Best New GPS: Bushnell Backtrack D-Tour

Before my spinal cord injury I spent a lot of time in the woods, and had one of the first GPS units. made by Garmin.  It was a little complicated and had difficulty finding satellites at times.

 I did not think I needed a GPS again because of my limited mobility in my everyday wheelchair .  But now that I am using my Action TrackChair, I plan on picking up this new GPS from Bushnell.   Check it out for yourself here

It received great reviews from Field & Stream Magazine and is listed as the best GPS in 2011 .  This is what they have to say:

If you want basic navigation and cool route functions but don’t want to spend a fortune or read a manual, the BackTrack D-Tour GPS is the unit for you. It can mark up to five locations—camp, the trailhead, an elk wallow, a clearing, or a rendezvous point—and guide you back to any of them, pointing the direction and giving the distance left to go. Hit the Trip button as you begin your hunt, and the D-Tour will log up to 24 hours of data including distance, speed, elevation, and temperature.

Plug it into your PC or Mac with a free downloadable app, and with a single button click, it will display your path on Google Maps while graphing speed, elevation, temperature, or distance. Just four buttons do everything on this -diminutive unit. —Jock Ellio

2011 Archery Season Opener

September 17, 2011 started the archery season here in Pa. and like last year, I had the great pleasure to go hunting with Whitetail Management Associates (WMA).  This year we went to a property in Gibsonia and as you can see, I had a fantastic day.  Here is how it happened.

A few months ago Joe and Ryan from WMA emailed me asking if I was interested in participating in a disabled hunt again this year.  It took me all of 3 seconds to reply YES PLEASE !  WMA is a group of men and women dedicated to the outdoors and are of the highest caliber of true ethical sportsmen.  Hunting with them in 2010 was an experience I'll never forget, so I jumped at the chance to do it again.

Saturday morning started at 3:00 am as I got washed and dressed in my Elusion Camo and my brother John loaded my Action TrackChair onto my trailer (Dreams Become Reality) for the drive to Gibsonia and Chatham University .

We met Ryan and Tim along with the other volunteers from WMA who were giving up their opening day of archery to assist me.  This is the first time they had seen an Action TrackChair and they could not believe how cool it was.  Everyone wanted to drive it off the trailer for me.

Tim and Ryan did a two man lift to transfer me from my wheelchair into my Action TrackChair, we rounded up my Parker Buck Buster 175 crossbow and Rage Broadheads and we were off.

The Action TrackChair was the only chair capable of getting me to my hunting spot, at least in my opinion .  I drove it through or over anything in my way to reach an intersection of deer trails.

Ryan Certainly did a great deal of preseason scouting to put me in the perfect place for the opportunity to harvest a mature Whitetail doe. The weather was cool around 47° and all I needed to do was sit tight and wait till daylight.   

As the sun came up, John and I were treated to the antics of Chipmunks and Gray Squirrels running everywhere around us .  I was constantly scanning my sector, trying to move just my eyes as I waited for a Whitetail Doe to approach. 

By 8 AM, John and I had not seen any deer yet and the volunteers from WMA  decided to slowly push some Whitetail's by us.  They informed us of the plan and I stayed alert waiting for my shot opportunity.  

 It was 9 AM and I heard movement to my right, coming down the hillside.  I said to my brother John this is it,  and I took my safety off.  Earlier, at first light he used my laser rangefinder to give me some exact yardage reference points.

The doe made her way down the hillside and stopped behide a tree.  I knew that tree was 30 yards out in front of me.  I settled my crosshairs behind her left front shoulder and activated my trigger activator.  The bolt found its mark, a complete pass-through shot effectively taking out both lungs. 

 My brother said great shot Greg, you got her. I could not believe how fortunate I was to be in this situation with WMA again this year.   We waited a few minutes and then John retrieved  my crossbow bolt confirming the shot. 

John quickly called Ryan on the cell phone and told him we should have  a doe down very close by .   It seemed like only a few minutes when Ryan and the other volunteers arrived .    

 I was very excited and got to relive the experience again as they asked me about my shot.  I explained that I took a 32 yard shot right behind her front shoulder. They easily found the blood trail and retrieved my doe 30 yards away.   

After a few pictures were taken we moved on to a different location.  I was able to see an additional 40 odd deer, but none presented a clean ethical shot.  

All the volunteers stayed the entire day and did everything they could to ensure I had a memorable day afield with them.   John and I had a great day hunting together as only two brothers can.

We would like to thank all the volunteers at WMA for giving up their time and making sure I had the best possible  hunting experience with friends and family.  

John and I dropped off my Whitetail at Kips Deer Proessing in Carnegie Pa for professional processing.

 I would also like to thank Elusion Camo for their Mobiblind system and Action TrackChairs. Without this equipment, I would not be able to get into the woods and become invisible.    




