the hunter fill the pockets with oth-

er gear besides just the water bladder. The main compartment is com-

prised of mesh, which saves weight on the pack and allows meat to cool

when being packed out.

Get Big

Containing almost 4600 cubic inches as a factory standard model,

the Blue Widow is a versatile pack. But again, Eberlestock made sure that

the Blue Widow could be customized to meet each individual hunter’s

needs.

Padlock webbing on the sides and internal compartment gives

hunters different location options for a gun scabbard. The oversized web-

bing on the FlexChassis lets hunters choose to place a ButtBucket in a

high or low position, depending on how they want their bow to ride.

Webbing along the hip belt allows hunters to add multiple small or large

pouches for accessories they want easily accessible.

The big additions for pack size come in the form of the Spike Duffel

and the Super Spike Duffel. These large bags can be fit into the mesh com-

partment for extra protection and organization of gear. The real benefit

of

them is that they zip to the out-

side of the mesh, giving you yet

another large compartment.

This add-on vaults the Blue

Widow from 4600 cubic inches

to 7200 cubic inches with the

Spike Duffel, and 7600 cubic

inches with the Super Spike

Duffel. If you’ve carried in

camp to last you for a week or

10 days, you can pack that

camp back out along with a

sizeable load of meat.

Eberlestock makes

front panels to be zipped to the

main compartment in case you

want to protect gear inside of it

from the elements. The panels

are reversible from camo to

blaze orange, giving the hunter

an easily added safety measure

for successful walks off of the

Mountain.

The Blue Widow retails for $329.00. This pack is perfect for pack-

ing in camp for an extended stay. And if you spend time off of the trail

during other times of the year, it doubles as your normal backpacking set-

up. If you need the ability to get big, then you need the Blue Widow. Go

in Light, Come Out Heavy!

In Field Review

I had the opportunity to put the Blue Widow to the test this Sep-

tember in Colorado. My father and I were both set-up with the Blue Wid-

ow, him being 6’6” and me being 6’1”, we were able to test the pack out at

different torso lengths and different sized loads.

This was a Do-It-Yourself Public Land hunt in the Colorado Wil-

derness. No ATV’s for hauling gear, no guides taking in supplies for us,

and we chose not to use horses to get our gear in. It was just us with our

Blue Widows loaded with gear.

I opted to haul the majority of the weight in my pack, because, you

know, he’s pretty old. Our estimated pack loads (because we didn’t do a

final weigh in) put me around 100 lbs. and dad around 70lbs. We did not

go in ultra-light. The packs carried the weight extremely well, as we cov-

ered nearly 20 miles with full gear loads, gaining almost 3000 ft. in eleva-

tion. Breaking the pack back down into “Day-Mode” was easy, and you

hardly noticed you were wearing a pack at all while carrying day-hunt

supplies.

This pack allowed us to spend a week straight on the mountain,

away from any other hunters (the only human contact we had was on the

walks in and out), and to fulfill our dream of hunting elk together (it was

the first elk hunt for both of us!). We weren’t able to bring home any elk

meat, but we certainly had the experience of a lifetime.

As stated, the Blue Widow was more than up to the task of helping

us haul heavy loads up and down the mountain. It proved extremely du-

rable, fit both of us exceptionally well despite differences in height, and

allowed us to hunt away from the pressure. For anyone doing a backpack

hunt, the Blue Widow will do a phenomenal job without breaking the

bank. Highly recommended.

X1: Versatility for the Day Hunter

The X1 is a fantastic day

pack for Western and whitetail

hunters alike. It’s the pack for

hunters who aren’t worried about

hauling a lot of weight, who know

they can get to their meat quickly

without having to haul it out in

their hunting packs. For most

whitetail guys, it’s a pack that fits

the bill perfectly.

The Harness

Using the Shooter’s harness,

the pack carries very comfortable

on the shoulders while offering

easy shooting in conditions where

the pack cannot be removed. The

harness can be adjusted vertically

to fit different torso lengths proper-

ly.

