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The First Lite Campfire is our spot to share with you, our customers, stories about our adventures in the field, information on our pro staff, pictures from our trophy room, the latest news and everything in between. Please check back with us as we build the First Lite community and feel free to drop us a note at to let us know how we are doing.
First Lite Turkey Tip #2
Continuing on in our series of First Lite Turkey Tips, our second tip is particularly relevant for early season weather.
First Lite's Turkey Tips: Tip #1
First Lite's Pro Staffers will be sharing their most precious and effective tips for hunting wild turkey thoughout this turkey season. Here's Tip #1: Woodsmanship over Calling
Coming this Week: Turkey Tips from First Lite Pro Staff!
Starting this week, check in at the Campfire for a series of invaluable tips for bagging gobblers.
For the Love of the Beard: Gobbler Season is here!
Time to dust off the bow or shotgun, start shopping for tags and put a little practice in on the gobbler calls--Turkey season is right around the corner!
Idaho F & G vs. ATV's
On Monday, Idaho's State Legislature will debate whether or not to repeal Fish and Game's authority to enforce laws regarding unlawful use of ATV's on public land.
Big Month for First Lite In the Editorials
December was a big month for First Lite in the magazine world. First Lite was honored to be chosen as one of "Greys Best" in Grey's Sporting Journal. Grey's chose the Red Desert boxers as one of their recommended products in their "Top Choices for Hunting And Angling in 2011" issue. Grey's is one of the best magazines out there and consistently delivers top notch editorial content every issue.
Delisting of wolves continues to be considered by the U.S. Congress.
Please make TWO quick phone calls—and pass this on to every hunter and sportsmen you know around the country who wants to hunt big game in the West and the Great Lakes area.
Simply call and ask Sen. Tester and Sen. Baucus (both from Montana) to support Sen. Hatch, Sen. Crapo, Sen. Risch, Sen. Enzi, Sen. Barrasso, Sen. McCain and Sen. Kyl, and vote to pass S. 3919 which would delist wolves across the West and the Great Lakes area.
Both Montana senators currently support delisting that is controlled by the federal government, not the states. Tell Montana’s senators to end federal oversight and grant wolf-management authority to the states. If these two Senators will support S. 3919, most of the Senate will support the same.
Tell them this is a critical issue to all sportsmen and ranchers in Western and Great Lakes states.
Call now!
Sen. Baucus 202-224-2651
Sen. Tester 202-224-2644
Great Season For Born And Raised Outdoors
First Lite is proud to sponsor the crew at Born And Raised Outdoors. This Oregon based film crew's specialty is Roosevelt elk and they pound 'em. Rosies are generally a little smaller than the Rocky Mountain variety but otherwise are very similar. The hunting conditions in this part of the country are as tough as it gets as is the Born and Raised Crew. These guys have been at it for a long time and it shows. Fantastic calling, great camerawork and exciting stalks make for super entertaining films. Look for their next project coming out next summer.
Max-1 is in!
We are happy to announce that all First Lite garments are available in the
Realtree max 1 pattern and are now shipping! This is Realtree’s most popular open country pattern and is known for its ability to meld hunters in broad terrain into their surrounding. The Max-1 pattern combines the perfect balance of neutral earth tones, prairie grasses, brush, rock, sage and open zones –with just the hint of shadow detail for added depth and realism. It is the one to wear for hunting mule deer, whitetail, pronghorn, elk, bighorn, and turkey. Have a great season.FL
GLASSIN FOR BUCKS...
With the archery season behind us and some elk meat in the freezer, we have shifted gears to the open rifle Mule deer season here in Idaho. The weather has stayed unseasonably warm and while we have seen a lot of deer, we are still on the lookout for a real shooter. The weather looks to be changing this weekend and our local crew will be heading out to see if we can't find ourselves a couple of nice bucks in the Pioneer mountains.
We do want to give a call out to the folks over at Nikon who have been grreat to work with. We have been using our new Nikon 25-75x82 ED Fieldscope. This scope is crystal clear and gets you right on top of the action with 75x power.
Let us know how your season has been by commenting here or drop us a note on our Facebook page (and include a picture from your latest hunt).
Thanks and happy hunting!
FIRST LITE GOES TO NEW MEXICO
The First Lite team of myself (Scott Robinson), Brick Blackburn, Ryan Callaghan and Klyer, just returned from a great archery elk hunt in New Mexico. Brick and I had tags and Ryan and Kyler came along to shoot some video and help out with the calling. We did the hunt DIY style - unguided on public land in a unit near the Arizona border.
FIRST LITE PRO STAFF ELLIOT CORWIN GETS ANOTHER BIG BUCK
We just got this brief story and great photo e-mailed to us from our Pro Staffer and Sales Rep, Elliot Corwin from his recent muzzleloader hunt in New Mexico.
I spotted him from about 3 miles away while he was feeding with two of his buddies on the side of the mountain as the sun rose. Two and a half hours later I was sizing him up from less than 30 yards away as he was bedded beneath a cedar tree. He had great fronts and was very symmetrical.
Seizing the moment, I sent a 338 grain bullet out the end of my muzzleloader. Gross score of 172.
NYBowhunter.com Gear Guide
NyBowhunter.com reviews the Springer Vest.
