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[weedchan-blog1]

Essentials When Camping, Hunting Or Fishing.

I wear a fanny pack to bring the essentials that I believe I require when hunting, so when Blackhawk Searching Packs (the Company slogan is "Honor as a lifestyle") used to send me among their BlackOak hunter's fanny packs for evaluation, I jumped at the opportunity. When it showed up a couple of weeks later, I was shocked. Lets keep reading about survival equipment gear and what’s best for you!

The cushioned belt and back pad assembly attached to the BlackOak is larger and much heavier than my entire fanny pack! The BlackOak fanny pack has as much capacity as my "searching and 72 hour emergency" daypack.

I proved this by emptying the contents of the knapsack into the BlackOak with room to spare. In fact, I can stuff my old hunting fanny pack (filled), including the binoculars and hunting knife hanging from its belt, into the BlackOak in addition to the contents of my knapsack. (See the short article "Deer Hunting Gear: A Minimalist Approach" on the General Firearms and Shooting Page for a list of all this things.).

This is a truly big fanny pack and there is a broad (7.5" tapering to about 3.5"), thick layer of padding planned to cushion the small of the back and encircle the waist. The approximate outdoors measurements of the freight carrying pack itself are: 18" long, 8.5" wide and 8.7" deep, not consisting of the thick side pads and belt assembly. Its "wingspan" from idea of side pad to idea of side pad (not consisting of the belt) has to do with 33.5".

The BlackOak is not for the lazy hunter who wishes to travel light. Rather, this fanny pack is for the hunter who wishes to bring everything but the kitchen sink on his or her person. It weighs about 2-5/8 pounds empty on my scale. That is about 2 pounds heavier than the empty weight of the soft leather fanny pack I usually bring in the field. Filled with all the stuff pointed out in the paragraph above, it weighed 10 pounds.

The BlackOak provided for this evaluation is made from tricot fabric that is water resistant along with softer and quieter than routine pack nylon or Cordura. It is dyed in a Benefit Max-1 HD camouflage pattern, although Mossy Oak Break-Up is also readily available.

I was unable to discover a tag anywhere stating where the pack was made. Nor was I able to discover that information on the Blackhawk website (www  blackhawk com). In any case, the BlackOak appears to be well made, with double stitched seams where strength is needed and difficult looking nylon zippers.

Here is the way Blackhawk literature describes the BlackOak: "An essential for the hunter on the go; gives you the cargo space and versatility to alter from season to season." The features of the BlackOak fanny pack consist of:.

One large primary zippered compartment.

3 smaller external zippered compartments (one big compartment in front and two medium size on the sides).

Zippered internal organizer compartments to keep gear arranged (4 by my count). SpaceNet formed back panel for enhanced air circulation and ventilation.

Quickly connects to the BlackFalls Hydration Pack or the BlackTrail and BlackCliff backpack.

Superior building and construction for many years of toughness.

The BlackOak is truly the heart of a packaging system. It incorporates with a variety of offered at extra cost Blackhawk devices, including the Organizer Pouch, Muzzleloader Pouch, 10 cartridge holder, Nalgene Bottle Provider Pouch, Turkey Organizer Pouch and Rangefinder Pouch.

In addition to all the above, there are two mesh pouches within each of the external compartments on completions of the pack and restrain straps across the top of the pack so you can lash on something too big to fit inside. These might work well for a hunting coat on a warm day if the BlackOak's primary compartment was already complete.

There are 2 layers (yes, an inner layer and an outer layer!) of what look like nylon cartridge loops on the super-wide, padded belt. I discovered these to be about right for 20 gauge shotgun shells; a AA battery size MagLight would also most likely suit these loops.

Most "fanny" packs are in fact worn in front to give simple access to the contents, however the BlackOak is clearly created to be used in back. It is just too big to conveniently wear in front. This indicates that the BlackOak needs to be gotten rid of to get to the contents.

You will likewise need to get rid of the BlackOak to get in a car. The 50mm Stealth quick-release (Fastex type) buckle at the ends of the two inch large nylon front belt makes this less difficulty than it might be otherwise.

The BlackOak will need to be worn beyond your hunting coat, as there is no way you are going to have the ability to zipper your coat over this fanny pack in severe weather. I carried out a non-scientific test of water resistance by merely putting a glass of water over the BlackOak.

The water beaded and ran off and the cloth stayed dry. I think I will find out how water resistant the BlackOak is in the real life this fall when the deer open season opens in my rainy house state of Oregon.

In conclusion, the BlackOak is a well thought out, outstanding style that covers all of the possible bases. Its restriction is merely its size. I would like to see Blackhawk introduce a scaled-down, 1/3 capacity variation without the heavy back and side cushioning.

An easy two inch wide nylon web belt with a 50mm Stealth quick release buckle would do perfectly. Such a "BlackOak Jr." could be worn in front for simple access to the contents and it would enable the hunter to obtain in and out of cars with the pack in place and typically be more active.

[weedchan-blog1]

Family Hunting Trip & 4 Wheelers

John and I left for the Farm around 7:00 am and got here around 8:30 with our loaded truck. The Dantz boys & Doc Ritter appeared quickly thereafter.

We un-loaded the truck in preparation for developing a railing at the back door of the farmhouse. Mrs. Crawford (John's mommy) was recently identified with Parkinson's disease (very early) and the rear actions to the door were a little treacherous. I laid out two postholes and while Doc Ritter & Sammy started digging John got the two 4 wheelers started. John and Dave invested a half hour passing through the back lots and tracks of the residential or commercial property.

The existing farmhouse sits out by the road and dates from the 40's. It was when active as a tobacco farm, but has actually lay fallow for over 30 years. We utilize the two fields and surrounding woody acreage for searching and target practice.

Sammy and Doc Ritter deviated on the 4 wheelers and John and Dave finished the holes. It was Doc Ritter's very first trip of the home and Sammy revealed him all the deer stands, tails and shooting stations. By about 10:30 I was ready to begin putting together the railing and everyone collected for the woodworking phase. Eventually Dave and I had motored three 4x4's out to the new deer stand in the NE corner and protected them to the scaffolding base.

Being appointed the "engineer of record," I took measurements and scribed lines while the boys held things in location. Doc Ritter knows his method around a circular saw and did the cutting with the kids doing one or two for practice. While the railing is a simple style, anything well developed can be elegant.

John, Dave, Doc Ritter and I got out the.22's (pistols and rifles) and proceeded to do some target practice while waiting for lunch. Everyone did well with the rifles from 50 lawns, although I am the only one to regularly strike the 2" circle with my Ruger MKII Target pistol at 50 feet.

Sammy returned with John's moms and dads and sis in tow. John and I chatted with Mr. and Mrs. Crawford and sister. Dave listened while Sammy and Doc Ritter drifted off to get in a little bit more target practice.

I un-holstered my Ruger, moved the security off and, sitting really still, waited up until the quarry got to within about 25 feet. Sitting some time longer, I marveled at the appeal of my setting. Collecting my trophy, I moved a way down the stream cut and sat on a log as the sun set.

Doc Ritter is a ready employee, persistent hunter and got an invitation to return with the fall seasons. Owning house John and I observed we were stiff. I didn't care and it felt great to sit in the bucket seat.

Can I keep in mind other days like this at the farm; blazing trails, constructing deer stands, shooting and searching? Numerous. Will there be more in the future? I definitely hope so. For the minute, this day stands out as an outright gem.