Muck Boot Company - Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots - Product Review

By Andrea Haas

One of the most important items a hunter should have is a good, quality pair of boots. I can think of a few times that not having the right pair of boots for the hunting conditions sent me home early from a hunt, or at least caused a lot of unnecessary discomfort. Rain, snow, wind, and temperature are all things that we cannot control, but having the right pair of boots can help us deal with these elements and stay in the field longer and more comfortably. 

This turkey season I tried the new Women's Pursuit Stealth Boots by Muck Boot Company. I have always been a big fan of Muck Boots and was excited to put these to the test this spring. Below are my results.

Performance In The Field

-WATERPROOF-

Spring is known for being wet and rainy and this turkey season was no different. The Pursuit Stealth boots are 100% waterproof and kept my feet nice and dry. 

-TRACTION-

The outsole features "agressive gripping" and I could not agree more with those terms. While walking through the woods trying to sneak up on birds, the last thing I need is to slip and fall. I will say, this does happen to me a lot due to the amount of flat shelf rocks we have on our property, and possibly because I'm a little less than graceful. Add some rain into the mix and those rocks can get extremely slick. Thankfully this was not a problem for me this spring.

"Aggressive Gripping" Outsole

-COMFORT-

They fit great and were very comfortable. The angled topline and flexible notches (highlighted in pink) make them easy to move in, which is perfect for spot-and-stalk turkey hunting. I had to crawl on my stomach a couple times to sneak up on a group of turkeys without being seen and these got a big thumbs up from me! 

-TEMPERATURE REGULATION-

The Pursuit Stealth boots have a lining of Neoprene and fleece to keep your feet warm during cold hunts, but I found they worked great to keep my feet cool in the warmer weather too, thanks to the ETC Sockliner that reduces heat buildup. 

Features 

• Insulation: 5mm of Neoprene with Fleece Lining

• Upper: Spandura® with Optimal Flex Points highlighted in Pink

• Camo: Realtree® APG

• Outsole: Aggressive Gripping

• Insole: Etc® Sockliner

• Height 12”

• Weight 4 lbs

Sizing & Fit

In my every day shoes I normally wear a 6.5 to 7. In my other Muck Boots I have always worn a 7 and that is what I ordered in the Pursuit Stealth boots. They fit great and I actually preferred how these boots fit compared to my other Muck Boots, the Woody Max. While I love my Woody Max boots as well, I liked the fit of the Pursuit Stealth boots better because they were not as tight on the tops of my feet, making them more comfortable and easy to move in. 

Price and Options

The Pursuit Stealth boots retail for $209.99 and are available in women's sizes 5 to 11.

They are available in Realtree APG and Realtree APC (pink)

Overall I was very happy with how well these boots performed. They were comfortable, easy to move in, and had great traction and thermal regulation, which is exactly what I needed for spring turkey hunting. They are engineered for warmth as well, which will be great for deer hunting this fall and winter. I highly recommend the Pursuit Stealth boots to any female hunter, as they were a game changer for me. Like I said before, we can't control the elements, but having the right hunting gear can help us withstand them.

For more information, head to www.MuckBootCompany.com 

Impact Sport Earmuffs by Howard Leight by Honeywell Review

By Andrea Haas

As an avid hunter, it didn't take me long to understand the importance of hearing protection. While hunting, I rely on my sense of sound just as much as I do my eyesight. Locating turkeys, for example, would be a lot more difficult if I wasn't able to hear what direction they were gobbling in the distance! Plus, sighting in my rifles and patterning my shotguns would be a big headache (literally) if I didn't protect my hearing. One of the most important pieces of gear a hunter and/or shooter should have is some form of hearing protection. 

The Impact Sport Color Earmuffs by Howard Leight are a great option, not only for hunters like myself, but for those involved in shooting sports as well. They are electronic earmuffs, so they are doing more than just putting a barrier between your ears and harmful noise. They protect a shooters' hearing by reducing harmful sounds, like gunfire, and actually amplify low-level sounds, like conversation, so you'll be able to communicate better in a shooting environment. 

I put these earmuffs to the test while patterning my shotgun for the upcoming turkey season and had a great experience with them. While shooting I did notice a great decrease in the sound of the shotgun, and I was able to carry on a conversation easily between shots, without having to yell or ask my husband to repeat what he said. They worked exactly as advertised!  

