Category: HFTBlog

Outdoor Writers Crowned Third Annual Mercer Muskie Madness Challenge Champions

Duo overcomes challenging fishing conditions and unfamiliar waters to capture coveted title

Press Release: Mercer, WI (10-21-14) —

57 passionate muskie anglers converged in the tiny town of Mercer in Wisconsin’s north woods last weekend to compete in the Third Annual Mercer Muskie Madness Challenge, an open muskie tournament sponsored by the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, The Turtle Flambeau Flowage Association and Gateway Lodge to benefit Wounded Warriors In Action (WWIA). Continue reading “Outdoor Writers Crowned Third Annual Mercer Muskie Madness Challenge Champions”

#HuntFishTravel 081 – Mosquito Repellents and the Hunter

Carrie & Rachel chat it up this week about the mosquito repellents they use, the mosquito repellents they’d never use and the length most mosquito repellents even last.
Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 081 – Mosquito Repellents and the Hunter”

Archery After Mastectomy – YOU CAN DO IT!

PREFACE: This isn’t meant to be a how to guide for returning to archery after mastectomy; because the mastectomy experience is intensely individual with individual and unique challenges. This is merely my experience and from that I hope that others can learn, find some help, and most of know that it is possible to return to archery after a mastectomy. Continue reading “Archery After Mastectomy – YOU CAN DO IT!”

Sunday Morning Musings – Happy Surgical Anniversary Day & How Far I’ve Come

{I actually wrote this September 30, 2014.  Today is my birthday and last year’s kinda sucked so I thought this would be a fitting post.}

I received a text today from my husband:

Happy Surgical AnniversaryI chuckled because it was such a simple yet effective reminder of the hell I was going through exactly one year ago today. Lying in a hospital bed, in excruciating pain after having several organs ripped out of me. Barely coherent and doped up beyond my wildest fears. The complications that nearly killed me and the agony of a lengthy recovery.

Most women would never dream of hunting alone much less for a whole week in another state for a species they knew nothing about.

But I am obviously not most women. Continue reading “Sunday Morning Musings – Happy Surgical Anniversary Day & How Far I’ve Come”

Service Review: Gun Watcher – Locate and Negotiate!

North Florida                                 COORDINATES XY: Anywhere, Florida

I admit it – I am a budget minded shopper. From cars to homes, when it comes to big ticket items, I am a tireless negotiator who will argue, discuss, cajole, and sometimes whine in order to receive the best deal.

While some products are inarguable worth every penny spent, I have – at times – had to remind the “offended” seller/vendor that my need to negotiate for a lower price is nothing personal, it is just good business. After all, my money spends just as well in my pocket as it will in someone else’s. Continue reading “Service Review: Gun Watcher – Locate and Negotiate!”

Ground Hunting the Natural Way – Part One

Bowhunting on the ground is a heart-thumping endeavor that appears to be on the decline due to the popularity treestands. While it is true treestands offer considerable advantages, the experience of taking an animal at eye-level close enough to hear it breath is incomparable. Continue reading “Ground Hunting the Natural Way – Part One”

7 Reasons I Love Camping In the Fall

I love fall camping. Everything about it and once Labor Day hits and hunting season gets here I am in seventh heaven.

And here are my top seven reasons why… Continue reading “7 Reasons I Love Camping In the Fall”

Kayak Fishing: Finding the Perfect Fish Friendly Kayak

Withlacoochee River – North Florida     Coordinates XY: 30.464334, -83.224044

I have always been a passionate outdoor woman. This being said, there are some things I enjoy more than others: Fishing being one of them.

