Send me your Archery Hunting photos!!!

Send your photos and stories of your Archery Hunting adventures of this past season.  I will post every story that I recieve in a special section entitled Archery Hunting Stories.  Stay tuned for the link.  Can't wait to hear about your successes in the Field.  Also check out the archery guru store for Your Archery Hunting needs.  Send all stories and entries to rlaw@royutah.org.  Thanks for reading.

Late summer archery hunting can leave your thisty. Are you prepared?

This week I have been reviewing items I use during my archery hunting backcountry hunts.  I am going to keep this theme rolling with my review of the Katadyn Hiker Pro water filtration system.  I purchased this product Just prior to my archery elk hunt in August.  In past years I have always been an Iodine guy.  They seemed simpler. less weight and less space to take up in pack.  Although, as we all know while archery hunting that those hot august days can leave you dry to the one and so thisty you couldn't spit.  This is where Iodine in my opinion just plain sucks.  That Iodine taste is not so pleasant, and yes you can cover it up with some mix drinks, but sometimes when your that thirsty nothing but a good glass of water will do the trick.

One of the keys to being successfull during your backcountry archery hunts is being able to keep mobile.  Gallons of water in your pack is just to heavy and will slow you down super fast.  Having some sort of water filtration purifying system is essential for archery hunting in the backcountry.  The Katadyn Hiker Pro was purchased for $74.95 at The Archery Guru Store.  Upon arrival the Katadyn Hiker Pro came with the following items.  Carrying case, pre-filter, main filter, tubing and cup nozzle. The filter was pre-assembled so I immediatley took to the sink and started messing around.  The filter was very simple to use.  One hose went into the water you were filtering, it had a prefilter to keep any large items out such as rocks or dirt.  The hose also had a floating foam piece on the end just before the filter to help keep the filter off the ground in the water allowing a good clean suction area.  Next, is the outlet hose which is equipped with a nozzle that I found will hook onto all nalgene bottles large or small mouth cups.  This feature is awesome.  It allows you to screw the nozzle onto the cup and then let the bottle rest, leaving you free hands for pumping and movement of the other hose.  Now the Katadyn works great in the sink, but how is it going to work while archery hunting the backcountry.

I took the filter on my first archery hunt of the season, a week long backountry hunt in central utah.  I took no water in my pack just an empty bladder that fits into my badlands 4500 and a small nalgene bottle.  I had mapped my water sources during pre season scouting. After Blowing a quick afternoon stalk on a beautiful bull I found myself down in the bottom of a canyon with a slow running stream.  I pulled my filter out and gave it a try.  As I was pumping my water I had another thought, if I was using my iodine tablets I could not use the source I was using right now.  I would have to search for a little cleaner water because of all the sediments in the water.  Anyway back to the filter, It performed flawlessly.  

The katadyn Hiker pro will stay in my pack for years to come.  It weighs hardly anything and is well worth a little extra weight.  The water taste great.  My backcountry archery hunting experiences will never be the same.  No more heavy bottles, and no more nasty tasting water.  amen.  The Katadyn uses replacable filters that will last you probably a couple years.  Replacable cartridges can be found at any outdoor retailer store or right here at the Archery Guru Store.  Thanks for reading, and remember that Archery Hunting season never ends, keep up the hard work.