Foothills Campfire

     It is an unfortunate fact that in the modern era hunting has become an expensive endeavor for the common man to take part in. Most people cannot afford to purchase large tracts of land suitable for hunting or even lease it for that matter. And of course, assuming one is able to pull together the funds for purchase or lease, the additional expense of upkeep makes a private piece of land a distant dream for the average man. Enter public lands. Public lands often get a bad reputation for being over hunted, over crowded, and somewhat barren in the realm of animal population.  These complaints are grounded in some partial truths but there are tactics to mitigate the hurdles and make public land hunting successful. If a man is willing to put in the work, public lands offer a world of adventure and good hunting that would otherwise be out of reach for many.   Scouting Scouting is one of those words that stirs up a romantic sense of adventure for the outdoor lover. And rightly so,

When considering camp guns, the choices are  numerous and often debated. Of course, there is no end all answer, but it is a fun conversation point for those of us who love both camp and guns. One's decision is based on a litany of factors that might include where you live, size and weigh t limitations, and your application for the piece-- to name just a few. Here at Foothills, we'd like to share a couple of our favorite campfire companions and why they've made the fa vorites list. You can't have a conversation about camp guns without mentioning a quality .22. The .22 has a lot to offer in this realm. The ability to carry large quantities of ammunition for general plinking and recreations is a major bonus. The .22 allows for nearly endless shooting without breaking the bank or making too much racket.  Useful for target practice, dirt clod destruction, and the elimination of snakes, the .22 lands near the top of our favorite picks. When it came time for me to make my ch

Anyone who has spent any amount of time in the outdoors quickly realizes that the proper gear can have a major impact on not only the  success of the experience, but the overall enjoyment. That being said, today's material culture attempts to drive outdoorsmen in a never ending quest to obtain the latest model of the latest widget. I've fallen into the marketing trap myself on a number of occasions. Here at Camp Chatter, we have no intentions of pedaling useless products to weigh you down and waste your hard earned money. We do however like to share with you high quality products that have worked for us personally in the field. The Maxpedition Pygmy Falcon II has been put through the paces over the past six years. This is my personal review and why I find it to be the perfect day pack. Attempting to perfect my kit has led me full circle from carrying a day pack, to carrying a large multiday pack, to a minimalist fanny pack, and finally back to the perfect Maxpedition.  The exp

It has become all too common in today's disposable culture to trade quality for lower prices and convenience.  The old adage They don't make 'em like they used to has proven unfortunately true in many cases whether speaking about appliances, automobiles, electronics, or furniture.  However, as of late, I've discovered the horrible quality of food that we have settled for in America should be added to the top of the list of  things we've been duped into accepting as good . Through a series of friendships and influences, I've learned to love the many benefits of eating out less and cooking my own meals. Here's 3 of the biggest benefits right off the top of my head. First, food quality of home cooked meals far surpasses anything outside of a select few high-end restaurants you might visit with family. This has everything to do with the freshness of the food.  If you don't know what an extreme impact the freshness of vegetables and meats can have on the fl

If you're anything like me, the excitement of the summer months fade rapidly with the first 90 + temperature day coupled with humidity levels that only southerners can understand.  Until recently, this left me spending a large portion of my free time hiding out indoors attempting to escape the Alabama heat and day dreaming about Fall and the coming hunting season.  Tired of wasting so much of the year, I set out to find a way to enjoy the outdoors year round. Kayaking opened up a whole new world that allowed for enjoying the outdoors in spite of the peaking thermometer. I've admittedly got a bit of an imagination and was somewhat inspired by tales of Jeff Cooper's expeditions into the wildernesses of South America during the 1960's.  That being said, my mindset was not on white water kayaking, but on canoe style camping trips to remote parts of the state. After months of research and back and forth thoughts on the type of boat I should purchase, I decided on the Sea Eag