During my “formative” years, I had heard that the best fishing occurred off shore – yes, that nebulous, mystical place on the outer limits of the Florida coastline that I had only rarely visited as a child and never as an adult. Continue reading “Kayak Fishing: Finding the Perfect Fish Friendly Kayak”

#HuntFishTravel 078 – Keeping Your Game Fresh after the Kill

You’ve killed it and field dressed it but now what? Wild World of CarrieZ’s newest blogger and Wildlife Information Specialist, Certified Fisheries Biologist for the Indiana DNR Michelle Cain is this week’s guest. We’re going to talk about how not to spoil the meat once you have an animal on the ground. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 078 – Keeping Your Game Fresh after the Kill”

Guest Post: Big Bargain Hunting for Gear Online

Every hunter knows the value of patience when it comes to tracking your quarry. But what about when it’s time to track down a new set of hunting gear? It’s easy to make your way into a big retail outlet and buy overpriced, flashy equipment for exorbitant prices, but finding great online deals for all of your hunting gear isn’t as taxing as you might think. There are lots of options for the savvy deal hunter, Continue reading “Guest Post: Big Bargain Hunting for Gear Online”

Stumping 102 – Building the Perfect Arrow

Now that we have introduced stump shooting and addressed the merits of doing so, I thought it important to briefly discuss crafting the perfect arrow. Hurling a perfectly good arrow at targets sane people wouldn’t normally shoot is a unique practice that requires specialist’s tackle. It can be as simple as grinding the tip off a field point, or as complicated as footing a carbon arrow and using a Judo.

Throughout my years of enjoying the activity, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t and would like to offer up the following pointers for anyone interested in this particular style. Continue reading “Stumping 102 – Building the Perfect Arrow”

#HuntFishTravel 076 – 2014 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations Explained

This week we’re joined by Kevin Wallenfang from the WI DNR. Rachel and I ask him every question we can think of and he’s kind enough to break it all down for us. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 076 – 2014 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations Explained”

Proposed Wisconsin Trout Regs Aim to Increase Angler Opportunities

MADISON – The public will have an opportunity to provide input on proposals to simplify existing inland trout fishing regulations and provide more quality trout fishing opportunities at 10 public meetings that will be held throughout the state beginning Sept. 3. Continue reading “Proposed Wisconsin Trout Regs Aim to Increase Angler Opportunities”

#HuntFishTravel 074 – Fall Walleye Tactics with Marble-EYE Slayers

Fall is hunting season. Yes, we know. But it’s also the best fishing season too! This week we are talking to pro tournament anglers Jeff Otis and Scott Ludwig. They are going to let us in on some of the fishing tactics the pro’s use so we can all catch dinner too!
Plus Rachel got a new dog, listen in to the story of how she came to be a new dog owner. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 074 – Fall Walleye Tactics with Marble-EYE Slayers”

Destination Review: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Five Reasons to Make Fond du Lac Your Late Summer Getaway

The dog days of summer are upon us, and that finds many of us longing for one last late summer getaway. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, provides a great destination for anyone interested in the outdoors, plus plenty of activities for those in the family who may not be quite so outdoor oriented. Continue reading “Destination Review: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin”

Wolfe Island Adventures

When the phone rang Friday night at 10 pm, looking at the name on caller id we knew something was wrong. It was my mother in law asking for help to pull their camping trailer back from Wolfe Island. Every year they make a summer camping trip to visit friends that live year round on the island that is only accessible via ferry from Kingston.
Continue reading “Wolfe Island Adventures”

#HuntFishTravel 072 – Bowhunting Preseason Checklist

This week I’m joined by Phillip Johnson of Tall Tine Bowstrings and Glacial Lakes Archery.

He gives us the run down on what we should be doing to get ready for the upcoming archery hunting season. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 072 – Bowhunting Preseason Checklist”

Lake of the Woods “Pay It Forward” Charity Event and WalleyeFest 2014 announces Entertainment Line Up

Baudette, MN Lake of the Woods Tourism in conjunction with Walleye Master Charity Events just released the entertainment line up for the main stage in Baudette on Friday and Saturday night, August 22 -23.

Friday evening, under the tent on Main Street in Baudette, Bruce Neumann and Tiki D will take the stage. With music of an island Continue reading “Lake of the Woods “Pay It Forward” Charity Event and WalleyeFest 2014 announces Entertainment Line Up”

#HuntFishTravel 070 – Tips for Cutting Shooting Lanes with Wicked Tree Gear

John Mulligan; VP of Sales & Marketing for Wicked Tree Gear joins us this week to talk about where, how much and when to even cut a shooting lane, tree saws and online hunting shows.

Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 070 – Tips for Cutting Shooting Lanes with Wicked Tree Gear”

Stump Shooting 101

If I had to choose one archery-related activity to entertain me the rest of my life, it would be stump shooting and I write this without a speck of hesitation. I’ll never forget the first time my Dad and I tried it. We had been shooting at box targets for a month and decided it was time for something new. It felt natural to be in the woods with our bows. In fact, while he was at work, I recall spending an entire Saturday wandering around the woods behind the house and having my bow with me the entire time – just for grins. I didn’t even bring an arrow. The combination of longbow and nature just felt right. Continue reading “Stump Shooting 101”

#HuntFishTravel 068 – Antler Growth and Organizing Your Trail Cam Photos with HuntForce

What are antlers? Why do they grow the way they do? What makes them big and sometimes gnarley? What the heck is “Velvet”?

All these questions are answered during this week’s episode where we sit down with President of HuntForce Jim White. We’ll talk Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 068 – Antler Growth and Organizing Your Trail Cam Photos with HuntForce”

#HuntFishTravel 067 – Archery Tips to Make You a Better Bowhunter

In this week’s episode I’m joined by World Champion Archer, Jahna Davis-Jurenka, we talk about how she got started in the pro archery world, tips for summer practice, and all about her new woman’s clothing line Bow Chic. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 067 – Archery Tips to Make You a Better Bowhunter”

Logan Peak Trail Race

One of the most important aspects of hunting out west is to be in fairly reasonable shape. You don’t need to be a star athlete, but the better shape you are in will lead to a more enjoyable hunt. The main thing that I do to stay in shape is to run. I have competed in several local races in the past with the longest being the half marathon. At he first of the year I sat down and tried to come up with a schedule of races is would like to do this year. Continue reading “Logan Peak Trail Race”

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em – Eat ‘Em – How to Clean and Prepare Invasive Carp

It’s no secret that folks along the Mississippi river and its tributaries are fighting a war with invasive carp. Not only are many states and municipalities at war with the carp, they are having one heck of time finding any effective weapon.

At this point there just isn’t anything that has been truly effective in stopping the invasion of these dastardly fish. Because they are not only invasive but injurious it’s pretty much open season on them in any water where you can find them and they are the most frequent target of many bowfishers. Continue reading “If You Can’t Beat ‘Em – Eat ‘Em – How to Clean and Prepare Invasive Carp”

Harvesting Your Own Nightcrawlers

My kids are getting to the age now where taking them fishing is becoming a fun favorite past time, but getting expensive. I was recently at the local bait shop to pick up some fresh night crawlers for the day on the water and I almost had a heart attack when the kid behind the counter said “3 dozen worms at $2.50 a dozen….umm let’s see that will be $7.50 please“. Are you kidding me? 2.50 A dozen? So I jumped online and googled live fishing bait, yes I google everything and was shocked to see how big the earthworm industry has grown. Continue reading “Harvesting Your Own Nightcrawlers”

Staying the Course

Sometimes being a traditional bowhunter is truly difficult, especially when the temptation of the modern industry surrounds you. This has been true for me and I’m certain it’s even harder for those of you with compound roots that flirt with the former when your confidence takes a hit. Traditional archery has plenty of obstacles accompanied. Becoming proficient is a constant battle that requires patience and dedication. For this reason, not everyone is willing to stick with it. Continue reading “Staying the Course”

How To Find Fish For Bowfishing

There is perhaps no sweeter phrase to a bowfisher than that of “Fish are up!” In the world of bowfishing that means that the targeted rough fish (carp, gar, drum, bowfin etc.) are in the shallows, or in water where they are easily seen and easily shot. Continue reading “How To Find Fish For Bowfishing”

#HuntFishTravel 065 – Tips for Planning an Out of State Elk Hunt

Mia Anstine from Wolf Creek Outfitters joins us this week to talk about how you go about booking, what you need to do to get ready and what to expect when you book an out of state elk hunt. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 065 – Tips for Planning an Out of State Elk Hunt”

