Campfire

We at First Lite just want to take a minute to say thanks to all of you that check out our website daily just to see whats new.  The contributions all of you make to our Face Book page and Blog posts are encourageing and helpful in regards to the developement of our product line, network, and company.  We promise to keep you in the best gear possible if you keep the ideas and information coming.  Let us know what you would like to see from us in the future.  

We would also like to take a moment to welcome Steven Rinella to the First Lite Blog and look forward to his field notes and tips in the future.

Thanks,

First Lite

First Lite would like to thank Billy Molls for his continued support of First Lite and conservation in the outdoors.  We've known Billy for a long time and he was one of the first people to put our clothes to the test.  It means a lot to us when Billy includes First Lite on his packing list.  Because as anyone knows who has hunted or guided in Alaska, his job and sometimes his life depends on his gear.  So take a quick minute and get to know Billy.  

First Lite team member Kit Fischer Shares some turkey knowledge for the season.  Kit smacked a gobbler by the way and submitted it to our FL turkey contest.

First Lite pro staffer James Johnson shares an opening day turkey triumph.  Be sure to submit your turkey stories and photos to the First Lite Facebook page to be entered to win more FL swag.

Judgeing from the responses it appears that most of our fans are in favor of carrying a side-arm.  That being said what are the reccomendations and thaughts behind them?  For instance if you reccomend a .45 what is the reasoning.  What to carry in what situation, is your side arm of choice more of a deterent than it is capable of stopping a chargeing animal?  We'd like to hear your opinion on the matter.

Thanks,

Ryan Callaghan

Early Sept, archery opener, and the mulies are in the high country.  The temperatures are still hitting eighty degrees and the only chance of hearing a bugle is to get up where the nights are cool.  The access is a designated wilderness area and that means a long hike into the bowls, bulls, and bucks.  You are repacking your gear for the final time.  You know how much everything weighs.  You know exactly where and how your gear needs to sit in the pack to ride even and easy.  The food list is engraved in the brain as is the fuel, the route, and the millions of variables you are expecting to encounter.  

Check out Eastmans Jacob is making First Lite proud.

"Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick"

Let's start by defining what a "sportsman conservationist" is.  These are hunters and anglers who understand the opportunities we are afforded as sportsman did not happen by accident.  Most of us have the opportunity to have quality hunting and fishing experiences because somewhere in History somebody recognized the value of connecting ourselves with nature and making sure the next generation is given an equal shot.  Folks like Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and George Bird Grinnell round out the hall of fame.  See how you shape up against the greats.  

I've never been to North Dakota before.  All I knew about the state was that a)  It is currently enjoying one of the only budget surplus positions in the Union, due to the booming oil industry, b) it is sandwiched somewhere between here and Michigan, and c) it supposedly offers some of the best all around hunting opportunities in the world.   Being an avid bird hunter, it was definitely on my bucket list, so when a coworker and friend offered me up the chance to experience it first hand, I jumped at it.  I didn't learn much about their fiscal situation and I saw a few oil refineries on the interstate but I definitely was able to confirm point C--the hunting is as good as advertised. 

We feel like giving something away.  How about $180 in First Lite goods?

First Lite Pro Staffer Phillip Larson, inarguably one of Montana's best archers, calls in to provide a multitude of tips, tactics, training excerises and games to make you a better bow hunter.  Oh--and he also answers a just little question of "what is an ethical shot?"

To kick off our series on the topic of ranging and ethical shooting, we're dialing back the clock all the way back to 1990.  Now I know a lot of us don't exactly consider 1990 to be that long ago.  After all, it was a great year:  The first McDonalds in Moscow was opened, the Hubble Telescope was launched into space, East and West Germany were unified once again and Driving Mrs. Daisy won best picture (I never saw it but I'm sure it's horrible).  Do you know what wasn't around in 1990?

Bow Cast 2011 at Snowbird was a huge success and provided plenty of challenges.  First Lite's own Kenton Carruth was on hand to give it a run and had a terrific time while honing his long range archery skills in very realistic settings. 

Smart phones aren't just for playing games and reading emails.  This article examines some Iphone applications that are made just for the hunting crowd.  Before you balk at the idea, imagine being able to check your trail camera during that boring work meeting or maybe checking the lunar phase for your next deer hunt from the job site. 

Looking for a unique non profit to support?  This one is probably right up your alley.  Check out this article from Salon.com chronicling Hunt of a Lifetime, a non profit we can all support. 

Reviews of First Lite product and hunting videos from the past few years. 

As summer approaches, many of us are starting to spend more and more time throwing arrows in the backyard, trying to prepare for the upcoming season.  Here's a list of sites with tips and drills to keep your game sharp and your aim sharper.

Officials at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game believe about 1,000 wolves are in Idaho, though the official number is 705. The agency will begin work to establish a new population goal this month, with a new hunting season for wolves expected this fall.

First Lite's Turkey Tips Continues with this nugget just for bow hunters:  A few soft calls and sure enough, a big old monster with a beard worthy of ZZ Top comes strutting in to your decoys.  You silently draw back....but where do you put the pin?