The earcups adjusted easily and had a good, comfortable fit. They can also be folded, making them more convenient for storage or travel.

Earmuffs are folded for more convenient storage and travel

Aside from the hearing protection abilities and the fit, one of my favorite features on the Impact Sport Earmuffs is the built-in AUX jack that allows you to connect it to your smartphone or MP3 player so you can listen to music between shooting! 

Here are some more of the great features on the Impact Sport Color Earmuffs:

-Noise Reduction Rating 22 db
-Battery life of up to 350 hours
-Automatic 4-hour shut-off that extends battery life
-Convenient folding design for easy storage
-Single knob control for on/off and volume
-Air Flow Control Technology
-Black leatherette headband
-2 AAA Bateries included
-Available in Teal (shown above), Purple and Pink!


I know from my own experience that women love to have options. We love for our hunting gear to be customized to suit our own personal tastes, without sacrificing quality. The Impact Sport Color Earmuffs allow us to have just that and definitely make hearing protection more fun! 

These retail for about $59.99 at Cabelas

Turkey Hunting Tips & Tactics

By Kinsey Edmunds, Huntress View Team Member

 

Throughout the years, turkeys have become one of my favorite things to hunt after! I love being in the woods surrounded by new living things, (except snakes) and how fresh the woods smell as everything is turning green again. The sound of the first thunder chicken literally gets me so fired up, I’m like a giddy little kid waiting to unwrap a present! I’ve been turkey hunting for many years, and each hunt is never the same. That is one thing I love! Each time is a new chance to learn in a different scenario. 

If you are new to turkey hunting, you are seriously going to love it! If you already have been and are hooked, than you can probably relate to what I said about being giddy like a little kid the first time you hear the turkeys light up! I want to share with you some of the tips I have learned from personal hunting experiences, and tips that my friends have shared with me along the way that I have found to be very helpful! I still have so much to learn, but that’s the fun part!

Decoys: 

• Evaluate the time of year you are hunting and figure out what stage the turkeys are in. Are they still joined with their winter flocks? Are they henned up? Are the hens on their nest? Once you figure out what stage the turkeys are in then you can have a better understanding of how you should get set up.

• The type of decoying you can do can vary throughout the season. Think about your location. If you have a good backdrop and good cover in your surrounding area, you may not need decoys. Watch how much you are calling, and let that turkey come in and look for you.

• If you are in a taller grassy area, it might be best to use a lookout decoy so it is easier for the gobbler to see. If you are in open timber, one or two hens would work good so he has something to visually see when he hears your calling. The same could work if you are sitting on the edge of an open field. In this scenario you could also use a jake and one/two hens. 

                                                        

• Putting your decoys out front to the left or right of where you are sitting, will help lessen your chances of being seen if the turkeys are coming in directly in front of you. If you think they will be coming in at an angle, make sure you set up to where it is easiest for you to make a clear shot.

• Later in the season, depending on your location, you can try using a laydown hen and a lookout hen when calling. The look out hen shows confidence, and once they lay eyes on the laydown hen, it will help attract them to come in to breed.

Calling:

• First of all, be patient, sometimes it happens quick but other times it takes a little bit to get the gobbler to come in. Don't lose hope!

• When you first hear a gobbler and you are calling back to him, pay attention to him and what he seems to react to. Does he like the aggressive yelping, or does he respond better to a softer purr? No turkeys are the same. Try and mimic what they are doing. 

• If you have been talking with the gobbler and he is sounding closer, or you can physically see him making his way to you, let up on the calling and make him come to you. You have gotten his attention, so now allow him to come and find you. 

Beginners:

• This may be a given, but if you’ve never been around turkeys you probably don’t know just how good they can see, so STAY STILL. I read once, if you can see the turkey, he can see you much, much better. Good to remember. Make sure to wear some type of mask or face paint to hide your face.

• If you are calling and the turkeys responded to you but then stopped, don’t get discouraged. That could mean they are coming in.

• If you are trying to locate the birds on a windy day and need a louder sound, box calls are a great way to get the sound reach you might need. 

• If the turkey(s) is at your decoy set up, and you need to adjust your gun or pull back your bow, move when the turkey’s back is facing you. 