#HuntFishTravel 064 – Turkey Hunting in WI and NY

Tune in to find out if Carrie or Rachel got a bird this year and Dan Small joins us this week as we discuss turkey hunting in both Wisconsin and New York. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 064 – Turkey Hunting in WI and NY”

Bowfishing 101 – Bowfishing Equipment for Beginners

Imagine that you could combine your love of archery with your love of fishing. Bowfishing is just that that, archery and angling in one fun package! Bowfishing is the perfect way to keep your archery skills intact and continue enjoying bringing home food for the table between hunting seasons. Continue reading “Bowfishing 101 – Bowfishing Equipment for Beginners”

Sighting in Your Compound Bow the Easier Way

We’ve all been in the situation of having to sight in a bow with a brand new sight on it. It can prove to be frustrating and time consuming. The main reason for this is most people approach it the wrong way. I, myself, have spent a lot of time running down range to retrieve my shotgun pattern of arrows wondering which were the bad shots and which were good. Arrows can be lost just trying to “get on paper”. Here is an easier, less frustrating method that hopefully will get you on the target with your first shot and sighted in quickly. Continue reading “Sighting in Your Compound Bow the Easier Way”

Gear Review: 2014 PSE Dream Season DNA SP

2013 PSE Dream Season DNA was a very popular bow; they manufactured a new riser that was stronger and lighter but still managed to push the super-fast IBO speeds PSE is known for.

But for most of us, a smooth draw is what we really want, and as a woman, I don’t want to have to fight with what in my opinion was an overly aggressive cam. Continue reading “Gear Review: 2014 PSE Dream Season DNA SP”

A Very Special “New Bow Day”

One of the most celebrated acronyms in all of bowhunting is “NBD”. Second only to “BBD” (Big Buck Down) in importance, these three letters will make even the heftiest of archers do cartwheels. Yup, there is no denying it, a “New Bow Day” is an event worthy of celebration. I’ve had several and every, single one of them was special. Continue reading “A Very Special “New Bow Day””

Gear review: HHA Optimizer Lite Ultra Series, Model DS-XL5519


As of to date I have been shooting archery for over 30 years. In that 30 plus yeas I have gone through numerous gear changes. I am kind f a gear nut and love to try new things. The one thing that has never changed is I have always shot a multi pin sight. I started out with 3 pins, then went to 5, and the went to a 7.  This improved my long range shooting but I also started to clutter up my sight picture.  I needed something a little simpler that would give me the accuracy and durability that I demand. Continue reading “Gear review: HHA Optimizer Lite Ultra Series, Model DS-XL5519”

#HuntFishTravel 062 – Full Strut; Bowhunting for Turkey’s with Heartland Bowhunter

We have Heartland Bowhunter‘s Michael Hunsucker and Shawn Luchtel on the line with us this week to talk about turkey hunting tactics using archery equipment, their go to set up and a sneak peak on an upcoming episode.
Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 062 – Full Strut; Bowhunting for Turkey’s with Heartland Bowhunter”

Vanes or Feathers for Traditional Archery

While I intended on finishing our broadhead conversation in this post, a discussion with a fellow bowhunter and aspiring traditionalist immediately threw me off course. He had just picked up a beautiful, vintage, fiberglass, Browning recurve and wanted to know if he could shoot vanes instead of feathers from it. He was an all-season, all-weather hunter and noticed that his feathers didn’t hold up well in those conditions. Plus, the majority of his arrows already had vanes on them and he didn’t feel like switching. Continue reading “Vanes or Feathers for Traditional Archery”

Building Wood Duck Boxes

The Wood Duck is one of North Americas most colorful waterfowl, its scientific name of (Aix Sponsa) translates into “water bird in bridal dress“.  These beautiful bright colored ducks nest in old growth timber found along river bottoms, beaver ponds and marsh lands.  They like to nest in natural tree cavities and abandoned wood pecker holes, with in close access to water to brood their young.  Continue reading “Building Wood Duck Boxes”

