It isn’t hard to see why The Speedgoat is one of our most popular blades. It can handle just about anything — from caping, gutting, skinning, and deboning an elk to cleaning fish, cutting line, and so much more. And at just 1.7 oz, this do-it-all blade is specifically crafted to be packed to the most difficult-to-access locations so you can pursue your passions faster.
LACUESA Non-Typical Bifold Wallet: https://lacuesa.com/collections/all/products/mens-minamalist-4-card
LACUESA's leather is already incredibly unique. The beautiful deerskin grain pattern, scratch marks and tick bites, tell the story of an animal's life lived wild and free. Now it's time to add your story to the leather! As your LACUESA wallet ages it will develop a character and patina distinctive to you and your experiences, making your LACUESA wallet a truly one of a kind piece.
Marsupial Gear Synthetic Game Bags: https://www.marsupialgear.com/collections/essential-gear/products/synthetic-game-bags
Marsupial Game bags are constructed out of a extremely durable nylon material that breathes exceptionally well to help your meat cool quickly. With no seam on the bottom and reinforced seams along the sides, the bags can hold an extreme amount of weight without failure. Each bag has a reflective logo on the front, (4) reinforced orange reflective tabs in the corners, and reflective white drawstring so the bags are highly visible at night. Rectangular in shape, the bags provide high coverage for animal quarters with no wasted space width wise like other "squarish" shaped bags on the market.
Stanley® Classic Legendary Thermos: https://www.stanley1913.com/products/classic-legendary-bottle-2-0-qt
This bottle is built big for all your big adventures. Stanley’s signature vacuum insulation will keep your coffee hot and your iced drinks cold for up to 2 days. The folding handle allows you to take it anywhere (and prevents it from rolling around in the back of your truck bed, boat or trailer). It’s also leakproof, packable and easy-to-pour which makes it a welcome companion at any tailgate or camp out.
Half Rack Deer Gambrel Kit: https://half-rack.com/collections/hunting/products/deer-gambrel-hoist-kit
This kit includes everything you need to get your animal up and ready to prepare. You can have peace of mind knowing your game will hang from this gambrel kit securely with it's 600 lb. rating. This gambrel is tough and is comprised of Powder-Coated Steel. Prepare any wild game for you and your family to enjoy. (Gambrel with two pulleys and hoist rope)
Rack Hub XL Antler Bar: https://www.rack-hub.com/products/antler-bar-xl
Do you have a few antlers lying around? Are you wondering what they'd look like perched off your mantel or extending off of your wall? If so, give one of these antler bars a test drive. You can place them virtually anywhere! One end has aggressive threads and the other includes our 1/4" hex stem to pair with our inserts. Our local manufacturer makes these one by one out of steel and we cover it with that sharp matte black finish. After you install it, take a step back and enjoy the floating effect!
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Ivory became a member of Presley’s family back in March 2019. Presley knew she wanted to train Ivory to shed hunt from the start. She started it off by getting a dog trainer. Once the graduation was over, Presley, Ivory and the dog trainer headed to the woods. Now, keep in mind, the training was not based off of shed hunting, it was normal obedience training. Once they were in the woods, it’s like Ivory knew exactly what Presley was thinking, and she picked up a broken antler. The shed hunting training didn’t even begin.
“I knew I had a special girl! We shed hunted our butts off in 2020! We found more sheds than I have ever found before. We actually won the ladies category of Whitetail Properties #ShedRally!”
After a great shed hunting season, Ivory passed away from a rattlesnake bite. This was Presley’s first dog that was truly hers, so the grief was overwhelming since she was after all, family. Ivory’s first antler now sits right next to Presley’s bed. Since then, Presley has adopted Ivory’s sister, and they have started the shed hunting training.
“Shed hunting holds a special place in my heart. I will NEVER stop.”
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1. Use infrared-triggered trail-cameras to monitor antler shedding. Begin hunting sheds as soon as most or all bucks in the photos have dropped their antlers (timing will vary geographically).
Rodents will immediately begin gnawing shed antlers, so don’t postpone your search until warmer weather.
2. Concentrate your search in these areas: 1) winter food sources, especially cool-season food plots (searchers rate these as the top location for producing sheds); 2) bedding areas or winter cover; 3) along trails and in bottlenecks linking the first two areas; and 4) near water sources if water sources are limited on your hunting land. (Note: In northern areas with more extreme winter weather, it’s not a good idea to disturb deer in “yarding” areas or heavy thermal cover until the worst winter weather is over. Forcing deer out of cover increases winter stress levels and could impact survival rates, so postpone shed hunting in these areas until winter is over.) deer in “yarding” areas or heavy thermal cover until the worst winter weather is over. Forcing deer out of cover increases winter stress levels and could impact survival rates, so postpone shed hunting in these areas until winter is over.)
