You never know when you’ll be in a situation of survival, so it helps to prepare. Here are a few essential items to include in your survival kit.
When you are preparing to survive an emergency, it is essential that you have a well-stocked survival kit. This kit should include all the necessities for keeping yourself safe and comfortable in a variety of environments. This comprehensive checklist helps provide peace of mind knowing that no matter what happens during an unexpected event or disaster scenario, you have access to all the items needed to stay alive. Here are the essential items to include in your survival kit.
First Aid Supplies
Access to a small emergency medical kit can be invaluable during an unexpected event. This kit could include antiseptic wipes and creams, wound dressings for minor cuts and abrasions, burn relief ointment or lotion, antihistamine tablets to combat allergic reactions or insect bites, and a thermometer for taking temperatures. Tourniquets, scissors, and medical tape can also be beneficial to have. You will be ready for any potential accidents or injuries with the right items in your first aid kit.
Food and Water
You will also want to have a long-term supply of food and water. This supply could include protein bars, dehydrated meals you can rehydrate with boiling water for quick nutrition, and canned goods such as tuna or salmon. Snacks such as nuts, trail mix, and beef jerky are also beneficial as they provide essential sources of fat and protein on the go. You will also need a supply of safe drinking water. It’s helpful to know how much water you should stock for an emergency so you have as much as you need.
Clothing and Shelter
You cannot overlook the importance of proper clothing and shelter when planning for any type of survival situation. We recommend having pieces you can layer for warmth during cold nights. In addition to warm clothing, you should include a tarp or tent in your survival kit, as these protect you from wind, rain, and other outdoor elements.
Hunting Gear
In a survival situation, you never know what you might run into or how long your food supply will last. Therefore, it’s helpful to keep hunting gear on hand if need to look for other food sources. Ensure you keep a weapon, such as a firearm or a crossbow, and the appropriate ammunition nearby. You must also ensure you know how to safely and properly handle these weapons to avoid potential accidents. Therefore, taking a firearm safety course to learn the procedures can be beneficial.
Now that you know what items to include in your survival kit, you can begin collecting supplies today. Make sure you check all the necessities off your list, so you’re ready for anything.
With so many crossbow options out there, it can be challenging to find the right bow for your needs. Check out this guide to learn more about the differences between recurve and compound crossbows to make a better choice!
Basics of a Recurve Crossbow
A recurve crossbow is the simplest style of crossbow. They have two horizontal limbs on a basic stock and barrel. Their name comes from the shape of the limbs, as they curve away from the front of the bow before curving back in an “s” shape.
Most recurve crossbows are on the larger side with incredibly high speeds that can reach over 300 fps – with minimal mechanical add-ons like cables or cams.
Pros of the Recurve
Most people who hunt with a recurve crossbow prefer it because of its reliability, light weight, and straightforward design.
Because the mechanics of this type of bow are so simple, there’s not much that can go wrong. Even with wear and tear over thousands of shots, a recurve crossbow is much less likely to break down in the field. If it does break, they’re super easy to fix. From restringing to basic maintenance, you can do it all yourself; you almost never need to take it to a specialty shop.
Even though they’re physically bigger, recurves are lighter than their compound counterparts. They’re just the limbs and the bowstring, which means less material to carry over long, multi-day hunts.
And, for hunters on a budget, recurve crossbows tend to be less expensive due to their simple design. More premium options with more features will obviously increase the price, but you can get basic models far below the prices of compound crossbows.
People might want to carry a firearm with them for many reasons. These items are more than just a weapon; they’re tools that provide many services.
Those who own firearms begin to realize the worth of these tools the longer they have them. Due to their usefulness, it’s wise to have at least one firearm secured around the house.
But when you carry a firearm on your person, it becomes even more of a utility you can use in real-time situations. Here are some benefits of carrying a firearm to further explain.
Self-Protection as a Vital Skill
Most people who carry, whether open carry or concealed carry, do it for the sole purpose of self-protection. While this might seem aggressive to some, individuals might have difficulty protecting themselves if they were ever in hand-to-hand combat. There is also the issue of the police being unavailable during a crisis where the individual has to defend themselves until the police arrive.
