The Great American Outdoor Show Recap

Speaker 2: 0:21

Welcome back to the Garden State Outdoors and Podcast presented by Boondock's Unning. I'm your host, mike Nitray.

Speaker 3: 0:27

I'm.

Speaker 1: 0:27

Peyton Smith, I'm Frank Mistica.

Speaker 2: 0:30

Welcome back, boys. It was a hell of a week. We are just going to be dissecting the great American outdoor show. Frank, it was his first time. Unfortunately, peyton didn't get to go, and if Steve is able to get on, he'll be explaining his first experience there too as well. Frank, first time, let us know what you thought about the show.

Speaker 1: 0:55

I loved it. It was definitely awesome. A little overwhelming at times, but it was just awesome. There's so much to see and I still didn't get to see everything. I was up there for like a day and a half and but it was definitely awesome. There's a lot to see.

Speaker 2: 1:15

Yeah, too much If you and we're talking about a little bit before very overwhelming if you do not get to stay for long. So usually when Bianca and I have gone, we went the first year we went together, we went for one day. The second time we went, which was like two and a half years later because it was COVID, we went for like two days and then three days, and then we did three days again this year, which Bianca wanted more, and then it's just so much fun, just so much to do, Not even just the hunting stuff. This is what I really liked about the show is it's not only about hunting, fishing and the outdoors. There's so much to do if you're not even interested really in hunting.

Speaker 2: 2:04

Like you know, there's a lot of food. We got a bunch of alcohol. There is RVs. We love going to the RVs and looking at the RVs. Of course there's guns and everything like that, but there is dog shows which we love and we're very unhappy that we missed this year. We did not get to see the canines do all the jumping into the water and everything like that. That's usually a lot of fun, Good food, a lot good laughs, good friends and it's definitely a great time, yeah absolutely.

Speaker 1: 2:37

I love it.

Speaker 4: 2:39

Hey, what's going on, guys? Sorry, I'm late to the party.

Speaker 2: 2:42

No, we literally just started. Steve, we're just going over. It's yours and Frank's first time going to the Great American Outdoor Show and just getting your feedback on what you thought.

Speaker 4: 2:55

Oh yeah, absolutely. I heard you talking about the canines. I did get to see a little bit of the jumping into the water and all that. That was really cool. They put on a really good presentation. I don't know, I was really blown away.

Speaker 4: 3:07

I was able to go with my dad on Wednesday. We went and checked out. They had me go through the gun hall first, which was opposite of where I thought we were going to be coming in, and it took us an hour just to get out of there. We had a very truncated timetable, basically like five hours to check everything out, and, man, I mean I can see why it's a week long. I mean that's an understatement, but we spend most of the time in the Archery Hall and, I guess, the Outdoor Lifestyle Hall. They tie in together some of those and so, yeah, we saw some really great stuff. I got to hang out with my boys from Sirius Archery and, yeah, it was awesome. I definitely did not get to see everything that I wanted to and somehow only walked away with one purchase. So it was a good show.

Speaker 1: 3:56

You're better than me, you're right, you're way better than me.

Speaker 2: 4:01

Frank. Well, before we get into Frank since, steve, you're there first what was the one thing that you really caught your attention, whether it was the product, whether it was just the sheer size of the venue. What was the first thing like that really grabbed your attention?

Speaker 4: 4:22

Man monstrosity Is that the right word for this event? I mean it really. I don't know how you, like I said, I don't know how you take it all in in a finite period of time. You really need a week. I don't think a week would be enough. To stop at every table and spend five minutes with each table, I don't think it would be enough. I don't think you'd have enough time.

Speaker 4: 4:48

A lot of cool things, though, popped out. It was great to meet Cody from Lone Wolf Custom Gear, like I said, hanging out with the guys from Sirius. I'm trying to think if there was one thing that really popped out at me. Okay, okay, actually, I wasn't being truthful. I made two, and actually I was because my dad made this purchase and I didn't.

Speaker 4: 5:10

But there was a small little booth. It was just opposite of, I think, sirius Archery and it was camo dust and basically this guy. You guys probably saw it. It was a small little booth and this guy, through finding out a way to try to mitigate the smell and poultry houses, they came up with this formula for this compound of dust which is non-toxic and all of that, and they were able to spread it on and they started using it for deer and the guys literally showing a video of a guy 15, maybe 15 yards away from a bear and the bear is just hanging out and he's just sitting there talking on the camera and I was like, hey, use other products, I'll give this a shot. And actually I used it this past week and it worked pretty well, pretty well for our Saturday hunt. They definitely didn't smell me at all. Yeah, I'd say in totality it's something that I'm going to spend more time at next year. Definitely got to plan more time because five five hours.

Speaker 4: 6:13

Driving out for two and a half hours, spending five hours and coming back was a tease, so that's all I got for that. I mean, there's a ton, you guys, you saw everything that was there too, you know. It's what about you, frank?

Speaker 1: 6:31

No, it was definitely. I was overwhelmed with it. As soon as I walked in I was like, oh my God, I'm glad we got a day and a half, but that still wasn't long enough. So I think we spent probably a good like half a day just in like the archery section alone, Like I would leave then come back, leave then come back, you know. But yeah, it was definitely something, man, I loved it. Next year a couple more days, though, that's for sure.

Speaker 2: 7:03

Yeah, no, it is. We're going to be planning really we're going to get a big group Dave, chris and I. We all talked about this is something that we really need to set up. It is so much fun going to the group and going with the crew and rolling deep and and it's not even just a show. Okay, and I'm going to get into what Bianca and I do and how we did it and how what the setup was with Chris and Dave everything that I might as well just get into it now.

