Scent Eliminating Clothing | Bow Sights | Buyer’s Guide for Broadheads | The Whats What of Peep Sights | Fishing Tackle Maintenance | Fishing Line Care | Fishing Rod Maintenance | Fishing Reel Maintenance | Bowhunting & Fishing Reviews | Whats Hot
Scent Eliminating Clothing Review
My staff and I are always trying new gear in an effort to be well informed on the merchandise we sell. We spent the past 3 months of our archery season here in northeast Ohio trying out scent eliminating clothing. I wore the Scent Lok Savanna EXT and Full Season series clothing while 2 other members of my staff wore the new Dream Season clothing. Further I wore the Scent Lok gloves while the other 2 members wore the Scent Blocker gloves. All of us wore knee high rubber boots while testing these products.
The Scent Lok Savanna EXT series I wore was a coverall. The Savannah series is constructed of a more breathable material that is the warm-weather hunter’s key to success, and for this season it is 25% lighter! Scent-Lok has continued to refine their product line to provide hunters with the ultimate in hunting gear. A single-layer design with excellent moisture management, these innovative garments provide a level of comfort to the early-season hunter that is superb. I wore the coverall in temperatures of 85 + degrees and found it to work well. The Savanna series is constructed of a more breathable material that allows you to feel cooler. I was fortunate enough to harvest a doe while wearing this coverall in a temperature of 80 degrees. The hunt went very well as the deer had no idea I was perched some 25 yards away even though a swirling wind could have spooked her at any time. The coveralls come with a built in zipper pouch that the coveralls fold right up in making them very compact. I only found two draw backs to this coverall. First, while hunting on a warm early October evening I had a fifteen minute shower pass through. It was not a very hard rain, but it left me rather wet. Although I was not happy about getting so wet, I chalked it up to the lightweight and breathable nature of the gear. The second was the camo pattern I choose was not exactly right for the season I was wearing it. I chose Advantage Timber which is much to brown for the early season when the leaves have yet to change.
Next as the weeks moved further into late October and November the temperatures here in Ohio tend fluctuate wildly. I would hunt one day in mid 60’s temps and the following would be in the low 50’s. I found the Full Season series to work very well in all of these conditions. I was able to hunt comfortably in temps as low as 26 and as warm as 64. The key to the Full Season series, like most other hunting clothing is how you dress underneath. The warmer days (55+ degrees) called for very little if any “layers” underneath. As the temps began to fall I found a simple set of thermals and a sweatshirt and jeans worked just fine. The Full Season series is also far more weather resistant than that of the Savanna series. I was wearing the six-pocket pant along with the fleece style jacket. I found the pants to have plenty of room and be very comfortable. They also sported abundant pocket space for miscellaneous calls and gear. The coat was a little on the large size for me as I normally am between an XL and a 2XL. I choose the 2X and it was very big. The sleeves tapered well though and were never an issue while shooting. I was wearing this gear when I harvested my buck for this season. Again I had no issues with being winded by the deer. Further I had several bucks and does in and around me on several occasions (some within 3-4 feet of my tree) and never once did I have one spook on my scent. The camo pattern on the Dakota Series was perfect, it was Mossy Oak Break-Up.
The Dream Season series from Robinson Labs proved to be a very good product as well. Both of my Staff members gave it a 4.5 out of 5. They both found it to be comfortable and highly weather resistant. The camo patterns offered were ideal for any season. They reported that the clothing got a little warm in the early season from time to time but was perfect as the days grew colder. The pocket and storage space was said to be above average and they both rated the clothing as extremely quite. On of the reviewers stated that he felt the seat of the pants were a little smaller than the size he normally wears, the other stated he did not notice this. Both had several encounters with deer and again they were never winded by deer. As a matter of fact where one of the hunters hunted he encountered several coyotes throughout the season and was never once winded.
All of the gear was washed prior to the start of the season an stored in scent free sealable plastic/rubber containers. The clothes were dried once every 2 weeks to reactivate the scent control as instructed by the manufacturer.
