All posts by admin

Hunting

Put the Odds in Your Favor – Prepare Effectively

Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever

Despite the dismal forecast, I am eagerly awaiting opening day of the 2012 – 2013 Colorado pheasant season.  If the notion that preparation is the key to success, then spending the requisite time planning my first two days in the field is critical to flawless execution.  To that point, the following is my upland hunting checklist:

Core Equipment

  • Shotgun (if possible, bring a back up)
    • Beretta A400 XPLOR Light (12 gauge)
    • Beretta AL391 Urika 2 (12 gauge)
  • Shotgun shells
    • Prairie Storm FS Lead #5 (early season)
    • Prairie Storm FS Steel #4 (late season)
  • Shotgun choke
    • Trulock Precision Hunter (Modified)
  • GPS
  • Multi-tool and/or knife
    • Leatherman Skeletool

Apparel  

  • Upland hunting vest, jacket and/or pack
    • Columbia Men’s Upland Freezer™ Long Sleeve Shirt
    • Cabela’s Activ-Lite™ Upland Jacket
    • Badlands Birdvest Pack
  • Jeans with chaps or upland hunting pants
    • Cabela’s Dry-Plus® Performance™ Upland Chaps
    • Orvis Pointer Brand Bibs
  • Warm hat
    • Under Armour Fleece Beanie
  • Long underwear
    • Under Armour Baselayer
  • Thermal socks
    • Smartwool® OTC Extra-Heavyweight Hunting Socks
  • Hunting boots
    • Danner Upland Hunter Covey Boots (10”)
    • Irish Setter DSS King Toe (10”)
  • Gloves
    • Columbia® Omni-Heat® Horicon Marsh™ Gloves

Dog Gear

  • Dog collar (training and Identification)
    • Sportdog FieldTrainer® 400
    • Cabela’s Identification Collar
  • Dog food
    • Purina ProPlan Performance Formula
  • Dog emergency kit (with EMT Gel)
    • Sporting Dog First Aid Kit
  • Dog treats
    • Zukes
  • Dog boots
    • Cabela’s Deluxe Hunting Booties
  • Energy boost tablets
    • Rehydrate by Rehydrate
  • Dog crate
    • Ruff Tough Large Kennel
  • Vehicle protection/dog bed
    • Mud River 2 Barrel Utility Mat
  • Super glue (split nails)
  • Dog water jug/bowl/bottle
  • Leash

Additional Equipment

  • Two way radio
    • Midland GXT1050VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio
  • Camera and/or video recorder
  • Small game license
  • Land map (current)
  • Cooler (ice, drinks, food, birds)
  • Batteries (GPS)
  • Duct tape (ensures dog booties stay on)
  • Flat tire filler
  • Head lamp (helps at dawn and dusk)
  • Trash bags (pack game, store trash)
  • Bungee cord/straps (keeps everything in the truck)
  • Cell phone/two way radio charge cords
  • Ice
  • Back up vehicle key (mounted via a magnet box outside of the truck)

May you limit out every time out this year.  If you don’t, savor the pursuit!

 

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Family, Music

Rock & Roll

At 44, most would think I would have evolved and eventually conformed to the music enjoyed by my peers.  Artists like U2, Bon Jovi and The Police represent the mainstream sound of my generation.  In the 1990s, many of my friends migrated to musicians like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and The Dave Matthews Band.  Today, as we approach middle age, my buddies have embraced the retro sounds of our youth, or have migrated to another genre of music; specifically country.

For me, I have and always will have a passion for an eclectic mix of heavy metal.  In the late 1970s I was captivated by the complex lyrics and riffs of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Judas Priest and Van Halen.  In the 1980s, during my high school and college years, it was Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer and Guns n’ Roses.  As the 1990s took hold, I progressed to Tool, Rage Against the Machine and my favorite band Pantera.

I am very particular about the music that I purchase now.  Unfortunately, many of my favorite bands have sold out as they try to maximize their personal income before irrelevancy.  The current product is bland, predictable and attempts to appeal to a general audience.  To that point, I continue to investigate new, fresh and progressive sounds that preserve soul of heavy metal.  I also replay much of the classic rock & roll I enjoyed growing up.