Speaker 2: 7:31

But so Steve went up Wednesday, I went up the next day on Thursday. Bianca and I honestly we left here. Checking was until three, so you know we weren't rushing. We got up there probably exactly like at three o'clock, which was great. We checked into the hotel. We check into the same hotel that every year we go to this place. It's the best Western and that's probably where we're hopefully all going to be staying next year. Chris and Dave already said that they're going to be there. Hopefully you guys join in everything, because this hotel is absolutely amazing. So when you walk in every year they have a game animal right at the front. So the first year I we stay at this hotel there's a giant alligator or crocodile, then last year was a Liger. This giant Liger this year was a Black Bear. So I'm interested to see what next year they're going to have up there.

Speaker 2: 8:27

But yeah, we checked into the hotel, we went, we chilled in the room for a little bit and roughly around five o'clock we headed to the show and what we did was because we knew Dave and everyone, dave and Chris were coming up. We're like, all right, we'll spend money on like the last day that we're here, like one of the last days, we'll just buy all everything. But we went. Yeah, we took a quick stop at the RG hall, but we didn't stay long, just because, yet again, we knew how long we're going to be there for days prior or days in the future, whatever you want to say. At Jesus Christ, I'm butchering that. But so we go down to the outdoor lifestyle. First of all, we're checking out the RVs. A lot less than every year that they've had, but they had some nice RVs in there and Bianca and I are actually looking to get a fifth wheel or RV at some point. So we're checking that out and then, man, the smell caught our attention and they do a section where they'll butcher deer for you.

Speaker 2: 9:26

They do cooking, they do all these classes and if no one knows who he is, go check him out on Instagram and he goes by HuntChef on Instagram and let me tell you he cooked up one of by far the best venison meals that both Bianca and I have ever had, and that is saying something. Firstly, the one ingredient that you use is this bottle right here. Right, and I wish I had my remote control for the Zoom, but I do not. This is a. It is a maple whiskey, so he used that with real maple syrup, and then he also used sausages which were mixed in with his mountaintop sausage mix. He used red apples, beans, onions, everything like that, and then I he used a backstrap and tenderloin Cooked this thing up. If you guys saw my Instagram, you saw that he poured the whiskey in and then he had that big flame and everything like that.

Speaker 2: 10:42

For Bianca to be impressed and to say that that was the best, like Bianca is all about cooking and she's the chef in the family, it really does mean something because she loves high in her Stepdad was a chef and everything like that and grew up in the food industry and that's what he does for a living, so it definitely does mean mean a lot and we chatted with him for a little bit and that was by far probably the coolest. That was probably, I think, my favorite part of the whole entire show was that interaction. We talked to him a couple times. We made a post about him. He he posted back. He actually really talked to Bianca a lot more than me.

Speaker 2: 11:27

Bianca was always going up to ask questions. I asked him how you cook coyote, what is recommendation? So he did give me a cool tip on that and everything like that, and he is going to be coming on the podcast. He will be coming on. And we also bought if anyone knows us, we love our spices, so we got a whole bunch of different ones and I love these names first of all. So he has one of them is called All Dusts it Up and it has a pheasant on it, has a turkey on it, has a grouse on it, like great name, first of all. Then he has another one called Straight Out of the Bay and that's a crab on it, that looks like a striper and then a duck on it. That's the picture.

Speaker 3: 12:09

Yeah, that's going to be called a rockfish, not a striper. If it's straight out of the bay, well, that may be whatever.

Speaker 1: 12:16

Then he has I love this one.

Speaker 2: 12:18

This is called the Party Fowl. I'm going to go up to the camera and I'm going to show you guys all this after I'm done. Then he has the Canadian Carnivore and he said this one is like the Montreal seasoning, with his own twist in it. Then he has the Smokey Bayou, which has the catfish on it, and then my one of the coolest ones is the Feather Duster with the turkey on it. I thought the names were so cool and they do really taste absolutely amazing. So I'm going to go up real quick to the camera and show you all. I hope. Let me know if you guys could see it correctly.

Speaker 4: 13:03

Okay, maybe back out a little.

Speaker 3: 13:05

Yeah, oh, you just had it.

Speaker 4: 13:08

Oh yeah, give it a second to focus, yeah.

Speaker 1: 13:21

There you go. Yeah, you got it.

Speaker 2: 13:23

Got it straight out of the bay. We have little.

Speaker 3: 13:27

Maryland action.

Speaker 2: 13:29

Canadian Carnivore. We have Smokey Bayou, we then have Party Fowl, which I love this one, that's a pretty cool artwork. I do love the artwork on all these things. And then we have the Feather Duster. So all really cool. I really like what he did.

Speaker 2: 14:01

Really unique Catches out to you and it is some great seasoning. So we picked up a whole bunch. Why not? We go up there? I think every year we get seasoning, we get stuff like that. And then we headed. We went back to the hotel and the hotel has its own restaurant, which is the restaurant's right next to it.

Speaker 2: 14:25

Great food. This is honestly for especially and I don't want to say for PA, but when you're in PA or other states are not really in New Jersey or New York, restaurants are little on the you know that you're not always getting the best Right. Let me tell you something with this restaurant that is not the case at all. This is probably one of my favorite restaurants to go to. It's nothing special about it, but the food and these cooks know how to cook Everything is perfectly cooked the way you want it. So on night one, every week, every day, they have during the show they have a new game animal to eat. So I had rabbit the first day I had, and then I had wild boar pork belly the second day.

Speaker 4: 15:21

Nice.

Speaker 2: 15:22

And it was amazing, amazing. They got a venison one. That's amazing. So the longer we stay there, the more game meat you get to get. So that was really cool too as well. And yeah, they got a swimming pool. I went swimming to one of the days, as everyone knows, if you watch Chris and Dave's Instagram and have heard them talk for the past 48 hours, mr Donald Trump was there. So that was pretty cool too as well to experience. But all around, just like a great trip.

