Western Hunting & Fishing News April 2023 Issue

HUNTING & F ISHING

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The Best Hunting Zero Technique? Maximum Point Blank Range

By Andrew Jackson Outdoor Empire www.outdoorempire.com

Many people use the term “point-blank” to refer to a target close enough you have almost no chance of missing. This common usage is not entirely correct, though they’ve got the right idea!

Properly speaking, point-blank range is the distance at which you can aim without having to compensate for bullet drop.

MPBR is a sighting technique that applies this idea to the specific animal (or target) you want to hunt. Aim for the center of the kill zone, pull the trigger, and you’ll make a devastating shot at 50, 100, or even 200 yards!

You may have but a fleeting moment to line your sights up on that moose or bear and take the shot. Spend some time at the range sighting in your gun and you’ll be able to take advantage of that moment.

How the Maximum Point Blank Range Zero Works

As you’re aware, bullets drop. They have an arc to their flight. Always a downward arc, technically, due to gravity. Your sights, whether they’re iron sights, a red dot, or a telegraphic sight, do not arc. They point in a solid line, off to eternity.

Keep this line in mind.

I

t’s an exciting time when you finally put sights on that deer that you’ve been stalking for the past several hours. You’ve practiced proper trigger control and know how to steady your rifle to maximize your chances of hitting the deer in the kill zone.

But how far away is that animal? And how far is your bullet going to drop?

In my opinion, the best hunting zero technique is the Maximum Point Blank Range zero. MPBR lets you place your bullet into an animal’s vital zone at short to long ranges without requiring any field math, ...windage, or fiddling with your sights.

It’s a dismal feeling when you think you’ve hit an animal with a well-placed shot only to discover, after many hours and much tracking, that you hit it in the gut and caused a slow, painful death.

Accidentally shooting above the buck is better but can still cause the animal to bolt, potentially ruining your hunt. And, while rangefinders are amazing tools, you don’t always have the time or ability to figure out that animal’s exact range and compensate accordingly.

But what does “Maximum Point Blank Range” mean anyway? And how can you use that to zero your rifle?

Why Use Maximum Point Blank Range Zeroing for Hunting?

If there’s one word I’d use to describe hunting with the Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR) zero, that word is confidence.

You’ll be able to confidently take the shot on your game at short, medium, and even long ranges. Without using a rangefinder!

How does giving your rifle an MPBR zero accomplish this?

Why, it’s in the name: it maximizes your rifle’s point-blank range.

Many people sight in their rifles at 100 yards and expect to hit below that at farther ranges. In this case, that line from the scope points slightly downward relative to the gun’s bore. It intersects with the bullet’s arc at a single known point, 100 yards.

This is fine for range purposes but we can do better.

MPBR points the sight’s line at an angle to intersect the bullet’s arc twice. If we had a chart with the sight-held level, it would look like the bullet’s curve would be rising at the first intersection and falling at the second intersection.

That first intersection is the Near Zero and the far intersection is the Far Zero. But that’s not all MPBR gives you.

Because MPBR is calculated using your chosen target’s vital zone size, the bullet will never rise (relative to your sights) enough to leave that vital zone.

You’ll hit high when the animal is between the Near Zero and the Far Zero, but never too high! (So long as you aim at the dead center of the vital area, of course.)

But the Far Zero isn’t your shooting limit. The bullet will continue to drop, but it’ll take some time for the bullet to arc downward enough to leave the vital zone.

The distance the bullet will travel before dropping out of the target area is the “maximum” part of “Maximum Point Blank Range.” It can be 40 yards past the Far Zero or more.

Using this zero, your maximum point-blank range will be 200 yards or more, depending on your rifle, ammo, and target.

Here you can see how a scope’s sight line intersects the bullet’s trajectory with both a 100-yard zero and an MPBR zero. The MPBR zero stays useful farther!