Hunter's Crate Product Review

By Andrea Haas

What is Hunter's Crate?

Hunter's Crate is the world's premiere and first ever monthly subscription box, specifically for hunters! It is a family owned business whose goal is to deliver the best hunting products and gear to hunters doorsteps all over the country, each month. 

How It Works

Purchase a subscription from Hunter's Crate to receive monthly care packages featuring high quality hunting gear and products from well-known companies, pro tips, snacks & seasonings! The value of every box is guaranteed to always exceed your monthly subscription cost.

 What's Inside

Each monthly crate has its own theme, depending on the time of year it is and what's in season! For example, in the spring you can expect turkey hunting themed boxes and in the fall deer hunting themed boxes, etc. And at the end of the year after your freezer is full of wild game, you can expect to see a variety of marinades and BBQ sauces!

Membership Perks

With a membership, you will also be entered into giveaways for prizes that may not even fit in your box, such as high-end hunting knives or even a guided hunting trip! Don't forget to share photos and/or videos on social media using #hunterscrate to earn points that can be used to receive promo codes! 

________________________________________________________________________

Opening the Crate 

Let's take a look inside our September and October crates!

- September Crate -

September's Theme: Stealth

September's theme was "Stealth". Each box has the monthly theme stamped inside, along with an insert listing each product in the box and their value. 

Insert listing what's inside September's Crate

The products are packaged neatly inside the crate, along with packing material that gives it an overall "rustic" and "outdoorsy" feel. I arranged them here so you can get a good look at what's inside!

September's Crate

Some lucky members also found this inside their September crate! Included in mine was this Trekker Series Elk Hunter knife by Knives of Alaska, a $89.99 value!

Hunter's Crate camo ticket and Elk Hunter Knife by Knives of Alaska

- October Crate -

October's theme: Open Season

October's theme is "Open Season" and is a $60 value. Included in this crate:

Adventure Game Calls Grunt Tube - $20

-

Robinson Outdoors Fleece-Lined Cap - $20

-

Mossy Oak Shell Holder - $10

-

Hunter's Crate 6oz Coffee - $7

-

Assorted Samples Courtesy of Head Country BBQ & Robinson Outdoors

What's inside October's Crate

I was very impressed with the quality of the Hunter's Crate subscription boxes, from the variety of products and their value, to the overall design and "feel" of the box. It was clear that the crew at Hunter's Crate has worked hard to find a variety of high quality products to deliver to your doorstep each month.

You can purchase subscriptions for yourself or as a gift for a friend, family member, significant other, etc. As mentioned before, the value in each box will always exceed the monthly subscription cost! You can purchase a subscription for just one month at a time, or if you plan to continue your subscription you can save money by purchasing a 6 month or a 12 month subscription.

I recommend Hunter's Crate for any hunter, male or female. It's great for both the experienced hunter and for someone who is new to hunting and is needing to build up their supply of products and gear.

For more information on the Hunter's Crate or to become a member, go to www.hunterscrate.com 

Rita's WITO Spring Turkey Hunt

By Rita Cook, Huntress View ProStaff

I have only been hunting a few short years, so I am always looking for new and

exciting groups or events to participate in. It is a great way to meet fellow huntresses, 

gain knowledge, share experiences, and its just plain fun!! One of the groups that I have 

been lucky enough to participate in is the Central VA Chapter of the National Wildlife 

Turkey Federation (NWTF) –Women in the Outdoors (WITO) group. They hosted an 

event last August where they showed ladies how to shoot a crossbow, skeet shoot, and fly 

fish. It was a wonderful time! I had never shot a crossbow or fly fished, so I definitely 

learned something, but more than that I made some great friends. 

On April 25th, 2015 the Central VA Chapter of the NWTF hosted the first ever 

WITO Spring Turkey Hunt. Entries were collected and six women were picked to 

participate; I was one of the lucky winners! We had a “meet and greet” on Friday where 

we enjoyed a catered dinner and we got to meet our guides and the fellow huntresses. We 

patterned our guns and had a good time talking about our experiences. Most of the 

women had never been on a turkey hunt before and the excitement was electrifying. After 

dinner we were dispersed from that location to accommodations that were closer to our 

hunting destinations. I stayed with my guide and two other huntresses. We had a blast 

getting to know each other and talking about our upcoming hunts. 

