Posts filed under 'News and Stuff'
Video of the new 2009 Honda Big Red 700 MUV Side by Side
Honda finally jumps into the side by side market with what they are calling their MUV unit (Multi-Purpose Utility Vehicle). After 15 years of development and research, Honda has finally come up with what they are calling a multi-functioning side by side that is great for work and recreation.
I was recently invited by Honda to their press introduction of their new Big Red MUV. What a blast it was! The ride took place on Catalina Island off the coast of California. This island granted special permission to Honda to bring out their new Big Red MUV units and ride some of the back dirt roads. The ride time was actually a little shorter than normal events like this, but Honda did things right in presenting a great new vehicle to the market with a little different approach.
First Impression
My first impression was this new Side by Side was bigger than I had anticipated. This new Big Red 700 boasts nothing but pure Honda quality and putting simplicity/convenience and safety to the forefront.
Here are a couple of quick thoughts as I wanted to get this video posted to give you a first glance at the new Big Red from Honda. They are now available at select dealers now. A more in-depth article will be coming up in a future issue of Hunting Illustrated Magazine.
The fit and finish and overall quality is commendable. Honda is always at the top of their game on quality, but the Big Red seems top notch
This thing is big. This will NOT fit in the back of your truck (64″ wide and 114.7″ long). The cab is very roomy and Honda chose to do the bucket seats with seat belts with the parking brake lever in the middle.
Full cargo nets and doors are not a surprise being how safety is a big concern. However, the full cargo net on the sides was a little surprise and wasn’t bad getting in and out, but was a little obtrusive when looking out while drive, etc.
The foot pedals (brake and gas) are very good and don’t wiggle at all. Nice and tight. A lot of room on the floor and good angle areas for putting your feet on.
Dump box is wide enough to fit a full wood pallet in the back with the tailgate down. Back dump box has composite plastic sides and the bottom is a metal wrapped in composite plastic. Includes nice rubber mat as well and slight rounded corners so dirt and junk don’t get caught.
Maintenance is very convenient and the most thought out of any Side x Side. Easy access to the battery, air filter, oil and dipstick.
All four tires are the same size. At first I think this is what kind of gives the Big Red its “weird” look for lack of a better term. Kind of looks a little disproportionate, but the tires are a 25 x 10-12.
How is the power? Not bad, and for the size of the machine and the motor being a 675cc I think it does fine (1,431 lb. curb weight). Nothing that will blow your socks off, but Honda doesn’t like to blow your socks off with these kind of vehicles. Good low end power for the rough stuff and decent mid and high range. Also comes with fuel injection to help on cold starts, high altitude and performance.
But what about transmission? This was a big question for me as I was curious if they were going to put in their Hondamatic or not. I like the transmission they have in their Rubicon ATVs, etc. However, I was not impressed with the newer transmission they put in their 700 Rincon ATV. It looks like they did a little combination of both, however it leans more to the Rincon-type transmission. They call it an Automotive-style with three gears. The transmission is not a fluid pull of power. This has three distinct forward gears that does shift automatically as it goes through the power train. Overall this worked fine. However, this is still not my most preferred choice of transmission for an automatic.
Four-Wheel drive mode is the best Honda has ever put out. Why? This is Honda’s first attempt at all-wheel drive differential lock in any ATV or MUV. They have a simple lever on the dash that you can slide into two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with limited slip in front, then you can go into four-wheel drive with all-wheel differential lock. This works very well and for a machine of this size is a must. I am impressed with Honda’s new four-wheel drive system and hope they start implementing their differential lock on their ATVs.
Braking and engine braking is good. For a vehicle of this size you need to get it stopped. The disc brakes does the job and Honda has a good “hold back” engine braking system that helps on steep descents. Put it in four-wheel drive mode and you have all four tires holding you back.
How is reverse? There is no override button on the Big Red so reverse power is just what you get. I stopped coming down a steep hill and purposely put it in reverse and went back up it. There was no problem and the power was good and strong.
Handling is good and overall the machine feels very stable. It is not made to bust in the corners and try and brake the back tires loose. For what it is it does fine. The suspension is also similar, as it works for moderate speeds and roads. The front suspension does have some limitations at higher speeds on rough, bumpy roads.
So what about price? I was actually a little surprised Honda was able to keep this vehicle in the 11,000 range. Not to say that is not a huge amount of money, but puts it competitive with the Ranger and Rhino. List price for the red Big Red is $11,399 and the Natural Gear Camo version of Big Red is $11,899.