How to Sight Your Rifle with a Maximum Point Blank Range Zero

So, setting up your rifle to take advantage of the MPBR hunting zero does take some math and even some research, but it’s all pretty easy.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Your target’s vital area size

2. Your rifle sight’s height over the bore

3. Your ammo’s initial velocity

4. Your projectile’s ballistic coefficient

Let’s tackle those in order and then put them all together.

Target Size

You need to know how large a target you want to hit, measured from top to bottom. For a small deer’s vital area, this is roughly eight inches in height.

You’ll have to look up the kill zone yourself if you’re hunting another animal. You can also measure a paper target’s height and use that number.

Measure the total size of the target, not the distance from the center to the edge.

Sight Height Over Bore

You know how bolt-action rifles tend to have sights close to the barrel while modern sporting rifles such as ARs tend to have iron sights that stand several inches above the bore? This actually works to the MSR’s advantage when it comes to MPBR!

Find the distance from your sight’s centerline to the middle of the bore. This is the sight height measurement.

It’s different from gun model to gun model. For example, most AR-15s have an iron sight height over bore of 2.6″. A slightly less precise yet still useful method of determining your sight’s height over bore is to measure from the middle of the bolt or barrel to the middle of the scope.

If your rifle has a tapered barrel and iron sights, Brownells has a sight height calculator that can help you.

Projectile Velocity

Here’s where you need to grab a chronograph if you want to be truly accurate. You need to know your ammo’s initial velocity—the more accurate, the better. If you need to, you can use your ammo manufacturer’s data for this, though it won’t be accurate to your gun.

Variances in barrel manufacturing can affect velocity. So can atmospheric factors and barrel length. If these don’t match up with the manufacturer’s tests, then your velocity won’t be accurate.

(continued on page 28)

This vintage Remington 700’s height over bore is 1.8125 inches. All photos courtesy Outdoor Empire www.outdoorempire.com

The ABCs Of Finding A Legit Hunting Partner

By Scott Ergas

Originally published at GOHUNT.com

Sometimes I wonder if I am the James Dean of mountain hunting. Am I a rebel without a cause destined to solo hunt in perpetuity or just a scorned introvert who is naturally leery of others pulling their own weight?

The complex answer is, “perhaps both.”

The simple answer is, “Good hunting partners are hard to come by.”

The ideal hunting partner

There’s not a one-size-fits-all recipe for the ideal partner and often it is easier to know what you don’t want, rather than what you do want.

Regardless, the following represents the fundamental traits one should consider if ever in the market for a solid hunting partner.

ATTITUDE AT ALTITUDE

Things can go south quickly while hunting. Inclement weather, missed shot opportunities, unplanned food rationing, popped sleeping pads, electronic gadget malfunctions, sleep deprivation, muscle cramps, curious predators and even more curious rodents. Thriving and enduring requires mental fortitude and a positive perspective, which are by-products of attitude. Having a partner who is fun to be around, works hard and doesn’t complain — or dare I say “dwell” — is paramount to a lasting relationship chasing big game. A partner who is composed during shared suffering allows for that bond to grow and one who moans about every little thing allows for resentment to fester. Nothing can sour an adventure like a piss-poor attitude, but nothing can turn it around like genuine stoke!

You can overlook the snoring, but can you ignore the negative vibes?

BRAINS AND BRAWN AND A BALANCE OF BOTH

Successful hunting consists of calculated pivoting. To do so in unison, partners must have a good balance of intelligence and physical strength. Sharing an idea to pull out of a drainage is great, but to be able to crest the ridge and relocate without smoking your body for the next day is another story. Partners should have complementary skill sets. One person could be a mountain goat hiking uphill, but be a wheel of double Gloucester cheese going downhill. The other person could be a superb elk caller, but a clumsy stalker. The yin and yang conquers the day because, ultimately, the mountain does not give a rat’s patootie about your plans or desires! When you both have the same motives and intentions, the odds of dual success and exceeding objectives goes up tenfold. A supreme hunting partner has your back and relishes in your triumphs. It is subtle and sincere.

