Mark Skousen

By Mark Skousen With scouting season in full swing and hunting season right around the corner, it’s a great time to take inventory of what you will be using for optics this fall.  I’ve often been asked the questions 'What binoculars should I get?' and I usually answer with another question 'What is your budget?' The easy answer is not all optics are created equal so the general rule is buy as much as you can afford. There is a lot of excellent glass on the market and if you make an investment in good glass, with a good warranty, whatever you choose, should last you a long time.  Continue reading →

By Mark Skousen I have been a big fan of the Crispi Lapponia boot ever since they were introduced 4-5 years ago.  I love them because they are lightweight, have no insulation, and no break is required making them very comfortable for early season hunts.  My only nock on the previous models is the sole would wear out in a season or less of heavy use.  New for 2024 is the Lapponia III from Crispi, not only does is have all the great features of the original Lapponia, but there are some significant enhancements.  Here are some of the features of this new boot.  Continue reading →

I have been running Sitka clothing for over 10 years now, and one of the many attributes I respect about Sitka Gear is there seems to be a significant amount of thought and testing that goes into new gear before it is ever introduced to the market.  I’ve found them to be very innovative and thought leaders in the industry. The recent introduction to the Sitka Mountain Evo Jacket is no different.  After having put the Evo Jacket through some initial testing, I was continually thinking, oh this is why they did this or did that.  So far it has been brilliant; so, kudos to John Barklow and the rest of the Big Game development team for thinking outside the box and developing a piece of technical gear for all types of outdoor enthusiast. Continue reading →

I’m so pumped that elk season is just around the corner.  In a few short weeks, we will be piling into the backcountry in search of the magical sound of a bugling bull elk.  Even if you are only hunting over the counter tags for spikes or cow elk in Utah, for me, hearing that first bugle of the season is exhilarating.  Getting close enough to that elk for a shot opportunity is a whole different story.  This article will focus on my approach to getting close to elk and setting up on them for an optimal shot opportunity.  Continue reading →