A lot has changed in my life over the last 34 years; except my taste in music.

Ozzy and Randy
Ozzy and Randy

My Favorite Music (in no particular order)

My Top Metal Albums

Artist
Appetite for Destruction Guns n’ Roses
Far Beyond Driven Pantera
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Black Sabbath
Women and Children First Van Halen
Blizzard of Oz Ozzy Osbourne
Aenima Tool
Screaming for Vengeance Judas Priest
Ride the Lightening Metallica
Aerosmith (1973) Aerosmith
What Have We Become Seemless

 

My Top Metal Tracks

Artist
25 Years Pantera
I’m Broken Pantera
A National Acrobat Black Sabbath
Lord of This World Black Sabbath
Disposable Heroes Metallica
Stranglehold Ted Nugent
Dying to Meet You Judas Priest
It’s So Easy Guns n’ Roses
Make It Aerosmith
Lifer Down
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Golf

Back from the Brink

In 2011, I considered the game of golf to be a legitimate threat to my sanity (see – https://www.huntfishgolfwork.com/?p=411).  Lessons, equipment changes and countless practice sessions did not provide relief.  My competitive intensity slowly diminished to the point where I actually questioned why I was even entering in club events.  On course turrets-like episodes became a regular occurrence.  I attempted to turn frustration into motivation, but the brain could not trick the body into execution.

Unfortunately, 2012 started where 2011 left off.   Many moving body parts, poor posture, utter confusion and a bad attitude lead to a new search for help.  To my great fortune, The Club at Pradera hired Matt Marino to be the assistant golf professional.  Matt is an energetic, engaging, positive individual whose personality is infectious.   His teaching methodology is simplistic by design, yet conveys the appropriate information that allows his student to be effective. Matt is not assumptive; he asked questions about my game, watched me swing, then challenged me to do what it would take to turn everything around.  Our first lesson ended with two drills that I would employ during every subsequent practice session (basement, bedroom and range).  Additional sessions reinforced critical fundamentals which allowed me to build on his prior teachings.  Our objectives were clear;

1. Install the correct set up, ball position and swing plane.

2. Maintain internal tranquility that will allow me to institute a functioning tempo.

3. Build back the confidence that I would need to once again have fun playing the sport.

It has not been easy, but we have managed to lower my handicap to a 6.3 index.  Matt and I will continue to work together in order to refine my ever evolving mechanics.  Perhaps radical changes can be made that will allow me to exceed my potential?  Either way, Matt Marino’s teachings have allowed me to once again smile on the golf course.  Matt is a special person, instructor and friend.

Matt Marino No Reference Drill

One Foot Drill – Matt Marino

Enhanced by Zemanta
Business

One Man’s Opinion (Part 1)

I am a demanding, vociferous and loyal consumer.  If I like a product or service, I let people know about my experience.  That said, if I feel slighted or the product/service does not meet expectations, someone of merit will know what transpired.  I invest in quality, appreciate value and expect performance. 

I will use this BLOG to review my personal experiences with specific companies, products and services.

Part 1

Product or Service

Grade

Website

Comments
TaylorMade Golf

A

http://taylormadegolf.com/

 I have and continue to purchase TaylorMade golf equipment.  Their products are engineered to work for all types of golfers.  Their people are friendly, helpful and passionate about their products.  If something should go wrong, they stand behind their brand in order to ensure complete customer satisfaction.  Mark King is a masterful CEO that has secured my loyalty through constant innovation and premium service.
Comcast

D

www.comcast.com

 I was a Comcast Triple Play (phone, internet & cable) customer for years.  While the offering was technically stable, and the content decent, the underlying customer service was consistently horrible.  The people at Comcast just don’t get it.  When I finally ended the relationship and migrated to DirecTV, Comcast made multiple financial offers to try to save me.  Further proof that they did not understand my issues and never tried correct their mistakes when I was actually a subscriber.
Copper Mountain Ski Resort

A

www.coppercolorado.com

 Organizing skiing for a family of four (with 2 young children) is challenging.  Having Kim Casey (Ski and Ride School Sales Manager) on your side makes the experience a painless one.  Kim’s personality is infectious and she works hard to ensure your time on the mountain is enjoyable. Skiing is EXPENSIVE so when you make the investment, you need positive results.  The Copper instructors are phenomenal and have done a great job teaching my boys how to ski.
Winter Park Ski Resort