Speaker 2: 16:01

There's just lots to do. You walk a lot. Let me tell you, if you're going be prepared to walk, be prepared. Like I was no joke. I was telling Dave I was more tired and more sore walking there than I ever been. Walking in the woods, like. I think it put more of a toll on me walking Like no joke, like it was, my legs were killing me, my feet were hurting, everything like that. But when you're in the woods and you're climbing, it's not nearly as bad. This, really this beat you down. Driving home, I was done, I was ready to go to bed. I didn't want anything else to do with. Like I didn't want to walk anymore. There is a lot to do and I definitely do appreciate the fact that PA throws this and this event or the NRA throws this and everything like that, because it is absolutely a blast.

Speaker 1: 16:57

Yeah, no, definitely.

Speaker 2: 16:59

And you have to. You have to have to come.

Speaker 3: 17:02

I don't care if you're late.

Speaker 2: 17:04

I will drag you any way that I you know you've got to come we will.

Speaker 3: 17:10

We'll get there next year for sure.

Speaker 2: 17:12

We'll have a blast Like the night that we really like. We met up and we hung out, we went to dinner Well, we did a pursuit live. Then we went to dinner, had a bunch of drinks, had cigars and we just, you know BS the whole entire time. Like it's fun. It definitely needs to be longer and the more people that come in, if anyone's interested and that want to come, want to meet us up there, anything like that. Listen, it is something that we're going to be planning. We already got plans in motion and everything like that. We're going to probably be. Bianca wants to set something up soon, because you also get a deal and discount and everything like that If you set it up earlier. The dates, I think, are already set in stone for next year. It's the. The event is the 31st to the ninth, I believe, next year, which is actually, I think, a little better.

Speaker 1: 18:02

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:03

So so it's longer. No, no, it's the same, it's 10 days. Usually it's, yeah, 10 days. Every year it's 10 days. They do two, they have two weekends and then yeah, that's. You know, that's kind of what they do. What else, what else? Well, I got some amazing drinks to there's, this place in PA that was selling homemade alcohol too as well. So of course, I got the maple whiskey that I showed you guys earlier. I'm not going to do a closeup of these. Then, of course, you know, we had to get some apple pie shine. Bianca really liked this one. There you go, so that's the one that she wanted. And then one that I really like, and I like cooking with, is the black is blackberry. So I picked up a blackberry bottle Huge fan of cooking with blackberries or blackberry alcohol or anything like that. So that is kind of why I went with that one. So I'm actually going to have a drink here pretty soon. I'm going to see if Bianca can give me a glass and I can try one of these out. What else, what else?

Speaker 4: 19:17

That maple, so the maple whiskey. When we were up in Canada, my wife and I went out to Quebec First year we were dating and we did the trip up there and that stuff is like crack man, it's addictive. You go through a bottle of that in a couple of nights easy, I mean it's yeah, and I can't even imagine cooking with it, like I never came to my mind because we were too busy drinking it.

Speaker 2: 19:40

So yeah, like I love cooking with different types of alcohol. That's a big fan of mine. As much as I like to drink the alcohol, it does make your food just like so much better. The next step I'm going to because I saw it on TikTok with this guy. He likes to cook with tequila and now I'm not a tequila fan, so don't get me, I'm not a tequila fan. But that has to like, you see it, and you're like all right, I need to try this because like it's gotta be good, like you know and Bianca loves, especially if you make a taco or something. They're like single day mild. That is the perfect thing. Make some venison, chili or tacos or anything like that. Throw some cos amigos in. That you can't get anymore. You know, single day mild and that have a margarita on the lime, on the rocks, whatever you want. It's kind of the perfect, like perfect segue into single day mild.

Speaker 4: 20:33

But I don't know why I just thought of it. But a maple whiskey, cranberry reduction for wild turkey, I think would be.

Speaker 1: 20:44

I don't know why that just came to mind.

Speaker 4: 20:46

That would be good.

Speaker 2: 20:47

So one day we're all gonna have to get together, we're gonna have to do like a whole cookoff where we try just different like meats with different type of alcohol and just all different types of thing and just have a good, good fest. I mean, we do have the game dinner coming up, so you know we could be trying that out there.

Speaker 2: 21:06

But yeah, great, great time I got myself a new saddle. Everyone, peyton and Frank, we were talking a little bit before so I went with Arsenal's saddle. Didn't get the sticks, didn't get the platform.

Speaker 2: 21:23

Frank got the sticks and the platform correct From the platform yep yep so we'll definitely be bringing you guys more detailed, further reviews when they get here and we'll do some videos. And we definitely, steve, if you can travel up here, I know you're farther and everything like that but we definitely decided one day we're gonna just get together with Peyton being the engineer and we're gonna break some a bunch of stuff down and do a bunch of videos and content for everyone. If anyone's listening out there and they want to join in because they have a tether platform or they have like whatever different companies that they want to see us try out. If you wanna meet up with us, you know you can do that. We can make a whole day of it and Peyton can give you, especially with his experience and what he does. He can give you honest feedback for everyone out there. So I think that's gonna be something that we really try for during the summer. But, yeah, really excited, this arsenal I said it before the lightest thing I've ever. It is amazing, absolutely amazing. I can't wait to show you guys.

Speaker 2: 22:31

It has pockets too and I love that there's a pocket. So excited for the fact that there's pockets, like I could carry my phone. Shout out to Aaron from Long On, wanderers, he hooked it up for us and he even said he's like yeah, man, I like how you carry sandwich in here, you could do whatever. You could carry food whatever you want. Like it's nice having pockets in the actual saddle, because normally the saddle covers up your pockets and it kind of makes it a little hard to get into. You can carry a pocket knife now in this and where, gosh forbid, something happens. You boom, you have the knife and you can cut a rope or whatever you need to cut if you fall or have an accident or like that. So I really like that setup.

Speaker 4: 23:11

And then I also got I was kicking myself afterwards because I didn't know that he was there. I planned to go buy the Arsenal booth I ran at a time, but I was kicking myself. I really wanted to meet him. He's-.