Is it a good Hunting Rig?
I had at one time one of Honda’s lead Japanese developers with me riding in the passenger seat. During this ride I was purposely looking for anything I could go over that was rough or nasty. There was a rut that ran up the full length of this hill. I could have clearly avoided this and stayed on the “good” side of the road. As I busted up the ruts and put it into four-wheel drive, scraping the bottom, jerking us around quite a bit, spinning the tires, I could tell he was quite curious and amused.
After we had stopped at the top, he questioned why I choose to take the line that I did. He asked if that was similar to what I would find while out hunting. I told him that was nothing to what you will find out in the West during a hunt, but it was close to the circumstances that you will run into. Ruts, rocks, mud, steep and deep hills, and more are common. I think the Honda’s new Big Red 700 MUV will make a great hunting rig and they have plenty of cool accessories to add.
Early Conclusion
My ride time was limited to what was available at this event and we weren’t able to really let it all hang out due to the location and some of the restrictions that we had on the island. Honda is targeting the new Big Red 700 MUV Side by Side to the hard worker who likes to do some recreation on the weekends or hunts in the fall. More utility minded then sport, but overall recreation is very good. Definitely targets more of the Polaris Ranger crowd than say the Razor RZR or Yamaha Rhino 700.
Dealer Specs
Engine Type 675cc liquid-cooled OHV semi-dry-sump longitudinally mounted single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and Stroke 102.0mm x 82.6mm
Induction Electronic fuel injection (PGM-FI): 40mm throttle body
Ignition Full-Transistorized type with electronic advance
Starter Electric
DRIVE TRAIN
Transmission Automatic with hydraulic torque converter, three forward gears, and reverse
Driveline Direct front and rear driveshafts with 3 drive modes: 2WD, 4WD, and 4WD with all-wheel differential lock
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES
Front Suspension Independent double-wishbone; 5.9-inch travel
Rear Suspension Independent double-wishbone; 7.1-inch travel
Front Brakes Dual hydraulic 200.0 mm discs
Rear Brakes Dual hydraulic 200.0 mm discs
Front Tires 25 x 10-12 bias
Rear Tires 25 x 10-12 bias
DIMENSIONS
Length 114.7 inches
Width 64.0 inches
Height 76.9 inches
Wheelbase 75.7 inches
Seat Height 34.0 inches
Bed Length Inside 33.0
Bed Width Inside 52.6
Bed Weight Capacity 500 lbs
Towing Capacity 1200 lbs
Ground Clearance 10.3 inches
Turning Radius 13.8 feet
Curb Weight 1431 pounds
Fuel Capacity 7.9 Gallons
OTHER
Note Recommended for Drivers 16 years of age and older.
Available Colors Red,Camo
Model ID MUV700
FACTORY WARRANTY INFORMATION
1 year Transferable, unlimited mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan
September 6th, 2008
Oregon’s fall hunting season is fast approaching and the perennial question “Where can I go hunting?” will be much easier to answer this year.
Interactive Google™ Map shows hunting opportunities statewide
ODFW today unveiled its new Oregon Hunting Access Map, a great tool to find out where to hunt, especially for people new to hunting or new to the state. Even experienced Oregon hunters are likely to discover a new hunting location by exploring the comprehensive list of opportunities in a centralized place.
The map features state wildlife areas, national wildlife refuges, private lands open to hunting through ODFW’s Access & Habitat (A&H) and Upland Cooperative Access (UCAP) programs, Travel Management Areas on private timberlands open to hunting, and Willamette River Greenway properties that allow hunting. Because the map is based within Google Maps™, users can calculate distance and driving directions to the hunting area, switch between map, terrain and satellite views, zoom in and out of areas, and customize the map to their liking.
This is such a cool idea and no doubt we will see more of this technology being used with not only state agencies, but outfitters, booking agencies, reference web sites and more. Below is the map embedded here. To see the main map go here and to learn more about it with more reference information click here.
View Larger Map
August 21st, 2008
The archery season is here. Nevada has already put down some good bucks so far as one of the states to kick off archery season early. Other states are getting geared up for this weekend. I thought I would get the fever going a little bit and post some photos and this story of one of the great non-typical archery velvet mule deer ever taken with a bow.
This buck was taken by David Bodine in 2006. This Colorado buck scores 253 gross and 243 net non-typical as a 11×11 point. He is just 25-inches wide as well. Here is his story….enjoy and good luck this archery season. See more great photos in our Trophy Room Gallery.