Allows Gun Safety Awareness
One of the greatest reasons to carry is to make an awareness of gun safety. Responsible individuals who keep their firearms concealed unless necessary provide a great model to the youth and others who may need guidance.
An example is training individuals on which carrying position is safest for those curious to know. With due diligence toward an awareness of firearm safety, we will have a much safer world with more responsible individuals.
Can Provide a Source of Food
If people need to hunt for food, a firearm is a great tool. If you’re stranded in the wilderness and carrying a firearm, you will stand a much better chance at survival than you would without. A firearm helps you practice self-defense and keep yourself fed.
With the right perspective, training, and awareness, people can better understand the many benefits of carrying a firearm. It’s an important topic to address because handling a firearm is a big responsibility. With a little information and discussion, more of the public can see the usefulness of having this tool on your person and how it can help you in everyday life.
Camping is one of the best ways to get away and reconnect with nature. Before you head off, make sure you pack these essential items for a relaxing trip.
Everybody loves a good camping trip. It’s one of the best ways to relax in nature and escape the daily grind. It’s important to go through the checklist and make sure you pack all the essentials to ensure that you have a good trip. Here’s what you need to pack for a weekend camping trip to get the most out of your getaway.
Tent (and Accessories)
Unless you plan on sleeping under the stars or building your own shelter, the first thing you want to pack is a tent. Before packing it, we recommend setting up the tent and checking for any damage. One of the most common forms of damage is dirt or debris causing problems with the zipper, so we recommend protecting your outdoor zippers and fixing any problems from home. Aside from the tent, ensure that you have stakes, poles, and other accessories.
Enough Clothes
Many people just pack enough clothes for the weekend. However, we suggest bringing at least one or two extra sets of clothes in case the items get wet or especially dirty. Extra socks might prove especially crucial.
First-Aid Kit
Something you always need to pack for a weekend camping trip is a proper first-aid kit. These kits are essential if there’s any accident or injury. Your first-aid kit should include bandages, splints, disinfectants, tweezers, gauze, and pain medication.
Flashlights and Lanterns
If you live in an area with many streetlights, you may forget how dark it can get at night. Make sure you always have a flashlight with you or a lantern to provide light when you don’t have a fire going. Make sure you bring enough batteries to last through the weekend.
Sleeping Bags and Pads
Remember to pack a sleeping bag and a cushion between you and the thin fabric of the tent if you want a good night’s rest. While some campers may choose just to bring a blanket and pillow, it feels more like real camping when you crawl into a sleeping bag for the night.
Necessary Tools
There are several tools that are handy to bring with you on any camping trip. You should always have some form of pocket or hunting knife in case you need to cut anything. Many campers bring a multi-tool or a small hand-axe to address any potential obstacles out in the woods.
The popularity of high-end fishing rods has continued to evolve through the years. In the past, you were forced to choose mostly between mass-produced rods and custom-built rods. My Dad had a nice workbench where he built up custom rods on Fenwick blanks with decorative thread wraps. Now, the serious angler on the Gulf Coast has a number of great options. Today, we take a look at Laguna Custom Rods.
We were looking for new rods to be used primarily wade-fishing for trout. I am familiar with a number of professional guides who use Laguna so I decided to visit their shop in Katy to check them out.
Laguna Custom Rods
Laguna Custom Rods is a cool shop founded by two hard-core professional tournament fishermen who wanted the best. The blanks are manufactured in a separate facility but the final production work is all done at this location. The showroom is through the front door with the shop on the right. You can see for yourself first-hand how the rods are assembled.
As an avid wade fisherman on the Texas coast I am always looking for gear that can up my game. Sometimes that means the shiniest new lures that don’t really work better than everything else in the box but we all know how that works! Sometimes it is about comfort out on the water or in this case, a little bit of comfort and safety rolled into one. If you have spent much time in the water you know about stingrays and the danger they present. I grew up fishing Rockport down to the Laguna Madre and was taught to always shuffle your feet to avoid stepping on a stingray.