In closing we found all of the clothing to meet or exceed all of our expectations. All of the clothes seemed to wear very well with no tears or rips while walking through some thickets and clear cut woods. The two sets Scent Lok were approx. $150.00 more than the one set of Dream Season. We would suggest that one would weigh how much of a temp differential they can expect in one season before investing in two sets of clothing. The Savanna series clothing are excellent for warm weather but they certainly add an additional cost for that portion of the season. We hope that you found this review informative, and we would like to thank you for visiting realdealoutdoors.com.
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Bow Sights; Selecting the right sight for you
In the world of archery supplies few accessories offer as many choices as that of bow sights. Bow sights come in so many different colors, makes, models, and sizes that it can confuse even some of the best archers. The intention of this article is to help clarify some of the truths and myths of bow sights. We will review the differences between traditional target sights, hunting sights, pin size selections and accessories you may want to look for on a bow sight.
Target Sights
Target sights are traditionally the sights used for both target and 3-D shooting. These sights generally feature smaller pin size and will be on a dovetail. They come in models of 5,6, or even 7 pins. The smaller pins enable the archer to see more of his or her target allowing them to really zero in on a small area in which they want to shoot at. Pin sizes are now going smaller than ever with some manufacturers introducing pin sizes of .010” and even .009”. The most traditional size though still remains the .019” pin. The dovetail is another feature often misunderstood when purchasing a sight. The dovetail’s primary purpose is to get the sight further away from the riser of the bow. This allows for greater accuracy as well. Dovetail lengths can vary, but we would suggest that approx. 4-5” as an acceptable length to most archers. Some other features to consider when purchasing a target sight would be is the sight adaptable to a lens. What this means is will the sight easily accept a powered lens, much like a rifle scope, to enhance accuracy. Also you will want to check on availability of a sun shade for the sight you are considering. All to often on bright sunny days the fiber optic pins tend to “burst” or “star” making it very easy to miss your mark. Several manufacturers like Spot-Hogg, Extreme Archery, Cobra, Copper John, Viper Archery, and Toxonics are known for making high quality sights. Below are a few examples of quality target sights.
Hunting Sights
Hunting sights have gone through extensive changes over recent years. Some hunter’s still prefer the pendulum sight or the adjustable single pin sight, but these sights have far less options then the traditional fixed pin sight. Gone are the days of a fixed pin sight that has one or even three pins. Today’s bow hunter wants a sight that feature at a minimum 3 pins, but most tend to go above that into 4 and 5 pin models. With the evolution of the modern compound bow and faster speeds this was an inevitable change. With most new compounds shooting at speeds of 300+fps a lot of hunters find themselves wanting more pins enabling them to shoot farther. Your typical 4-pin set up will feature a 20 yard pin (for shots up to 20 yds), 30 yard pin, 40 yard pin, and a 50 yard pin. The most recent trend that we have noticed is the pin size has gone smaller. As recent as 2 years ago 70%+ of the hunting sights sold were that of the .029” pin size. Now we are seeing a huge change over to the .019” pin size. The smaller pin size, much like that of the target sight, allows the hunter to focus more on a precise spot in which they want to shoot. The .019” pin also give a bow hunter a huge advantage over the .029” on the longer shots of 40 yards or more. The smaller pin does not cover nearly as much of the vital area allowing for cleaner shots. Fiber optic length is yet another feature to keep in mind when purchasing a new sight. The more fiber optic a sight has the more light the pins will gather, producing better pin visibility in low light conditions. Pendulum sights are another style of hunting sight that has gone through some changes in recent years. They now are offered by several manufacturers in fixed/locked position and adjustable. This enables the archer to lock it down for single pin or ground use and also to unlock it for tree stand use. The single pin sight has lost a little of its support with this change in the pendulum sight. In addition to the previously mentioned manufacturers, you may also want to look into the Tru Glo, Impact Archery, Montana Black Gold, G5, Vital Bow Gear and Trophy Ridge’s line up of excellent hunting sights. Below are a few samples of quality hunting sights.
