I know many of you have been waiting all summer for us to announce the winner of the 2009 Montana Pronghorn hunt provided by Trophies West.  Well, the day is here.  Click the link below to listen to a Bonus episode of BowCast where the winner is announced.  Good Luck.

 Announcement - Winner of Trophies West Pronghorn Hunt

We hope you all enjoyed the Antelope Trilogy that Sean Degrey helped us to put together.  Whether you are hunting Pronghorn in 2009 or 2020, keep the Antelope Trilogy as a reference to gear up for the goats! 

Ok...here we go with part 2 of my review of my 2008 gear.

I actually got an introduction to GamePlan gear packs late in 2007.  I used the "BowBat" bag for my Colorado whitetail hunt.  I immediately fell in love with this pack as a compact and functional pack for treestand hunting.  The pack "wraps" around your bow, has pockets for your gear and then actually wraps around the tree when you are up in your stand to serve as a back cushion as well as a functional "hanger" for grunt tubes, bleat calls, and rattlers.  My only recommendation to GamePlan Gear would be to enhance the pack to cover and protect your bowstring when it is slung around your back and you are hiking to your stand.

With my appreciation for the "BowBat", I decided to try out the GamePlan Gear "Spot N Stalk" pack.  At first I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to use this pack, but it became very apparent with a few field tests early on during Turkey season.

If you have been keeping up with the latest episodes of Realtree Roadtrips with Michael Waddell, you will actualy see Michael wearing this pack during a few elk hunts.  But my first use of it was an alternative to a traditional turkey vest.

The Spot N Stalk has a compartment to hold a water bladder to keep you hydrated.  It has a main compartment with some sewn in pockets to keep your gear organized.  It also has 3 external compartments of various sizes to hold everything from a water bottle, slate turkey call, box turkey call, knife or what have you.   The pack slings over your shoulder, with the main compartment on your lower back.  The sling in front has a front zipper pocket which is perfect to hold your range finder for a quick grab.  I also should note, that wearing a bino harness with this pack is not an issue.

What is most unique (and functional in my opinion) is the ability to take your detachable quiver off your bow, and fasten it to the hip side of the Spot N Stalk.  This provides for easy, out of the way access to your arrows, and keeps your quiver off your bow without having to detach it with game in front of you.

I have 3 major types of hunting that I personally do where the Spot N Stalk is the right fit.  I detail these species/types of hunts below.

Turkey Hunting with the Spot N Stalk

As I have mentioned, this is a better alternative to the traditional turkey vest in my opinion.  It has all the space and compartments of a traditional turkey vest, however, is light weight and more functional for the archery turkey hunter.  With that being said, this pack is great if you are turkey hunting "spot n stalk" style, or if you are setting up in natural ground blinds.  Where the pack did not work for me was when I had my double bull blind on my back.  I have a separate Blacks Creek pack to carry my double bull, and therefore, the Spot N Stalk just did not fit as an accessory. 

Antelope Hunting with the Spot N Stalk

In my opinion, the Spot N Stalk is THE DEFACTO antelope pack for spotting and stalking.  You keep it on the back seat of your truck with water, field care equipment, rain jacket, quiver attached - and when you pull over behind a rise and are ready to go, you grab it and - GAME ON!  It makes it so much easier to ensure you have everything you need ready to go in a very light weight and stalk ready pack.

Elk/Mule Deer Hunting with the Spot N Stalk

I wasn't too sure about this at first, but it ended up working great.  If I am doing a day hunt out of a base camp, I probably prefer my Badlands SuperDay to carry my gear because I can pack more into it and still feel comfortable.

However, when I am spiking into the backcountry 2 or more miles, I have my Badlands 4500 to carry my shelter, food, and water (among other gear).  There is really not the weight to spare to carry the SuperDay in.  However, the Spot N Stalk is lightweight enough that I was able to roll it up and stick it into my 4500.  Once my spike camp was set, when I hunted away from that camp for the day, the Spot N Stalk was the way to go.  Held my water and food for the day, field care equipment and rain gear very comfortably.  It forced me to keep my day's supplies light, and I rarely even remembered I had it on.  And the best part about it is when getting that "sudden" encounter with an elk or bedded mule deer, I was able to duck behind a tree, and get an arrow nocked in one swift movement without spooking any game. 

 Overall, what should be noted about GamePlan gear as a company is that they have focused on the functionality of their packs to meet specific hunting requirements of different types of hunting we all do.  You are going to appreciate the quality and attention to detail with the Spot N Stalk pack.  GamePlan gear also has some other very functional products available such as bow slings and packs that carry tree stands into the woods comfortably.  Check them out here - http://www.gameplangear.com/.

