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How Are We Doing? Leave Us A Google Review!

The Gannett Ridge is committed to  providing the best service we possible can.   Let us know how we are doing by submitting a Google review!
  
Don’t Know how to Google Review?  Here’s a guide:

How to Review Gannett Ridge in Google

Step 1) Go to our Google Places page.
To leave a Google review, you will first go to the Google Places page of the Gannett Ridge.  You can do this by searching for the business’ name in Google and the city it is located in. Within our listing(s) you should see a link to “Write a Review”. Click that link.


Step 2) Signing into Google to leave your review
Next, you will be taken to a sign in screen for a Google account. If you have a Google account (or Gmail account), sign in and you will be able to leave a review, otherwise you will need to create a Google account.


Step 3) Go back to the Gannett Ridge review page in Google
It should be as easy as hitting the “back” button on your web browser, but if all else fails, just for us in Google again.  Hit the “Write a Review Button” again.


Step 4) Create a nickname
Now when you click the review button you will be taken to somewhere where you can write a review. If this is the first Google review you will be writing, you will need to create a nickname for yourself. You do this by using your mouse to select the number of stars to give us a review. When you select a star value, it will open a box inviting you to set up your review nickname.


When the box appears you will select “Get Started and a new window or tab will appear. Here you are going to add a nickname for yourself and, if you choose, you have the option to add a picture as well.

When finished, it will take you to a new tab and invite you to review local restaurants—just close this tab to go back to the review you originally started to write.

Step 5) Provide your review


Once you have rated the company by assigning them “stars” and written your review, you simply publish it by clicking the “Publish” button in the lower left side of the review box and you are done. Now that you’re signed up, it will be much easier to leave a review next time.
We really appreciate you taking your time to do this. Thank you so much.

Atkinson Expeditions Live Hunt!

We have teamed up with one of the best in the business Atkinson Expeditions to help bring you an exciting live eastern Colorado Antelope hunt. Starting on Oct. 8th Kendra will be hunting eastern Colorado for Antelope.

I you want to see some examples of the Huge Antelope that Wes and team have put on the ground over the years visit Atkinson Expeditions Antelope Trophy Room.

We also just received this pictures of a HUGE buck taken by the Atkinson Expeditions Team this year.

Also here are some trail camera pictures of the waterhole that Kendra will be hunting. (This is a Rifle tag so she may pick up the rifle this year with all of the rain we have been having lately)

Last day of 2012 Colorado Elk Season

Well today marks the end of our 2012 Colorado archery elk season.

 It has been a very long time since Josh and I didn't have at least one of us fill an elk tag and honestly we have been spoiled over the years. At the same time I can't remember a year where we have worked as hard. We were lucky enough to spend time in some of the most beautiful and rugged country North America has to offer. We had countless close opportunities and even passed a few opportunities to fill our tags early in the season holding out for a trophy. Overall I have never had such a run of just poor luck from fog and rain to swirling winds and bad timing with other hunters as this year but at the same time that is western public land hunting. The good the bad and the ugly of it.

Throughout the entire season Sam was there dragging along a camera heavy pack doing his best to capture the journey. And even though we never ended up with the Trophy photos/video we were working so hard for Sam was able to capture the journey in an amazing way. Throughout never complaining and always staying positive and for that I can’t thank Sam enough.

But rest assured our 2012 season is far from over with Wyoming and Colorado deer hunts plus some journeys back flatlands of South Dakota and Kansas to relax and just sit in a tree or two and wait for a deer to make a mistake. There are many more tags to fill and days left in the field this year.

With the end of elk season we come to a bitter sweet ending of our true high country hunts for the season. Sweet because physically everything just got easier for the rest of the year by 10x it’s all a walk in the park from now on! Bitter because there is no more rewarding and chalanging place to hunt.

There is something that keeps you going back to the backcountry there is a truth and a prospective that hunting the backcountry brings. There are few better places to find yourself, test your limits, resolve and determination. Hunting the backcountry is not for the easily dissuaded, there are no short cuts and nothing is given that is not earned. To love the backcountry is to love the challenge and to embrace some of the most unforgiving and unchanged land there is. As people we forget how truly easy our lives have become, we have a habit of making luxuries into necessities.  Sometimes is takes the brutal unforgiving beauty of the mountains to bring back prospective.

Until next year! Bring on the easy hunts!

Photo of the Day 36

Wish we would have had a run in with the bull that made this rub!  Pretty crazy how big this tree is and how deep that rub is.  However, archery season for elk just didn't quite pan out this year.  Bring on 2013!

