Praise for Star Ware “Star Ware is still a tour de force that any experienced amateur will find invaluable, and which hardware-minded beginners will thoroughly enjoy.” – Robert Burnham, Sky & Telescope magazine “Star Ware condenses between two covers what would normally take a telescope buyer many months to accumulate.” – John Shibley, Astronomy magazine Whether you’re shopping for your first telescope or your fifth, don’t be surprised if you feel overwhelmed by (more…)

NIKON 7294 Monarch III 8×42 Binocular

The Monarch ATB 42mm with Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer Prism Coating binocular features brighter, sharper colors, crisp and drastically improved low-light performance. A new body style provides unparalleled strength and ruggedness in a package that is comfortable to carry all day. With rugged rubber armor for added durability and a firm grip even in the worst conditions, Nikon guarantees every ATB to be 100% waterproof and fogproof, each is (more…)

NIKON 7295 Monarch III 10×42 Binocular

The Monarch ATB 42mm with Dielectric High-Reflective Multilayer Prism Coating binocular features brighter, sharper colors, crisp and drastically improved low-light performance. A new body style provides unparalleled strength and ruggedness in a package that is comfortable to carry all day. With rugged rubber armor for added durability and a firm grip even in the worst conditions, Nikon guarantees every ATB to be 100% waterproof and fogproof, each is (more…)

Nikon 7234 Action

Nikon is a precision optical company with worldwide manufacturing, research and marketing capabilities. The Nikon name is equated with extraordinary photographic performance, innovation, precision and optical quality.

PRODUCT FEATURES: Quick central focusing;  Sharp multicoated optics for superb contrast and vivid color;BaK4 high index prisms; Diopter adjustment for strain-free viewing.(more…)

Nikon Action ATB

Nikon’s Action extreme all terrain binoculars are designed to appeal to optics users who value tough construction and reliable optical performance under even the most extreme conditions. The binoculars feature an all-metal chassis with lens fittings housed in a tough, lightweight polycarbonate body shell. Like all Nikon all terrain binoculars, the action EX is nitrogen-filled and O-ring sealed for total waterproof, fogproof and shockproof  (more…)

Action 10 X 40MM binoculars with a spherical lenses eliminate virtually all distortion.

(more…)

With a number of sportsmen and gun enthusiasts growing by the day, the demand for versatile products that appeal to both hobbyist hunters and professional outdoors men is on the rise.

Here at Tac1gear.com we offer tactical gear and hunting equipment for everyone, from the boy scout on his first hunting trip to the most dedicated of law enforcement officers. We understand that the right tool is needed for the right situation, and we take pride in our product line that ranges from big game hunting equipment, such as rifle scopes, mobile GPS units, water purifiers, and sleeping gear, to our tactical gear, ranging from handcuffs, hunting knives, pistol holsters, and flashlights.

And even if you have some of our best in binoculars and range finders, we also offer a wide variety of apparel that will last as long as your hunting equipment or tactical gear. Be it hunting boots, shooting glasses, tactical vests, or even hearing protection during your next shooting competition, we are able to offer some of the finest products at the most reasonable prices around. With our store carrying some of the best products from manufacturers such as Nikon, Optronics, Maglite, Lazerlyte, K-Bar, and 5.11 Tactical gear, we are able to stand by our products as being the best money can buy. So, if you need a bore sighter so you can get that perfect shot every time, or a side holster built for comfort for your long day on duty, Tac1Gear.com is here to help.

Labels: 5.11 tactical, tactical gear by Martin 10/15/07 Delete

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5.11 tactical

For thirty years, ,5.11 tactical has been providing top-quality products that offer you durability and value you have come to expect. Trusted by law enforcement and firefighters, 5.11 Tactical gives functional equipment that allows these professionals to function flawlessly. Even our men and women in the military have turned to 5.11 Tactical for optimal equipment that provides the best results.

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For many of us crow hunting can be as challenging and rewarding as any type of hunting that exists. To constantly fool one of the smartest birds known to man, is harder than it may seem, BUT with this information and techniques you can have a sought after edge. The crow is one of the most intelligent and well sighted birds that exist. Obviously the first thing that you must do in order to hunt this magnificent bird is to locate them. I have found In almost 40 years of crow hunting experience that a quality pair of binoculars to help locate distant crows are a must. For the money, my favorite optics are the Leupold Cascade, camo 8×42mm, which sell for around $300.00 or the Leupold Wind River Mesa, camo 10×50mm which sell for around $220.00. Another pair that I have used for many years is the Nikon Dream Season camo 8×36mm which sell for around $280.00.

All of these work very well for studying their local habits in a given region. By viewing and studying their flight patterns you can best determine an optimal site for your decoy setup. Once this is determined you can use these “flyways” as great ambush sites, as crows relate to given flyways. During early spring when crows are nesting, and living in pairs (not groups) no real flyways exist. As summer approaches and the young leave the nest, the crows start forming groups because there is safety in large numbers. Now is when they can be patterned. As winter approaches larger flocks are formed. At night crows will group together for safety in treetops against their enemies such as the great horned owl. These concentrated areas are referred to as the “roost”. Hunting a roost in fall and winter is the best.