Huge 253 Velvet Archery Buck
by David Bodine
The night before the hunt I went to bed not sure if I was going hunting in the morning. Don’t get me wrong , I am a very enthusiastic hunter and anxiously anticipate opening day all year but this year I had a friend coming from out of town to go hunting with me who couldn’t make it ’till the following week. When 3:00 A.M. came around I was wide awake and by 4:00 I was on my way. I called my hunting partner Travis Farmer. He and his father Tom met me at “the” hunting spot and shortly after we were hiking in. The weather was perfect, there was a light rain and the clouds were very low, almost foggy, and it was very cool for a late August day. I knew this kind of weather would keep the deer a little more active further into the day.
We hiked about two miles and had our first sighting. A small herd with a nice 4 point and a few smaller bucks and a couple of does. After a short stalk they spooked and were gone. We decided to split up and go up separate canyons. We wished each other good luck and were off. Just a few hundred yards up the canyon I glassed two big bucks feeding. They were about half a mile away on the opposite slope. I decided to cross the canyon and position my self so that I could sneak up to them at a side hill approach. Once I was within about 150 yards I took off my rain coat and pack and began a very slow and stealthy stock. By this time they had bedded on the western facing slope. I crouched below the bush line and closed the distance to about 40 yards. I came to a small draw on the hillside, they were right on the other side. I knew I would have to take my shot from this side, so I began to contemplate what to do. I sat with the wind in my face for what seemed to be an hour, but was more like five minutes. I knew I had two choices. Since I didn’t have a shot from where I was because of the brush in front of the deer I could either blow my call, standing the deer up and trying a shot that way. Or, I could move down the hill about five yards opening a shooting lane and taking the deer in the bed. Just as I decided to move down the hill. The wind changed and was at my back.
His ears perked up, he began to stare in my direction. I quickly sprayed cover sent into the air which seemed to buy me the time I needed and calmed the deer. I slowly made my way down the hill undetected to the spot where I had a clear shot. I drew back, let the arrow fly hit my mark at about 38 yards. The deer jumped up and ran over the top of the hill out of sight. I walked to where he was bedded. My arrow had broke off in his lungs. The blood trail was thick, but this deer was strong. I waited a while then followed the blood trail over the hill. Half way down the hill I saw my deer. A couple of more arrows finally finished him off. There I stood over the most amazing deer I had ever seen.
I hadn’t really mentioned the size of this deer before. I took the first shot having no clue what I was shooting at. I knew he was big but the view I had before I shot he looked like a 5×6. When I finally had him down and was able to count all the points I couldn’t believe that I had shot a 9 x10 amazing beast of a buck. After a moment of enjoying the kill that lie before me I went to meet up with Travis and I called my wife Jessica to come and take pictures. When Travis and I approached my buck,Travis began counting the points. He announced with excitement that I had bagged an 11×11 buck. I was in awe, and couldn’t believe that my buck was getting bigger every time the points were counted. We then begun the task of dragging the deer down to the trail which wasn’t a walk in the park considering the big boy we had in tow. Regardless of the work the reward is every bit worth it.
God had truly blessed me with a wonderful trophy and has blessed us all with a wonderful trophy called America and the freedom of the great outdoors that we all have the opportunity to enjoy. I would like to thank my family for all the outdoor experiences we had together especially for my father, taking me on my first deer hunt and for my brothers and all the times we hunted together. My 25-wide buck ended up scoring 253 gross and 243 net non-typical and is one of the top velvet bucks taken with a bow.
August 15th, 2008
Wanted to let everyone know that you can get a first look at the all-new web site for King’s Outdoor World. This site has been redesigned from the ground up and gives you all of the latest on products, information, images and more from King’s.
Check out the Home Page and get some video clips from some of our Sponsors
Get a sneak peak at our new 2009 King’s Calendars
Go through our Re-creation archive and view hundreds of historic images from past calendars
Learn more about our King’s ShadowCamo patterns
Check out our hot upcoming products - Big Rack Series
Get a good look at all of the Gear and Clothing made with our Terrain Specific ShadowCamo patterns
Can’t forget the Trophy Room Gallery - see some great photos and now you can post your own by just creating a free account
You can also subscribe to our RSS feeds and automatic email updates so you can stay informed of what is going on. Plus you can use our Dealer Search and find a store near you that carries King’s products.
There is much more, but hope you check it out and then give me some feedback on what you think: good, bad, ugly…I would appreciate any and all feedback as this is just a launch #1 and have much more that will be added to in the future.