We were up bright and early Saturday morning and we each went on our guided 

hunt with an experienced hunter or huntress. My guide was Emily Beasley and she 

delivered an amazing hunt!  I didn’t bag a turkey but I heard plenty of gobbling and I was 

able to see so many turkeys. We had a hen fly across the river to come talk to us, and a 

gobbler strutting in a field at 60 yards.  Emily gave me pointers and advice throughout 

the hunt. 

After the hunts, we all met back at the original location for another great meal and 

awesome conversations. We all shared our exciting stories, with noises and animations of 

course.  None of us were able to get a turkey, but we were anything but disappointed. We 

were each given an engraved box call and a copy of “Beginning Turkey Hunting”. We all 

shared something really special that day and we have memories that will last a lifetime. I 

learned a lot about hunting and a lot about myself.

Melissa Bachman Interview

Q & A with Melissa Bachman

Melissa Bachman is an accomplished hunter with a unique ability to share her love for the great outdoors and all things wild with her passionate fans and viewers.

Growing up in a region known to sportsman for its unique blend of hunting and fishing opportunities, Melissa immersed herself in a central Minnesota lifestyle filled with options. Deciding which tree stand to hunt before school, or if she’d have better luck on snow geese were just some of the decisions the young woman had to make.

Surrounded by a family filled with love and mentors galore, Melissa pursued her academic life with the very same tenacity she approached her passion for hunting. After graduating with honors and armed with a degree in television broadcasting, and another in Spanish, from St. Cloud State University, Melissa set her sights on a career in outdoor television.

Melissa began as a TV intern, and within months was offered a position as a full-time producer where she traveled the country filming, producing and writing shows with a variety of incredible hunters on some fantastic adventures. 

Although close to her dream job, Melissa truly longed to be the one outwitting her prey, and squeezing the trigger. So she spent every spare moment of her free time arduously filming and editing her own hunts. Finally, with time, patience and persistence, Melissa got some solid shows into the right hands and her wish became reality.

Now Melissa spends nearly 200 days a year in the field hunting the globe and producing her show Winchester Deadly Passion, which airs Sundays at 11:30 p.m. ET on Sportsman Channel.

Learn more at http://melissabachman.com and follow her at http://Facebook.Com/WinchesterDeadlyPassion, http://Twitter.Com/MelissaBachman and http://Instagram.Com/Melissa_Bachman

Q: What advice do you have for a woman who is new to bowhunting?

A: If new to bowhunting, I highly recommend going into a local archery store and try out a wide variety of bows to see what you like the best. That way, you can get the bow fitted to you. This will ensure you have the right draw length and draw weight so then you are more successful. And more successful means you’ll have more fun in the process. Like any passion, you want to buy the best you can afford at the time and used bows are always a great option as well.

Q: What is the best way to get young girls interested in hunting and engaged?

A: Best thing is to start out slowly by taking them shooting at a range. Find a range that has a variety of guns you can rent and teach them gun safety with each one and go over the basics. If they are really into it, ranges have NRA Certified Instructors on staff that would be happy to give them a private shooting lesson. And maybe hearing instructions from someone other than “Dad” or a relative would go over better too! After that, pick a couple hunts that are fun, keeping in mind weather and length of time spent in the field. What is no big deal to you could be a huge irritant for a young girl in the field – so ask them questions on how they are feeling and show them things in the woods, like identifying trees or animal tracks. This could be a learning experience for the adult too!

If they don’t “take” to the hunt immediately, that’s ok. Just spend time with them outdoors and always offer to include them in your activities. You could ask 100 times and the 101^st time might be when she says “yes.”

Photo by John Hafner

Q: Being a woman in the hunting industry, how do you prep for hunting?

A: Since I hunt more than 200 days a year, I try to always be prepared at any given time! I keep one backpack ready with all the essential gear I need.  I also have one duffel bag with all of my clothing and body care essentials for any experience. I make sure to always have scent free products with me at all times as well – I recommend Wildlife Research Center’s Scent Killer® Gold® for Her™ kit – it comes with body wash, shampoo & conditioner, clothing spray and a bath puff. I always have a kit in my bag.

