Who is Ron Oules

I would like to introduce the newest R-Dub Outdoors Pro Staffer Ron Oules. He will be writing about all sorts of hunting and fishing gear and techniques. He has taught me a lot so far and I know he will pass it on to the readers of R-Dub Outdoors as well.

Who I am:

I grew up in rural Eastern Washington on a small 200 acre farm.  Just like all farms it was work and life skills building from as far back as I can remember.   I believe every person should have the incredible fortune of being raised on a farm.  I grew up learning and doing things we just thought were normal, but when people hear about it today they have a hard time believing it.    The diversity of things I was able to do growing up was pretty amazing.  

Two things have stuck with me for as long as I can remember.  Hard work not luck produces success, and the best things to do are hunting and fishing.  

I was around hunting and fishing with my grandpa and started on my own when I was eight.   I was given a single shot .410 for my 8^th birthday and that was the real start of my personal hunting.  The surprising thing to many is I was 95% self taught.  I got my first German Short Hair bird dog at 10, and we spent a lot of days hunting Quail and Chucker together.  Shooting varmints from starlings to feral dogs was pretty much just the norm, and would be a everyday thing if I still lived on the ranch.  I even ran a short trap line for rabbits going to and from school.

I still remember my first deer hunt at the age of 10.  Dad dropped me off at the top of the hill (many would call it a mountain) in the dark and went back to work.   He had told me to walk over the edge, sit down, wait until 10:00, and then hunt down to the house.   Of course I knew I could only shoot bucks, and had a good idea of how to gut a deer.  Remember those life skills from above?  I had seen and helped gut a lot of animals butchered for food.  I shot three times at what I thought was a huge (reality 18-20”) 4x4 Mule Deer, and missed every single shot.  The first of two deer I have ever missed.  When I walked out of the trees on my way home my dad was waiting for me because he heard the shots.  Having to tell my dad I missed hurt more than missing the deer.  My dad was very supportive, but I was not going to ever tell him I missed again. 

I was slow to start Elk hunting but if I can only hunt one big game animal it would be Elk.     They are impressive animals who live in beautiful country.  I also was late in starting my bow hunting, but I wish I had archery hunted from the beginning.   One day I will go archery Elk hunting when my schedule allows it.

I have been reloading since I was 10 also starting with shot shells.  I had to reload because all the ammunition I was shooting was too expensive to buy new.   I cannot even remember the last time I purchased a center fire metallic cartridge loaded.  Reloading has helped my shooting probably the most in being able to practice more combined with the ballistics knowledge.   

I fished growing up for fun.  I was not as dedicated to the fishing as much as the hunting.   I fly fished for trout some, plunked bait, threw spinners, but really did not troll very much.   The only trolling I remember was with my Grandpa on Lake Chelan for Kokanee.   The trolling gear had more weight and drag then the fish did.  My limited fishing was always enjoyable, but I had never really caught any “Big” fish.  I started fishing for Salmon in the mid 90’s and I was immediately in love.   Then in 2000 we had our own local Chinook fishery, and my hunting had a very serious competitor for my off time.   The enjoyment of Salmon fishing just continued to grow, and I started providing guided fishing trips with my company Reellentless Guide Service.   I have to admit the Salmon fishing has taken over quite a bit of my hunting time now.  My fishing details of gear and technique have less time in then the hunting, but it is quickly gaining and will surpass it very soon I believe.

I have also been lucky enough to spend time with my kids hunting and fishing.   It is so much fun just to spend any amount of time I can with them in the outdoors.  All of them are very good athletes playing all year long.  There has always been a conflict for time, so we take advantage of what time we have.  The boys are several states away during hunting season now.  I’m planning a out of state hunt next fall to Nebraska.  My daughter (Teenager) told me last year she would go deer hunting only one day.  We were dragging out her smallest buck to date. I told her how much I loved being able to watch the sun come up with her.   She asked what about the deer?  I told her I could care less if she got a deer or not.  She had a odd look on her face.  Not now but I know she will understand later on.   I am a Hunters Ed Instructor also, and that has been a very rewarding thing for me.  Just today I saw two nice first bucks from students from my spring 2012 class.