August 14th, 2008
Aug/Sept 2008 Bowhunting Issue of Hunting Illustrated - Click cover above for larger image
Our new issue is now out and just in time for the upcoming bowhunts. Our annual Bowhunting Issue is packed full of awesome stories of huge bucks and bulls and editorial how-to content that will get you ready for the archery season.
What’s on the Cover
This issue is backed by some incredible archery record animals. On the cover is Steve Alderman and his 204 3/8 gross and 195 4/8 net P&Y archery mule deer that is now the new #2 typical for Alberta. Also in this issue is the new #1 archery typical from Alberta taken by Peter Tsoulamanis scoring 213 6/8 gross and 196 1/8 net typical B&C.
How about a new pending #6 in the world and #2 for Utah non-typical archery elk. Troy Ence was hunting the southwest desert of Utah and arrowed this monster bull after 20 plus days of hunting. This huge bull officially scores 422 0/8 gross and 414 7/8 net P&Y and was one of the top bulls taken in 2007 regardless of weapon.
Oregon continues to showcase their banner year for velvet archery mule deer. We have Cody Cole’s very cool mule deer that is tall and narrow but scores a very impressive 197 gross and 193 7/8 net P&Y and is a pending #2 velvet typical archery buck for Oregon.
Editorial Features
Mule Deer: Archery Mule Deer Hunting - Three critical control factors for success
Elk: The “Ten Year” Bull - A hard won Utah archery bull
Shooting: Broadhead Basics - What’s the best broadhead for you?
Predators: The Will to Kill - K-9 Theory part 3
Big Game: Hunting Western Whitetail - Using scents to get the big one
Fitness: Bowhunter Boot Camp - A three-prong attack to get you ready for the season opener!
Plus More…
Ask Mr. Mule Deer
Dueling Duo - Banning Lead-Based Ammunition
Corporate Interview: Bowtech - Founder and President John Strasheim
Mule Deer Watch: Bachelor Party
Nuge Factor - Instinctive Sight Shooting
And More Stories of Huge Stuff
Great Idaho Moose
Monster 402 net Arizona archery elk
Largest velvet archery typical for Colorado taken by a woman
What are you waiting for
This issue is packed! If you don’t have it already coming to your door, head to your nearest newsstand and pick this issue up now through September 18th.
Need a great deal to get you to subscribe
How about a full 1-year subscription for just $10. Normal price is $24.95. Hurry and act now and get a full year of great big game action six times a year. Call 800-447-6897 to subscribe today or do it now on-line at www.HuntingIllustrated.com.
August 1st, 2008
What a turn around of events. Wolves are delisted, wolf hunts are in the works, and now wolves have been temporarily put back on the endangered species list. How can this be so? About 12 Environmentalist Groups (Earthjustice, Humane Society, Defenders of Wildlife, etc.) is how it can be so. I told you about their pending lawsuit they filed April 28, 2008. Exactly 60 days after the delisting was signed. They know they law very well, have a ton of money and do just what they need to do to stall this thing out.
Judge Donald Molloy issued on Friday, July 18, 2008 an injunction to suspend the removal of wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the federal Endangered Species List. Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains were removed from the Endangered Species List in March 2008. A number of environmental groups are challenging the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s delisting decision. Friday’s injunction effectively returns management authority for wolves in the region to the federal government while these legal challenges are heard.
What about Wyoming’s open hunts?
As a result of Friday’s injunction, wolves can no longer be taken anywhere in Wyoming except in cases where wolves are in the act of attacking livestock. Ranchers who are experiencing livestock depredation problems anywhere in the state should contact their local Wyoming Game and Fish office.
What about Idaho’s upcoming hunts?
There will be no wolf hunting season in Idaho this year. Idaho Fish and Game will not issue any wolf hunting tags.
Wolves have reverted to management under a section of the Endangered Species Act known as the 10(j) rule, which was revised in January.
Link: View the text of the revised 10(j) rule - (PDF)
So what happened?
The Environmentalists convinced the judge that the State agencies didn’t follow all of the rules to delist the wolves. Even though the states have established laws that will maintain a stable population and breeding pairs, regardless of the hunts, the Environmentalists argue that the states won’t do this. The federal biologist who led the wolf restoration program, Ed Bangs, defended the decision to delist wolves as “a very biologically sound package.”
“The kind of hunting proposed by the states wouldn’t threaten the wolf population,” Bangs said Friday. “We felt the science was rock solid and that the delisting was warranted.”