Some people know, some don’t, that crows are mortal enemies with birds of prey, such as hawks, owls, eagles etc. For this reason a good setup of decoys including an owl or hawk decoy mixed with crow decoys is preferred to fool this bird. I have found that the plastic full sized crow decoys work the best. This type of setup works very well with modern electronic calling devices with remote speakers as well as mouth calls for us more experienced crowers. My favorite calling tapes are Johnny Stewart’s “Crow Fighting An Owl”, “Fighting Crows”, “The Crow Reveille”, and finally the “Death Cry of A Crow”.

After being inactive all night, crows are hungry and more aggressive in the morning, than later in the day.They are ready to eat and FIGHT. Most often, at first light, they can be lured in closer to a setup, putting them in deadly shotgun range. As the day wears on they can become more cautious and weary meaning they will come to the setup but many times they will stay high in the air and not be fooled into gun range. With mornings always being a great hunt, the crow can also be hunted during all daylight hours. Locate a flock with a good pair of binoculars, then make your move. Concealment is mandatory. From an aerial view the crow will always have the advantage. Full camo, including face mask, hat, gloves and gun camo is best.(Waving a shiny gun barrel around will most often send them on their way with no shots fired.) Once shots are fired, that location and setup are done, move on. Crows are too smart to be fooled again at that location. For diehards like me, relocate to a new area by glassing and finding more birds, make your setup, then get ready for more action.

Preferred setup sites are those that offer thick cover for human concealment without the obstruction of too many over head trees and limbs. I have hunted a roost in my state that numbers over 100,000 crows. Through my homework I know exactly where they roost. With definite known flyways I know exactly where to setup, about 1/2 mile plus away from the roost. My choice for this scenario is the thick undercover where I can normally put a large tree between me and the incoming birds, because they cannot see me til its too late and it hides my movement. A good morning hunt for me in this area means about a 100 crows won’t be coming home tonight. Sometimes semi open fields can be great setup sites if they are on a flyway.

I prefer the small popup camo, loose netted hunting blinds. There are times on very, very windy days, crows fly naturally low to the ground, (in gun range) coming to and from the roost. On these occasions no decoys are needed, one should immediately find concealment under these paths and good luck trying to keep you gun full of shells. As one wave comes and goes the next is sure to be right behind. I have had over 1 1/2 hour non stop shoots during these times. This is the exception when you do not have to get up and relocate because they will use their flyway no matter what and the crows that haven’t gotten there yet have not heard the previous shots.

For me, my Remmington Model 1100, in semi automatic, is an excellent firearm choice. When the action is hot a simple pull of the trigger beats pump action in my opinion. Of course I know that pumps are the choice of some hunters, and you should use what ever you are most comfortable with. Crows are not the easiest birds to knock out of the sky. 12 gauge has the power for me. Shot number 4 is my preferred BB size as it has the power to break bone at further distances giving me a 40-50+ yard advantage. Full choke works best to keep the pattern tight. A crow coming towards you is easier to down than the ones that are trying to fly away, but, the 4 shot will give you more distance as they try to escape.

The crow can be found globally and there are very high numbers of them in the US. If you have not yet experienced the thrill of a crow hunt yet do yourself a favor as it doesn’t require a large investment and it is such a thrilling adventure! If at first you don’t succeed, you have probably been spotted by these wise birds, learn from the experience and try again. With a good setup and proper concealment you should be very successful. Always remember to check the laws, regulations, and designated seasons of your state and most of all, HAVE FUN!!! Please include the younger generation with you on your crow hunts to keep this tradition alive.

Related articles for crow hunting

• Top hunting, target shooting brands in 2009 (sports.espn.go.com)
• Hunting for Turkeys, for the First Time (nytimes.com)

There is nothing like sitting outside in the dark with your kids and staring up at the night sky. Time stands still as you both ponder the enormity of the universe and your place within it. Poetry springs to mind as you try to explain to your child how people 100 years ago didn’t have television and 500 years ago could really imagine a “man in the moon.” Talking about the constellations brings more talk about ancient people seeing stories in stars and constructing their world-view out of the few reproducible phenomena in their lives.

Even a three-year-old can fall under the spell of the heavens. Every child should be able to look into the sky, understand that our earth revolves at a speed of some 800 miles and hour, and see the stars for what they are: dying suns millions of light years away. Better yet though, is for a child (or adult) to be able to recognize the constellations and the planets. That’s a basic skill like knowing how to juggle, play the harmonica or how to score a baseball game. None are necessary for survival in the world, but are part of a basic set of skills that make life fuller, more nuanced, and more interesting.

However, if you’re like me, this is not information you ever learned in school. Amateur astronomy, the inspirational kind for non-astrophysicists, is not taught in school. It’s like the non-existent course on “how to invest in the stock market” that would have saved you a bundle if only they had had a course like that in college. Luckily, like a lot of things on the big list of “Things I wish I had learned in school,” there are ways to fill in the gap of your knowledge and that of your children.