A thick lumbar pad in the back attached to the heavy duty waist

belt provides comfort when carrying a heavier, full pack. The padded hip

belt provides the secure and comfortable carrying that all Eberlestock

packs and be expected to have. Padlock webbing along the hip belt lets

hunters add different pouch accessories for gear that needs to be readily

available, or a spot to attach a pistol holster.

The Layout

The great thing about this pack is that it comes standard with op-

tions for carrying whatever weapon

you want. The built in QuickDraw

Back Scabbard lets hunters carry shot-

guns or rifles comfortably. If a shot

opportunity presents itself, the gun

can be easily reached and fired with-

out needing to take the pack off. If the

scabbard is not being used, the bottom

can be tucked back into the pack to

prevent snags while walking, or can be

stuffed with clothes, tripods, shooting

sticks, fishing rods, or other gear items

that you want quick access to.

A built in ButtBucket makes the

pack equally as useful for archery

hunters. Used with the Ripcord Teth-

er, bows can be released from the pack

and in the hunter’s hands in seconds

while not requiring the pack to be tak-

en off. Again, rapid transitions from

walking to shooting are possible with

the X1, letting you hunt hands-free for

steep climbs, crawls, and other movements that need to be silent. Fea-

tured on this ButtBucket are two pockets, making the ButtBucket more

functional for gear storage when hunting with or without a bow.

Directly next to the QuickDraw Back Scabbard is the hydration

compatible pocket. This can be used with a water bladder, stuffed with

gear, or left empty depending on your needs that day. 2 pockets on the

outside center of the pack provide perfect locations for rain gear, game

bags, or other small gear items.

Opening up the main compartment, the pack appears to be nothing

more than a simple back pack design. However, placed along the inside

bottom of the compartment is a flap with Velcro that can be attached di-

rectly across to their Velcro counterparts. This flap acts as a shelf that

separates the compartment into 2 different storage areas. Zippers on

each side of the pack, located along the bottom half, allow easy access to

the bottom storage area. The main zipper on the top continues to be the

access point for the top storage area. Organization in the X1 is much sim-

pler with this separator design, and the different access points means you

can get to the gear you need when you need it without emptying your en-

tire pack onto the ground.

Basic and Functional

Besides the combination of weapon carrying options, the X1 is re-

ally a no frills, basic hunting pack. The Harness and hip belt make this

pack very comfortable for slightly heavier loads of gear, but spares the

weight of adding frame components for hunters who do not need that op-

tion. Western hunters will be able to head out with their weapon of

choice, clothes for varying weather conditions, necessities for the day, and

their water bladder; just the essentials.

Whitetail hunters may find this to be their perfect tree stand pack,

or one they can use easily while stalking up and down hills when they de-

cide to go out and find their buck instead of hoping for the buck to find

them. It can carry a gun or bow depending on the season, has plenty of

room for grunt tubes, rattling bags, scents, extra layers for cold days, and

can even haul a stand if needed.

The X1 retails for $179.00. This pack is perfect for the hunter who

requires his pack to perform in many different situations but does not

need the extras. It’s basic, it’s comfortable, and it’s ready to help you

hunt.

CHRISTMAS IDEAS!!! Hunters can often be a tough group to shop for. We don’t

always give good ideas for presents to be purchased, or the things

we do suggest are rather expensive. Here are a few options that

any hunter would be happy to have, and gives you a few options

no matter if you’re looking for a big present or a few stocking

stuffers!

Eberlestock Packs

As discussed in this newsletter, these packs can do it all.

Ranging from small hydrations packs that do a lot more than just

providing water, to the Blue Widow for the guys who backpack

hunt deep on public land,

Eberlestock has options for

every hunter. Plus, the packs

and accessories are now all

10% OFF!

Stop in and we’ll help you fig-

ure out which pack is right for

the hunters in your family!

