Man Cans at Indian Lake Outfitters

Who's heard of Hart Main, one of the Huffington Post's Favorite Entrepreneurs of 2011? And rightfully so - he's a young entrepreneur with a mission.

We stumbled across Hart's product, Man-Cans, at another local retailer and we quickly fell in love with the concept. We fell so hard, we decided to carry them in our store. Who doesn't want a candle that smells of gun powder, Grandpa's pipe, sawdust or even a campfire? Several of Hart's scents are now available at Indian Lake Outfitters!

As you read above, Man-Cans are made inside an actual soup can purchased from a local grocer. The soup is donated to kitchens all across the area to help those in need. The label is removed from the can and then made into a candle scented with "manly" appeal, like dirt or fresh cut grass.

For each candle purchased from Indian Lake Outfitters that accompanies an unopened can of soup, you will receive a dollar off the price of your candle.

We're on a mission to help Hart continue his - One Candle, One Meal. 

This post is brought to you by Indian Lake Outfitters, your outdoor retail connection for hunting, fishing, camping, archery, marine, firearms and ammunition. We’d love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter!

Outreach to Indian Lake for Christmas in the Park 2011

It’s that time of year again for the annual Logan County Neighborhood Outreach Christmas in the Park at the Indian Lake State Park. If you haven’t seen the light display, it’s a must see! Several area businesses and organizations donate their time to build a display of holiday cheer for local residents and visitors to enjoy. With over 40 businesses on display and two roads of campsites, the program continues to grow each year marking 2011 the 5th Annual Christmas in the Park.

All proceeds from the event benefit the children and families from the Western, Chippewa and Russells Point neighborhoods through the Outreach Centers. Outreach centers partner with neighbors and residents to facilitate and organize programs that promote stability, children safety and strong communities. Locally, the activities include monthly meetings, holiday events, birthday parties, family outings, mentor programs, nutrition programs, job training and homework help. For more information on the Outreach Center, contact Drew Shick or Aaron Pool at 937-843-9283.

Christmas in the Park is open to the public on December 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 23rd from 6-9 at the Indian Lake State Park Campground. The group is asking for a $5 donation per car load that tours the display. Bring the whole family, drive through a Winter Wonderland of twinkling light displays, enjoy the show and send us a picture of you and the family in front of the Indian Lake Outfitters scene. Santa doesn't like to duck hunt alone!


This post is brought to you by Indian Lake Outfitters, your outdoor retail connection for hunting, fishing, camping, archery, marine, firearms and ammunition. We’d love to connect with you on Facebook and Twitter!

Roughin' It with the Frogg Toggs

You're hot, it's summer time and you're looking to keep cool, right? Have you ever thought that a pair of Frogg Toggs might be the answer? Neither had our good friend Brian...until now.

An avid hunter and excellent fisherman, Brian, stays up on all the new gear, does his research extensively and then ponders his purchase for awhile before moving forward. His recent Frogg Togg transaction was no different. He thought they'd come in pretty handy on the boat while fishing or be good to have on hand scouting through the woods, the reason he chose the camo pattern, and the price was right.

A few weeks later, Brian stopped back in to purchase a hammock. He'd been doing a lot of camping with his family and wanted a relaxing place to rest at night under the stars. You can see where this is going, right?

Just a short time later, Brian found himself camping "with the guys" so of course they were "roughin' it". Brian opted to enjoy the pure beauty and serenity of nature and sleep in his new hammock alone. Although his local outdoor store stocks and sells other camping gear, like blankets and sleeping bags, keep in mind, he was "roughin' it".

As the fellas settled in for the night, so did the wind and the rain. At some point during the early morning hours, Brian found himself wrapped in the hammock like a ca coon, trying to stay warm...and then scrambling to stay dry. At just the right moment, he remembered his Frogg Toggs. After cinching the drawstring hood down tight, Brian curled back up into his hammock and stayed warm and dry all night.

So remember that Frogg Toggs are a great addition to any outdoor activity, even sleeping in the rain.

7 Tips for Building a Campfire

While you're enjoying the outdoors, we want you to be prepared when the time arises to build that great campfire. We've got 7 simple steps to get you started.

1) Like any project, determine your purpose before you begin and assemble everything you need. For example, are you just cooking lunch over the fire or do you plan on building a fire for heat through out the night?

2) View your surroundings and choose proper placement of the fire before you begin. Be aware of flammables, items downwind, overhanging branches and clear ground.

3) Be prepared - waterproof matches are always a great tool, as are fire starters, joke candles and dryer lent.

4) Keep things DRY!

5) More planning and lots of patience. Allow for air circulation but start small and add larger pieces, only lighting your fire from the bottom and not the top.

6) Learn from every fire you make...a strong wind will make the fire burn hotter and faster. When possible, use softwood to start your fire and then maintain it with hardwood.