B

www.winterparkresort.com

 After a disappointing first experience at Winter Park, Tom Carey and his team ensured that our next trip to the mountain was an incredible one.  The terrain is varied, and the resort does not attract tourists so lines are moderate.  My kids enjoyed their instructor and we all look forward to future trips to Winter Park.
William Joseph

A

www.williamjoseph.net

 I own Willy J packs, jackets, waders and tools.  Their products represent quality, durability and great functionality.  When I have technical questions, their service team responds quickly and accurately.  Willy J represents value in a pricey marketplace.
Texas Roadhouse

A

www.texasroadhouse.com

My family eats at Texas Roadhouse in Parker, CO about twice a month.  The food is good, reasonably priced and the service is great.  We recommend the ribs and fried catfish.  Get there early as the line forms quickly. 
PowerBlock

  • Elite Set

A

www.powerblock.com

I purchased the Elite Set (around $600) about 10 years ago.   The PowerBlock is my primary weight set.  The unit is perfectly engineered, extremely durable and very useful.  I have never had to contact customer service as the product is built to last.
Apple

A-

www.apple.com

 I own 4 iPods, two iPhones and an iPad 2.  I despise the fact that I am dependent on Apple for my music and much of my daily information.   When my iPad and iPhone 4s went haywire weeks after I purchased the products, Apple stepped up and worked diligently to fix my equipment.  My Apple technical contact (Eli Z.) was committed to find a solution.  The Apple Store (Englewood, CO) “Geniuses” were understanding, persistent and talented.  It took 3 trips and multiple calls but my products were eventually repaired.  As an apology, Apple presented me with a gift card.
Fishpond USA

  • Open Range Tech Pack

D+

www.fishpondusa.com

 My first purchase when I started fly fishing 4 years ago, was a Fishpond vest.  While the pack has tremendous functionality, the service I received from the company was poor.  I called the company to find out how to acquire additional inserts for my pack.  My first two calls/messages were ignored.  When I did get someone live, they told me to visit three fishing websites as they could not help me directly.  It took me over a month to purchase the insert.  After investing in Willy  J packs, I sold my Fishpond Open Range Tech Pack on EBay. 
Beretta USA

  • A400 Xplor Light, 12g, K/O
  • AL391 Urika 2, 12g, K/O

B

www.berettausa.com

 I own two Beretta shotguns; A400 Xplor Light 12 gauge as well as a AL391 Urika 2 12 gauge (both with kick off).  In the field, these guns perform flawlessly.  I have knocked down many game birds with these guns, and they have become my only choice in the field.  *That said, when I did call Beretta with questions regarding choke tubes, their service representative was uninformed and impatient.  I wanted to purchase more product and they would not or could not guide me to the appropriate offerings.  This was a really disappointing experience given my significant investment in Beretta products.   
Canon

  • SX20 IS

C

www.usa.canon.com/

I purchased a Canon SX20 IS from Best Buy in 2011.  This was my initial attempt at moving away from a point and shoot camera.  I experienced issues with the camera from day one, and outlined them for Canon.  There only feedback was to reset the settings on the camera (did not work).  I should have returned the unit to Best Buy instead of counting on Canon to honor the warranty.  The camera has not been used in over a year.
Callaway Golf

B

www.callawaygolf.com

 There is not a Callaway product in my bag any longer.  TaylorMade accounts for 13 clubs and a Scotty Cameron is my putter choice.  That said, when I have to deal with Callaway customer service in the past, they have been friendly and extremely professional.   I would not hesitate to purchase a Callaway product in the future.
Escort Radar

  • Passport S2

D-

http://www.escortradar.com/

 I own five Escort radar detectors and they work great.  That said, when I called the company to order another unit (Passport S3), the sales representative was beyond rude.  Simple questions regarding the product resulted in a crass, sarcastic reply from the employee.  This went on for 5 minutes until I finally ended the conversation because I was so angry.  I have invested over $1,000 in Escort products over the years and was very disappointed in the way I was treated; considering I was calling to purchase another unit.    