First Lite Clothing

Another great option

that not many hunters know about. This stuff will become their

favorite clothing option, and will help

keep the stink out of your home. This

stuff is currently on sale for 25%

OFF!!! This clothing isn’t just for

the woods, as it will also be their favor-

ite clothes to wear around the house.

Havalon Knives

Havalon Knives take away the need to constantly sharpen

knives, while providing scalpel sharp blades that are easy to re-

place. From skinning and

caping knives, to fillet

knives and butchering

knives, Havalon knives

are a great gift option

that not many Midwest

guys know about. Prices

range from $39.99 to

$59.99 and are perfect

for fitting into a stocking!

Stic-N-Pic Trail Camera

Mounts

The Stic-N-Pic Camera stands allow hunters to put their

trail cameras exactly where they need to be. The perfect tree for

camera placement is rarely there and Stic-N-Pic lets hunters see

what they need to see, not just what hanging trees allow them to

see. Stic-N-Pic also helps prevent cameras from being stolen. By

removing the tell-tale black strap from a tree

and allowing the cameras to be hidden amongst

brush, you’ll remove the likelihood of trespass-

ers making away with your expensive camera

while increasing your odds of capturing those

trespassers in the act.

Stic-N-Pic also makes tree mounts, which

remove the need to strap a camera to a tree,

while allowing you to change camera angles.

This lets you put cameras in hard to spot loca-

tions while still letting you get the pictures your

need. The Stic-N-Pic Camera Stands are $39.99

and the Tree Mounts are $24.99!

Morrell Targets

Arrow targets tend to get used and abused by getting shot

up or left outside all season in the elements. If your bowhunter

doesn’t need a target yet, he/she most likely will soon. Morrell

offers a great targets for both

practice tips and broadheads.

The best thing about the Morrell

targets is that once the cover has

been shot up and abused, you

can simply buy another cover for

the target. This lets you extend

the life of the target without

needing to spend the money for

a brand new target. Bag targets

start at $45.99.

Heater Body Suits

Heater Body Suits will keep anyone warm in the colder

temperatures, allowing

them to hunt longer and

harder in cold conditions

when deer are most ac-

tive. The suits roll up to

be compact for walks into

the woods, and reduce

the need to spend a lot of

money on layering option

and expensive cold-

weather gear. They keep

anyone warm, and are a

great option for the peo-

ple who get cold easily,

especially women and

older hunters who don’t

stay as warm as they once

did. Suits range in price

from $309.99—$319.99 depending on sizing.

FIRST LITE: Performance for All Conditions

Most hunters have heard Merino Wool mentioned in connection to

hunting clothing, but not many have tried Merino clothing out. Usually,

the higher cost of Merino Wool clothing deters many from taking the

plunge, or even from testing out a

single garment to see what all the

huff is about. For others, the sim-

ple mention of wool brings to mind

memories of itchy Christmas

sweaters and their skin begins to

crawl. I will admit, both of those

reasons had kept me from ventur-

ing down that avenue. With com-

panies like Under Armor (UA) en-

tering the hunting clothing line-up,

many chose synthetics as their top

choice for hunting gear without

even looking into Merino Wool.

The synthetic materials were very

light, and very breathable. Profes-

sional athletes were all over adver-

tisements wearing those types of

clothing. Why wouldn’t they per-

fect for hunting? Until last fall, I couldn’t answer that question. Then I

invested in Merino Wool, and I realized why synthetic fabric won’t hold

up to the demands of hunting: because hunting takes place in the natural

world, and natural fibers thrive there.

Anyone who has used UA or

similar clothing can tell you the bene-

fits. They breathe well during periods

of high activity, are light weight, and

don’t irritate your skin. Few people

recognize the negative effects of these

synthetics because after they sweat in

them for a workout, the shirt goes into

the hamper and gets washed. If you’ve

ever worn them for multiple workouts,

the downside is clear. After 1 good

sweat, synthetics get a greasy, almost

grimy feel to them, and they smell like

they’ve been worked out in. Wear

them for a couple workouts and the

smell quickly turns to a nasty funk.