Accessories to look for
Manufacturers of sights, both hunting and target, have become very competitive in offering more than just a sight. Several sights on the market today offer some sort of noise dampening system to help in reducing noise heard during shooting. This helps tremendously in bow hunting already skittish game. Many of the sight manufacturers now also produce their sights to be fitted with a light. After market lights are now a thing of the past with the new sights that allow you to simply screw the light into the side, top or bottom of your sight. These lights are designed to keep the light pointing on the pins and away from any approaching game. You will need to check your local and or state game laws to be sure that a lighted sight is legal. Finally, camo options for sights have never been so abundant. Almost every camo pattern made today is also available on a bow sight. There are also several manufacturers who produce their own camo that is designed to closely match several of the leading camo finishes.
Summary
In closing, with all of the choices available in the sights remember that there is a sight out there for you. Keep in mind that when you are looking for a sight, options are abundant. Do your homework and you will be happy with your decision. We hope that we here at Real Deal Outdoors helped explain some of the features and trends to help you make an informed decision when choosing the sight for you.
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BUYER’S GUIDE FOR BROADHEADS
Broadheads are a vital piece of archery equipment for any bowhunter. These razor sharp heads and their large cutting diameters are used to harvest all types of big game. Broadhead manufactures have designed and developed so many different types of heads that many hunters become confused on which one to choose. We hope that this simple guide will assist you in making the decision easier.
Every year manufactures are tirelessly working toward the perfect broadhead. They develop new models to help maximize cutting diameter while minimizing flight deviation and increasing penetration. So, in short, even if you are satisfied with the broadhead you’ve been using, it may be worth looking into some of the newer heads.
Broadheads can be broken up into 2 distinct categories: fixed blade broadheads and mechanical broadheads. Both come in several configurations, from two blade, four blade, cut-on-contact, chisel point, etc.
Broadhead selection can be based on several different factors. Some bowhunters select broadheads based on personal preference or speed or the type of game they are hunting. All are valid reasons for selecting your broadheads.
All too often we have bowhunters that come to us inquiring about a new broadhead. They are very interested in this head, but are reluctant to switch from the broadhead that they have been using for years. Speed is probably the most critical factor when selecting the proper broadhead. Generally, those who shoot slower arrow speed should concentrate on getting a fixed blade broadhead with a cutting diameter no greater than 1.25 inches. This will help maximize your broadhead’s efficiency with slower speed bows. Those bowhunters with speeds of approximately 280 fps or greater have many more options at their disposal. These speeds allow the bowhunter to use broadheads both mechanical and/or fixed blade with huge cutting diameters and multiple blade configurations.
The amount of blades on a broadhead plays a large role in the performance of the broadhead. The most important thing to remember is the more blades the more cutting surfaces you have. This, in theory, will lead to better blood trails when you use a 4-blade vs. a 2-blade. Most bowhunters will agree that a three blade head is a good place to start for anyone new to the sport.
FIXED BLADE BROADHEADS:
Fixed blade broadheads can be divided into 2 categories - solid body and replaceable blade.
  
Replaceable Solid body Cut-on Contact
Replaceable blade broadhead, the heads your dad used to shoot, are very popular because they allow the bowhunter to replace the blades when they become dull. The leading manufactures of these broadheads are New Archery Products (NAP), Muzzy, and Wasp. The replacement blades are far less expensive than the actual heads. This allows a bowhunter to always have razor sharp blades without having to buy new heads every season.
One of the drawbacks to replaceable blade broadheads is the blades themselves are replaceable. This makes them subject to malfunction when they strike hard objects such as bones. The blades can sheer off or just flat break on impact. Another issue worth noting is the blades sometimes come slightly loose causing them to vibrate while in flight decreasing your accuracy. Cut on contact are another type of replaceable blade broadhead. These heads are known for their ability to cut through animal hide vs. the chisel point that must rip through with its tip before getting to the blades on the head. Most bowhunters are willing to use cut on contact heads on game up to whitetail size and that is it.