  

Deer Vitals, Shot Placement

Its almost time for bed, all my gear is rounded up and here is what I'm thinking... shot placement.  Tomorrow I want the chance to make a quick clean harvest of a mature doe.  Good night and good luck to all you fellow bow hunters !

GAME COMMISSION CONFIRMS EHD IN WILD DEER IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Bad News.....

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that test results from a wild deer have confirmed that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been found in Northampton County.  This sample was collected Aug. 18.

EHD also has been confirmed in captive deer in Northampton County in the vicinity of the wild deer.  Additionally, one captive deer in Erie County was confirmed to have died of EHD, based on a sample collected Aug. 13. 

Residents are encouraged to call their respective Game Commission region office to report dead or sick deer.  Contact information is available on page 5 of the 2011-12 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is presented to each license buyer, and also on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “About Us” in the menu bar at the top of the page and then selecting “Regional Information.”

To provide the public with more information about EHD, the agency has posted an EHD information page on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).  To view the information, place your cursor over “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the page, then put your cursor over “Wildlife Diseases” in the drop-down menu listing and then click on “Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).”

EHD is a common but sporadic disease in white-tailed deer populations of the United States, and is contracted by the bite of insects called “biting midges.”  In more northern states, such as Pennsylvania, EHD occurs less often and affected deer are less likely to mount an effective immune response.  The virus usually kills the deer within five to 10 days.  It is not spread from deer to deer by contact.  While EHD is not infectious to humans, deer displaying severe symptoms of EHD are usually not suitable for consumption because of the rapid deterioration of the meat and secondary bacterial infection.

Custom Hitch Action TrackChair

My friend Justin Ubel over at Axxess Creations manufactures custom products for individuals with disabilities.  Maybe he does so well because he is a PWD and uses what he makes as well...

He sent me this BAD ASS custom hitch and receiver just in time for my crossbow hunt.  Now I can move my trailer using the Action TrackChair and hopefully drag my doe out with it too!  This is the mother of all hitches,, thanks Justin!

Pa Elk License 2011 Results

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials held a public drawing to award 56 elk licenses for the 2011 season. The event also was webcast via the agency’s website, the drawing drew 599 viewers, and served as a means to enable more people to view the public drawing. All 56 hunters selected to receive a license will be mailed a confirmation letter within about a week.

Of the 18 antlered elk licenses, 17 were awarded to Pennsylvania residents, and one awarded to a hunter from Ohio. All 38 antlerless elk licenses were awarded to Pennsylvanians.

All elk license recipients must obtain a general hunting license prior to purchasing their elk license. Elk licenses cost $25 for residents and $250 for nonresidents.

In addition to the 56 licenses drawn, one special Pennsylvania bull elk conservation license was auctioned off by the Safari Club International (SCI) earlier this year at its national convention. 

The Special Conservation Tag was created by an act of the legislature in 2008. The successful bidder paid $29,000 for this license. Of that, 80 percent will go to the agency to fund habitat development and maintenance work within the elk range. By law, SCI is permitted to retain the remaining 20 percent to defray costs associated with promoting the auction.

Gerber Multi Tool

Gerber makes a great multi tool that is essential in any day pack.  This one goes into my hunting pack and always comes in handy.  I also carry a set of hex wrenches and an extra trigger activator.  Some say I'm OCD and I agree, but I needed both in spring turkey season.  Being prepared means more time in the field and an opportunity to harvest game.

Knife Sharpener

Few things are as dangerous as a dull knife.  I just bought a new knife sharpener thats easy to use and I think it does an adequate job, it will even sharpen scissors.  It's the Wusthof two stage knife sharpener.

Before my injury, I used a Lansky knife sharpener.  It was a lot more difficult to use and produced about the same results in my opinion.  With this two-stage sharpener it's pretty easy, the knife stays at a 90° angle and you simply draw the knife through.

Laundry

Laundry is every one's favorite subject, right?  Not really, but if you are a Bow Hunter, laundry should be one of your biggest concerns.

Over the next few days I will be using laundry detergent that is scent free with no brighteners, to wash all of my clothing, including hats and face mask. 

Then hang all my articles of clothing out to dry in the fresh air.  When they are completely air dry, I will be spraying them with scent elimination spray and allow that to dry as well before placing them in an airtight plastic bag .  How do you prepare your hunting clothes?

As for my body odor, I use scent free soap and unscented deodorant.  I start washing with unscented soap a week before the season starts.  Good luck and be safe !

Gear Up for Fall

It's great to be part of the international hunting community.  Check out Wild Jaeger on facebook, the Web and youtube.  They are a fantastic group of men and women dedicated to the outdoors.  This hat will be my new look for fall, after all we can't wear white after Labor day...