Q: Since it is spring turkey season, what are three tips you can give us?

A: Use great decoys – the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is very true here; less is more when it comes to calling and when bowhunting, patience is essential, wait it out in the blind. And I’ll add a fourth – if you want to have some fun footage, set up some Cuddeback cameras (http://cuddeback.com) in your decoy spread. You’ll get some amazing footage of jakes and toms fighting it out over your decoys and you never have to worry about turning them on and off or batteries dying as they are motion activated and will take both pics and video.

Q: You’ve been in outdoor TV for quite sometime now – what piece of advice were you given that was gold? 

A: The one piece of advice someone gave me was nothing will pay off more than hard work and that is the absolute truth.  You can’t wait around for things to happen.  Some people may catch a big break, but by working hard and never giving up you don’t have to wait on a break, you can create your own opportunities and that’s exactly what I’ve done.  It hasn’t been easy and it has been extremely long hours year after year, but if you believe in yourself enough and are willing to work hard, anything is possible.

Turkey Hunting Gear & Apparel for Women

By Andrea Haas
Revised 3/01/16

Photo of Huntress View team member Samantha Andrews

Turkey season is fast approaching so if you haven't begun shopping for your turkey hunting gear, now's a great time! The following is gear & apparel that I have used & recommend for spring turkey hunting. I don't feel you need to run out & buy each item on this list, but at the very least I recommend a turkey vest, something to cover your face (whether it be paint or a face mask), and some camo pants & top so you don't get busted!


1) Headwear

-Prois Cap-

-Elastic Hairbands-

by EvoOutdoors 

These work great as headbands to keep your hair out of your face, or can double as a hair-tie to pull your hair back into a ponytail. I carry these in my hunting pack year round.

2) Face Paint

-Fire-Field Face Paint-

Easy to apply, easy to remove and NO glare. It's a great alternative to a face mask, that tends to just get in the way.

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

3) Shirts & Jackets

-Prois Ultra Backcountry Long Sleeve Shirt-

Made of polyester wicking fabric & has pockets on the back of the shirt across the lumbar 

region that are perfect for holding calls, gloves & other hunting gear!

               

Front

Back

-Prois Galleann Rain Jacket-

It always rains on me in turkey season. Never fails! The new Galleann Rain gear from Prois is waterproof, breathable AND it packs down into its own pack, so it's very easy to haul it around with you in case it rains. Below is a picture of the jacket, but they also have Galleann Rain Pants. 

4) Vest

-RedHead For Her Camo Turkey Vest-

available at Bass Pro

This vest fits me perfectly & has all the same features as a men's turkey vest. There's lots of pockets & compartment space to hold a variety of calls. It has a fold-out seat built into it. Just fold the seat out & use the back of the vest as support for your back. 

The back has plenty of room to carry your decoys.

Front

Back

5) Pants

-Prois Pro-Edition Pants-

Light weight & easy to move in. Knee pleats added to enhance movement & comfort while sitting, squatting or stalking. 

Waistline has elastic stretch to the sides & also includes beling & tab buckles so you get a perfect fit.

6) Footwear

-Mountain Athlete Crew Sock by FirstLite-

available at EvoOutdoors 

Midweight

Made of Merino Wool, featuring nylon/spandex on the outside

-SHE Outdoor Avila Mid Rubber Hunting Boot-

available at Bass Pro $79.99

100% Waterproof with vulcanized rubber construction

These boots are very comfortable & easy to move in. I've found them great for active hunts.

7) Turkey Calls

-Huntress View Pink Laminate Pot Call-

by Solo Mountain Game Calls

Slate Over Glass

or

Glass Over Glass

Glass Over Glass

Slate Over Glass

-Push Button Cedar Box Call-
by Adventure Game Calls

If you're looking for a call that's easy to master, you have found it right here! It's so easy to use & it sounds great. The design allows it to easily be mounted to any shotgun, which is great to minimize movement. 

Photo courtesy of Hunters Crate

8) Decoys

-Avian X LCD Decoys-

available at Bass Pro

We highly recommend any of the Avian Decoys. They are the most realistic looking decoy, in my opinion. They body of the decoys collapse so they are easy to carry in your vest, but are also easy to re-inflate quickly to set them up. Team member Heidi Swonger had great luck with them this past spring!