3. Focus especially on areas along travel routes where deer must jump, like fence, ditch or creek crossings, as antlers are often jarred loose at these locations. Places where brush is especially dense along trails are also productive, and sheds may even be found hanging above ground level.
4. Most shed hunters believe it is okay to enter bedding areas and sanctuaries to hunt for sheds in the off-season, but they recommend limiting your intrusion to one thorough search each year.
5. Ovals in snow or in bedding cover where deer bed down are productive because of the increased chance of finding a matched set or spotting very small shed antlers.
6. Walk slowly and take the time to scan downrange but also very close to your feet. While some sheds will be obvious, most are spotted within one or two strides of your path. If you are distracted by rubs or other deer sign, slow down and remember to keep your eyes on the ground.
]]>As a small company, we like to give back as much as we can, so when Life Scout Austin Watson from Boy Scout Troop 50, in Jacksonville, FL reached out to us about his Eagle Scout project, it was a no brainer. We had to help him out.
His goal was simple, to help renovate an outdoor Summer kitchen at their local Elks Lodge. This was Troop 50’s way to give back to their organization for all of the selfless work they do with youth and Veterans.
Austin noticed a pair of elk antlers that have been sitting in storage at the Elks Lodge for quite some time, so he did some research, and contacted RACK HUB. T.J. Eads quickly responded, and offered up a minorly blemished RH2 XL.
The project is currently being worked on, but as soon as it is finished, we will be sure to show you all the elk antlers in their former glory. Thanks to Austin for letting us be a part of this awesome project.
]]>In July of 2018, I was able to persuade a neighboring farmer to let me hang some cameras on his land. It’s important to note that all I had asked permission for was to hang cameras. This piece of ground in particular is about 600 acres and it hadn’t been hunted in years.
This is where the story of Athos begins.
Shed hunting has become an integral part of the management process for me. Some folks collect coins, art, or Christmas Santa’s; I collect sheds. I believe that each one tells an important part of the story, that you can learn a lot about the individual deer from their sheds, and that finding them gets you one step closer in the ultimate chess match.
Only because I wanted to find Athos’ antlers, a good friend of mine named Craig walked over 20+ miles with me in two days, in 40+ mph wind gusts, rain, freezing temperatures, and knee-deep mud.
Despite knowing how tough the next few days would be in terms of weather conditions and how far we would be walking; Craig, running on very little sleep from managing a newborn, takes a redeye flight (6 hours) Friday evening after work, and is in Kansas for the start of Shed Rally 2019 Saturday morning.
After enduring all of that, we finally found the antlers we were after. Correction, he found them, both sides actually, along with the majority of the others. To sum up the character of this man, I offered him the antlers and he refused to take them. These are the largest antlers he and I have ever held in our hands, scoring 191” (with an estimated 17.5” spread) and he didn’t even consider the offer to take them home. Shed Rally 2019 was a success; not because of the sheds we found, not because of the photos we took, not because of the contest that Whitetail Properties puts on, it was a success because of Craig.
At the start of the youth rifle season in 2020, Athos disappeared but showed back up about 10 days later with his velvet gone. Athos went from being a giant whitetail, to an absolute once in a lifetime deer, a dream; a legend. I never once believed or thought I would have a buck like this on camera just three years after moving here. Athos has captivated my mind since the first picture over two years ago, actually causing me to lose sleep on more than one occasion. The chance to see a deer like Athos is the sole reason I left everything and began this quest. Watching him progress and live for three years is simply something I could never have dreamed of – something out of a hunters’ fairy tale.
A cold front took effect and deer were on their feet early on October 23rd. There was plenty of action with smaller bucks and does during the evening despite my pessimism. While it was still an enjoyable hunt, the one I was after continued to elude me. So I decided to pack up my equipment, load my bag, and began to close windows so I could slip out before anything else showed. Midway through closing the last window, I caught a glimpse of antlers and within a true millisecond, I knew without a doubt which deer it was. I pulled the bag off my back, sat down, and quickly began to unpack my camera gear. Tripod up, camera out; opened, on; facing the direction I knew he would pass through; record. I grabbed the bow, loaded an arrow, got the release out of my pocket and hooked on the d-loop.
At 27 yards, he heard me draw and picked his head up looking towards the blind. For the first time in three years, I was able to finally lay my eyes on Athos. With the light fading fast, I took an extra second to confirm that my peep sight and anchor point were in position. I squeezed off the shot and saw the red lighted nock find home.