#HuntFishTravel 061 – Turkey Killing in Comfort

In this episode Rachel and I sit down with Blair Michele from Spectra Shot to talk about their Field Staff program, what the heck a “Rugarou” is, why shooting different colored shot saves a lot of arguments and provides more accurate scoring for skeet and trap. And then he explains to us the technical details about the White Lightening Turkey Load, and how the NWTF Still Target Challenge shooters requested a turkey load that could be shot in competition as well as hunting that manages the recoil and how Spectra Shot answered the call. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 061 – Turkey Killing in Comfort”

Compound Bow Shot Sequence


When it comes to archery, as in any sport, consistency is the key. We must learn to execute a shot in the exact same manner time and time again. We have to think of ourselves as machines.

[Tweet “In archery, as in any sport, consistency is the key.”]

A machine, when programmed and running correctly, will perform a task the exact same way over and over. We need to program ourselves to shoot a bow that way. To do that, we need a well thought out and WRITTEN OUT shot sequence. Continue reading “Compound Bow Shot Sequence”

#HuntFishTravel 060 – Hunting Leases….NEVER AGAIN!

An accurate depiction of Carrie's WI Hunting Lease experience...
An accurate depiction of Carrie’s WI Hunting Lease experience…

Lease land for deer hunting they said.

It’ll be fun they said.

Yeah, not so much.

This week I’m joined by my new co-host Rachel and Jay Scott from the Big Buck Registry Big Buck Podcast. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 060 – Hunting Leases….NEVER AGAIN!”

#HuntFishTravel 058 – Gun Safety with the Judge

Julie Mogenis of World Wide Adventures TV visits us to talk about her inspirational journey to overcome death and go on to accomplish one of the world’s greatest feats.

And why you should always make sure your gun is actually unloaded. Continue reading “#HuntFishTravel 058 – Gun Safety with the Judge”

Traditional Broadheads – Get to the Point

Finally, we get to talk about the business end of the arrow: the part that gets the job done. I must confess I am a broadhead junky. From the moment I bought my first pack, I’ve been infatuated with them. I love what they do; I love the engineering behind them; and I love the way they look. [Tweet “The broadhead is the quintessential symbol of bowhunting.  via @Nick_Viau”]There is no emblem more iconic. When people see a broadhead, they know exactly what it means and exactly what it does, whether they are hunters or not.
Continue reading “Traditional Broadheads – Get to the Point”

6 Reasons to Learn How to Butcher Your Own Game

Hello again outdoors world! Thanks for stopping! For the past 20+ years of my life, I have made restaurants my career. I have worked as a head chef in a few high end restaurants and have gained a high respect for the foods I put in my body. There is nothing that echoes this sentiment more than the wild game I take from the field. From the rabbits, the turkeys, pheasants and deer, it all makes for some very spiritual meals. Now being a chef I have learned how to butcher my own prime cuts of meat, subsequently, from a young age have been processing all my own harvests. Continue reading “6 Reasons to Learn How to Butcher Your Own Game”

5 KEYS TO SHOOT A COMPOUND BOW BETTER NOW well…almost

When I emailed Carrie Z my title for this month’s article, I hated it the second I hit send. I knew that, once I started writing, it would turn into 7 KEYS TO SHOOT BETTER NOW, OR 8 KEYS OR 9 KEYS, ETC, ETC, ETC. There are just too many variables to shooting a bow properly to narrow them down to a certain number. But we have to start somewhere and I think these 5 will get us well on our way to better shooting. Continue reading “5 KEYS TO SHOOT A COMPOUND BOW BETTER NOW well…almost”

Sunday Morning Musings – Sometimes a Punch in the Face is Needed

Sometimes I have no idea how I got here.

Sometimes I get sucked into situations I have no business being in.

Sometimes I bite off more than I can chew and then smack myself in the forehead in regret and mutter “what was I thinking???” .

I do however, find some solace in thinking I’m not alone in this.

It’s funny, I’ve never aspired to be famous or a promoter of women in the outdoors or anything like that. I’m just a chick with a podcast and a blog that enjoys hunting and fishing and I just really like doing what I do. Continue reading “Sunday Morning Musings – Sometimes a Punch in the Face is Needed”