Synthetics that breath well usually of-

fer very little in the ways of providing

warmth.

How does Merino Wool com-

pare to these fabrics? It has all of the positives of the synthetics, with

none of the negatives. Lightweight Merino layers breathe just as well as

UA fabrics, wicks sweat away just as well if not better, and dries out with

incredible speed. The feel on your skin is softer and smoother than any

synthetic material you have ever worn. And the best part: ZERO ODOR.

Not even after you’ve sweat through a shirt multiple times. Sounds weird,

but this is why. Merino Wool is naturally anti-microbial, which means it

prevents the growth of bacte-

ria that causes odors to be

produced. No bacteria, no

odor, no need for scent block-

ing base layers. And this stuff

isn’t like the synthetic anti-

microbial where they have

“added silver-technology to

the clothing to stop odors from

forming.” This is the real deal.

Another giant plus with

Merino Wool is that it still con-

tains wool’s ability to retain its

warmth when wet. So if you

get sweated up and are sitting

on stand, though wet with

sweat, the shirt will still keep

you warm. Ever sweat up a

cotton shirt on your walk to

your stand? If you have, then

you know that “warm” is not a

word you would choose to de-

scribe the experience. The

breathability of the material also lets it dry within 20 minutes, preventing

your body from losing excess heat on cold days. I hunt with a very mobile

set-up that requires me to hang climbing sticks and a stand each time I

hunt. From the time I reach my tree until the time I am standing on my

platform, usually 15 minutes have passed by. Carrying all my gear with

me and walking up steep hills usually has my first layer soaked through.

With a light breeze on the ridge top while I’m setting up my stand, my

Merino layers are dry before I start pulling my bow up. Scent control

gets a lot of press these days, and for

good reason. Whitetails can be

fooled by their eyes and ears, but

they cannot be fooled by their nose.

If they smell you, they are alert, and

they are usually long gone. With the

creation of scent blocking clothing,

scent killing sprays, detergents, body

soaps, shampoos, etc., there are lot of

ways to help you kill odors. The eas-

iest way I’ve come across, is Merino

Base Layers. I used to be fanatical

about scent control. I’d wash my en-

tire set-up after each use to make

sure I was scent free in the woods.

Though effective, it’s also a pain in the

rear-end. When you’re hunting hard

for a few days on end, spending 3

hours doing laundry each night after

you sat in a tree from sun up to sun

The Llano Shirt in Lost

Camo.

Red Desert Boxer

Briefs in Lost Camo.

The Chama Quarter-Zip in

Lost Camo.

The Allegheny Pant

in Lost Camo.

down is not fun. With Merino Wool, you’ll be washing your base layers

about every 10-14 uses. That’s a full hunting trip out West, and up to 2

weeks of hard hunting in the whitetail woods. I know, I know. That

sounds gross. And the first time you try it, the idea is strange. But when

you put this stuff to the test, it passes with flying colors. I wouldn’t men-

tion that I’ve done this stuff unless I believed in the clothing’s ability to

kill odors and be used in the woods(2 weeks with no underwear change

doesn’t exactly melt the hearts of women when mentioned in conversa-

tion).

Layering is important when dressing for hunting. I would never

recommend anyone throw all of their clothes on for the day and walk in

to their tree stand. Yes, it means you save time at the base of your stand

and can maybe sleep in an extra 5

minutes, but then what? You’re

sweaty, cold, grumpy, and back at

the truck by 8am. Wearing prop-

er layers at the appropriate times

lets you regulate your body tem-

perature which will keep you

warmer for much longer, and

keep you in the woods.