COMMUNICATIVE AND COMPETITIVE

To maintain a symbiotic relationship in potentially hostile environments, it involves effective communication. As an introvert, the idea of having a full-blown and potentially trivial conversation with the potential to spook out game gives me anxiety. I’m not advocating for finding a partner who is mute, but one who is succinct with their words and displays alternative ways to convey information. Non-verbal cues like pointing to your eyes with index and middle fingers split before holding up a number four, then making preschool turkey feather-trace fingers above your head and pointing in a direction might translate to “I see four bucks over there partner!” After a long, full day of hunting I see nothing wrong with playful banter and silly discussion while boiling water for dinner in the tipi tent. So you think Tom Selleck would smack Burt Reynold’s mustache off in a fisticuffs situation? Interesting smack talk can chop up the monotony of the day and lighten the mood, which could serve the team well! Regarding endearment—competition is a good thing. It typically allows us to elevate and improve our skill sets. If your partner has a competitive drive, but is ethical and pure in their support of you, then you can do no harm returning the sentiment as you both will benefit by “upping your game.”

Setting the bar high is your prerogative and is essential to finding someone you mesh well with.

When your life and hunt are potentially on the line, you need to be able to rely on another and this is a vulnerable concept.

If I was able to create the perfect hunting partner, they would have the patience of Ryan Lampers, the enthusiasm and spirit of Brian Barney and the stubborn resilience of Brady Miller.

If you find a legit hunting partner, keep them around for the long haul!

Photo credit Scott Ergas

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Why You Should Scout For Buck Rubs In The Spring

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

Most of the trees that bucks rubbed last October and November are still whitish scars on the trees, and easy to spot in the spring woods. Look especially close for “signpost” rubs–large, scarred trees that mark some section of a mature buck’s core living area.

Missouri whitetail scientist Grant Woods says that while mature bucks blaze the rubs on thick trees during the lead up to the fall rut, many deer interact with them year-round. “Big rubs act as communal pheromone wicks and are located in areas with high deer traffic,” he says. Bucks and does can easily see the rubs and sometimes veer over for a sniff. Many signpost rubs are rubbed again and again by rutting bucks each year; one big rub may show years of healing bark.

Woods has found a correlation between the number of rubs in an area and the number of older bucks that live there.

On a management project on a property in Tennessee, he observed an amazing 5,000 rubs per square mile, or 7.8 rubs per acre.

If you find a piece of woods lit up with rubbed trees like that, start looking for bow stand sites for this fall. Whitetail bucks are habitual, and they rub and scrape in the same general areas year after year. Find old rubs now and make a note to come back and check them again as bucks start rutting later on this October. Even if the buck that blazed most of those rubs was killed by a hunter or hit by a car over the summer, another mature buck is likely to move into the area and rub and scrape there this fall.

HUNTING

Photo credit Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

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12 Expert Tips To Trick The Smartest Gobbler

By Jay Scott

Originally published at GOHUNT.com

Turkey season is right around the corner and these tips are useful for almost all of the subspecies of turkeys found within the United States. Good luck this spring!

1. BETTER TO BE EARLY THAN LATE

I always try to set my alarm 30 minutes earlier than my calculated time to get to the roost tree. This means that my alarm usually goes off around 3 a.m. during turkey season. I like to be sitting in the dark waiting for the grey in the eastern sky so I make sure to set up my position at least 30 minutes before the first call of the hens or the first gobble. It gives the woods some time to settle down after I’ve walked into the roosting area. It also gives time to go to plan B if something goes wrong prior to the setup. Another advantage to being early is that it puts me ahead of other hunters. Being early will never work against you.

2. CARRY MORE CALLS THAN YOU NEED

It is good to have several diaphragms, slates, and box calls. Sometimes the birds will especially like one call over another. The worst feeling in the world is not having the right call. Don’t be afraid to take a gobble call either, but be very careful using the gobbler call on public land.