Speaker 2: 23:23

I didn't know he was there either. Yeah, I saw him the last day I didn't know who's there the days prior and I was coming in, I was meeting up with the guys and everything like that, and that's where they were. That was the first booth. So that's where we were and it's not and this wasn't a buy because somebody said so and I want to make that clear. This wasn't because Dave got the setup, frank got a setup, I got it.

Speaker 2: 23:51

I've tried a bunch of different saddles and everything like that, but we were there in person and he literally took off his saddle and let us try it. And I saw that the Jim Tyson. Honestly, it was just so comfortable, it was so light, it was. I loved everything about it and, like I said, we'll go into more details in another episode, but we personally tried this and that's what I like.

Speaker 2: 24:14

And I think from now on I don't think there will be really being much in the especially in the saddle market or anything like that that if it's not at one of these shows, I'm not gonna buy it, like I would like to try everything now before even buying it, and I'm not knocking like, listen, I do love my wild edge saddle, but it's a little bulkier, it's not as comfortable as this, so I definitely went with the upgrade. Love the platforms, don't get me wrong, wild edge. Love your platforms. You know I will always be running. You know your platforms. I got two of them, so you know I will, but I also am getting it probably a new tethered. The new tethered platform that they're coming out with it is the carbon.

Speaker 4: 24:57

The carbon one, yeah, yeah. I tried out the old. Oh sorry again.

Speaker 2: 25:02

No, no, no, no, go, go go.

Speaker 4: 25:03

I tried out their ultra lock saddle. I have been running an arrow hunter Merlin for three seasons now. I didn't think there was ever gonna be a saddle that I'd wanna replace it with. But I got that ultra lock, just the SD on, same thing as with the pockets, right Build in the haulers on the sides, but minimalist. I could not believe how comfortable they were actually able to make that with all the hype that was out there about it. Now that you're talking about the hunt arsenal and I saw kinda saw that too, I'm again I saw for not getting over there to be able to sit in that and try it out, because I've heard really good things about that too.

Speaker 2: 25:49

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's the thing, the what's been coming out about that and they're still up and going and everything like that is a lot of great things. Those sticks are absolutely phenomenal and, frank, I'll let you kind of hit on their sticks. It's really unique and this close to pulling the trigger, but I'm getting married. So I don't wanna spend all the money in the world on stuff that I really don't need.

Speaker 4: 26:14

Did you go all in Frank on everything?

Speaker 1: 26:16

No. So, believe me, I want to cause actually Aaron, let me try his saddle as well. I think it was after Mike and them left, I went back, started talking to Aaron a little bit. He let me use try out a few different things. Now I looked at him. I was like man, if my wife didn't buy me the trophy line covert for Christmas, I would definitely buy it. But she's standing right behind me, you know. So it's a hard sell. I'm gonna stay away from the saddle. But the sticks and the platform I tried. I went over to trophy line, I tried theirs, I tried Tether's, so I tried a couple different ones. But I don't know, do some about the Arsenal man that I just, it was just different. I got the bigger platform. Steve, I don't know if you were here for that. Oh, the Magnum, yeah. So I got the 2.0, I believe.

Speaker 4: 27:14

Oh, and the 2.0.

Speaker 1: 27:16

Yeah, cause he actually talking to Aaron. He was like if you're just going straight from a lock on, this is your first year in saddle. He's like I would definitely run the bigger platform for at least a couple years.

Speaker 3: 27:30

How much is that?

Speaker 1: 27:32

platform way in it. I think he said it was 2.5, I believe, or something like that.

Speaker 3: 27:36

Pretty light. So you're running three sticks in that platform. So you're at well like four and a half, two and a half, five, seven pounds set up. That's pretty, you know. Add obviously for like ropes and stuff. So you're probably around eight pound, nine pound set up. That's really really light, that's ridiculous.

Speaker 1: 27:53

I made the mistake on my first set up being insanely heavy.

Speaker 3: 28:00

I ran this last year. Mike knows I ran a heavy, a monster of a set up. I ran the Muddy One Sticks and the Haukeelium platform. So my sticks were like three pounds each and my platform four pounds. So when I ran four sticks I was like over 15 pounds, probably 16 pounds, and I obviously got a much lighter set up here over the last couple of months. But yeah, that would be my advice. Going forward is just like spend the extra money and cut the weight on half.

Speaker 3: 28:32

He literally told me spend another like $200 and cut the weight on half yeah, I agree, he was like listen, he's like spending the money.

Speaker 1: 28:41

that way you won't cry wrong.

Speaker 3: 28:43

Yeah, and somebody that did it the wrong way, like buying the extra you didn't do it the wrong way.

Speaker 4: 28:49

You did. It was your first, you know it was your force for a into it and you know what. I'm only saying it because I did the same thing. I mean I started out with an XOP edge things almost five pounds for the platform. You know their sticks not light. You know their original stick.

Speaker 3: 29:04

So you got their extra. You know and I'm only they are pretty light.

Speaker 4: 29:07

Oh, the new ones. Yeah, all their new stuff is great and I'm just saying that as an encouragement that people start out like if that's all you can afford to get started by all means. I mean, if you have the money, splurge, but if that's all you know. If you want to get into saddle hunting, don't let the weight for your first season keep you from trying something new.

Speaker 3: 29:25

It'll still be lighter and less bulky than like the climber, yeah.

Speaker 4: 29:29

Oh yeah, absolutely yeah.

Speaker 2: 29:31

And, yeah, I love that you said that, steve, because it's exactly like you got to buy what you can afford.