My layering system con-

sists of clothing items that each

excel at a certain function, not

one big piece that claims to do

everything. Base Layers are my

first 2-3 layers that are worn on

the walk in, and are the founda-

tion of my layering system. The

First Lite Llano and Chama are

my two upper-body layers, with

the Red Desert Boxers and Alle-

gheny acting as my lower body base layers. From there, it depends on

the weather conditions I’ll be dealing with. If it is warmer out but windy,

a solid windproof vest or light jacket will be my outer layer, with a light

windproof pair of pants to match. As the weather turns colder, I’ll carry

in layers designed for insulation, be it a down or Primaloft jacket, heavier

wool shirts, or the Gamehide Monster Bibs and Jacket. Another great op-

tion to use as your outer layer in

cold weather is wearing your base

layers and possibly a windproof lay-

er for your walk in, and then crawl-

ing into a Heater Body Suit. These

options allow you to walk in com-

fortable, and then to mix and match

what insulating and outer layers

(windproof or rain gear) you will

need to battle the weather condi-

tions that day.

First Lite also makes heavier

weight wool options that work

great as a heavier long underwear

option for guys sitting in stands that

want extra warmth. The Allegheny

Expedition acts as a heavy lower

body layer, while the Chama Expe-

dition will add warmer layer to your

upper body.

The Kanab pants are First Lite’s outer layer option. These pants

provide excellent ventilation for early season or western hunts, while the

RipStop material allows the pants to do through heavy brush and not get

shredded. The pants are perfect even for later season options if you’ll be

on the move, be it still hunting, making drives, or doing chores such as

cutting fire wood.

Adding the Labrador Jacket is another layering piece that allows

you to stay comfortable while active in cooler temperatures. The moun-

tains out West can often change 40

-50 degrees from night time temps

to afternoon temps. Having the

ability to stay warm early in the

morning as you’re heading to a lo-

cation on the mountain while not

getting overheated as you move is

key, and lets you set up and stay

warm as you wait on that elk to

enter the meadow. For whitetail

hunters that prefer still hunting

and stalking over waiting in a tree-

stand, the Labrador allows you to

hunt and move comfortably in 30-

40 degree temperatures without

sacrificing comfort or breathabil-

ity. The RipStop fabric still allows

you to work through heavy cover,

while the wool provides a silent

fabric that will keep you from be-

ing heard as you make your ap-

proach on that bedded buck.

In the Field Review

Though most of the review

here is based off of in field use, I

was able to put the First Lite through an extreme test in my Colorado Elk

Hunt this fall. The stuff is as good as I’ve described here. It was hot dur-

ing our hunts. Highs were in the mid-70’s to 80 degrees, with overnight

temperatures around 30 degrees. The ability to hunt in comfort during

this wide temperature range, without having to worry about the clothes

gathering lots of scent was unbelievable. Not only did the clothing pre-

vent itself from smelling, the breathability and the fact that the clothing

inhibits bacteria from growing also kept our skin from providing a sur-

face for bacteria to grow and stink. Granted, after 7 days hunting on a

mountain, we didn’t come out smelling fresh. But our odor compared to

an August antelope hunt I was on a few years ago wearing synthetics was

extremely diminished. Try this stuff, and you won’t go back to anything

else.

The Chama Expedition

The Llano Shirt shown

in the Black Option.

The Kanab Pants shown

in Lost Camo.

FIRST LITE CLOTHING

SALE!

ALL IN STOCK FIRST LITE

CLOTHING IS NOW ON SALE

FOR 25% OFF!!! THIS IS A

GREAT OPTION FOR THOSE

LOOKING FOR GIFT IDEAS OR

WANTING TO TRY OUT THIS

EXCEPTIONAL CLOTHING

LINE!!!

NOW 25% OFF

YOUTH BOWS:

Which Bow is Right for Your Kid? This time of year we get a lot of parents looking for bows

that will fit their children. Some of them don’t know where to

start or what options are available, so this article will break down

the different youth options available in the Mission line-up, and

hopefully will help you decide which bow is right for your child.

The great thing about any of these bows is that all draw length ad-

justments and weight changes can be made without the use of a

bow press or changing parts. This means once the bow is pur-

chased, you don’t have to spend any money every time your child

grows (which can seem like every two weeks).