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Anyone else like camping on top of the world?  When I get a chance I'll sit down and write up the full story about this hunt but here is just a little preview.  On the 6th day of our trip we glassed a big herd of elk in a basin that had to be at least 4 miles away.  Tyler thought there was a trail that was a bit shorter to get in over the top so we packed up our camp and hike all the way back to the truck.  After heading in to town and having a super healthy meal of Wendy's, we found out that the trail we thought was shorter actually would have been close to 10 miles.
Then the punishment began.  We ended up hiking 1800 vertical in just over an hour and twenty minutes just to find another valley between us and the elk.  Exhausted, we set up camp for the night at 12,000 ft.  The next morning we made a play on the herd and came about as close as you can without hauling meat out.
Anyway, the Big Agnes Copper Spur 4 worked awesome even in a rain storm that night.  We also learned a valuable lesson.  No Baconator if you plan to hike even a little.

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You'll have to excuse the pause in the photos of the day.  When hunting season starts it is hard to focus on much more than that!  Here is a picture from our first trip of the year.  This one is of Tyler Matthews on the edge of what we named Narnia (too far to walk to, but we still managed to get there twice).  Amazing how big the country is up there.  Shown in the picture is tyler in his Sitka Core Long Sleeve and Sitka Cap.

Minox Hunting Optics Write Up

Wild Sheep Foundation Minox Hunting Optics Write up

 

The national Wild Sheep Foundation put together a fairly extensive write up regarding the Minox Hunting Optics which is a good read if you are in the market for any new optics.

But I can summarize, Minox Hunting Optics = Unrivaled quality and value for the money.

Read full article here.

Also, if anyone from the National Wild Sheep Foundation reads this post (doubtful), if you have any Desert Bighorn Sheep tags laying around (even more doubtful). I would be very, very grateful and would send you back an in depth write up of the hunt including many high quality pictures. Just think about it could be a win win for everyone involved!

Opening Day Newsletter

Hunting Season is Finally Here!! With the opening of archery antelope season in Colorado and Wyoming, today marks the opening day of fall hunting season for most of us. Hopefully this newsletter finds some of you returning from your first day afield this fall, unless you were one of the lucky few to draw a sheep or goat tag. With the elk and deer archery seasons opening earlier than usual this year in Colorado, I know that season has snuck up on most of us. We have a fully stocked inventory right now for those last minute items and upgrades. If you haven't been in the shop in the last few months, we have vastly upgraded our inventory of Sitka Gear, First Light, Eberlestock, Big Agnes and Badlands products in stock. Recent upgrades to the shop include bringing in the entire Minox Hunting Optics Line; if you haven't taken a close look at Minox, stop by the shop and test them out. I dare you to find a bad review on Minox Hunting Optics, and all of their products are backed by an unconditional full lifetime guarantee. Gannett Ridge BackCountry CheckList Hunting Equipment           Backpack           Rain fly for Backpack           Rangefinder           Binoculars           Spotting Scope           Tripod / Base plates           Scents           Calls           Maps/GPS           Compass           Headlight and or Flashlight           Emergency fire starter           Lighter           Knife / Sharpener           Bone Saw           Nylon Cord           Nylon Flagging           Game Bags           Ducktape  Camping Equipment           Tent          Sleeping Pad          Sleeping Bag          Pillow (if you use one)  Cooking Supplies          Stove          Stove Fuel          Water Filter          Plastic Bags          Cook pots / plates/ cups          Spork  Toiletries            Tooth Brush / Tooth Paste           First Aid Kit           Toilet Paper           Towel and Washcloth           Unscented Baby wipes           Ziploc Bags           Aspirin / Ibuprofen           Band-Aids           Medications           Moleskin           Diarrhea Medicine           Neosporin General            Hunting Licenses / Tags           Camera           Batteries (Headlamp/GPS/Camera)           Water bottle / Bladder           Reading Material           Notebook and Pen           Needle / Thread   Clothes           Boots           Lightweight Socks           Heavyweight Socks           Hunting Pants           Lower body base layer           2 or more Base layer Shirts           Underwear           Insulating Layers (Quarter Zip)           Vest           Jacket           Packable Rain Jacket and Pants           Ball Cap           Face paint / Facemask           Warm Hat           Lightweight gloves           Heavyweight gloves           Scent Suppressant Spray for Clothes  Archery Equipment            Bow           Arrows           Broadheads           Release           Allen Wrenches           Extra Serving for repairs           Bow sling           Armguard           String Wax  Rifle Equipment            Rifle           Ammo           Rifle Sling           Scope Cover / Lens Caps           Bi pod If you would Like a PDF File of This List please Email US At Main@gannettridge.com Or visit our website under Articles 2012 Photo Contest We are also running another western hunting photo contest this year. All photographs will be judged by content and overall quality of the photo, not by animal size. At the end of the season will will have you, our email subscribers, and our followers on Bowsite vote for the top 3 out of 10 photos we select. To submit your photo join us on Facebook and add your photo or drop one by the shop. Top 3 will receive prizes and the winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Gannett Ridge. Congradulations! To Matt Yore of Sawtooth Custom Rifles  From the looks of it he had and AMAZING tip to Africa If anyone needs a great gunsmith Matt specializes in custom lightweight hunting rifles custom precision tactical, target, and varmint rifles accurizing and modifying factory rifles Cerakote finishes modifications of various firearms for tactical competition and home defense general gunsmithing projects hand cut engraving and lettering