Speaker 2: 29:38

Right, right and listen, even Peyton's heavy setup, it is still better than lugging a climber around the woods without a dowel Like it's it is not even close and you're still gonna be a little more quiet and everything like that, because those climbers they're just, they're a real big pain. But just do what you can, listen, and I usually always recommend, if you can't buy it all in one. Now, the cool thing about the show is that give a lot of deals, like I'm telling you we got a lot of money off, we got things for free, and stuff like that. Like especially, I think more at the end, because they're looking to get rid of a lot of products too. That's how they're gonna be. If they brought too much and they don't want it, they are usually looking like, hey, we'll throw you this. Yada, yada, yada.

Speaker 1: 30:30

Yep.

Speaker 2: 30:31

Right. But if you can't do that and you're not one of these shows, buy some, buy. Okay, let me buy the actual saddle first, right? Oh, boom. Okay, now I got the saddle. Maybe a month later you buy the platform. Maybe a month later you buy the sticks and you just slowly build in the off season and you just slowly build up what you're gonna be using because, honestly, when you start practicing you don't need to use a stick. You can just get that saddle once you get that platform and just set it up right there, boom. So you're only like maybe a foot or two off the ground. Just get comfortable with that. Then, when that first stick comes in, or you get all the sticks together now you try one stick, then you try two sticks, then you try three and you just slowly get yourself more comfortable. You don't need to buy it all at once. You don't need to buy the most expensive stuff. Take your time, buy what you can. You don't want the wife or husband killing you or divorcing you because there's no more money.

Speaker 2: 31:38

Don't do what some of us do, but it's a perfect time to see what you really wanna use and it's a perfect time to try new stuff. They were like, hey, you wanna try this, you wanna try that, especially during the weekday. The weekend is crazier, the weekday is a little more calmer and chill, so you really get to sit there and talk to people and everything like that and they'll sit back and chit chat. Quick note, before I forget a goal was achieved for both Bianca and I I think more for Bianca than me, because she was blushing. The minute we saw her, hannah Baron, everyone, bianca and I both got a picture. Actually, all of us got a picture. Amazing girl, her accent to die for. And she is so much smaller than what she's, smaller than Bianca and Bianca was like, oh my God, like she's tiny, like she makes me look tall, great girl. It was really cool to see her and to get a picture with her and everything like that. I will be inviting her to our wedding.

Speaker 2: 32:44

Her and Bianca kicked it off for the minute that they talked and I was like told Bianca, like why aren't you sparking? She's like I'm just awkward. I was like you need to spark up a conversation. So I got the okay to, when we do finally set our date, I'm gonna be posting that picture of both Bianca and I with her and we'll be sending it. Say Hannah Baron, you wanna come up to Maine, yada, yada this date, and first of all come shoot some black bears with us, and also you wanna come to our wedding. So you know it's worth the shot, you know it's why not, but in all seriousness, it is pretty cool. You see a lot of people out there, a lot of the famous hunters or whatever you wanna call them. A lot of great people out there. A lot of fun toys.

Speaker 4: 33:35

You know. What's interesting about that too is there are so many guys that are you know who are running the booths for these different companies and you know they're partnering with them and they're really awesome hunters. I couldn't believe how many guys I saw in person. A good example was Rendell. He was at the Osio booth. I am a total. I love my first light, but I'm quickly, very quickly falling in love with the Osio line.

Speaker 4: 34:04

I love that pattern. I think it's the most unique natural pattern out there. It's really cool. And this guy, rendell, who's a total, you know slayer of a hunter, is there helping out and he's like, yeah, check this out, check that out. And I go online later on and I'm like this guy is a stone called killer, like, and he's just a normal guy just hanging out, just helping people and stuff and I'm like that's one of the coolest things about this. The same goes for our guys over at Archery, seth and Tyler and Connor just the nicest guys ever. I mean that's one of the coolest things that. Actually, now that I'm thinking about in retrospect, that was one of the things that kind of blew me away more than anything else about the show is how frigging nice people were and authentic and wanted to help and, like I would say that was the attitude on the whole and that was really cool yeah.

Speaker 2: 34:58

Yeah, I'll agree with you. I've had nothing but great experiences going to the show. Everyone's so friendly and it was funny that you say that. But like the first day that we're there, we're walking. I mean, it was a little busy, not nothing crazy, but usually when we're in New York City, Bianca is flying through, when cutting people off and doing what we do in this area everyone's in a rush, but there she walks slower.

Speaker 2: 35:24

She doesn't really cut anyone off and I was like what the hell? I was like when we're in the city she goes no, people are nice. Here In New York City everyone's a bunch of assholes and that's what. Everyone's rude. But she's like how can I cut people off that wave to you and says hi or oh, I'm sorry for bumping you, I got someone hit me by mistake. They turn and we just literally and she's like, oh my god, I'm so sorry. I was like, no, don't apologize, it's all good, you would never get that in the city. You might get punched in the face in the city or something like that.

Speaker 2: 35:55

It's just a completely change of pace. And, yeah, I agree, I love how everyone's just so friendly, so nice, things are relaxed and they really talk and they really explain and they go out their way. I know, obviously when it gets busy, that does that make it harder. Yes, but man doing that for 10 days with let's just say they're averaging I don't know 50,000 people a day, I don't know what the number is, but let's just say that's the average, right, because seems about right, maybe even more man could you imagine sitting at the same booth every day talking about the same thing over and, over and over and over. You really love it. It's, it's yeah.

Speaker 3: 36:35

No, when you really love it yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:37

And listen. I love talking to people. So hopefully one day we're there, hopefully maybe next year we're there and stuff like that. Maybe we'll get a booth, who knows, or maybe we'll be a part of somebody's booth and it's fun. It is fun for sure, steve, what I mean. Frank, what really stuck out to you, what caught your eye first, I know what caught your son's eye was the ranch trucks. Yeah, what caught your eye?