Here is the conclusion from the judges ruling:
For these reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (dkt #2) is GRANTED. Endangered Species Act protections are hereby reinstated for the northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf pending final resolution of this matter on the merits.
Dated this 18 day of July, 2008, 16:04 p.m. th
So what were the reasons. I have provided a link to the judges ruling and you can read the whole thing here:
Link: Judges Ruling on wolf injunction (PDF)
In a nutshell, the main argument that the Environmental groups used was the fact that the wolves have not had a chance to interbreed. What that means is the wolves from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana need to interbreed to provide a stable population 60 years down the road.
Here is an excerpt from the the ruling:
Plaintiffs claim the Fish & Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act by delisting the wolf while knowing there was a lack of genetic exchange between populations in the three northern Rocky Mountain core recovery areas. The legal deficiency claimed is that in doing so the Service ignored its own recovery criteria and ignored the best science available.
Here is an excerpt from the introduction of the ruling:
Introduction
This case, like a cloud larger than a man’s hand, will hang over the northwest states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming until there has been a final determination of the complex issues presented. Those issues must be answered in accordance with the intent of Congress as stated in the Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations. Here, Plaintiffs challenge the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s decision to designate and delist a northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), 16 U.S.C. § 1536. In
seeking to alter the course of that decision, Plaintiffs move for a preliminary injunction. They ask the Court to reinstate ESA protections for the wolf, at least while this lawsuit is pending. In support of their motion, Plaintiffs argue (1) even though the environmental impact statement on wolf reintroduction specifically conditions the delisting decision on a Finding of Subpopulation Genetic Exchange, the Fish & Wildlife Service delisted the wolf when there is no plausible showing of that genetic exchange between the Greater Yellowstone core recovery area and the northwestern Montana and central Idaho core recovery areas; (2) the Service approved Wyoming’s 2007 wolf management plan even though the Wyoming plan still contains provisions that the Service earlier deemed inadequate; and (3) the Fish & Wildlife Service did not consider the several states’ liberal defense of property laws in concluding the states’ wolf management plans were adequate. The argument concludes with the claim that a preliminary injunction is necessary because wolves are not likely to survive the increased incidents of human-caused
mortality that will occur under state management.
So what happens next?
The judge is going to determine if keeping the wolves on the Endangered Species List will continue or not. Unfortunately I think the anti-groups are going to keep pumping money into this ruling and tie it up in the courts as long as they can. What’s even more unfortunate is that this is not about proper animal management and conservation. This about pushing an agenda - a way of thinking - that is anti-human, anti-hunting and that animals (specifically predators) should rule the earth. This is the case of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Could be a shaky future and the excitement of finally getting some control and management of the wolf here in the West is at a standstill.
July 22nd, 2008
Reports have just come out that Wildlife Officials have captured two wolves in western Okanogan County and fitted both with radio collars to track their movements and learn more about them. They took hair samples for DNA testing to confirm that the wolves were not hybrid animals.
One of the wolves was a lactating female nursing pups. This would confirm that this is the first pair of breeding wolves int the state of Washington. The DNA test results will be back in a few weeks.
Link: The Seattle Times
July 21st, 2008
Click for desktop wallpaper size
Hope everyone has a safe and fun fourth of July. Click on the image above and then just right click on your mouse and get the menu. From there you can set the image as your desktop image.
God Bless America
July 3rd, 2008
Click magazine cover above to access Virtual Magazine
Virtual Magazine
Our Women in Hunting issue of Hunting Illustrated is now on-line in our Exclusive Virtual Magazine format.
View the whole magazine and flip through the pages FREE at any time you want right in your browser window.
Enjoy this special issue about women hunters and how women are a big impact to hunting. This issue is all about the lady hunter, featuring articles, success stories and photos.
Click Here to read to Women in Hunting issue Virtual Magazine
Great Deal
Want to get Hunting Illustrated coming to you door for an amazingly low price. Hurry and act now and get a one year subscription (six issues) for just $10 (normally $24.95). Call 800-447-6897 or go to Hunting Illustrated Magazine.com to sign up on-line.
June 19th, 2008
How is a Polaris Ranger Made? Well, just watch the Discovery Channel tomorrow and find out. The Polaris RANGER will be featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Factory Made”
Tune into the Discovery Channel on Wednesday, June 18, at 8:30 p.m. EST, to see how RANGER side-by-side vehicles are made. The program spent a couple days at Polaris’ Spirit Lake, Iowa manufacturing plant filming the steps to building a Polaris RANGER.
June 17th, 2008
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