7) Have an exit strategy. As useful as your fire maybe, it can quickly get out of hand. You should have a plan on how to put your fire out before you ever light it and be sure it is out before you ever leave it.

The Insurance Goddess Meets the Outdoors

“My goal is to help people understand insurance and to provide solutions to their insurance problems. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Really.” A quote from http://www.insurancegoddess.com/.

After much consideration, we recently switched our services to Carrie Reynolds, The Insurance Goddess, of Alan Galvez Insurance. Carrie was more than informative on any topic that arose with our insurance hesitations, she was extremely patient while we awaited the addition of our archery range business and she’s been 100% supportive of our business from the start.


What we respect the most about Carrie is her commitment to the client in understanding their business products and services. The first time we met Carrie she remarked that she didn’t hunt, fish or camp but she’d love to learn more about Indian Lake Outfitters because so many people she speaks with enjoy the outdoors.



A huge thank you to Carrie for the great service and coverage and to the Insurance Goddess for stopping in and getting educated about our business!

Sportsmans Yard Sale

Sportsman's Sale at ILO

Finally - a yard sale the men won't mind stopping at! Indian Lake Outfitters had it's first sportsman's sale on Saturday, September 4th. Offering tables for only $5, with the proceeds benefiting the Forsythe Family Relay for Life, customers were able to bring their own equipment to the shop to sell or swap with other customers.  Items ranged from fifty cent crappie jigs to high-end crossbows making the sale a huge hit!

The 5 W's of Indian Lake Outfitters

When: When to bring Indian Lake Outfitters into the conversation...
At any opportunity that you hear these key words - fishing, hunting, boating, skiing, wake boarding, muzzle loaders, bucks, big racks, shooting, camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, archery, whitetails, pheasant, NRA, ducks unlimited, guns and or ammunition - please mention Indian Lake Outfitters.

Where: Where is Indian Lake Outfitters...
Networking and getting noticed. We're on the web, fanning on facebook, tweeting, blogging, filming You Tube, four squaring, geocaching, mingling with the Logan County Convention & Tourism Bureau and heavily involved with the Indian Lake Chamber Board.

Our friends and foes... Dunham's, Cabela's, Gander Mountain and Bass Pro are our biggest competitors but don't let that scare you...our prices are comparable to the big box stores and we carry many of the same brands. State Parks, marinas, bait shacks, hunting clubs, private lakes/ponds and campgrounds have the potential to be our biggest partners. We don't specialize in just one area; we focus on several, making Indian Lake Outfitters, the perfect compliment for our partners.

Why: Why recommend Indian Lake Outfitters...
We're fun - who wouldn't want to work with us? Seriously though, for the service and experience. You'll always be greeted with a friendly smile and familiar face. We offer unique items to the area, like guns and ammo, with an outdoor look and feel, keeping you close to home and shopping locally. We have a fantastic network of business partners and knowledge that we're not afraid to tap into or share with others. Bottom line, "MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK"!

What: What does Indian Lake Outfitters do/sell...
In a nutshell, Indian Lake Outfitters sells outdoor gear and accessories for hunting, fishing, camping, archery and marine sports/entertainment. That breaks out to a lot of different products.

Hunting - camouflage clothing, graphic logo tees, blinds, calls, decoys, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, slingshots, air guns, ammunition, game calls, training DVD's, binoculars, dog leashes, collars, barking devices, under-ground fencing, tracking systems, hand-held GPS units, scents, mace, cases, holsters, muzzle loaders and reloading.

Fishing - combo poles, tackle boxes, rain gear, lines, hooks, sinkers, lures, flys, nets, bobbers, bait and buckets.

Camping - tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, stoves, flashlights, tri-pods, griddles, mess kits, frying pans, cookers, marinades, mixes, sauces, knives, survival kits, hammocks, canopies and tarps.

Archery - compound bows, crossbows, re-curve bows, arrows, nocks, arm guards, slings, targets, decoys, broadheads, bow strings, quivers, whisker biscuits, scopes, peeps, string wax, stabilizers and vanes.

Marine - anchors, line, shackles, skis, tubes, fenders, fuel tanks, air horns, throw cushions, distress flags, life vests, trolling motors, battery chargers, paddles, stern lights, bow lights, fish finders, depth finders, chart plotters, trailer jacks, winches, mildew cleaner, seats, air pumps, pool floats, water guns, bilge pumps and radios.

Who: Who is Indian Lake Outfitters...
A family owned business with a personal story that started with Brenda and Bryan Moots. A high-energy, easy-going, fun loving couple that enjoys holy jeans, hoodies, ball caps, football and beer. An outdoorsman's dream, right? We give genuine, honest answers - if we don't know, we'll tell you that up-front and work to get you correct and accurate information. We're had working, goal oriented individuals wanting to grow and support the community we were born and raised in; remembering that life comes full-circle.