I’ve seen numerous TV shows where the hunter speaks of how bittersweet it is when you finally catch up to the deer you’ve been chasing for so long. I can now say it’s a feeling that is both one of happiness and sadness. Bittersweet, might actually be the perfect word to describe the feeling.
I was able to catch up to Athos on the night of October 23rd, 2020, laying my eyes on him for the first time in person, but also the last.
Bittersweet, for sure.
- Cody Larrimore, RACK HUB® Customer
Take a look inside Austin Chandler’s (The Working Class Bowhunter Podcast) Man Cave. Austin purchased both the single (RH1) and double (RH2) RACK HUB™ and mounted them next to his shoulder and full body mounts of some of his biggest trophy bucks. Not only does it show off the past antlers of the harvested bruisers, but it shows their story, how they grew, their character, and the history he had with those deer that helped shape those deer into the potential they reached. The ultimate potential that made Austin want to put those deer in his Man Cave.
Austin had a lot of history with a buck named “Hopper Dropper.” Austin acquired several of the buck’s sheds from 2014 to 2017. In the Spring of 2017, he found one side of the Hopper Dropper’s matched set, while his buddy found the other. Crazy enough, that same day, they also found a matching set from the same deer that they estimate was from three years prior. Austin believes he was about 5 years old back in 2014, and four years later, Austin claimed him. The matching set from 2017 would have grossed nearly 200 inches if one droptines hadn’t been chewed on! Nevertheless, The RACK HUB™ mounts around The Hopper Dropper full body mount helps to tell his story and shows the history Austin had with that buck. The RACK HUB™ isn’t just for the Man Cave, though.
While I’m not quite to Austin Chandler status yet, I’ve still found some cool ways to decorate using my RACK HUB™. Being the woman I am that loves the rustic farmhouse look, I acquired the RH1 in order to show off some of my biggest and best, with an additional twist. I wanted to experiment with the ways I could use it to serve a physical purpose. On my Pinterest (Yes, Pinterest. I’m going there…), I had previously pinned all sorts of decor ideas using antlers. When I came across the RACK HUB™, it was a no-brainer. It was the perfect tool for me to use my antlers for a modern twist on the rustic look, without compromising their integrity. It’s strong and sleek so when people look at it, they see a giant antler instead of a chunk of metal.
The first RACK HUB™ I used to create a jewelry holder. I hung my necklaces and bracelets from the tines, making it look hardcore, yet delicate. I was quite proud with my handy work and loved how it turned out, so I brainstormed other ways to use it. I decided to remove the towel hook next to my shower, and in its place, I put The RACK HUB™. It’s strong enough to hang my towels from and brings that modern, rustic farmhouse feel to my bathroom.
Another use I found for my antlers using The RACK HUB™, is to hold back my curtains. Initially, I had these ugly eye-sore hooks holding them back from my window, but now whenever I look at my new “curtain hooks” I feel the excitement of finding those sheds all over again. Last but not least, I mounted another RACK HUB™ in my dining room to act as a wine bottle holder. I had always wanted a wine bottle holder made from antlers for my dining room table, but now I have something that can hold them out of the way, but still has the rustic look I originally wanted.
RACK HUB™ products are designed with style and customization in mind. The RACK HUB™ provides you with the ability to mount a single shed or a matching set, and allows you to remove and/or change the antlers at any time. The folks at RACK HUB™ deliver top quality products with their 100% lifetime guarantee, and 100% American made and assembled products, designed by hunters, for hunters. With only four easy steps, hardware and tools included, anyone can set up and mount their antlers using the RACK HUB™. The product comes with everything you need including a drill bit, the antler insert, wrench and mounting screws. In my opinion, that alone makes it worth every penny. You can see all RACK HUB™ products on their website, including the RH1, RH2 (also with customization option), stands, plaques, and extra tools and hardware.
The RACK HUB™ is the perfect tool for mounting your sheds. Whether you’re looking for an addition to your Man Cave, or you’re looking to get use out of your antlers while still creating a modern, rustic farmhouse look, The RACK HUB™ is versatile. It’s strong, sleek, and easy to use with minimal tools required. The folks at RACK HUB™ have got you covered, so pull your best Big Tine grown sheds out from your pile today.
Allison Rauscher - Author
wiscallison@gmail.com
]]>Recently, my parents had went through an extensive remodel. The pictures that had been parked in the same spot for years, along with trophy mounts that had accumulated over time, were taken down and stowed away during the renovation. Upon completion, most of them were dug up and re-used, but so much had changed. The wall space had disappeared due to the new 'open concept' and many of my dad's old european skulls hadn't made the cut.