Solid body heads have been gaining in popularity every year with bowhunters around the world. The leading manufacturer is G5, whose Montec broadheads have revolutionized the world of solid body construction. The solid body head is made from one piece of 100% steel and molded into a broadhead. The solid body head offers modest cutting diameters of anywhere from 1”- 1.5”. These heads offer excellent penetration and are not as susceptible to breaking as their replaceable blade counterpart. The biggest drawback to these heads is their blades go dull and are not replaceable. Some manufacturers have come up with sharpeners to sharpen the blades, but none the less the task is somewhat tedious.
MECHANICAL BROADHEADS:
These broadheads have had a very difficult time overcoming the initial perception of many bowhunters. These type of heads were heavily scrutinized in their early years for their failure to perform. My how times have changed. These heads can now lay claim to a huge portion of the broadhead market and rightfully so. Some of the leading manufactures of mechanical broadheads are NAP, G5, Wasp, Crimson Talon, and Rocket Aeroheads.
   
These heads offer field tip type accuracy with zero planing making them easily the most accurate type broadhead on the market today. They also boast an extremely large cutting diameter, up to 3 inches, boring huge holes. These large cutting diameters are excellent for deer size game, but not suggested for anything larger. Stick with no larger than 1.5 inch cutting diameters when seeking large, heavy boned game. Mechanical broadheads offer accuracy, large cutting diameters, and speed. They do however have some drawbacks as well. Manufacturers suggest that bowhunters have at least 55 lbs. of kinetic energy out of there arrow before using these type heads. This will help ensure that the heads open fully and maximize the cutting diameter on deer size game. Bowhunters will need at least 65 lbs to get the job done on elk, bear, etc. Another issue often brought up with mechanical broadheads is what we call the “pogo sick” effect. This occurs when the head hits heavy bone with one or even two of the blades. This causes the head to “snag” on the bone and all of the kinetic energy to be lost in the bone. This greatly reduces penetration.
SUMMARY:
In closing, no matter which type broadhead you choose with the proper amount of practice you will be successful. It is important to remember that your bow must be tuned and you need to select the proper weight broadhead for the archery equipment you are using. Industry standards recommend 100 grain heads for carbon and lightweight aluminum shafts, and 125 grain heads for those bowhunters who shoot heavy aluminum shafts. Bow tuning is critical for accuracy with broadheads. A few quick tips to ensure your bow is properly tuned:
- Make sure if you shoot a 2 cam bow that the cams are synchronized
- Rotate nock to eliminate any fletching contact
- Check rest and string to make sure everything is centered
- Shoot through paper at a distance of 10-15 feet to look for any tailing of arrow in flight
- Adjust rest to compensate for tailing
These few steps do not take very long, but will save tons of time while attempting to zero in your new broadheads. There are literally thousands of broadheads out on the market today offering today’s bowhunters a plethora of choices. Just remember with practice and patience you can make your next hunt a memorable one.
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THE WHAT’S WHAT OF PEEP SIGHTS
Peep sight, what is the perfect one for me? Archery equipment in general is all about personal preference, and peep sight selection is no exception. We are asked hundreds of times a year by archers which peep sight they should use. Archers everywhere want a peep that will always be lined up when they pull the bow back on a target or that big buck. The no nonsense and always in alignment peep is the rubber tube style. The new RAD Maxim 38 (illustrated below) has been our choice of peep for the newer short axel to axel (can be as short as 30") bows. It is self aligning and the peep hole is at a 38* angle, so the viewing hole will line up with the sight. So if you have one of the newer short or parallel limb bows this RAD Maxim 38 peep will be ideal. All rubber tube style peeps are very functional and will line up every time. They, like most of your other archery supplies, also have some drawbacks. The first, and biggest negative with tube style peeps is that they will slow down your arrow flight. These peeps will slow down an arrow as much as 7-10 fps. Other drawbacks of the tube style peep are the rubber tube may rot and break, and the bow will have to be re-sighted in after installation. Although this tried and true peep is probably the most sure fire peep on the market today it does have its drawbacks.