Speaker 1: 37:05

I would have to say it was for me it was definitely. When I first walked in, seeing like the gun hall, I was like everything that we can have, yeah, I'm like, oh my God, you know. And my wife's like, she looked at me, she's like, stay focused. We just got here, you still got tomorrow. You know what? You know what we don't see, see tomorrow. And I was like, yeah, but look over there, Look over, you know. And then we ended up going to the archery hall and that's where I spent most of my time. But then that's where I met, you know, you, chris, and Dave, and you know. Then we went over the arsenal booth and it was just, it was a good time, you know, it was. It was hard to keep my son in one spot, though, as you could tell, so it was, which is, yeah, he was running in and out of the box, blinds up the box, blinds down on me, you know so.

Speaker 2: 38:06

I'm blaming him.

Speaker 1: 38:07

What was cool, though, is they do have, like that, that little kid section in the back, the little playground. He didn't want to leave. That's why I ended up splitting up for you guys, cause he was giving my wife a hard time. She's like I can't get him to leave, like I want to come hang out with you guys, but he won't leave, you know. So I tried, and I got him to come come with me. We looked at some of the taxidermy and stuff, and he, after like 10, 20 minutes, he's like daddy playground.

Speaker 2: 38:37

I don't, I don't blame him at all.

Speaker 4: 38:39

I couldn't imagine being his age at a place like that, if it was.

Speaker 2: 38:44

If we wouldn't get kicked out. I'd probably be running up and down into the ground, blinds and stuff like that, so like. I don't, I don't blame him at all, you know, and it's cool, and that's why I said it's. It's a family friendly place, you know and I love how they do have a kid section.

Speaker 2: 38:58

There's a lot of stuff for the parents, moms, dad, grandma, grandpa's. They had a lot of stuff for you know, if you're a disability and stuff like that, you're able to still move around, stuff like that and stuff for the kids, like it's about everyone. It's not just about you know, us men or even the women who are serious, and it's a cool place to bring the family. You know, I definitely, when Bianca and I have kids, there will definitely be a day where I'll be going by myself alone, so I can just be able to do everything that I need to do. But it is a, it is an absolute great time and yeah.

Speaker 4: 39:36

I hear you say that yeah, I swallow too bad because she's.

Speaker 2: 39:40

She's sitting right on the stairs right now just staring at me. So are you making dinner? What'd you make Pasta? Okay, I'll take some of a little bit this maple. I'm having the maple. Oh, it is, tastes exactly like maple syrup. It is absolutely amazing, Very dangerous. That's why I'll be very rarely. I will not be drinking this. Let's see. In the last, in the last, like major thing that I bought is I got a new camera. Arm everybody, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, it is from Elevate.

Speaker 4: 40:22

Oh OK.

Speaker 2: 40:23

I went with it. First of all, great price, absolutely. When he said the price, I wasn't 100% sure I was going to go with it. I wanted to see it, wanted to take a look at it, saw it in person and I was like, wow, this thing's beautiful. Now I'm running a lone wolf pocket arm right now. Love it. Has it gotten some wear and tear now, three years using a nonstop 100%. I'm going to take it in the off season and fix it up and tighten everything back up the best I can. Still going to use it. But when he said I think it was 140, 150 with tax, I think, frank, you said yeah, I think it was like 140,.

Speaker 2: 41:06

I thought he said when he said that, I was like yep, here you go, here's my card. Literally I was like here you go, take it, I'm buying it. And it is absolutely amazing. It is a beautiful piece of work, very light. But the cool thing is it folds up and obviously we'll be going over it in more detail, but this is it right here. So this is it Now.

Speaker 2: 41:39

What I like is this right here, if I can get it folds? So there you go, it opens up. It looks like this is going to be really stable. And he said with the lone wolf pocket arm I don't want to get into too much. You have to screw this in for the lone wolf pocket arm. You don't really have to do that with this. What I'm going to use to tie it down should get it nice and tight regardless.

Speaker 2: 42:09

But absolutely beautiful. I love that you can fold it like that, pull them right there and it will go right into the backpack. Very lightweight, I mean. It looks like I will say from already first looks it is going to be a little more stable than the lone wolf pocket arm. One thing I don't like about the lone wolf pocket arm is it's too bouncy and it bounces a little bit too much this right here. I don't think it's going to be bouncy, but we'll be testing out a lot this summer. We'll be doing comparison in the summer and everything like that, when we all go out and record and stuff like that. But I am very excited to try this. I cannot wait and love the great thing. No ratchet strap. I hate ratchet straps Absolutely. I was talking about that.

Speaker 2: 42:57

The whole thing, Frank, I was like Frank, I will not buy anything with a ratchet strap.

Speaker 1: 43:01

Never will. That's the first question you asked them. First question Wait, were those ratchet straps?

Speaker 2: 43:06

Because if you would have said yes, I wouldn't have bought this thing, but no ratchet straps. And then when you said the price, how can I say no? So those are my two big purchases. I don't think I got really anything else. I kind of kept it more on the light end, if you want to call it that. A lot of money was spent with the hotel rooms, dinner, stuff like that, but all great stuff. But that really wraps the Great American Outdoor show up for me at least. Guys, you got any last words on the Great American Outdoor show before we get to Peyton who's been quiet?

Speaker 4: 43:48

I got. My one purchase was I got a new set of sticks from Lone Wolf Custom Gear. I did go with their 14 inch doubles because I run both the Fix platform, which is a 12 by 12 platform that they make, and then also the 0.75 Hang-On. Those sticks, whether it's the 14, 17, or 20 inch doubles that they make, they integrate perfectly and seamlessly with both the platform and the Hang-On stand and they are so light and they're just so well made. I mean it's really really cool. I actually assembled them and I went ahead and I made an Amsteel line for them and I hung them for the first time tonight and they're just, they're really awesome. Not going to stop using my tethered skeletors because those are awesome and I love them. I'm going to redo the Amsteel lines on them this year so that they're safe for the next season. But that was I mean, and the deal they had on them too was was outrageous. It was buy three, get one free, so they were basically 25% off.