I hope I can share my experiences from equipment to technique to help others, and at the same time they get enjoyment out of my information.

Ron

 

Muck boots review Part 1

Muck Boots “Woody Sport”

 

It was all I could do to keep my composure and not run away screaming in pure fright. 

 Rory did not know it, but he had just dug up the boot of my childhood nightmares.   I was once again stuck in an endless Alfalfa field changing hand lines.  I could not move how ever hard I tried.  I was held in my nightmare by the sloppy fitting green irrigation boots.  If you grew up on a farm you know exactly the boots and nightmare I am talking about. 

I was complaining about having wet feet for the last time after setting up Elk camp. Rory of R-Dub Outdoors told me he had the perfect boot for me to try.  Rory shows me the Muck Boots “Woody Sport”, and says “Try these and I bet you will like them”. 

The only stipulation was I needed to write him up an honest review of the boots.  If you know me I am commonly referred to as Brutally Honest, and few people have ever asked me to clarify my opinion or beliefs.  I finally had my revenge as I smiled and grabbed the evil boots.   I was going to expose these devil boots for what my memory told me they were.

I get home and have to run out to the shop to dry the tent and get ready for my two week Montana Elk trip.  I slip into the first boot with my jeans inside the boot top, and it actually snaps into place like an actual lace up boot.   These boots fit nicely and secure.  I head out to the shop, hang tents, fold tarps, and get out all the other hunting/camp gear taken care of.  I keep thinking “Wow, these boots are comfortable and actually feel good”.   I know the faults will show themselves when I get over to Montana and spend a couple weeks really using the boots. 

On the way over to Montana I was wearing the boots, and in the heated truck cab I had to take them off.  My feet were getting too hot after about three hours.   We finally get to our camp location and it is five degrees outside.  I was wearing normal cotton athletic socks.  Our tents are 48’x17’ with carpeting, stoves, cots, saddle racks, and more stuff then we need.  With getting the horse lines, outhouse, and wood cut it usually takes two of us a solid eight hours of outside type work.  We had to build a fire early to warm my buddies feet in his work boots.  My feet were perfectly warm and I am loving the boots.  After the horses arrived I actually stood in the stream with water half way up the boot on purpose while they drank.  The end result of the day was one new pair of Muck Boots sold!  Yep, to my hunting partner who helped set up camp “I am getting a pair of those boots”. 

I took a quick hike in the boots, and quickly realized I was not going to be hunting steep terrain in these boots.   There is not enough support in the ankles and foot area for hiking steep hills and rugged terrain.  On flat ground and gentle hills they were great but as soon as toes, sides, or heels only were needed to maintain traction the boots were done.  I used the boots every day after hunting around camp taking care of horses, chopping wood, and general use.   They flat rock and are the perfect boot for this type of activity.  If I was on flatter terrain I would not hesitate to use these boots for hours of walking. 

After a week of not seeing any legal bulls, we pack up and moved 150 miles away to another location.   The temperature was now 40 degrees, and we start at 7am and are not done until 11pm with four people working.  I don’t take the boots off all day long.   My feet are super hot all day long, but there is no time to stop or change out my boots.  The end result was some wet feet from sweat.  Obviously an all rubber boot that fits snugly is not going to breathe much.  My socks were not super wet but I probably could have squeezed a few drops of sweat out. 

Three days after getting home from Elk hunting I’m on the water after Steelhead with clients.  I do not get the luxury of sitting around the heater and warming up, so my feet have to stay warm in comfortable boots.   The morning starts out at 20 degrees and ends at 38 degrees.  I only wear my athletic cotton socks and my feet are in heaven all day.  With some medium weight wool socks I think these boots would be good for sub-zero temps with just minimal walking or movement.

Like all fears if we just face them we normally find we get some weird enjoyment out of it afterwards.  In summary this boots are flat amazing for the fit and overall versatility in cooler weather.  For me they have a couple limitations, but the positives easily surpass the negatives three to one.  This is one product you will not be upset about buying, and you will be using them for a lot of different activities. 

- Ron Oules