The MENACE

The Menace is a bow designed to help us get a the younger

kids started. Draw length ad-

justment on these bows go

down to 17” and all the way out to

30”! Generally speaking, this

covers draw lengths from kids

the age of 6 through fully grown

adult men. The draw weights of

this bow are adjustable from

16lbs-52lbs. The Menace is the

lightest option of all the bows,

making it easier for the younger

kids to hold steady without tir-

ing them out too quickly.

The only drawback to the

Menace is that the weight rang-

es available to the child are de-

pendent on the draw length,

which means the bow will only

draw at 52lbs if it is set to a 30” draw length. This limits the capa-

bility of the bow when kids start to get stronger but maybe have

not grown tall enough to increase the draw length. Luckily, that

leads us to another option.

The CRAZE

The Craze is our most popular

youth option. It covers a draw length

range of 19” out to 30” inches. That

means we can usually fit kids who are

8-9 years old into it, and it covers

them until they are fully grown.

The biggest upgrade from the

Menace is the adjustability of draw

weights. The bow can go down to

15lbs for the younger kids, and will

top out at over 70lbs! Best part: At

each draw length, there is roughly

40lbs of variation available. That means your child won’t be pun-

ished for not being the tallest kid in their class. Once a draw

length of 25 inches is reached (usually in the ages of 12-14) the

bow can be set anywhere from 30-70lbs! That alone makes it a

bow that cover a child from the ages of 8-18 without having to buy

another bow.

Drawbacks on the Craze are minimal. It is heavier than the

Menace and doesn’t hit the lower draw lengths like the Menace

does, making it hard to fit a kid under the age of 8 into. Also, it is

a compact 28” axle-to-axle bow. This is great for kids in the ages

of 8-14 because it fits them better, but taller kids in the 15-18 year

old age group can sometimes feel like the bow is just too small for

them in physical size. Fortunately, we have that covered too.

The RIOT

The Riot was designed to fit those unruly teenagers that

grow 3 inches at a

time. The bow has the

same adjustability of

the Craze (19-30”, 15-

70lbs), but is a longer

axle-to-axle bow with

bit more weight to it.

These factors tend to

make the Riot a better

fitting option for kids

12-15 years old that

are in need a new bow.

Being a full-sized bow

makes it a bow that

not only covers the lat-

er end growing in

strength and height,

but it will fit well as an adult making it a bow that can be used for

a much longer period of time.

Drawbacks on the Riot are almost non-existent for the older

kids. It is certainly heavier when compared with either the Men-

ace or the Craze, so for the smaller 12-13 years olds can have a

harder time holding it steady for very long. But once the kids are

strong enough to handle the weight of the bow, they are set until

they want to go out and buy their own!

Options

All of the bows are readily available in Right-Handed or Left-

Handed models, and are also available in different color options.

The different colors allow you to fit the bow to your kid’s personal-

ity, or lets you pick a cool looking bow for the kids who want to

shoot but don’t necessarily want to hunt.

Warranty and Service

If you have kids, you know “accidents” happen a lot. All of the bow options carry a Lifetime Warranty, which usually helps to

have when certain “accidents” look very expensive.

We also offer the standard service options for youth bows that we offer with all bow purchases. That means you get free labor

on any warranty or service work for the life of the bow. Kid grew and you need the draw length change? Free. Kid has been shooting

a lot and wants the draw weight turned up? Free. Kid dropped the bow of the treestand and broke a limb on the bow? Mission re-

places the limb free of charge, and we put the pieces back together, once again, for free.

Getting your child started off on the right foot is as important to us as it is to you. We want them to enjoy archery, and we want

them to keep shooting. So when they are getting their bow set-up, we will spend time working with them on proper shooting form,

sighting them in, and hopefully, hitting bulls-eyes. They also get 5 Free Hours of Range Time, so they can come hang out at the shop

and practice inside where it’s nice and comfy. Plus, if they have any questions, we can answer them face to face and show them how

to improve.

We hoped this little explanation helped you understand your options when it comes to youth bows, and we hope to see you and

that future archer soon!