Next is the target peep. This peep is served into the string and is tubeless. These sights will not slow your bow, are not subject to rot or breakage and your bow will still shoot fairly close after installation eliminating the need for a complete re-sight. The downside is that these style peeps are subject to turning with the string making it impossible to see thru them to your sights. G5 makes a great peep sight, they are made of magnesium, therefore, it is very light weight and we have not had much problem with this peep turning. The G5 meta peeps (illustrated below) are available in 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inch. They are blue in color, which enables the shooters eye to focus better in low light conditions. We found that a whip tie of the peep and ten tie above and below the peep works best. The good news is most strings will allow you to “train” your peep making this peep an excellent choice.
Finally we have been selling a lot of the Pro Low Light Peep sight by Red Hawk (illustrated below). These peeps are gaining great popularity because they assist the archer a great deal in seeing in those low light conditions.
No matter what you are looking for in archery equipment there will be choices to make. We would if we had to make a suggestion we would break it down this way. For the archers who intend on shooting more frequently we would suggest the target peep, and the tube style peep for the archer who intends on shooting just prior to hunting season. This is not to mean that the avid archer can not use a tube style or vice-versa but more that this has been our experience. We hope that this little article will help you get the peep that is right for you. Good Shooting!
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FISHING TACKLE MAINTENANCE
Proper maintenance of fishing tackle is a very important, often overlooked aspect of fishing. All too often anglers find themselves out for a great day of fishing only to have their fishing tackle fail them. The most important thing all anglers need to do is spend a few minutes making sure their tackle is in proper working order. Here are a few tips that will help any angler make that day on the water a hassle free adventure.
Fishing Line Care
Fishing line is possibly the most overlooked part of any anglers’ fishing tackle assortment. When you′re spooling up a baitcasting reel, or any conventional reel, put a rod, or even a pencil, through the center of the line spool. Tie the line to the reel (we would suggest the use of the Universal-Knot) and clip off the tag end of the knot. Snug the knot to the reel spool. One person should reel while another person holds both ends of the rod or pencil, applying pressure as the line is reeled onto the spool. The line should always be tight while spooling and never allow slack as this will cause knots and twists in the line as it is being spooled. Fill to about 1/8” from the spool′s outer rim or to the reel specifications for the maximum test weight/yardage (i.e. 20 lb. Test / 300yds.) the reel is supposed to hold. You never want to over or under spool your reel. Another key point when using lines that contain carbon you need to keep the line from getting hot from to much pressure. Line that is over exposed to heat tension specially fluorocarbon lines will be greatly weakened and will cause possible breaks when stressed by fighting fish. Always keep the line away from anything that could cause abrasion or nicks while spooling. The knot you choose for varies from one angler to the next, but in our opinion the best universal knot for tying most types of fishing tackle is the universal knot (illustrated below).
This basic fishing knot that can be varied to meet virtually every knot tying need. In either freshwater or saltwater fishing this tried and true knot has held up to the toughest of tests. Knot illustrations and directions thanks to Ande Monofilament.
1. Run the line through the eye of hook, swivel or lure at least 6" and fold to make 2 parallel lines.
Bring the end of line back in a circle toward the hook or lure. |
2. Make 6 turns with tag end around the double line.
Pass tag end through the circle.
Hold the double line at a point where it passes through the eye and pull the tag end to snug up the turns. |
3. Now pull the standing line to slide the knot up against the eye.
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4. Continue pulling until the knot is tight. Trim tag end flush with closest coil of knot. The uni-knot will not slip.
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This tried and true knot will help ensure that your lures, hooks etc. will not break at the time of a fish strike. A key point when using this or any knot on all braided and carbon based lines is to keep them wet when tying. Keeping the line wet will help keep the line cool and prevent it from being weakened by heat. Always check your line before going fishing for any nicks, abrasions, twists etc. Fishing line should be changed at least every year and as needed throughout the course of a season depending on the amount of use.