Zotes Sunflower Seeds

For those of you who attended the BowCast 3D shoot in July of this year, you may have seen the Zotes truck, or possibly me even zipping around in the Zotes golf cart to pick up late arrivers and get them up to the course.

And if you attended the BowCast VIP After party, you would have received some Zotes Sunflower seed samples as well as a coupon for 25% off their products - ONLY for BowCast listeners with the "bowcast" promo code.

Extended 25% Discount to BowCasters

The offer was only supposed to last through this summer, but I have been informed by the cool folks over at Zotes that they are continuing this offer. I went ahead and used the "bowcast" promo code to order one package of each of their flavored sunflower seeds. After all, I wanted to give you all an informed taste review before I actually sent you over to purchase your favorite flavor.

I am a seed cracker through and through. I have been crackin and spittin your standard salted sunflower seeds on the way up to and in hunting camp for years. Now, I have a new supply with awesome flavors to take up with me this weekend.

As a BowCast listener, you can get the 25% off these seeds by doing the following:

Instructions to get BowCast discount

1) Log on to the Zotes online store .

2) Click on "Bottles" on the left hand side to preview all the different flavors (and attractive ladies on the label).

3) Select your favorite flavors and proceed to checkout (Note, if this is your first time, you need to create an account for a secure order)

4) After choosing your shipping options, there is a section titled "Coupons and Gift Certificates". In the "Coupon Code" section, enter "bowcast" and click apply. This will deduct 25% from your order.

5) Pay and wait a couple days to get crackin!

That's all there is to it....great seeds from a great company. My order arrived a few days after I placed it. I have gone through all the flavors and include my personal opinions on each (as well as ranked from favorite to least). The good news is with the selection, your bound to find a personal favorite to enjoy.

Aneal's Zotes Ranking

#1 - Garlic Roast - Tasty, Tasty, Tasty....just don't breath closer than 10 feet from anyone before brushing your teeth.

#2 - Gotta love anything flavored like hot wings. The blue cheese doesn't work as well as it does with actual wings.

#3 - Spicy and Cheesy......goes together just like bow and arrow.

#4 - Beer taste is subtle....which is good. Please note you cannot get drunk on these seeds. I tried earlier this afternoon.

#5 - We've all had salted sunflower seeds...pepper is the perfect compliment. My wife's favorite flavor, and my favorite label due to most skin being shown.

#6 - Not sure exactly what it is, but these salted seeds are much better than some of the other brands I have tasted. Maybe a hint of butter?

#7 - You'll like this one if you often find yourself eating raw jalapenos as a snack. Watch out!

#8 - I am not a big fan of tequila or lime, and when I peeled off the limes on the label, there was nothing underneath.

#9 - Yeah, this flavor was not for me...but interesting enough the chick pouring pickle juice on herself turned me on.

Thanks to the entire team at Zotes for supporting the 2008 BowCast 3D shoot as well as continuing this offer for all of us residents of BowCast!

Has anyone out there cracked these seeds? If so, tell us your favorite flavor. If not, at least tell us which label you like best as you wait for your 25% discount order to arrive. Post a comment!

Late - Aneal

I don't think I need to type a word - these pics speak for themselves. Congrats Anthony and Launch!

Trail Cam Pic of Monsen's Whitey:

Badlands is Saving Your Glass!

Salt Lake City, Utah –The new Badlands Bino system is in a class of its own. The patent pending ZipNo™ technology uses a system of magnets sewn completely around all openings on the case, eliminating the need for zippers (and we know that zippers can be a hunter’s worse nightmare). Only the ZipNo™ closure, allows you to open and close the case with one hand and protect your glass from the unpredictable elements of the outdoors and the rugged activities of a hunter. The practically water tight seal allows your binos to be fully functional and protected, all without the use of zippers or buckles.  Here are some of the other features the new Bino system has to offer.

-          Built in 35 oz Hydration System on the harness

-          Side straps allowing you to attach Range Finder, GPS, or Two Way Radio.

-          Work station with pocks for all your game calls, maps or snacks

-          Can be mounted to pack using the sternum strap

-          Bow Hook, allowing you to use both hands for your glass and not having to set your bow on the ground

-          OUR UNCONDITINAL LIFETIME WARRANTY

The Vault Bino System will be available fall 2008. Badlands will be there to save your glass!