I never really gave a whole lot of thought to the boots I had seen at Academy made by Everlast until one day at Estes Flats about 5 years ago and we were drifting and I touched the back of a stingray with my rod tip, holy crap that thing EXPLODED! I expected like a rattlesnake strike, a quick jab and that was it. NOPE. This thing thrashed it’s tail for several seconds. Before my next trip out I went to Academy and bought a pair of Everlast boots. I felt much more protected from not only stingrays but also underwater hazards like oysters and I have seem all kinds of debris that could cut you up. With the apparent rise of Vibrio which is a flesh eating bacteria in the hot months, protecting your feet and shins against cuts is a damned good idea as well. Growing up we used to go into the saltwater if you got a cut, but that stuff is scary. It’s not going to prevent me from going fishing or wading but I am also not going to knowingly put myself at risk. We carry antiseptic soap on the boat that is used for surgeons should someone get a cut.
While I liked the protection the Everlast boots provided I also rather hated them. They were heavy and a pain to put on and off. First time out my shins got shafed badly too. Fast forward a few years and I hear about the Bart’s Bay Armor boots made of soft kevlar. No buckles to mess with and made of a soft impenetrable kevlar. There was a video of the owner stabbing them with a knife while wearing them! I ordered a pair as did my brother Mike. We both immediately fell in love with them. Lightweight, easy on and off and VERY comfortable. I don’t even feel the need to wear socks with them on shorter wades.
I waited a year to write this review as I wanted to see how they held up and I am happy to report they are doing great and I like them so much I am ordering a pair for my son for an upcoming trip and will retire his old Everlast boots for guest use.
Hunting wild hogs has become a mainstream sport in Texas due to the proliferation and destructive nature of this invasive species. Being a non-game animal, there are very few restrictions on how they may be hunted. They may be pursued year-round by almost any means necessary. So, what makes a good hog hunting rifle?
The answer to that question is dependent upon your intent. If you are a professional intent on eradication you have different needs than the weekend warrior who simply wants to have a good time and harvest some free-range pork along the way. In this article we will discuss hunting pigs for sport, not high-volume eradication.
First of all, despite all the hype and hysteria, most wild hogs are not all that difficult to kill. For decades, deer hunters have harvested plenty of hogs with whatever rifle they took to the stand that morning. I think much of this misinformation comes from people who come across a pig and blast away with 55gr FMJ ammo out of their AR-15. Bad ammo choice along with faulty bullet placement will lead to poor results every time. To be sure, a mean, old, full-grown boar is a formidable beast! However, proper bullet selection and accurate shot placement will drop most wild hogs dead in their tracks. I’ve done it many times. Dead Right There, as we say.
The perfect hog hunting rifle for me is a lightweight, easy to carry, accurate, suppressor-ready, 6.8 SPC short barrel AR-15. Mine is a premium build using the best components I could find:
Wilson Combat 11.3″ match-grade stainless barrel
Samson Evolution 10″ handguard
Magpul furniture
Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced trigger
PRI Combat Latch
FailZero Bolt Carrier Group
Crux Ark30 titanium suppressor
Magpul single-point QD sling
For optics, I run a Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6 Circle-Cross during the day and a FLIR ThermoSight PTS233 at night – both on QD mounts. My preferred method of hunting pigs usually results in shots of less than 50 yards to I don’t have any problems with accuracy swapping between scopes. The Trijicon AccuPoint 1-6 Circle-Cross allows for super-fast sight acquisition (put the hog’s head in the circle and squeeze the trigger) and excels in low-light conditions.
We added a pair of Bennett self-leveling 10″ trim tabs to our Gulf Coast Classic 18 and could not be more pleased with the performance! One of the best investments ever at only $123. They have made a dramatic improvement in our hole shot while fishing the flats.
Like most boats, our Gulf Coast will run on plane shallower than its draft. That frequently leads to a bit of apprehension as we slow to a stop – will we still be floating? Kind of tough to gauge the depth at speed when you can clearly see the bottom is only about a foot deep. The follow up question is, can we get out of here?
Our Gulf Coast tends to squat quite a bit as it takes off. We raise the jack plate all the way up, trim the motor in tight, and punch it. This immediately causes the bow to rise, the stern to sink, and the motor digs into the bottom. Sometimes we can get out by easing off the throttle, and then trying to surf the follow up wave. That extra 2″ of lift can make all the difference. Other times, we can “spin” or “snake” our way onto plane. Sadly, other times we are forced to idle out a ways before we can get up.