Fishing Rod Maintenance
Fishing rods also need to be well maintained to ensure they are in proper working order. A few minutes invested in checking the rod blank, reel seat, guide wraps and grips for wear can help any angler make sure their tackle is in proper working order. When checking the guides you want to look for anything that can cause your line to cut, kink, snag. There are a few ways to check for such issues, but we have found that running a pair of nylons/pantyhose through the guides is the best way. You will want the nylons to run cleanly through the guides on the rod to ensure your line will do the same. If when performing this test the nylons snag on the guide(s) locate the guide that is causing the snag and repair the problem. Consider using clear nail polish on any nicks or scores in the guide. This will coat the guide with a smooth finish once again. If this method does not work consider replacing the guide. The guide wraps are equally as important. Look for signs of wear or unraveling and repair as necessary. The reel seat and grip need to properly cleaned and free of dirt, grease, grime, etc. This is important so that the reel seats properly in the reel seat, and so that the grip does not rot prematurely. The grip should be wiped clean regularly with warm water and soap and rinsed clean with cold water. We would suggest a disinfectant soap to help keep the spread of germs to a minimum. If you are using a two piece rod we would suggest the use of a light coating paraffin oil on the ferrule of the rod. This will help strengthen the connection of the two pieces and also assist in the break down of the rod. Rods should always be stored in an “unstressed” manner. This means that the rod should be stored in a vertical rack or laid flat. Never put undue stress on the rod by securing the line or hook/lure to the rod and winding the reel tight. This will lead to shorter rod life and cause possible premature breakage.
Fishing Reel Maintenance
Sometimes, we as anglers overlook the importance of cleaning our fishing reels. Many times your fishing rod and reel simply get thrown in the basement at the end of the fishing season and then dragged out at the beginning of the next season to be used again. Very often your reel will choose to not work properly at precisely the worst time, such as when you′re fighting a large fish. This is why I do a little routine maintenance on my fishing reels before the start of every fishing season. You only have to lose a trophy one time because of your fishing reel not performing properly to make you a believer. Take my word for it. Do a little routine "check up", such as what′s described below, before the beginning of every fishing season and you won′t have any problems. First of all, gather the following tools: A small screwdriver, a pair of needle nose pliers or hemostats, grease of some sort (either purchase a small bottle of reel oil or simply just use WD-40), a couple of clean towels, 5-6 Q-tips, and a clear area to work. Any cleared off table will work fine.
First you will need to take the fishing reel off the rod and set it aside. You will now want to wipe the reel clean with warm water only. Make sure that all of the all debris and grease has been cleaned thoroughly from the fishing reel. Next you will want to remove the handle from the reel. This can be accomplished by either removing the screw on the opposite side of the handle or by turning the handle in the opposite direction that you would while reeling. Set the handle aside.
Next look for the exposed screw heads. Remove all of the screws that are holding the reel together. You will want to be sure to use the correct size screwdriver so that you do not strip the heads of the screws. Be sure to keep all the screws in a safe place set aside from the area in which you are working. Remove the reel plate to expose the inner working parts of the reel. Inside you will find all of the bearings and springs. You will want to only look for any debris (dirt, sand, etc.) or grease build up inside. If anything is found gently wipe clean using a Q-Tip, very soft cloth or by using a soft toothbrush/utility brush. Once the area is clean proceed with a quality reel lube and lubricate any exposed gears and springs. The most common mistake occurs at this point. Do not over lubricate these parts. This can lead to grime build up and cause the fishing reel to malfunction. You only want to use enough oil to lightly coat the bearings and springs.
Finally you will want to replace the reel plate and screw it back on. Be sure, once again, not to over tighten the screws or strip the heads. The handle can now be reinstalled and your reel is ready for fishing. It is important to note that proper maintenance of your fishing reel will extend the life of it dramatically. This whole process only takes only a few minutes once you have done it a few times and will save you money and headaches down the line.
