BlackOvis MTN Journal

Well, springtime here in Utah is just around the corner. For some this means nicer weather, rainstorms, and getting out of the winter funk. For others, it means to have the opportunity to get out in the woods and chase after turkey. There’s something about being in the turkey woods during the early spring. Maybe it’s the smell. Maybe it’s the sound of the birds chirping in the early morning hours. Or maybe it’s hearing that first gobble of the day echo through the trees. Whatever the reason, it makes for an exciting time in the turkey woods. Turkey hunting has been around for a while in Utah. There are two sub-species here in Utah, the Rio Grande and the Merriam’s. There are two seasons to hunt turkey in the spring - the Limited Entry and the General Season that includes a youth hunt the first weekend. The Limited Entry runs the last couple weeks in April. The youth (hunters 17 years of age or younger) then has 3 days to hunt before the General Season runs for the month of May. Hunting during the spring season can be exciting but very challenging. Utah wouldn’t be Utah if you didn’t experience all four seasons in a day. Depending on the day and where you’re hunting, you may have to deal with existing snow, mud, rain, or other obstacles Mother Nature may have in store for you. With all of that being said, you still can’t beat the time, experience, and the memories you get to have while in the woods.  My intention of this article is to highlight what I would consider my Top-3 preferences for turkey gear to help someone wanting to start into chasing after turkey. Like trying anything for the first time, some really don’t want to break the bank before knowing if this is something they enjoy. These three items could be considered basic elements to get you started while still trying to be budget minded. Just keep in mind, what works for one may not work for another. Continue reading →

Looking to buy a Mystery Ranch pack? Trying to decide between Mystery Ranch or another pack brand? Already part of “The Ranch” family but looking to upgrade? If you answered yes to any of these questions you came to the right place! For the last 20 years Mystery Ranch has been making some of the best packs on the market. They are tough, durable, and effective. They have a wide variety ensuring you can always find the perfect size with all the features you need for any outdoor occasion. Mystery Ranch is always ahead of the curve, working hard, especially in research and development, making their packs better and better year in and year out. In 2019, Mystery Ranch released their new Guide Light MT Frame, which came equipped on the Selway, Sawtooth and Beartooth packs. This frame was a game changer. Now in 2020, Mystery Ranch will be using the new MT Frame throughout the whole lineup of load hauling packs. Lets layout the key upgrades so you can see what makes the new Guide Light MT Frame so great. Continue reading →

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Western Hunting and Conservation EXPO in Salt Lake City UT this year! We're excited to announce the giveaways from the Guess the Score elk we were featuring in our booth. Here's a recap of what was on the line: The gross score of this bull was 397! Since there was...

(Submitted from BlackOvis Customer Glen Gust) It all started late December 2017 when told my wife that September 2018 was going to be the year I wanted to go on my first elk hunting trip. I shared my thoughts with an older brother Rollin that had just started archery hunting after a number of years of being off. He was on board. At the time I was 55 and my brother was 64. Also by May Carrie my wife joined forces. Shortly after I had made my decision I became a member of Elk101 and was getting into the online course. The course is so well thought out and I really enjoyed getting into all the information. I loved all the planning and research that goes into a backcountry hunt. From learning to call, to what goes into a pack ready for the back country, clothing and footwear, what state to hunt?? Wow, I could tell I hadn’t started too early. The big thing about Elk101 that really helped me was all the really pertinent information all condensed in one place. It was so accessible. Another thing that was so helpful was all the other resources that Cory was linked up with. gohunt, OnX, EXO, Rocky Mountain calls BlackOvis, MTN OPS, all of them we subscribe to or have purchased from them. From diet changes to a major change in our exercise program it was charge time. A quote that OnX had on their cover page last summer and fall became our motto, “Success favors the prepared”. We did our best to leave no stone unturned. Along the way we always seemed to be enjoying our new adventure no matter what challenges we faced along the way. Continue reading →

We pride ourselves at BlackOvis.com on being in the loop on new products and we strive to research every new offering and carry products that we think set our customers up for success. Every item we carry on BlackOvis has been scrutinized and meets or exceeds our standards. Every year we anxiously wait to see what new products and innovations are announced and decide what makes the cut to be on the site. The trend in broadheads for 2019 was stronger designs and better materials. This year we are excited to offer eight new broadhead models from 5 different companies. Each of these models has traditional characteristics of a quality broadhead. Strength, sharpness, good flight, and quality construction. Whether you want to shoot a two, three, or four blade, fixed or expandable broadhead we have you covered. Continue reading →

BlackOvis offers a variety of water filtration systems. The goal is to find the one that works the best for you. Water filtration pens, bottles, gravity bags, and pumps are a good option because there is a physical filter that removes material from the end consumed product. Some can even remove or reduce the number of chemicals in the water. However the filters on all of these have a limited lifespan and require cleaning and eventually replacement. Continue reading →