Photo of the Day 33

Here is a sneak peak to the preseason trailer that will come out Friday.  If you have anything else you need for the upcoming season be sure to check out our website.

Photo of the Day 32

So here is a photo of me on my way back up from setting a Minox Trail Cam.  At this point I'm thinking to myself, that was a really bad idea to go all the way in there just for that.  Getting excited to check that camera in a few days!

Photo of the Day 31

The decal looks pretty good on the back of Tyler's truck!

Photo of the Day 30

Josh drew a good Muzzleloader deer tag this year and we went out the other day to get his new black-powder rifle sighted in.  Can't wait for September 8th!

Photo of the Day 29

Here is a picture I took this morning out at the archery range here in Fort Collins.  Josh is shooting the new Bowtech Insanity and running Easton Flatlines.  You can see more of these shots in our preseason video coming out soon!

Photo of the Day 28

Here is a similar picture to what I posted the other day but zoomed in.  Crazy how small you can feel when you look at stuff like this.

Photo of the Day 27

There are some moments that you capture on film whether it be through video or pictures that truly show the personality of the person in front of the camera.  Those are my favorite shots to get because there is nothing staged about it.  Everything in raw form.  This is a good example of that.  Josh Soholt and Tyler Matthews are the owners of Gannett Ridge, which is a company focusing solely on backcountry hunting.  Like they always say, "we just filled a store with everything we've always dreamed of having."

Minox Hunting Optics ZA5 Rifle Scopes

Minox Hunting Optics ZA5 Rifle Scopes

I can go on and on regarding the Minox line of rifle scopes but instead. I let the infamous David E. Petzel of Field and Stream.

David Petzel;
Some time ago I reported on Minox’s binoculars, and stated that, dollar for dollar, they were the best I knew of. (Or if I didn’t, I should have.) The optics were wonderful and the glasses themselves were simple, straightforward, and direct. They would not double as an astrolabe or tell you where there was an open parking space, but they would show you where the game was. 

Now, I’m pleased to report, the company is offering a line of 9 scopes, designated as the ZA3 and ZA5 models, depending on power, that range from a 1.5X-8X shotgun/dangerous game scope to a monster 6X-30X with a 56mm objective. I have been using a ZA5 2X-10X (Yes, a great many of these scopes offer 5X magnification) for a number of weeks now and have not been so impressed since Redfield came back from the dead.

As with the binoculars, Minox has decided not to do anything cute; in addition to a choice of models you have a choice of three reticles, and that’s about it. They are all of normal size, weight, and configuration, but there are two things about the line that sets it apart. 

First, unless you’re already living in a refrigerator carton, they are affordable. The MSRPs are in the medium range, but the real-world prices put them down in low medium. My ZA5 can be had for $479, but judging by its overall quality, it’s a legitimate $700-$800 scope. 

Second, the optics are sensational. I don’t mean good for the money, I mean sensational. My scope is clearly better than a comparable American scope of slightly higher price, and about equal to an imported scope that costs nearly three times as much. Tom McIntyre just selected the 1.5X-8X ZA3 for a Best of the Best Award, if you’d like independent confirmation. 

Go compare for yourself. Also, apologies for writing about something affordable. Better brace yourselves—there’s going to be more.

For the full article Click Here 

Dangerous Game ZA5 1.5-8x32,  a true dark timber specialist. Great for getting those big old bulls out of their late season dark timber nests.

 

 ZA5 2-10 x 40, a great all around performer from the trees to the open country above treeline. 

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The Minox BL 10x44's.

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These are the Roclite 286 GTX boots that I will be wearing this archery season.  Incredibly light and waterproof. Awesome boot!

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Photo of the Day 23

14 days until we can start chasing this guy.