Conclusion
These tips are a general informational account of what you can do to help maintain all of your fishing tackle. The importance of general fishing tackle maintenance can not be understated, it is very important to keep all of your fishing tackle it peak working condition. By doing so you will find yourself having better fishing trips with less headaches. That is what it is all about, enjoy yourself and have fun fishing!
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BOWHUNTING & FISHING REVIEWS
Hello everyone and welcome to Real Deal Outdoors, your online outdoor superstore. Today we would like to review a couple of great new items. The first will be the new for 2007 Carbon Express Maxima 3D Select arrows. These arrows are loaded with great features. The shafts boast unbelievable specs such as +/-.001" straghtness and +/- 1.0 grain weight tolerances. They feature Buff Tough Plus Construction, the world′s toughest and quietest carbon arrow finish, Bull Dog Nock Collars, terrific spine strength and in the 250 an amazing 7.3 grains per inch making them great for both target and hunting. We have been shooting these and love them. They have brought all of our groups in to about a 1" at 30 yards. Remember we can make an arrow to any specifications you would like, just drop us an email and we will be happy to help. The second item that we can not say enough good things about is the Okuma Magda Trolling Combos. These Combos feature an 8′6" Classic Pro rod medium action and the Magda 30 DX line counter reel. These combos are superb for any Great Lakes fisherman using Dipsy Divers, Planer Boards, Downriggers, or flatlining. The linecounter is very accurate and the rod has a great feel allowing the angler to see those real light hits. As always remember the outdoors is for everyone to enjoy, and we hope you can take some one special with you to share in the memories.
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WHATS HOT THIS SPRING!!
The weather outside is heating up and there are fish to catch and turkey to hunt. We would like to take some time to share with you a few hot items that we have heard nothing but good things about. We have noticed again this year that Shimano seems to be the top dog in the fishing world. Over half of all of our fishing sales are for Shimano products. The best selling spinning reel has been the Shimano Spirex Re series reels. These reels offer tons of features at a very good price. The top seller is the Spirex 2500RE, this mid size reel will get the job done for most lake and river fisherman. The Shimano Curado tops the list for baitcasters and the Tekota still leads for conventional reels. Okuma is another company that also offers a terrific line of quality fishing gear. The best seller for us in the Okuma line has got to be the Okuma Magda Combo′s. These great trolling combos are offered in both an 8′6" and 10′ line counter combo. These combos are awesome for the Great Lakes fisherman who spends the bulk of his time trolling for Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, etc. These combos are a main stay on my boat and served me very well. Now onto the great world of archery. We attended the Archery Trade show this past January in Atlanta and saw thousands of items, here are a few that caught our eye. We really liked the Carbon Express Maxima 3d select arrows. These arrows offer the buff tuff finish, and unbelievable weight and straightness tolerences. The Maxima Hunter shafts last year got rave reviews and we believe these will do the same. As far as bow sights we have 2 that really stuck out the Copper John Dead Nuts 2 series and the Extreme RT series are both really great sights for this year. That is not to say that Spot Hogg, Cobra, and even Truglo were not impressive, but we felt the Extreme and Copper John sights were awesome. In the world of electronics the most impressive thing we found was that the digital trail cameras have come down drastically in price. It will be possible to buy a 4mp+ camera this fall for under $180.00. Moultrie and Leaf River were 2 manufacturers that seem to be on top of their game. As far as hunting is concerned we are still very impressed with the Primos line of hunting calls and accessories. The new Wet Box turkey call can be completely submerged in water and still produce awesome calls time after time. The Sonic and A-frames series mouth calls both still are our top selling mouth calls for the second year in a row. The mini series in both these calls are great for women children and adults with smaller pallets. The new Primos Turkey Strap is a great idea that will make toting that big gobbler out of the woods alot easier. To see all of the fore mentioned products and more you can visit our online store at www.realdealoutdoors.com. We hope that no matter what you are doing this spring that you are having fun doing it. The outdoors is for everyone to enjoy, and we hope you can take some one special with you to share in the memories.
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