In this day and age, in a world of self promotion and images that travel faster through social media than wildfire in a dry forest, how does a potential all time world record archery mule deer buck harvested in early September not be seen around the world until now? It starts and ends with a humble guy who is less interested in hype than he is in the hunt. Enter the bowhunter who harvested this once in a generation buck, Justin Gordon of Kamas, Utah. His drive and passion for pursuing mature mule deer in the high country has been his focus for nearly two decades. He's humbly gone about honing his craft and skill, all the while refining his equipment selection in order to spend time on public land, in true DIY (Do It Yourself) fashion pursuing his dream: to harvest a mature mule deer buck surpassing the magical 200" mark. ONCE IN A GENERATION Continue reading →

Info: Profession: Crispi Boots Instagram: @j0n_willisHunting Style: Archery Favorite Species: Mule Deer, AntelopeDream Hunt: BuffaloPursuits: Fishing, Hunting, Archery, Camping, Cooking, American History, Reading, Music3 Most Essential Pieces Of Gear: Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody, Crispi Nevada GTX, Mystery Ranch Selway.Next Gear Purchase: A bigger freezer Bio: I’ve known I was a hunter for as long as I can remember. Tagging along...

Info: Profession: EngineerInstagram: What’s Instagram?Hunting Style: Backpack/Spot & StalkFavorite Species: Bighorn SheepDream Hunt: Stone and Dall SheepPursuits: Hunting, Scouting, Backpacking, Photography, Fishing, Trail running, Hiking3 Most Essential Pieces Of Gear: Boots, optics, and a no-quit attitudeNext Gear Purchase: New Merino Base Layers Bio: I live in Utah and love the opportunities I get to chase big game on public land minutes...

Info: Profession: MachinistInstagram: @farr_out86Hunting Style: Archery, Rifle, ShotgunFavorite Species: Mule Deer, Antelope, and WaterfowlDream Hunt: New Zealand Tahr and Red StagPursuits: Hunting, Backpacking, Shooting, Researching Gear, Wildlife Viewing, Fishing, Introducing My Kids To The Outdoors.3 Most Essential Pieces Of Gear: Puffy Jacket, Backpack, Hiking bootsNext Gear Purchase: New Binoculars  Bio: Hi, my name is Austin and I love the outdoors! Growing...

Jeff Skousen Info: Profession: VP Sales at Domo Instagram: @skousenbrosliveHunting Style: Spot and Stalk Bowhunting Favorite Species: ELKDream Hunt: Yukon Moose Pursuits: Family, Fitness, Archery, Horses3 Most Essential Pieces Of Gear: Swarovski EL 10x42, Sitka system, Hanwag Alverstone ii gtx Boots Next Gear Purchase: Mathews V3 31 Bio: Jeff has been hunting since he could walk.  At the early age of 7...

Info: Profession: DeveloperInstagram: @skousenbrosliveHunting Style: Spot and Stalk BowhuntingFavorite Species: ELKDream Hunt: Yukon Moose / Brown BearPursuits: Family, Fitness, Archery, Horses3 Most Essential Pieces Of Gear: Swarovski SLC 10x42, Sig Kilo2400 Rangefinder, Sitka systemNext Gear Purchase: Swarovski NL Pure 10x42 Bio: Mark gained a love of the outdoors while spending many summers on a ranch in North West Colorado as...

- Learn everything you need to in the 2018 Crispi Hunting lineup from the guys over at CrispiUS - Continue reading →

James Taylor, Prostaff member for Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls and Bugling Bull, takes you through some of the best elk calling diaphragms, open reed calls, and bugle tubes from RMHC. Start watching below, or click over to our  Youtube channel here to see comparisons and demonstrations. Watch on YouTube

Sitka Delta vs Delta Zip: Similarities and Differences Delta Wader Video Delta & Delta Zip Similarities Size Chart Features and Benefits Continue reading →

For this gear review, I purchased five items from the BlackOvis NWT Merino Wool gear line. The idea was to buy everything from the waist up, give it a go and see what I thought. I bought the following items: 150 Crew Short Sleeve Tee 200 ¼ Zip Base Layer Top 250 ¼ Zip Hoodie 200 Beanie 200 Liner Glove There is actually an additional top in their line, the 200 Crew Long Sleeve Top, but I missed it when I loaded my shopping cart. I can guarantee it will be hanging in my gear room before this September. When choosing a base layer material, we essentially have three options: synthetic, wool or a blending of the two. As a general rule, synthetics like polyester, capilene, et al. are less expensive, dry faster, breathe better and are typically more durable than wool. For a long time, wool was coarse, itchy and therefore uncomfortable. This was a strong motivator to buy synthetic. Merino wool isn’t a new product. It has been around for quite a while now, but when the industry discovered the amazing merino… it changed everything. A merino wool fiber is super fine, much more fine than a human hair, which translates into incredible “next to skin” comfort. Selective breeding programs and new manufacturing techniques continue to make wool “obstacle”s essentially obsolete. Continue reading →