Amazingly, the Bennett tabs have proven to be a revelation. It took a while to mount the starboard tab because we debated endlessly where to place it. In reality, there was only one good spot but it is crazy how you go down the rabbit hole of moving it 1/8″ one way or another. Probably spent an hour on the starboard tab and five minutes on the port tab. A cordless drill, screwdriver, and 3M 4200 is all you need.
Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System
First trip out we were coming out of the marina and I goosed it. I wasn’t entirely impressed by any improvement to be honest but I chalked it up to being in the deeper water. Second test, we were in about knee deep water, and again I wasn’t that impressed. It seemed like the prop was catching lots of air and the hole shot was so-so. Jack plate all the way up, motor trimmed in tight, same as always. To be fair, the bow rise was greatly reduced but we were kind of sluggish taking off.
Third test, knee deep water or shallower, but this time I bumped the jack plate down just slightly. Like a half-second bump, maybe lowered the motor less than an inch. Hit WOT and wow! The boat jumped up and forward like out of a slingshot! Stayed flat, bow flat, stern didn’t squat, and it just leaped onto plane. Amazing difference. I found the sweet spot for our rig.
My brother took the wheel and experienced the same sensation. Night and day improvement in hole shot performance.
The Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tab System is highly approved!
The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 is a great choice for both work and play. Living on the Gulf Coast has taught me the importance of having backup power for when the electrical grid gets knocked out by a hurricane (or freak ice storm!). Jackery is a leader in clean, green, portable power solutions and their Solar Generator 1500 kit includes the Explorer 1500 battery pack along with four SolarSaga 100W solar panels. Featuring over 1500Wh capacity and 1800 running wattage, this awesome device includes a variety of output ports to power electronics, home appliances, and tools.
Unlike a traditional gasoline powered generator, the Jackery Solar Generator 1500 can be used inside as there is no dangerous carbon monoxide exhaust. It is also virtually silent, which is a real plus while camping. Who wants to be enjoying the great outdoors with an old noisy generator hammering away in the background?
One of the things that I like best about the Jackery is its versatility. The Explorer 1500 can be charged by solar panel, 110V outlet, or vehicle 12V port. So even though it is marketed as a Solar Generator, you can easily charge the battery pack from a 110 outlet or from your vehicle. The unit can power up to 7 devices at the same time via one USB-A port, two USB-C ports, three 110V outlets, and a 12V vehicle port (cigarette adapter). In addition, each SolarSaga panel includes USB-A and USB-C ports that can directly charge electronics.
Jackery produces a robust product line and the Solar Generator 1500 is near the top of their offerings. Your choice from the 160Wh Portable Power Station all the way up to the powerful 2000Wh. You can purchase the power stations and solar panels separately or buy the Solar Generator kit which includes matched Explorer Portable Power Station, appropriately sized SolarSaga panels, and the ancillary cables to put it all together.
Jackery Explorer 1500 battery pack
In direct sunlight, the MPPT technology can charge the battery from zero to 80% in approximately four hours. That is quite remarkable. The Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller optimizes the match between solar array and battery pack for improved efficiency and faster charging. A while back I added several USB rechargeable lanterns to our emergency kit. It is awesome that even while off the grid we can recharge the Jackery battery pack through the solar panels and then charge up all of our lanterns, flashlights, and cell phones in preparation for the evening. Personally, I don’t take a tv camping (isn’t the point to get away from tv?) but you can easily watch the big game by plugging a television set into the battery pack, hooking up an old-fashioned tv antenna, and watch the game in HD from the woods or lake.
The Explorer 1500 weighs 35.2 pounds and is slightly larger than a car battery (14 X 10.4 X 12.7 inches). There is a built in handle for convenience. The highly efficient SolarSaga 100W panels are easy to set up. Simply unfold them, place them facing the sun, and plug in. Adapters are included that enable you to connect all four solar panels to the battery pack. A zippered pouch on the back of each unit holds the power cable and the USB charging ports. A handy kick stand is available to optimize placement. When folding the solar panels, magnets click together to hold it in place.
Charge your devices straight from the solar panel!
Charge devices straight from the solar panel!
An LED panel provides all of the data you need to manage the device. Jackery has done a wonderful job designing the display and all of the controls. It is very simple to understand the input, output, and battery status. Each output section has a small switch to turn the respective power ports off / on. The entire Solar Generator 1500 kit has a clean, professional, high quality appearance.
Jackery Solar Generator 1500
The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 is an awesome choice for outdoor adventures and home preparedness. We were without electricity for three days during the 2020 ice storm that knocked out the power grid in Texas. It is a comfort knowing that I now have this fantastic backup power supply at the ready.
Jackery Solar Generator 1500 MSRP $2,699.
Jackery is celebrating their 9th Anniversary by giving away some fantastic products including solar generators. Enter the picture contest # Outing With Jackery.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Kalhes, they are the oldest optic manufacturer in existence. Based in Austria they have been in the game since 1898. They have never been a huge name in the US due to the lack of a consistent US distributor. That all changed a few years ago when Swarovski Optics, who is their sister company became the US distributor and service center.
This is a first focal plane tactical scope with a 3-18 zoom range, 50mm objective, tactical turrets, illumination, etc.. in a very compact package. I have used this hunting in very low light and shooting matches out to 1k. It has performed flawlessly as expected. Kahles is the oldest optic manufacture on the planet and are made in Austria.
I will fully admit to have a positive bias towards Kahles scopes. I got turned on to them like 15 years ago when I was frequenting the OpticsTalk forum. They had a great reputation for having incredible glass and I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a CL 3-10X50 hunting scope with the turret that allowed you to preset zeros at different yardages. This was before the big FFP “tactical” scope thing really came in to play. I was amazed at how much better in low light that scope was in comparison to the common hunting scopes of the day, Leupold, Nikon Monarchs, etc.. In fact I vividly recall hunting with my dad late one evening and I was on a big buck out in the field at 300 yards and had him dead to rights so to speak. My dad was looking through a Nikon Monarch which as decent scope and a big step up from his trusty old Leupold. He was saying he couldn’t find the deer.. I switched rifles with him and he went “oh wow, there it is!” Suffice it to say he “got” the need for great glass that evening.
Fast forward a few years and I got a Kahles 3-12×50 FFP tactical scope and was again, blown away by the optical performance. I recall having a competitor, a USO 3-17 out at the 1k range and how the Kahles resolved the targets, even at the distance better and make shooting easier, despite having less magnification. I coined a phrase that day “glass trumps magnification”.
If you read those older reviews you can see they care clearly some of the absolute best scopes on the market at any price.
Now to the details of this optic.
Highlights
Ultrashort and lightweight riflescope for demanding shooters
Absolutely reliable repeat accuracy and precise, clearly defined click mechanism
Wide field of view and exceptional high contrast image
Innovative TWIST GUARD windage (patented)
Parallax wheel integrated into the elevation turret (patented) (25 m to ∞)
Precise illuminated reticles in 1st focal plane
Technical Data
Magnification:
3.5 – 18
Eye relief:
36 in
Field of view:
27.8 – 5.5 in/100 yds
Diopter compensation:
+2.5 / -3.5 dpt
Twilight factor (DIN 58388):
13.2 – 30.0
Impact correction per click:
0.1 MRAD ¼ MOA
Adjustment range (E/W):
30 / 20 MIL 102 / 69 MOA
Parallax adjustment:
25 m till ∞
Length:
123 in
Weight:
33.2 oz
Focal plane:
1
Illuminated:
Yes
Warranty:
10 years
A few standout features:
Clockwise or counter clockwise elevation adjustment.
I got the CCW as being a right handed shooter and using my left hand for elevation adjustments means that for me, it seems more natural to “wind up” by rotation my wrist towards the front of the rifle for longer shots.
I have done extensive testing on tracking. I have a .1 mil (.36″) grid on a large poster sized target. Placed in ranges from 100 to 750 yards. Given that the host rifle will shoot damned near one hole groups if I do my part it makes for a great tracking platform. All my elevation and windage adjustments went exactly where I expected them to go and always returned to the same zero. I always do a box test where start with a round in the dead center. I go right 10 mils, then up 10, then left 20, down twenty, over 10, and back up 10 to get back to my zero. Shooting out to 1k my rounds impacted where I expected them to based on previous data. Good to go. I am generally a dial for elevation and hold for wind but I do sometimes dial for windage correction.
Kahles K3-18i turrets
Left side windage adjustment with Twist Guard
Again, being a right handed shooter having the windage be on the left side of the scope makes so much more sense than being on the right. I maintain a positive grip and rifle mount with my right hand. It also features the “twist guard” which is essentially a plate that rotates freely on the outside to prevent it from getting accidentally bumped off center
Elevation turret location for parallax adjustment.
The parallax adjustment is located under the elevation knob and is easy to read and very convenient to use.
Turret mounted parallax adjustment
Zero Stop
Like most tactical scopes, it features a zero stop and this one was easy to setup.
Reticle Illumination
Located on the right side of the scope is the illumination control. Being mil based reticle with a center dot, what gets illuminated is the center dot and the reticle out to the first mil hashmark along with the .5 stradia marking. It is capable of being extremely dimly lit making it actually useable in very low conditions unlike scopes that can’t get dim enough and are actually counter productive by being too bright and causing your pupil to constrict and making matters worse. I wouldn’t necessarily call it “daytime bright” like a red dot but it is bright enough to make the rather fine reticle easier to find, especially at low magnification settings on a dark target.
MSR/Ki Reticle
This is a mil based reticle featuring a center dot that is .04 mil with .5 and 1 mil hashmarks along with two different ranging reticle features. Below is the detail on the reticle substensions.
Conclusion
This is an incredible scope and would be ideal on either a competition PRS type rifle or a “tactical” precision hunting rifle and it can certainly serve dual purpose. I have it on a custom 6.5 Creedmoor with a 22” barrel and it makes for a extremely capable dual purpose rifle. I like that the glass is outstanding of course, great resolution and clarity. Works very well in low light. It has generous and consistent eye relief in all power settings. I find it very easy to get behind so to speak. It doesn’t exhibit any tunneling (fisheye effect) at lowest magnification settings like some FFPs I have used. The elevation turret is easy to see where you are at, it has a very positive click and there is a button that pops up when you go into the second revolution making it very easy to know if where you are at. I love the compact size and for what you get is on the lighter side for a tactical scope. I can’t recommend the Kahles K3-18 strongly enough.
It frequently amazes me that hunters often feel the need to light up the woods as if it were daylight. I am the complete opposite in that I want just enough light to safely drive from camp to hunting area with minimal disruption. When driving my F-150 I turn off all of the lights other than the amber fog lights. After some research, I purchased the Kaper II L16-0075GR Green LED Hunting light to install on my 2017 Polaris Ranger XP 1000.
I bought the light right before the 2020 deer season so I simply spliced in a cigarette lighter plug and temporarily mounted the light in an existing hole in the Polaris metal roof. Worked well enough for its intended purpose but was not the way I like to roll. I wanted to mount the light in the grill area and install a proper wiring harness and dashboard switch.
Once again, I turned to Amazon and settled on the Nilight LED Light Bar Wiring Kit. This kit includes long wires, heavy 14 gauge wire, fuse block, dual leads, and lighted dashboard switch.
wiring harness and bus barNilight wiring harness switch.
I knew where I wanted to mount the Kaper green LED light but wasn’t quite sure how to access the area required to tighten the nut. Turns out the lower grill insert simply pops out! Super easy installation drilling one hole through plastic. Mounting hardware is all stainless steel.
Be prepared for the next weather event with the Jackery Solar Generator 1000.
The polar vortex hit Texas in February 2021 with a vengeance, inflicting freezing cold temperatures that partially knocked out the power grid for days. We were without power in our residence for almost three days but some homes were offline for much longer. Fortunately, I have a Honda EU3000is generator that I faithfully start each month and let run for 10-15 minutes. It has always immediately fired up and run smoothly. Until February 15, 2021 when it would not start despite my best troubleshooting efforts. Unbelievable! Thirty months of flawless performance until the very day I needed it. That is when I determined to get a backup power source, preferably one not dependent on a carburetor.
Research quickly led me to Jackery – the industry leader in portable power stations and solar generators. Their best solution for me was the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 which consists of the Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 along with two Solar Panel SolarSaga 100W chargers. The two solar panels can be connected to the power station at the same time using the included adapter. Each SolarSaga 100 also includes a USB-A and USB-C port so that you can charge mobile phones and other small electronics directly from the solar panel. Free, clean, green energy!