Speaker 2: 45:02

Can I go?

Speaker 4: 45:03

wrong with that? No, no, I walked up and I was hoping for maybe 15%, 20%, because I was pretty solid that I was going to buy them. I wanted to put my hands on them because that's one of the things. Obviously, as we've said so many times tonight, getting to hold and use these products in person is, in the day and age that we live in right now. They're just starting to brick and mortar stores that carry all this stuff, especially not for direct to sale companies that don't have a resailer. So that was just awesome to be able to put my hands on those and try them out and see them in the flesh and yeah. So I mean I was pretty happy with that. It was a good deal.

Speaker 2: 45:50

Yeah, payton, and anyone listening who has yet to go. This is what I do every year Save your money now, start saving now. So Bianca and I have a whole separate fund for the Grand American Outdoor Show and it's already started and we have already started. Now we just set aside I don't know maybe 20, 40 bucks a month and that's going to be our money that we're going to spend on the hotel, everything like that, for the whole entire trip. So for most, everything is kind of paid for and if there's anything that we want to buy, it's going to be most likely paid for. So I do recommend that. So it's not like, oh, I'm going there and I'm breaking the bank where. It's like, oh man, now I got to wait for my next paycheck or take out or something, especially for the younger guys out there you do like it's hard to say no, especially when you see all these amazing products that are on discount. And it's like and these guys are great salesmen and they're doing everything they can to kind of get you to buy.

Speaker 1: 47:08

You know, and listen.

Speaker 2: 47:10

They try to get me to buy the platform and the sticks and I was like the one guy was like oh man, I got a wedding. I don't. Bianca is really cool and she's very like. Usually she lets me kind of buy whatever I need to buy for hunting and everything like that. But we are getting married and we need to save up for the wedding. So I don't want her to kill me right now and the guy goes you know, it's a great way to test your marriage because you know if it survives this, then you're good.

Speaker 2: 47:40

And I was like, yeah, but I want to get there first. So you know, I got to drive home with her after this, so let me not buy this, because you don't have to sit in the car with her for the next two hours.

Speaker 1: 47:51

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 47:52

So yeah, Payton, you are done with your season, correct?

Speaker 3: 48:00

I'm done with big game season this year. You know it ends next weekend but I have to unfortunately, yeah, this weekend coming up, so unfortunately I'll be out of town. So I had my last hunt on Saturday, just a little still hunt and see what I could kind of kick up. It just didn't really do much but kind of reminded me how much I like still hunting and it was kind of a reflection on just like my season and it was just kind of nice to get away after. You know, the back injury kept me out of the woods for a while, so it was nice.

Speaker 3: 48:41

Found some squirrel spots because after next, after this coming weekend, the weekend after that is the last weekend of squirrel season, so I want to get out for one squirrel hunt. Found some good spots and kind of like, you know, dried up creek bottoms with a lot of old, big old knotted up oaks that are just, you know, lined with briars in the bottom and thick stuff that they just love. So I got a couple of spots like that in mind where it's just thickets with old oaks and you know, you kind of see a good squirrel tree along with like a bunch of holes, and it is just from my experience you know it's a big oak with a bunch of knurled branches and broken off branches and just like places where they like to hide. So we get that coming up. Me and Mike are doing some squirrel hunting weekend after this one coming up, so get that in.

Speaker 3: 49:31

And then I think it's going to be a lot of time to focus on some fishing, something I didn't do as much last year that I want to focus on. I want to hit the water gap and take advantage of that you know, cool resource that I have kind of somewhat close to me. So, and then it's turkey season and I've got big plans this turkey season. I've got big plans. Yes, he does so.

Speaker 2: 49:55

Payton's going to be carrying most of our like. Maybe not most of it because you guys turkey hunt, but you know you guys are going to be carrying a lot of the turkey hunting haul for boondocks hunting this year. I'm going to get out and everything like that, but I am nowhere on the drive for turkeys like you guys are. Especially for Payton, who's traveling to, I think what three states this year I'm going to hit four.

Speaker 3: 50:17

this year I'm going to hit Virginia.

Speaker 3: 50:19

Open in Virginia then go to Maryland, new Jersey, and finish in Vermont. So I'm going to try and that's you know, I really like to do it. I did it for the first time last year, just kind of the traveling turkey, hunting and just hunting the hill country in Virginia. I didn't get one but I had some real good hunts and yeah, I mean it's just I love it, I love the hunt and the hight, the big hills and you know kind of the vast landscape and where you know it really comes down to like. Are you willing to go get them?

Speaker 3: 50:59

And yeah, I really like that and I hope to replicate in Vermont. Go kill one there, go get one in New Jersey, where New Jersey, I think, is really hard. Maryland is more of a hunt with my dad on small pieces of private and it's a little bit hit or miss. And then New Jersey I'd like to figure out a little bit better and finish in Vermont, which is just going to be a really cool landscape as well.

Speaker 1: 51:27

I'm probably you'll have.

Speaker 4: 51:28

South Jersey next year.

Speaker 2: 51:30

Yep.

Speaker 3: 51:30

Yep, would you say.

Speaker 4: 51:34

I said you'll have South Jersey next year. There's plenty of there, yeah.

Speaker 3: 51:37

Yeah, yep. So yeah, I actually might put in for some South Jersey spots and then just make the drive this year. I've been considering. So you know I still haven't kind of quite made up my mind. I got to get on that because obviously the lottery draw open soon.

Speaker 4: 51:56

So the lottery is open now, but it closes on the 22nd. Then it's OK after that.

Speaker 3: 52:02

OK. So yeah, I got to get my application in because you said that those are kind of more lottery draw were up north, it's more so over the counter yeah.