First, obviously, is a trip to local museum and planetarium. Not surprisingly, I have not done that with my kids. Instead, I jumped for accessible tools we could look at home and take with us on trips anywhere I think there will be a big black sky we can peer into together. By all means, go to the local planetarium. Better yet, if there is an observatory, check that out on a clear, warm summer night.

However, if you have little kids who would not sit through a planetarium show or stay up late enough to take the Observatory route, here are a few other ideas:

1. Buy or use a good set of binoculars to look at the moon. A telescope at the early stage is overkill and kids have trouble delaying gratification while you set it up. A good pair of binoculars , perhaps small enough to travel with you easily, can bring the moon in close enough to stimulate great conversation on stars, planets, moons, and space travel. I have a pair of small Nikon Travelite binoculars with 9×25 resolutions. Prices are below $100 for what used to be a luxury item. They are small enough to carry easily in a jacket pocket and I take them with us on all family trips, for moon-watching, but also because the kids love to look at everything: birds, animals, neighbors, with them. And, as I always say, “it’s for the kids,” is always a good gambit to satisfy your middle-age desire for that pinball machine, slot-car set, or model train you’ve wanted since you were nine years old.

2. Try an in-house planetarium. Don’t laugh. Especially if you are miles away from a science museum, or have young kids like I do, this might be a good option to familiarize the kids with concept of the solar system. At $29.95, don’t expect the Star Theater 2 to serve up popcorn for the show, but the price is right for the semi-sophisticated tool that it is. The Star Theatre is a clear globe with the stars and constellations printed on it. Inside is a halogen bulb, and when you turn it on, you get a projection on the walls and ceiling of the night sky. So, okay, with the lights illuminating everything that “isn’t” a star, the idea is a little upside-down, but the kids get the idea. A CD comes with the set, and in dulcet tones, the narrators explain the heavens.

I found the CD narration to be both basic and interesting at the same time – clear enough for my six-year-old, but clearly a snore for my two-year-old. The globe itself, can be taken outside, and with its glow-in-the-dark printing, can be used as a star map (read on for other tools for this). Additionally, the Theatre comes with a “meteor-maker” the kids can play with to project asteroids on the ceiling while you fight for control so that you can show them the Big Dipper. I can’t imagine using this device thousands of times, but my daughter is still enthralled with the idea of stars and planets on the walls and regularly begs for a star show.

3. A basic tool is a Constellation map for finding stars in the night sky. I recommend the Star Finder . There are plenty to choose from on Amazon. We have something similar to the Orion Planisphere . It’s very simple and easy to use. At $1.99 though, try the Glow-In-The-Dark Star Finder and let me know what you think. At this price, you can’t go wrong. As the Amazon review says: “When you’re out under the summer sky attempting to discern Leo on the western horizon, less is more. Try to juggle an astronomy tome and a flashlight and you’ll end up with more mosquito bites than star sightings. A star dial is what’s needed, a lightweight paper contraption that can be manipulated to show the sky as you see it, whatever the month and time of night. Accurate for the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, there is also a chart showing where to expect Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, month by month, through the year 2000.

The stars are rated by magnitude; there’s a zodiac dial identifying each zodiac constellation, showing how it appears in the sky; and most helpful of all, the stars are coated with a luminous treatment that causes them to glow in the dark, so you can see what you’re looking for without ruining your night vision with bright lights. It’s a superbly simple yet elegantly constructed stargazer aid.”

These star maps are simple cardboard items, about the size of a magazine and as thick as a few pieces of cardboard. The non-glow-in-the-dark ones require that you put a piece of red plastic over your flashlight for reading them in the dark, or your eyes will never be able to go back and forth from the map and the sky.

If your budget allows, take a look at the Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium . I have not seen this gadget perform, but it sounds magical.

Another take on the same theme is the stellar scope , which allows you to look up through a telescope-style device to see the stars as they would appear in the sky. At close to $40, it’s more expensive and bulky, and probably over-kills for most.

4. Attach glow in the dark stars to your ceiling . This is a very low-cost idea that adds a magical element to both your child’s bedroom and to bedtime. The stars are barely visible on a white ceiling but are very bright after lights out. It’s easy to put up the simplest constellations (think Big and Little Dipper) and the stars are easy to remove from painted surfaces.

5. And lastly, take a look at telescopes at some point. Not having any real experience (yet!) on this, I can only suggest taking a look at the selections below. Both National Geographic and the Discovery Store have good selections and provide good instruction materials for most science projects. Shop for Telescopes & Science Tools at National Geographic!

Find free online guide to the best Kid Activity web sites. Keep your kids entertained.

Related articles for astronomy for kids:

• Easier Star Gazing With The Sky Calendar From The Abrams Planetarium (wired.com)
• Go Cosmic Sightseeing with Orion, the Hunter (space.com)