For years professional and recreational cyclists have been using our gloves in cold wet weather, and in the last couple years the number of professional cyclists and cycling teams using our product has grown substantially. At Glacier Glove we made the decision to really jump into the sport with a new product line designed specifically for cycling, and we introduced that line at this year’s Interbike Show in Las Vegas. Coby and I were there for the show and we were very pleased with the response from the cycling community. Between the friends that we have made over the last couple years within the cycling community, and all of our new friends in the industry, the response was outstanding. Thanks to all of you for welcoming us into your industry. We are excited to be part of it.
Our full line of cycling gloves will be available this winter, so keep an eye out for them at your local shop.

Jay

We received some fresh snow late last week so I grabbed the dogs and camera and went out to do some training/photography on wild quail. It turned out to be as good as it gets, and even though hunting season is over it was an outstanding day just taking pictures.

Cash on point with Porter backing.

Porter on Point with cash backing.

Porter on point.

The subject of Porters point.

Cash pointing with quail walking around in front of him. He scent pointed this covey first, then after about 5 minutes of me walking around taking pictures the birds became nervous and started coming out from under the bushes to run off. Good practice for him, and he passed the test, again.

Flushing the covey that Cash was pointing.

The bird hunting over the last couple of weeks has been good here in Nevada. Two weeks ago I had some great hunting and shot both Chukar and Huns. This last weekend the weather was a bit of an issue, but Saturday I still had a nice hunt, and Sunday was just too windy to hunt were I was, though I gave it a try for about an hour.

As each year goes by I find myself appreciating the time outside hunting with my friends and my dogs a little differently. I used to be overly concerned with whether or not it was going to be a good season in regards to population, and the number of birds that I would be able to bag through out a season, etc…. It almost felt like a season long race. Anymore I find myself simply appreciating each day out in the field, regardless of outcome. The only real outcome that matters is that we have a good time, and that the dogs make it home safe. I know that I am going to hunt 40 – 50 days, and I accept that some of those days will not be very successful in regards to hunting, and some will be amazing. I can’t really control that but I can control my outlook on each hunt. Bottom line, if I can get one new unique memory from each hunt then I am very fortunate.

Here are a couple pictures from the last few weeks that stand out in my mind:

The above picture is Porter trying is hardest to get a crippled bird from out of the rocks. A minute after I took this photo I was down on my stomach fishing around for the bird, while porter stood directly on my back with his head looking into the hole right next to mine. Team work at its finest! It was really funny and I really wish that I had a picture of that.

This is a picture of me standing near the summit of one of the many scenic mountain ranges in northern Nevada. I rarely notice it but the worn bluing on my shotgun is very apparent in this picture. It has been carried around in my sweaty hands a few times, to say the least.

I have a Nevada Bull Elk Tag and will be heading out for that hunt late next week, but for this coming weekend it is bird hunting as usual, and I am excited.

I spent the last 4 days in one of my favorite areas in the world. Every year I spend the second week of October up in Oregon in the Owyhee desert, and this year was another memorable trip, in many ways.

The bird hunting this year was a lot better than it had been the last few years, but still not even close to how good it can be at its best. I hunted for 4 days and shot plenty of chukar and quail. The dogs hunted well and we made it another year without any encounters with snakes. There will be a few memories from this trip regarding hunting that will stand out in my mind for years to come. I had a few of those situations with dogs on point and birds all around me that in many ways are the same as every good point, but were somehow unique and awesome in their own way. Images that are imprinted in my mind.

My Dad was there once again, and this is always a great opportunity for us to get to spend the most quality of times together. I feel very fortunate for that. Dad had a new Labrador puppy and there was lots of good opportunities for it to have birds shot over her head. Dad mostly hunted quail along the river, and there were tons of quail to be had. Hunting with his older lab, Amber, who is an amazing dog, and his new puppy, Monkey, there was not many quail that escaped the nose and desire of those two dogs.

Sadly this year my good friend, Hank, who I got one of my dogs from years ago, and who introduced me to our area along the Owyhee could not make it this year because of potentially very series health reasons. Hank is one of those men that if you are honest with yourself you want to be just like, as a man. I have all the respect in the world for him and missed him a lot. I did a hunt on Monday that Hank and I did years ago. When I first started walking I did not realize it, but as I went on it struck me that the last time I did that hunt was with Hank, and as it turned out he would certainly have had a great time with me the other day. I wish he could have been there. That day was kind of bitter sweet, if you know what I mean?

As always I find the Owyhee desert to not only be one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen, but it also kind of pulls at my imagination. I can’t help but to let my mind wonder what the place was like 90 years ago when there were old ranches along the river. It must have been a much more simple life, and a very tough life. I envy parts of that. I can’t help but to wish I could go back in time to see the place as it was then. All these years later it is still the same rugged area that it was then, but to see it then in that time, would be amazing.

If I am lucky I will get a chance to make it back over there one more time this year. If not I will just look forward to making more new memories next year.

Jay

My wife, Lisa, and I went on a nice camping/Grouse Hunting trip this last weekend. It was the first bird hunting trip of the year and it was a welcome adventure. We took all of our camping gear in on our ATV, found a perfect place to camp, and spent two days in the mountains having a great time. The evening were nice and cool, and it was very relaxing to sit next to a small campfire, sipping on a cocktail, with tired legs after a day of hiking and hunting. Just about perfect, in my book.

For whatever reason the hunting was not as good as it was in the past, but it was still good enough to keep things exciting and shoot limits of Blue Grouse on each of the two days. The dogs had a great time, and hunted very well. They only hunt grouse a few days a year, but they sure remember what it is all about, and they have it pretty dialed in. I could not have been happier with them.

All in all it was a great weekend. It was the official kick off to my bird hunting season, and I am looking forward to all the great adventures awaiting me this year. At the end of the day all I really hope for is happy healthy dogs. After that, all the fun will take care of itself, and there is plenty of fun to be had.

Jay