NOVEMBER 2009: BIG OLD BUCK- WYOMING
First Lite team member Elliot Corwin found this old buck on opening morning of the 2009 Wyoming rifle season. As you can see, the conditions were miserable. The temperature dropped 40 degrees in the 36 hours leading up to opening morning, and over a foot a snow came with the cold. With all of the blowing snow, glassing for deer was next to impossible. About 2 hours into the morning, the wind let up briefly, and the deer started to move. Over 900 yards away, five bucks came out of the pines to feed. Elliot picked out this buck, grabbed his gear, and was in pursuit. After 30 minutes of battling the terrain and playing the wind, he was in the perfect spot for a shot. This was the third consecutive year that Elliot has taken a buck out of this basin on solo, public land hunts.
Congrats on a great mulie!
FIRST LITE WINS FIELD & STREAM 2009 BEST OF THE BEST
(September 16, 2009) As seen in Field & Stream September 2009 "Best of the Best" feature for Best New Base Layer of 2009, the First Lite Llano crewneck took top honors. Check out the First Lite Llano or at your local archery pro shop.
Also, please see more hunting gear reviews on Field & Stream
FIRST LITE AVAILABLE IN CANADA AT GROUSE RIVER OUTFITTERS
(August 8, 2008) Canadian hunters can now get First Lite from Grouse River Outfitters. Glenn over at Grouse River Outfitters in Kelowna, BC has picked up a complete line of First Lite gear in black and ASAT camo. So, all of you hard core hunters and outdoorsmen north of the border should check out his website or give him a call to order up your First Lite gear.
Grouse River Outfitters
2720 Hwy 97 N
Kelowna, BC V1X 4J7
Ph: 877-547-6873
Email:
Web: www.GrouseRiver.com
HUNTIN' FOOL NAMES FIRST LITE AS ESSENTIAL GEAR
(August 5, 2008) Check out the August edition of "Huntin' Fool" as Garth Carter names First Lite Merino wool base layer on his "10 Day Extreme Backpack Gear List for his Yukon Dall Sheep Hunt". The First Lite team are excited that Garth has tested our products and has chosen to take it with him this exciting hunt. Thanks Garth.
FIRST LITE GOES TO FRENCH RANCH FOR SUMMER BLACK TAIL AND PIG HUNT
(July 15-17) The First Lite crew made its way from the mountains of Idaho to the coastal range of California for a summer Black tail and pig archery hunt. One of the owners of First Lite, "Brick" Blackburn has resided in the Hollister area for the past 10 years and has been archery hunting for Black tail for the past 3. The location for our hunt was the gorgeous French Ranch. The guided operation working out of the French Ranch has access to over 120,000 acres of prime Black tail, wild pig, and turkey habitat. The ranch manages the Black tail population with limited hunting for mature bucks and we were all blown away by both the quantity and quality of the animals we saw on this trip.
For those of you that have never hunted Black tail in July , when the bucks are still in velvet, the hunting opportunities come fast and furious. These deer can be hunted as they are feeding and watering during the normal dusk and dawn hours. However, you can keep hunting right through the heat of the day as the deer will take to the high ridges and under large oak trees to catch some shade or a coastal breeze. This meant we were on the move from 5:00am until 9:30pm.
Day one saw J.R arrow a nice buck high on a ridge top after an uphill stalk to the unsuspecting 3x3. On day two, Scott was able to sneak in on a great buck that was spotted below as we came over a ridgeline. After a well placed arrow, the buck was retrieved in a ravine about 80 yards from the oak tree that he was first seen under. On the evening of the second day, Brick was able to get in on a monstrous archery buck and with the situation presenting itself, he took a long, but accurate, shot that stopped the buck quickly. Day three, our last day, came upon us and Kenton was still left to fill his deer tag while J.R. and Scott went out in search of a couple of nice boars.
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After several unsuccessful sneaks, J.R. and Scott saw a small group of pigs a couple of draws away. Taking two different approaches to maximize both the wind and then terrain, they set out to fill their tags. On the way to the rendezvous, Scott spotted a good sized boar with several small pigs. He changed his game plan and got ahead of their path heading up a small ravine. As the boar came into the open, Scott let an arrow fly. The boar moved slightly and the shot did not hit the intended location. However, the hit was good enough to slow the pig and allow Scott to watch it move into a small thicket of trees in the ravine. Our guide came down after hearing the pig let out a squeal and after about 30 minutes, they decided to try to push the pig from its location. As the guide went into the lower end of the ravine, Scott waited above. Sure enough the guide spooked out the pig and it ran up the ravine towards Scott's position. He was ready and let an arrow fly. This one passed straight through but didn't slow the pig down too much and the pig, now extremely irritated, charged Scott. Luckily, with two arrows passing through him, he wasn't moving too fast. After making a quick retreat up the hill, Scott turned and fired another well placed arrow. This one also passed straight through. These boars are tough and when the arrows pass through, their fatty, oily tissue plugs the wounds quickly. Finally, the boar succumbed and the work of hauling him out began. Meanwhile, J.R. put a perfect sneak on the original group of pigs that the two had seen. Even with a perfect heart shot, his pig ran 50 yards before calling it quits.
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That evening, Kenton still hadn't filled his black tail tag and was anxious to get on the scoreboard. With daylight closing, he found himself stalking a non-typical that we had seen earlier in the week. Feeling confident that he could make the shot, Kenton took a 50 yard shot that hit the mark. The retrieve was no problem and after dressing his prize out and getting him to the jeep, we all had a celebratory beer.
I can't say enough about the French Ranch, their terrain, quality of animals, facilities and guides. If you want to experience quality pig and black tail hunting, give them a call. Check out the photos to see what you are missing.