Speaker 4: 52:11

Well, yeah, I mean it's lottery draw, for you know, first choice, you'll wind up with something over the counter, but it depends on the zone. You know, yeah, you'll most, and even even if you put in during the lottery, that's the one thing is, you are I wouldn't say you're guaranteed two turkey permits, but most likely you're going to get two turkey permits If you put it in, and A, b and C. You know priority, you know you're you're going to wind up with something I did last year. I got my first choice and then I got my third choice.

Speaker 3: 52:43

So Nice yeah, but you know, focus on the squirrel. Me and Mike are in a bit of a squirrel competition. Five Vegas squirrel on 24th. Five way, oh, nice oh right. Going to have to hurry up, get up early on the 24th, get our, get our, you know. Let the limits five, get our bag limits, which I think is doable. I don't know, mike, what you're playing. I like to. I always do it with shotgun, especially with the trees being so open this time of year.

Speaker 3: 53:21

I don't know if I can use my 12 gauge, that's what. I plan on using is 12.

Speaker 2: 53:26

OK, well, that's all right. That's what I always have used, because I do have a 22,. But I don't know if we can use 22 for squirrel in New Jersey.

Speaker 3: 53:34

I don't think so I was reading up on it.

Speaker 4: 53:37

You know they do this by weight, right? You want some of the squirrel to be left when you?

Speaker 3: 53:41

check it out. Yeah, I've always done it. You're so away, you're good. There's no, the way you think it really doesn't. You know, I have to ask.

Speaker 2: 53:52

American Mike for his, for his air gun. He has a pellet gun and I know this is just go 12 gauge, let's just go shot. You just want me to go 12 gauge with you, so you're not the only one I've been doing it for years.

Speaker 3: 54:07

It's the.

Speaker 1: 54:07

I want to say it All right, all right.

Speaker 3: 54:10

Listen, the best way to do it I'm going to foreshot in there it is. You know, maybe it's a number twos and it is the best way to go about it. Jesus, we would ask how I started squirrel hunting? Is it would be a slow duck hunt that just turned into a squirrel hunt, you know? It would just be like we're not killing any ducks, let's go shoot some squirrels, and we just use whatever waterfowl shells that we had left in our pockets.

Speaker 2: 54:34

Oh God.

Speaker 3: 54:35

And you know, we, just I have pheasant shells. It's a pheasant season, the high breath, you know when you're reaching up in a tall oak tree, you're going to you know, yeah, it's, some of those shots are not.

Speaker 3: 54:47

It's not like oh well, you know it's a squirrel, I'm going to sneak up and shoot it. You know, especially, you find that good dentary and you shoot one next to the dentary and then they all come out of the dentary. Then you're going to be glad that you don't have the air gun. Ok, all right, all right.

Speaker 2: 55:05

Bring in the good old 12 gauge.

Speaker 2: 55:08

I'm telling you yeah, it's not that hard to get me to change my mind now. But all right, guys, why don't we? We'll start ending it here. We'll be back recording for a special episode tomorrow. We're not going to Steve, you missed it, but, if you can make it, eight o'clock we're going to be recording with a special somebody not Releasing the name yet, but we're going to do that tomorrow and then we will be back for next week as well, for end of the season wrap up. We do have, yet again, we have the game dinner, april 6th, 6 pm. That is going on.

Speaker 2: 55:50

Please let me know, because I have a feeling there are going to be some people out there that are just going to show up. I would like to know how much food I need so I don't have not have enough food. We are. The list is coming together. We are getting people there, but if anyone wants to come, you're more than welcome to come. Just please let me know, DM me, text me, snapchat me. Any way, you need to get in contact with me. You can tell, you can text Frank or DM Frank, steve, pete, and you can DM any of the guys, as long as you let them know that you're coming.

Speaker 2: 56:23

It is $25 for anyone 18 and up. It is going to be Jesus. I forgot the price again. It's somewhere on my phone. Whatever, 10 dollars. It's free for anyone under 12, 12 and under. So anyone 12 and 12 and up to 12 and 13 and 17. You're at $10. 12 and under are going to be for free. We're going to have a whole bunch of dinner there. Hopefully we have a bunch of squirrels that we can have there too as well.

Speaker 3: 56:55

Rat Koon is going to be there, bear is going to be in there, deer is going to be there and only bring 10, because we only got one day left in the bag. Limits five each. So while we're going to where everybody's going to.

Speaker 2: 57:05

I don't know Well that people are going to have to take small.

Speaker 2: 57:11

But we're going to have geese is going to be there. I think I'm going to be doing bacon wrapped goose, I think one of the guys if the, depending on what the striper run looks like, hopefully we'll have striper there. If there's any food that you want to bring yourself, any type of game dish that you like cooking yourself and you want people to have, listen more than welcome to bring it over, bring it. Anyone can bring whatever you want. We're going to be doing a raffle. We're going to be doing a turkey calling competition. Some good conversation will be up there. We'll do some talking and everything like that. But really looking forward to that, looking forward to meeting anyone, everyone out there Really excited. And also right now, currently we have a rat getter giveaway going on right now. Head to our page Must be following rat getter and boondocks hunting and tag at least one person to be entered. Right now it is a 10 year anniversary for rat getter, so we are Loving everything that he's done, you know, since we've joined up with him, since we've been friends and everything like that.

Speaker 2: 58:16

Great products it's mineral time. Go get your minerals. Turkey season's coming up. He's got some great turkey calls and fishing seasons coming out. Got some great trout lures as well. Absolutely amazing, they do killer bite Game. Dinner will be on opening day of trout season. So, hey, go get yourself some trout lures, come meet up with us, let's go get some trout. But yeah, I think that that's everything for our events right now and everything that we got going on. Boys, any last words? Nope.

Speaker 3: 58:47

Yes for listening. I'm jealous. I didn't make the show. You better be there next year, yeah.

Speaker 2: 58:53

I'll be there next year, thank you guys, so much for listening and we'll see you guys next time.