 

Definitions

Grade

Definition

A

 Outstanding product and service.  I would buy again.

B

 Good product and/or service.  I would probably again.

C

 Mediocre product and/or service.  Would consider buying again, but would evaluate alternatives in the market. 

D

 Poor product and/or service.  I would not buy again.

F

 Big mistake.

 

 

Enhanced by Zemanta
Business

Review – The Rack and myfitnesspal – It Works

2 Comments

Earlier this year I noticed that I was getting fat.  Lifting weights and running 2 miles, three times a week proved to be ineffective at maintaining an aging body.  My diet has always been reasonably healthy; I consume lean protein, keep sugar to a minimum and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.  The problem I determined, was that the volume of food I was consuming prohibited me from maintaining the appropriate weight for my size.  In addition, my exercise routine, while personally challenging, was not providing results.

Here are some facts:

  • I am 6 feet tall and turn 44 years old later in May.
  • On February 21, 2012 my weight was 197 lbs, my body fat was around 24% and I was struggling to fit into size 35” pants.
  • At that time I was working out 7 days a week for between 25 and 40 minutes per day
    • 15 minutes of static stretching (pre workout)
    • Monday: Chest (dumbbells both flat and incline)
    • Tuesday: Back (pull-ups, kettle bells)
    • Wednesday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)
    • Thursday: Legs (squats)
    • Friday: Abs (crunches, leg lifts)
    • Saturday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)
    • Sunday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)
    • Other considerations: I do not eat fast food or soda.  My alcohol intake is usually less than 6 beers on the weekend with a few Johnny Walker Blacks mixed in.

Many of my friends who are facing similar weight challenges adopted the P90X routine.  While the results are obviously compelling, a workout time of 60+ minutes did not fit my schedule.  Too that point, I was not motivated to make the investment in P90X.

After a day on the slopes this past winter, my buddy turned me on to an app on his phone called myfitnesspal.  The concept is simple; determine your goal weight and when you want to arrive to that number.  The application calculates the calories per day that you must consume in order to attain your objective.  After downloading the free application to my iPhone, I started to enter what I was eating throughout my day.  Surprisingly, I soon realized that I was ingesting more carbohydrates per day than anticipated (46% carbohydrates, 22% fat and 32% protein).  My diet started to shift in order to get my carbohydrate intake below 40%.  At the same time, I consciously made a commitment to keep my net calorie intake under 1,950 per day.  To my amazement, it was rather easy to manage my diet to the numbers outlined in myfitnesspal.

One evening I was watching TV and ended up landing on an infomercial for The Rack workout.  A guy named Owen McKibbin was professing the virtues of “zone progression training” utilizing a single piece of equipment called “The Rack”.  After some online research, I determined that the workouts were no more than 30 minutes long, and the reviews were generally positive.  In March, I purchased The Rack at Dick’s Sporting Goods for $99, and enacted the workouts outlined in the accompanying DVD.

  • On May 9, 2012, I weigh in at 184 lbs, my body fat is at 17% and my waist size is 34”.
  • I workout 7 days a week for about 30 minutes per day.  I perform ballistic stretching for 90 seconds before working out, and execute 10 minutes of static stretching after the workout.
    • Monday: The Rack “Into the Zone”
    • Tuesday: The Rack “Explosive Chest, Shoulders & Back” and “Ripped Abs”
    • Wednesday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)
    • Thursday: The Rack “Into the Zone – The Next Level”
    • Friday: The Rack “Explosive Chest, Shoulders & Back”
    • Saturday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)
    • Sunday: Sprints (treadmill on 12 speed and 10 incline – 7 repetitions keeping my heart rate above 120 BPM)

After shedding 13 pounds in 11 weeks, I am a believer in both myfitnesspal and The Rack workout system.  Zone progression training works, and does not take an excessive amount of time.  I have no ambition to be a muscle-head, or to prance around in my front yard with my shirt off.  Instead, I want to maintain a body that aligns with an active lifestyle.  In near future, I will weave other Rack workouts into my routine as I want to avoid plateauing.  If you are in an exercise rut, and you want results, invest in both myfitnesspal and The Rack.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta