tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74053820023466386202024-03-13T16:27:54.443-07:00we hunt | we fishKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-34993455091918732692014-11-15T05:58:00.000-08:002014-11-15T06:00:05.709-08:00Opening Day In MichiganI know that I may get some slack from the gun-slingers out there, but this is my opinion and well, that's that. Opening day of gun season in Michigan is a day I dread, as well as many other devoted ethical hunters. When opening day first light appears and I look out into a field and it looks like a never harvested pumpkin patch, it makes me sick.<br />
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First of all, sitting less than 50 yards from a person with a gun is unsafe! Why in the world would anyone think this is okay? I lay some of this on the property owners, be responsible with your land, manage it and who treads on it. And as for the hunter who thinks it's okay when he see orange to just walk a few more feet and pop-a-squat too, well I hope your wearing a bullet-proof vest. I don't wish ill on any gun hunter, I want them all to be safe and I DO want them all to have a chance at a mature whitetail deer. However, that brings me to my next rant.<br />
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HOW MANY SHOTS DOES IT TAKE TO SHOOT A DEER?! ONE PEOPLE, ONLY ONE! If you have to make more than one shot on a deer, you shouldn't be hunting! I have had to hear numerous stories of how many shots it took someone to "drop their deer at 70yds". Well, please hunter, tell me, had you practiced a 70yrds shot with your gun, no? Then why the hell are you taking it!!!??? It's like any one who owns a gun and knows how to pull the trigger is hunting. Please, practice your shots, so you don't have to risk injuring a deer and not recovering it, or better yet, so your meat isn't full of lead.<br />
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When I wake up opening morning and see the pumpkins and hear the chorus of gunshots, I am sickened. Sicken that so many uneducated, unethical and unsafe people (I won't even call all of the hunters, as they have not put in the work) are out in that field killing whatever is brown. You should be ashamed if this is you.<br />
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Oh and Michigan, what the hell are YOU thinking?! Why in the world are your regulations so lax to allow this to happen? Why is out gun season the longest of any other state?! And why are people allowed to shoot two bucks!? There has got to be a better way, oh wait, there is, other states are doing it.<br />
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Maybe, you should have to shoot a does first, to earn a buck tag. Gun season should be shortened and this early season, what the hell is that? Lets spook the deer before bow season, thanks, that helps. I am just so sick of seeing button bucks, yearlings and small immature bucks posted to Facebook walls. Look, if it's your very first deer and you have put in the work, OK, that's fine. But if you have been hunting for years and you take a 1-2 year old buck because he ran under your stand, you have no respect from me.<br />
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Take mature deer. Take a doe and feed your family. Hunting should not be about the trophy, it should be about feeding your family with the resources God gave you and managing those resources for those who follow you. Set good examples, do your research, make good choices and feel remorse for your kill. If you can't do that, please stay at home.<br />
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The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-2355788192474035402013-04-18T19:33:00.001-07:002013-04-18T19:33:25.830-07:00We're Back and Gettin' It Done!I know it's been a while since we have posted, life may have taken us away from the blog for a while, but certainly not away from the great out-of-doors! This year was a very exciting year for our family, with Mrs. Valentine bagging her first deer, first buck and first heart shot with a straight arrow! He's a funny-looking dude, but a nice catch for a first mount. And she was extremely proud to be able to feed her family and very grateful that is was a clean and ethical kill.<br />
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More to come on the hunt! You'll be hearing from us soon!<br />
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The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-14872079801864246112011-04-13T15:29:00.000-07:002011-04-13T15:29:23.929-07:00Gobble Till You Wobble!It's Turkey Time! Spring turkey season has officially begun! And how can we tell?<br />
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WE DON'T SEE TURKEY'S ANYWHERE!<br />
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Isn't it strange how you can go from seeing field after field filled with huge flocks of hens or toms one week, to the next week, those same fields being completely blank? It's like animals have a sense when their season is about to start. They see orange in their dreams and hear shots before one is even taken!<br />
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BUT, turkey season is one of our favorites for this reason. It means we have to be extremely sneaky and put a great stalk out on a big bird. Stalking is why we love turkey hunting so much! It's such a different routine from our sitting in a tree stand in the fall. It's a way for us to spot some great birds and really become a part of nature.<br />
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Patterning a flocks activity a few weeks before can also help you with your stalk, getting use to their alarm and tracking which fields they decorate most often. Put in the work and your outcome will be a long beard and a nice Easter dinner!<br />
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Happy Hunting!<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-72949921517971234162011-02-13T18:01:00.000-08:002011-02-13T18:01:23.963-08:00Minor Adjustments...Major Benefits!Making slight modifications to your equipment can really enhance your hunting or fishing adventure. There are several things that we do to modify our equipment to save us time, energy and in some cases, money. When is comes to wind direction, instead of buying an expensive electronic device to give you a simple wind direction reading, or purchasing a small bottle filled with powder that you have to fumble with in your pocket risking being detected by the animal, we opt to tape a small length of sewing thread to the lower limb of our bows. It requires less time and movement to simply glance over at our bow while hanging on its hanger than it does to fumble in our pocket like you would with a more expensive alternative.<br />
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Recently, horizontal ice fishing jigs have gained enormous popularity. One of the major downfalls to horizontal jigs is that you have to constantly make sure your jig is hanging horizontally. After catching several fish or jigging aggressively your jig tends to hang diagonally or even nearly vertical to your line, thus, rendering its horizontal benefits useless. One minor adjustment that we make to our horizontal jigs that make a major difference in our fishing success is to add a small length of clear rubber tubing, roughly 1/16 of an inch long, to our line prior to tying on our jig. Once we have our jig tied onto our line, we simply slide the clear rubber tubing over the eyelet and the knot. This helps to keep our jigs horizontal for much longer which saves us a lot of time, especially when our holes are filled with fish and it's imperative that we get our jigs back down the hole as soon as possible.<br />
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Now that we've given you a couple modifications that we like to use to better our hunting and fishing experience, lets hear what adjustments you like to make to your equipment to enhance your hunting and fishing adventures.<br />
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The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-54405683505103958552011-02-01T06:14:00.000-08:002011-02-01T06:14:40.077-08:00Tis The SeasonIt's time for a season of awards. For people to get dressed up in their best and celebrate their achievements. No, I'm not talking about award season, I am talking about ice fishing tournament season! Around Michigan, this is the time for fisherman to bundle up in their best gear and head out to the rivers and lakes to try and catch that prized crappie, perch, wall-eye, whatever it may be and enter it in their local fishing tournament. Around here, it's the Tip-Up Festival and headed a little more north, it's Shiver On The River. Whatever the name may be, it's time to put your best pole forward. These festivals offer a whole range of activities, prizes and yummy dinners. It's a great time to bond with other fishermen and women and share your most outrageous fish-stories. It's always great to head to the location, usually the local conservation club, and see everyone standing around admiring the trophies. So, this post is to wish us all luck and a shot at that big boy this tournament season!<br />
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The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-26611165256511269832011-01-11T12:57:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:57:49.470-08:00Catching Dinner Through The ICEOne thing we love about the winter time, ICE FISHING! Nothing seems to get us more excited than calling our local Marina to ask them for an update on the inches. Our rule, for safety of course, is 4 solid inches of ice. Well, we got our wish, although we were unable to act on it due to busy schedules. That is until this past Sunday. After church, we hurried home, suited up and headed out to what we refer to as The Gravel Pit Cove. This is a huge area to find spearing shanty's, so us, looking for smaller panfish hoped we would get lucky! The people looking for pike had to be sending some gills and perch our way right? NOPE. Although it was a rough day, we still found it rewarding. At this spot, you are able to see the bottom of the lake, it's only about 6 feet of water. This is our favorite type of spot. We love to watch the fish come right on up to our bait and sometimes right on into our holes! I'm not saying we didn't see any fish that day, we had a lot of little ones fighting for our bait right under our feet, which is excitement in itself, or at the very least, keeps you occupied. Needless to say, we didn't catch but one or two keepers, but the day was amazing. Anytime you can share the out-of-doors with someone you love, it's a great day. And don't worry, we still need to stock that freezer, so we'll be back out before you know it!<br />
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Happy Fishing!<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-40874976948036722352011-01-05T18:59:00.000-08:002011-01-05T18:59:08.534-08:00End of Season ScoutingScouting at the end of the season is some of my favorite times to be out in the woods preparing for next deer season. The hunting season has come and gone. The freezer is full and you don't have to worry about spooking any deer into the next county. During the winter months when there is snow on the ground, it's easy to pick up on heavily used trails that otherwise would have gone unnoticed during the fall. I like to start my scouting at the preferred feeding source in the area, most likely the nearest cornfield. From there it's pretty easy to see the main trails being used to enter and exit the field. Simply follow the tracks and note any sign you see on the way, such as rubs, scrapes, antler sheds, droppings and converging trails. All these clues can help you add up the equation as to where the deer are coming from and headed to. Make sure to keep a log of your findings or even mark the trails you discover on a topographical map to see how the deer are traveling according to the terrain of your property. During this part of the year, most of the deer have begun to calm down from the massacring days of the gun season and have returned to their normal feeding and traveling patterns, thus, allowing for you to pattern the deer for the upcoming deer season. By following the trails the deer are using heavily, you'll likely end up right in their bedroom. Not to worry, the deer will completely forget about your intrusion by the beginning of the next hunting season, but you certainly won't forget about your time spent in the woods during the winter months scouting. These tips, and a little time spent in the woods while your neighbors are curled up in front of the fireplace, will help you be one step ahead of your competitors come next season because you did your scouting in January, and not september.Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-83952642944924845682010-12-30T18:02:00.000-08:002010-12-30T18:02:11.585-08:00Most memorable huntOne of my most memorable hunts occurred in mid-november during peak breeding. It's not too often that a hunter actually gets to witness what is commonly known as the "lock down" phase of the rut. During the lock down phase, bucks have stopped chasing the does because the does in that particular area have come into estrous. During this portion of the rut, once a buck has found a receptive doe, he will continually corral her in a thick area in hopes that other bucks won't find her while he waits to breed. During this hunt, I was fortunate enough to be sitting in my stand over looking a thick marsh when I noticed movement off to my left. I looked over and noticed a doe about 20 yards away acting strange. I assumed there was a buck tailing her, but I couldn't see anything in the distance. With every step, she stopped and looked over her shoulder. Finally, I caught a glimpse of a very nice buck tailing her. He walked up behind her and nudged her. She took a few more steps and stopped. This continued for nearly an hour until the doe was directly underneath me. I could tell that the buck was getting weary because the doe was nearly out of the marsh and could be seen from a great distance. Instead of tailing her right out of the marsh, the buck decided to back track and circle around into the thick underbrush, making sure to keep an eye on her, but also not allowing himself to be exposed. The doe sat motionless under my stand for what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only a few minutes. She then stood up and wandered back into the marsh, only to be harassed some more, until she was ready to breed. Just as the duo began to wander off, I was able to take a shot at the buck with my bow. Unfortunately, it was an extremely cold morning and I was forced to sit absolutely motionless for over an hour, so needless to say, my body, especially my fingers were like icicles and I wasn't able to connect on the buck which would have scored in the 130's. I felt disgusted after replaying the show in my head, however, I was thankful that I was able to witness what is commonly known as the "lock down," something that most hunters despise of.Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-6440380760647114912010-12-25T18:19:00.000-08:002010-12-25T18:19:24.560-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 12<div style="text-align: center;">On our last day of Christmas, Day 12,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">OUR FAVORITE PRODUCT!!!!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><img height="312" src="http://eze-eye.com/home_page/newlogo.png" width="320" /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;">Brings to us...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="EAsy-Eye Archery Products Makers of the Original Eze-Crest Arrow Wraps" border="0" height="133" src="http://eze-eye.com/fireworks/header/2010%20materials/header-w-links.jpg" style="text-align: left;" usemap="#Map2" width="400" /><img height="65" src="http://eze-eye.com/products/wrap-revoltution-text.png" width="450" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why is this our favorite product? It's simple, Easy-Eye is near and dear to our hearts! Not only that, Easy-Eye is the ORIGINAL Arrow wrap, located right here in Michigan! They offer a huge variety of designs for every hunters need. They make arrow retrieval easy! They also offer a way for hunters to stand out, mix and match with any fletchings to create a custom design thats all you! Eze-crest wraps don't affect the weight of your arrow, providing you with a straight shot every time! These products are quality and are backed by amazing people! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Their mission:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“To make archery easier for everyone, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Shoot Straight & Don’t Lose You Shaft!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><u>Don't be caught wrapping your shaft with anything else!</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Check them out at </span></span><a href="http://www.eze-eye.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">www.eze-eye.com</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-24616617171897681372010-12-24T18:48:00.000-08:002010-12-24T18:49:47.451-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 11On the 11th day of Christmas<img alt="Go to fullsize image" height="160" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=333484656589&id=9771f3ef6632e24ee2231472f6e074d4&index=ch1" title="http://web.njit.edu/~ccn3/index6.html" width="154" />has brought us...<br />
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<img alt="Go to fullsize image" height="123" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=332593235976&id=33a7b3f87c198b956b19382099e3220c&index=ch1" title="http://www.testfreaks.com/binoculars-monoculars/nikon-eagleview-zoom/" width="160" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The EagleView. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These binoculars feature high-powered, precision-detailed resolution throughout the versatile 8-24x zoom range. Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups enable optimum viewing with or without eyeglasses. Environment-friendly materials are used for the parts. And the compact, lightweight body is easy to handle.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;">Features</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8-24x zoom</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Unique zoom lever designed for extra-smooth zooming</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups for easy positioning of eyes at the correct eyepoint</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Multilayer-coated lenses for bright images</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Close focusing distance: 4m</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Carbon fiber material in parts of the grip enhance durability</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Designed for comfortable fit and easy handling</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Compact and lightweight</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Parts contain eco-friendly materials</span></span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have used these particular binoculars for several years and have nothing negative to say about them at all. They're extremely easy to use, and their zooming capabilities allow you zoom in very close to your target to judge the animal with extreme accuracy. These are a great pair of binoculars for the beginner on up to advanced hunters. They're compact enough to fit in any zipper pocket, but yet, powerful enough to judge animals at far distances. These are an all around excellent pair of optics and I would recommend them to anyone. Check out </span></span><a href="http://www.Nikon.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.Nikon.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to get a pair today.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Happy Holidays, </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Valentine's</span></span></div></span>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-3801982455072276522010-12-23T14:11:00.000-08:002010-12-23T14:11:12.770-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 10On the 10th day of Christmas, <img class="rg_hi" data-height="108" data-width="160" height="108" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBhQSEBUUEBQWFRUVFRcaFBcXGRgcHxQYFBQcGBsXHhcXHCYeFx4kHRgYHy8gJCcpLC0sGB4yNjAqOCksLSkBCQoKDgwOGg8PGjQkHiQ1KjU2KjUpLiouNSkvLzIsLDQsLCksKSksKSwqLCwpLCkpNCkqKSkpKSwsKSksLCwsLP/AABEIAGwAoAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAACAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwUGAQMEAgj/xABEEAACAQIEAwUFBAYHCQEAAAABAhEAAwQSITEFBkEHEyJRcRQyYYGRcnOxsjM0QlKhwSOCosLD4fAIJCU1Q2J00fEX/8QAGgEBAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBAEFBv/EACsRAAICAQMDAQcFAAAAAAAAAAABAhEDEiExBAUTcSIyQVGBocEUFTNhkf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AeNFFFAFFFFAFFFFAFFYmiaAzRWJomgM0UUUAUViazQBRRWJoDNFFFAFFFFAFFYqP4vzBYwq5sTdS0DtmO/oNzR7HUm9kSNFUzmDtPw1jDrdw728SWYAIlxQRoTJEEqNI1HWl5xPtUx18OUZbAVGIFsayFO7NM+lVSyxia8PRZcq1JbD1JqMx3M2Gsz3t+0kGCC6yD6AzSGxXP2OxWGWzfu5lYAsQApcRorEb+ZPXTy1iXtWASi3S1xc0gWyFGXcZmIP0U7VVLqN6SNePtuyeSVWfTWCxyXUD2nV0bZlMg/MVW37UcACR3xJGhhH3+lJThvM9/ATfwzQZQOp1W4JOjDr1g7iTB1Na7Md4cwkZzImJEmRPSoy6h6bRbj7ZHXKM3shzX+1vArEG42o1CHT46xVmbjNv2f2hD3lvLmBUjxD4V8+XMK/s1q89pEW9OQqXJIXQznY+a/62tfZ/iWGFxiT4e6Vo6A5mEx56D6CuLNPdS5I5OhxOCnje119y0p2z4Trbvj+qp/Bq7cH2sYG46oXe2WMAuhCgnzbYeppOcJwTXbnd20V3YQoYsBOmsqQaOJ4A2wVdAjq9xHVWYiUiIzknr51FdRPn4Gh9vwa/GrsffG+bsNhCov3IZgSFALEKDBYgahZMT/nWjCc/4C4YTFWp/wC5sv8AF4FIfE3y1/xGYwVsD0BXSuMWlMlw5AIH9Ggc6yZILrAgfGrH1DuqM67dj8blKXFn05hMfburmtOlxfNGDD6qSK318rcTxAs2iLF5hnYAgC5bLWyrTIIAKkwIk1YuE8yYmzigtu/cC54yZyVyhz4QplQPQCpeeuUU/t+q9Ero+iaKgOZOdcNgERsW5XvJyBVZi2UCdAOkj61DcI7XsFf1JuWlLFVa4ohisT7hOXdd43+Bq9yS5PPjinJXFWXiitWHxCuoZGDKdmUgg+hGhrbUispHaxxm9hsGrYdyjNcCkjfKVOk9KRb3DcLG4xZmmSxkmesmnP22j/cbf3w/KaTFv3Z8ifoQNfhrA+dYsz9o+j7dFeFP1ODg1gwR5uB81G39sVLW/cufdv8AlNc+HhJY6Rnb1Osbf1RXUB4Lv2H/ACmqZu2bcUNGNx9Tm4f7lv7I/nXJaMYq7On6X+BNdnDh4Lf2R/OueyCuJuPMKXuqDO5nUfRhPrXVzIqyuoQdkjfwaXbRUPu9sCfDE3GWTIOkAehcdFM9Aw5LOFk+LSAZbMxEADY76SdjBPXmtm05TNl1upmIhTlZofSIiI2AiTW/C30W5nDkDNCLJggk6mdQoJJ1MkwdNTUHuihZJxycpt1/h14q5e7lLdwOLVqQilICTBMSBJ086t3I2FX2DGXRcUsUCm0N7YBJEzqZk69dfKKqyYBE4XhLiqA1x7mc+eUrH0k118omDiP/ABrv57dd91tPfb8F0qy4lKOyT4+pD4DEXUuhrBYONQUEkQNYEH8Kzj711jOIDlmLOSylS5eJaSNZgV08u4cPjLSOAVZgCD1BrbzJhVt3biIAqriL4UDoA+1Qp6bNOpebTW9cnHxI2vam9nbOnsdvXaDKyCOkHSvHC+N3sK5uWCoJEHMoYf2tPOo7Cfp7n3C/nWrh2ccETFYm4lwuAFBBRmUzr1U1bu5qjO3HHglqVpWVDnjmB8ZdsvdVFZbeX+jXKCA7akTuSTtFd2H/AFtfvD+Y13dsXBEwuNsW7Zcg2QfGzMdbrDdjXBhf1pPvP5mpZE01ZV0soyjJxVL5Fy/2g9sF6Xv8Kl7gf1RPvbn5Upg/7Qm2C9L3+FS+wP6pb+8uf3as6gzdu5+g9eyQ/wDDx9o1dqo/ZF/y8faNXitGP3UeV1X80vUXnbZ+o2/vh+U0khchkH7xdfmVWNOpmBTw7Z0JwNsASTeWB5kg0juOcPuWzbBVg8swH7Q92CV95dtJArNk3yUex0ktPTJ/3+T1j2y2Tv4iB8tz+AqRvD9P8Bd/vCpXhvZ9iOIR3SNZtpJm51L/AAB6QBM67wNqY/D+ysFCMXeZsx8SWhkRvUL73zmorDJ0TydwxwcviJjgqG6gCCWUAEGBpJggkx+Hzqcs8o3LghoESRBzEFgsyFU5tFGkj13p78K5Yw+GXLZtKs76b1JrbA2AHpVv6fe7PPn3GUo6NKPmDifBLmGcLdBEyVMEZgOsMAR/nUpyjwpcTfFrw590DMAGjWACpDHTYzNNDtZ5VbFWEu2hNyyTp+8rRIk+gpLFPMQQdjuCOhHQ1TkjpdMYp6o2uRuP2Z3BgsPYLZ2slySDlnPHUq3l/Gs8G7NblrvZIGe26+9m98of3RHuH6/DVSO5b3iT6kn8a03EruuDd19yd5lHSpbeg2+EdmF21iUuyIVgffB/BBP8K1cydm1+7euMhBVrrupEf9QzBBI285pXWuPYlBCYi8o8luOB9A1dFnm7GKZGKv8AzuOfxJrtQqqOebPr1at/Qsg7MMWl1mKnI1oLMSZBB2QnTTeozG8nYhd0PxlXEfVa3cN7VsfZYFrvfL1S4AQR9pQCPWacvJvONriNg3LalGUw6NqVJE7/ALQPnUljhN7M7+tzY+aaPnzmHBXgqm8Wdg6qpLlyFhjlEkkCY00GtdF7NZvhmQgq2YBgROp8xt8a+lMRgLbiHRWHxAqExfIGEfVUNszM2yV18yBofnXZYH8GSx9ySb1R5+Qlu0PmpuKezgWhbNrOPfzZu8yD90R7vx3qBwP6nb+8uf3abvGuyhgFbCtbcrJy3UidQQA1sqRtS7vcsXcLaWzi1e0VZyHyFkOcjdkJZY1/ZI+IqvJHJXtGjp83Tqa0bcjZ7IT/AMPH2jV4r564HzFjcCubDuHsyJy5blvpuROQ6ga5TqacHIvNpx+HLugRlbKwUkg6bidR6SfWr8ORNaTz+t6eUZPJymyZ4nwq3iEy3QSvkCRuII03Fc+C5Yw1r9HZQRtoK4eOcytavLatqCxjqZ8UgaZY3IO5kAzl3rRzNzscGDms/BMzgd6Y/ZCqxgTqTFX0jBqdFpUAbVmobljE4i5Z7zFBVZzKoojIsaDXU+evnWjm7mn2NEypnuXWyopJA03JgEmJGg+tdOFgoqucA5ke5dv27wQdyFPeqGVDmGo8ZMQRvPX4az9m+rqGRgynYggg/MaGgPZFULnPszt4gG5h/BcAOnRuu3r+OlX2aKjKKkqZKM3F2j5gxWDe05S4uVgdR/MHqK0OtPrn3lezfw126yDvLdp2Vh1KrOvzFLzs05Vs403TembbCIjUMogQdtcxPnI8qxPC1Kkb4504amL64teIr6A//KMH5N9F/wDVa73ZJg26GR8Fj5gATVvhkV+eJ8/3KenZjyrcwwF0kZbloA/1SSOuurNG2gHmaWPOXKYwmIa2ty2V1iXAyx+yddDr1q+8l9qIt4RLeKR7joIVrWVs6gwDvuCCDE6imOO+5DLNadmNWivFq6GAI2IBHzr1NajKZrxdshhDAEeRr1NRuP5isWkusbit3SkuqsCRE6EDaSI1oCMxnZ5g7jZxbyP0e2SpE+RWCKkOA8vJhQ4Qk52kkxv8gKiMN2hWzh7dx7Th7ubJaWGLZRJIZsoMCPjJA1qw8K4iuIspdQModZAYQR8COlR0q7olrdVexsOAt58+Rc/70CdgN/QD6CqrY5JuXMb7TjXS5lju0RSACOpzEny3J/gKuVFSInh5gxv0mlrwfCXT3vtqYg4gs3iUTmzDTLcnwBdYAgCaZtEUAo8bh8VcWxgsVmA8Tu4li65pCaeF2EDVtZ/jsw/HsUTcw+GYWFsQqoxHeRmIkgKS0QBAAXUa018ta2wqEyVEncwJ+tDlC5t858QxHeXMJbBt21AIyhizH9oeZ3OUbab1i92l3vEba2+7toAztrmukaQAQIMExOgWaYtvBIqFFRQpmVAEa76VE4jkvCvZ7nugqB84CyPF5z6aUFMqPF+bfa7KYZ0VS9sviWkxZCkGQZ32kHSWA1qs9nvHlwIxD++FW2mQNBu3DMnYmAABMVeeauV7Fixfv2rRLFFXINQI0zBR1AM/IelLvl3hCthmK23a+17+hVJjQwXZ9iDKmNNdtiai+TqumNLhnPYu4k2e6IhVzMGzRcaJthcomPFLeSmQKlOZ8WLeEusbgteHRiY1J2BGoJ2BGomelcHJ3KS4S1L+K62rnyJ6D0qcx/D0v22t3VDIwhgetSOCp5wxKJh1HsgsA5suYgtdJSDATTKM0+pG1Vzs54u1m65UojXDNy6wByW7aBsoB02kD/5Tfx/LFq3ZuG0ga4LTLba4WbLmWPeMsAN4HlpVP7KuBBnxFy/ZAbvJTNByhhqoIEf62FVv30WxXsNnGOe8ZcsBRcHf4i4FtZQoyIm5A2JYnfoB6T18xjiOGW53l4suIuopuIWm0gB8IUaWwZOo/d3pjjhNsLlRFTQgFQAVkRIPQ1V8BybiEwhwvfIqMTnuIrZ2DGSNWIE6g+u/nYU0VPgmBvYj2y9gAUBXu7RmDlkFoI0DNEz0J6zI7rPZ9duYSFU2rhW2rh2HjW2R4dAcg3PXpO0Ux+E8Kt4eytq0IVRp8fMn4muuKHaKJxTs7uYgKHvBVW2EVApi1lOjIM0Bo0JMzr8rthMPktqgJOVQJPWBFbqKHQooooAooooAooooAooooDBFeUsqPdAHoBXuigCiiigA15CxtXqigCiiigCiiigCiiigP//Z" style="height: 108px; width: 160px;" width="160" /> brings to us...<br />
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<img alt="yellow jacket supreme f/p" border="0" class="prodthumbs" height="100" src="http://morrelltargets.com/Images/products/yellow_supreme_fp_th.jpg" width="100" />The Yellow Jacket line from Morrell offers various targets for all shooting needs, from field tips, to broadheads. These targets are durable, offering over a thousand shots of resistance, so you can shoot over and over for your best practice before heading into the woods. Arrows are easily removed. And targets are easily moveable as well, which is great for moving them back and forth to camp. The Yellow Jacket line happens to be our favorite, however, Morrell offers several items for every hunters needs. Just check out what their pro-staff is saying about them at, <a href="http://www.morrelltargets.com/">www.morrelltargets.com</a>!<br />
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Happy Holidays,<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-44034670562204292512010-12-21T16:12:00.000-08:002010-12-21T16:12:31.993-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 9On the 9th day of Christmas Under Armour brings to us....<br />
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<img border="0" height="162" id="qvMainImage" src="http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9086/10h/origin-d4.scene7.com/is/image/Underarmour/v472Template_MainImage?$product=is{Underarmour/1215920-920?op_sharpen=1}" width="200" /><img border="0" height="162" id="qvMainImage" src="http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9086/10h/origin-d4.scene7.com/is/image/Underarmour/v472Template_MainImage?$product=is{Underarmour/1203189-399?op_sharpen=1}&$product_size=390,1000" width="200" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Pictured: Women's ColdGear Top | Mens ColdGear bottoms</span><br />
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Under Armour ColdGear is amazing! Growing up, nothing like this was available for the sportsman/woman, at least not this quality. We were restrained to the everyday long-underwear that could be purchased at the local drug store. Now, there is a line that is like no other. This base layer keeps us warm in even the coldest of conditions! It's been mentioned in <u>Field and Stream Magazine</u> as one of the best under garments for the hunter daring to go out in the rain, snow and windy conditions. We received ours a few years ago and would now, not be caught in the woods without it. It's incredibly comfortable, conforming to the skin and fitting under any top layers. It's also machine washable! And now, Under Armour is branching into other areas for the out-of-doors, providing gear for warm weather, gloves, fashion camouflage gear and many other hunting necessities. Check it out at <a href="http://www.underarmour.com/">www.underarmour.com</a>!<br />
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Happy Holidays,<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-88567120756462969922010-12-20T16:59:00.000-08:002010-12-21T16:15:06.812-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 8On the 8th day of Christmas Buck Knives has brought us...<br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9086/10h/origin-d3.scene7.com/is/image/BuckKnives/pwProduct?$pwSharp$&$product=is{BuckKnives/0191BRG-B_1?scl=1}" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="itemImage" height="113" src="https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/9086/10h/origin-d3.scene7.com/is/image/BuckKnives/pwProduct?$pwSharp$&$product=is{BuckKnives/0191BRG-B_1?scl=1}" width="200" /></a><br />
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The Buck Zipper. This gutting knife has a fixed 4.5 inch stainless steel blade with the revolutionary gutting hook on the end to aid in the "zippering" of the animal. The purpose of the gut hook is to allow quick and easy access to the animal without cutting the intestines and jeopardizing the integrity of the meat. The handle is made of Heritage Walnut which gives it the great natural wood appearance.<br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I have used this knife for many years on lots of animals and I've never had any issues with it. This knife is well worth the money and the blade holds its edge extremely well. I've only had to sharpen it once since I've had it and it still cuts just like the day I pulled it out of the package. Head the <a href="http://www.buckknives.com/">www.buckknives.com</a> to pick up your Buck Zipper today.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
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Happy Holidays, </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The Valentine's</div>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-48819830701309219302010-12-19T15:49:00.000-08:002010-12-19T15:49:52.182-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 7On the seventh day of Christmas Michigan brings to us...<br />
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<img alt="menutopimg" border="0" name="topmenui" src="http://www.woods-n-waternews.com/menupieces/Cover.Small.165.jpg" /> Woods-n-Water News. We have found this to be one of the most useful hunting and fishing resources Michigan has to offer. It's complete with stories of monster bucks and amazing fish-tales. This magazine has contributions from Michigan's best outdoor writers and photographers. Over the years, Woods-n-Water has become an effective resource for all outdoorsmen and women. Great thing, it's affordable. At $3.00 an issue, it's filled with 160+ pages of the best Michigan outdoor's has to offer. Color photos and quality authors capture stories about anything from morel mushroom hunting and ice-fishing to big buck success stories. Get your copy today at any Gander Mtn. location or check it our online at <a href="http://www.woods-n-waternews.com/">www.woods-n-waternews.com</a>!<br />
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Happy Holidays<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-5534841965042836272010-12-18T17:15:00.000-08:002010-12-18T17:15:48.154-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 6On the 6th day of Christmas, Kwikee Kwiver brings to us...<br />
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<img height="138" src="http://kwikeekwiver.com/images/kwikee%20kompound.gif" width="175" />This is a shout out to all of our friends at Kwikee Kwiver. As we've mentioned before in our blog, Kwikee is a company right here in Michigan. This is the only Quiver we have ever used and for good reason. These are a durable and well designed products. They are easily attachable and detachable with their Ultra-lock function, which also helps to eliminate vibration. They are available in 9 different camouflage patterns, including our favorites, Lost Camo and Realtree. They are also available in black. AND, we heard rumor of them offering it in pink-camo for the ladies!<br />
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So, may we suggest, supporting a local company with some really amazing people? Go to <a href="http://www.KwikeeKwiver.com/">www.KwikeeKwiver.com</a> to find out more!<br />
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Happy Holidays<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-29061469587880918992010-12-17T16:45:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:51:06.872-08:0012 days of Christmas | Day 5<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the 5th day of Christmas, Black Gold Premium Sights (</span><a href="http://www.blackgoldsights.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.blackgoldsights.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) has brought to us...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Ascent. The Ascent is a multi pin adjustable sight that comes in either a 3 or 5 pin setup. The Ascent allows you to sight in your pins, just as you would with any other bow sight. However, the difference is that the last pin is a floater that allows you to adjust, through a dial, the exact range that you want to shoot beyond what your fixed pins are set at.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Through the Black Gold website, you're able to customize your sight as well. You can choose the size, color and number of pins, the color of your sight ring, and the length of your dovetail if you choose to do so. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This sight is the first of its kind. Sure, there are a bunch of adjustable sights out there, but the difference is that they are all single pin adjustable sights. The downfall to these particular sights is that you range your animal, dial it into your sight and draw your bow. Unfortunately, if you get busted at full draw and the animal runs out an additional 20 yards, what do you do? You must let down your bow, range the animal again, set your dial and re-draw your bow. With the Ascent, if the animal runs out an additional 20 yards, you have the option of using your preset pins to make the adjustment rather than having to redial your sight. For a great product to increase your hunting accuracy, we recommend the Ascent from Black Gold Premium Sights!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Holidays</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Valentines</span></span></div></span></span>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-26421494235553725782010-12-16T16:56:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:46:41.037-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 4On the 4th day of Christmas, Jim Knapp and Hunter's Specialties brought to us....<br />
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<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.oskie.com/seo/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/glasses-n-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" id="il_fi" src="http://www.oskie.com/seo/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/glasses-n-logo.png" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>The I-Kam Extreme. This pair of glasses comes with 3 interchangeable lenses (Amber, clear and brown.) It features a 4GB built in memory that can hold up to 3 hours of video. It also has a micro SD card slot that can accept up to an 8GB card, giving you hours of video storage. The camera is built into the center of the glasses and is nearly invisible. There is a slot to connect directly to your computer, no drivers needed. This camera is perfect for recording all of your outdoor hunting and fishing adventures. Not only that, it's perfect for recording sporting events, concerts and any other events where a video camera would come in handy. It also has a built in microphone to record all the sound as well.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I've used this camera many times to record hunting and fishing excursions. It records at a speed of 30fps with absolutely no lag. The play back is high quality resolution (736 x 480). It's extremely simply to plug into your computer and watch and edit your video as soon as you're home from your outdoor adventure! Check out Hunters Specialties to pick up your I-Kam Extreme and begin recording your adventure today.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Happy Holidays!</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The Valentines</div>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-71574168570158066072010-12-15T18:07:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:43:48.088-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 3On the third day of Christmas, we hunt | we fish brings to you...<br />
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</div><img alt="MarCum VX-1 Pro Flasher at Cabela's" border="0" height="200" src="http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_020097_imageset_01?hei=127&wid=127" title="MarCum VX-1 Pro Flasher at Cabela's" width="200" />The MarCum VX-1. This portable fish finder is perfect for the entry level ice fisherman. It offers an interference rejection option that helps to eliminate any interference from other sonar units, a zoom option that allows you to zoom in on the bottom 5 feet of the water column and it also features a 2.5 inch target separation that allows you to distinguish fish that may be in schools. This is an excellent unit for anyone looking to take the next step in their ice fishing adventures, but may not have the money to invest in other more expensive units. I have personally used this unit for several years now and see no reason to upgrade to a more expensive unit that does the same thing.<br />
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<div>We can't begin to tell you how much time this item has saved us, We don't waste time at fishing holes that have no fish. With this MarCum we are able to find a good fishing spot a lot quicker. We drill our holes, place the transducer in the water and within seconds we know whether or not we have fish. It prevents us from having to drag the shanty around, now we don't even open it up until we know we're on fish. It's saved a lot of time and kept us a whole lot warmer out on the ice by getting us on a good spot the first time! This is a great gift for any ice-fisherman/woman! </div><div><br />
</div><div>Happy Holidays!</div><div>The Valentines</div>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-74596917608266922052010-12-14T16:00:00.000-08:002010-12-18T10:37:22.256-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Day number 2 of our twelve days of Christmas takes us to the clothing realm of the hunting industry. We found this great little web-shop called,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://VintageWhitail.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">VintageWhitail.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span>(the site is under construction now, but you can find them on ebay at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="mbg-nw" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://myworld.ebay.com/outdoorwearstore/" style="color: #002398; font-size: inherit; text-decoration: none;" title="Member id outdoorwearstor&#8203;e">outdoorwearstore</a>)</span></span>. They offer t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and hoodies with sweet designs that are really inexpensive. Shipping is also really affordable! They have both mens and women's styles and sizes. The shirts are quality screen print and seem to be pretty true to size. This is a great gift for any hunter on your list! Below are a couple of our favorite designs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/pict/1404901358704040_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Item image" border="0" class="img" height="183" src="http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/pict/1404901358704040_1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/m/mk4yL6K8BGYdJwNQpnjjcWQ/140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Item image" border="0" class="img" height="200" src="http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/m/mk4yL6K8BGYdJwNQpnjjcWQ/140.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/m/mk4yL6K8BGYdJwNQpnjjcWQ/140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-3412992766887939792010-12-13T14:34:00.000-08:002010-12-18T08:57:41.776-08:0012 Days of Christmas | Day 1We wanted a way to share with other outdoor enthusiast our favorite hunting and fishing accessories, so we decided what better way than to count down the 12 days of Christmas with these items!?<br />
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Day 1 of this Christmas count down, we bring to you an item from one of our new favorite companies, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Pine Ridge Archery</span>, the <b>Archers Allen Wrench Set</b>.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">(</span>Pictured below and found at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> <a href="http://www.pineridgearchery.com/">www.pineridgearchery.com</a>)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><img alt="Archers Allen Wrench Set" border="0" height="150" src="http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/101/product_image/thm/t100_5db97a01cd0e602164bf3b31608cb5bb.jpg?1104356866" width="200" /></span><br />
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We found this item at the Mathews Business Show in Wisconsin and we're so glad we did! I don't know how many of you have struggled with the same problem, but we have, so many times, caught ourselves losing allen wrenches or digging through the small bag they come in, dropping them to the ground and often times misplacing them all together. When we finally do find the right size, we place it in our bow case, hoping it will be there the next time we need it, however, it always seems to find its way to hide itself. This handy little set keeps all of your allen wrenches in an organized "swiss-army-knife"-like fashion, making the right size quick and easy to find. Sizes are in order and labeled clearly. Also, if you ever have any problems in the field and need to do some on-site adjusting, it's small and compact enough to do so! The best thing, you can buy it with a holster that clips into a pocket, belt or pretty much anywhere!<br />
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It's a great stocking stuffer idea for any archer and costs about $9.95.<br />
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Happy Holidays,<br />
The ValentinesKyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-8112029705713460952010-12-11T10:38:00.000-08:002010-12-12T13:23:12.188-08:00Mathews Business Show 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So we were lucky enough to go to the Mathews Business Show of 2011. It's a show where only licensed Mathews companies and retailers are invited. I have done some graphic design for the Eze-crest company, Easy Eye Archery, so they let us tag along. We met some of the most amazing people within the industry and the Mathews family. We felt so at home and have decided that we need to find a way to live our dream. Seeing all the new product and realizing how creative people are within the sport of hunting really inspired the two of us. The show was at the Chula Vista resort in Wisconsin Dells. When we walked through the doors and saw people waiting in line to check in with G5, Scent Blocker and Mathews logo's on their coats, we knew we were in for a treat! Setting up for the show and seeing all the big name companies that were there got us so excited for the next few days. The people we were going to be surrounded by are the people we have admired for a very long time.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first person we had the honor of meeting was Bob Ohm, the number two guy at Mathews Inc. This fellow is one of the most honest, down-to-earth people we have ever met. He talked with us about how he and Matt McPherson met and let me tell you, it was a great story that went back to when they were both young boys at church camp. Bob went on to tell us that the next day, he was leading a tour of both the Mathews bow plant and the McPherson Guitar plant. Of course we were the first in line to sign up! As we headed to Sparta, WI I don't think that either of us stopped fidgeting for a minute! We were so excited to see the roots of a company we love and respect so much and if we would have had the chance, we would have went to each and every employee and shook their hand to say thank you. Walking around the bow plant, we were both in awe at how friendly of an environment it was. Shift managers talked to us about how each process was accomplished and then we got to see the employees in action. They also have this amazing thing called a Kaizen, it's a Japanese word for improvement. They encourage their employees to find better and more efficient ways of doing their jobs and they get rewards for doing so. We both thought that was such a great way to keep employee moral up as well as strive for ways to make the company smarter and more productive.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also got to see the Zebra Bow Strings section of the plant, well inside the door at least. Apparently, the equipment used to make these things is very original and so they keep it under wraps for obvious reasons! Did you know that there are over 920 million combinations of Zebra Bow Strings? They have so many colors available that they are able to create pretty much any combination you can think of! It's pretty fantastic!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next we were able to visit the McPherson Guitar shop. People like Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley play these incredible hand-crafted instruments. The process they use is kind of old fashioned, thus being the reason that these guitars are the best of the best, not to mention gorgeous! (Heres a cool little fact: Matt McPherson has a recording studio in the bow plant, so that if he is working on projects over there and happens to have a little ditty in his head, he can head right in and record it! How neat!) Only about 4 McPherson guitars are produced a week, thats how intense and beautifully crafted these things are. At the end of this tour, an employee actually played for us and it was awesome!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the third day of the show we were able to meet Dave Watson from Mathews TV (and formally of the Oakridge Boys), small world being that his producer is originally from a town near ours. It was great to chat with both of them about their hunting adventures. We also got to watch them film some things for upcoming episodes from the show.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then came the huge SURPRISE! Okay, not truly a surprise, because we had to assume he'd show up at some point... BUT, we got to meet the man himself, Matt McPherson! He was so gracious and fun to talk with. This is a man we have both idolized for a long time. He is not only a very successful business man, but he is also a christian. This is very admirable, because as big as his companies get, he stays true to his religion and for that we admire him ten-fold.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the third night of the show at the fancy dinner, we ran into Lee and Tiffany Lakosky</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are two people we have wanted to meet for some time. Not only do they have one of our favorite television shows, The Crush, they also work very hard to nab those big boys in Iowa. Every time we watch the show, we try to pay very close attention to their management of food plots and of their herd. Lee is an amazing farmer and they both pay very close attention to what deer they have on their property. We admire that they are both extremely ethical hunters, taking only mature deer. They are also very careful about making ethical kill shots, but don't hide the fact that not every shot is perfect, even pro-staff can miss sometimes. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We also had the honor of meeting Bob Fromme. He's the man who took the world record grizzly. Could you imagine having that massive animal within 15 yards of you? Well, he did. It was stunning to hear the story about the harvest of this giant animal and to hear him describe the size of the bear!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And my personal favorite, Nicole Jones, who took a minute to talk to us about her new line for Scent Blocker, she assured us that the new women's line would accommodate short ladies and her being the tiny one she is, I hope she is right! We also got to meet her husband Pat Reeve, who was hanging out behind the camera for the show. They both star on the show Driven. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And we can't forget all the other amazing people we met, like Leo, Shirley and Ryan from Kwikee Kwiver (An amazing company right here in our home state!) Brian from Pine Ridge Archery (whose pink kisser button and allen wrench tool had us smiling ear to ear!) Ben from Black Gold Premium Bowsights! Angie and Scott from Table Mountain Outfitters and the television show Life at Table Mountain. Bryan from Mathews TV and so many more great people who made us feel so at home!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So thank you to all who made our trip to Wisconsin so exciting!</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Valentines</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7405382002346638620.post-6472166321130542732010-12-11T09:48:00.000-08:002010-12-11T09:48:06.367-08:00WelcomeFor anyone who decides to follow this blog, please keep in mind that we are not pro-staff of any nature. We are simply a couple who loves the outdoors and strive to be the best sportsman/woman that we can. This blog is about our trials and tribulations in the woods and water. We are not beginners at our sport, but we have a lot to learn and even more to share about our adventures in the wild. We hope this blog will inspire other outdoor enthusiast to share their stories and tips. We also hope this blog helps ourselves and others become better and more ethical hunters and fishers. We appreciate everything that nature has to offer us. Both the hunting and fishing industry are very dear to out hearts and we have had some amazing opportunities to meet some amazing people that live the outdoors everyday. We thank God for the pleasure to hunt and fish in this amazing world he created. So please, enjoy the blog, post often!<div><br />
</div><div>The Valentines</div>Kyle and Amber Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12770781857335394281noreply@blogger.com0