3. LOCATOR CALLS DON’T HAVE TO SOUND EXACTLY LIKE THE NATURAL SOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE IN GETTING BIRDS TO GOBBLE IN THE ROOST

Quite the contrary, actually. I have found that my external reed coyote howler by Primos, which does not sound as natural or as authentic as my diaphragm coyote yelp, actually seems to get more of a response by roosted gobblers. Remember, you are looking for a shocking response so sometimes the worst shrieking noise you can make will be the best for getting a gobbler to answer.

4. DO NOT BLOW A COYOTE HOWLER AT ROOSTED BIRDS IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE

The roosted gobbler might answer, but they will be very leery to come into your hen yelps because they think a coyote is close and they don’t want to get eaten. An owl hooter is a much better choice when you are close to the roosted bird. Close means within 200 yards of a rooster gobbler.

5. WHEN ROOSTING A GOBBLER IN THE EVENING, MAKE SURE THAT YOU TRY TO PINPOINT THE EXACT TREE THAT THE GOBBLER IS ROOSTED IN Often times, I will get them to shock gobble and then I will sneak in as close as possible. Then, I plan my setup for the morning.

There are several things to consider while pinpointing your exact tree:

1) easiest way into the setup since it will be pitch dark

2) exactly which tree you want to be leaning against and set up under

3) which way the bird will fly down

4) which way the bird will hopefully not go

I like to mark the spot where I will setup on my GPS and allow the breadcrumb feature to bring me right into the setup spot the following morning. Be careful not to let the roosted gobbler see your light on the GPS.

6. IF YOU GET A GOBBLER TO RESPOND, MOVE AS CLOSE TO HIS POSITION AS YOU CAN WITHOUT BEING DETECTED

This is a great morning or afternoon tactic. When the birds are already on the ground and you are prospecting for gobblers by walking ridges, if you get a gobbler to respond you need to cut the distance in half or more. Once close, (within 100 yards) set up and try to call again. This works much better than calling from the original position. Now, if you are moving toward him and he gobbles loudly and in your direction, setup immediately for your chance!

7. PLAY HARD TO GET! MAKE THE GOBBLER WANT TO COME TO YOU

If you get a bird gobbling sometimes shutting up is the most deadly tactic. I like to fire them up and then follow that by complete silence. I let them gobble twice before I call again. Usually, they will come hard if you use this tactic. You may risk a bird walking off because you shut up, but if they are even halfway interested they will be headed your way. This may be the single best bit of information I have learned over the years.

8. IN THE EVENINGS, BE IN THE ROOST AREA AND BE PATIENT

I like to get into areas that I know birds like to roost. I sit and call about every 15 minutes. The last 30 minutes before fly up is primetime. Let’s say it is 30 minutes before fly up and you make a series of yelps and a gobbler answers off in the distance. I might hit him right back with a series of excited cutts followed by silence. More than likely, he will come to inspect. If he comes in, but not in shooting range, sit still and watch them fly up into their roost trees. Then you know where to go in the morning. One thing to keep in mind while hunting Merriam’s turkeys is that they typically like to roost on a ridgeline or at least where there is a contour break. The birds like to walk uphill from their roost tree and then coast horizontally into the branch.

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Photos credit Jay Scott

This tactic helps them conserve energy by less flying. Sometimes you can roost turkeys without hearing them gobble by just listening for the ruckus of their wings flapping when they fly up.

9. WHEN THE EVENING HUNT DOES NOT PRODUCE A ROOSTED GOBBLER FOR THE NEXT MORNING

There are several options for the following morning hunt. Option one, go into an area where you have heard gobblers before and sit tight. Listen at prime time for gobblers in the area. If you can move while it is still dark, then pursue them. If not, wait until they hit the ground and sneak in close to them. The second option is to cover as much country as possible in hopes of hearing a roosted bird. This can be done either on foot or in a vehicle. Wake up extra early and drive to an area where you have seen or heard turkeys. Stop every half a mile and blow your peacock or coyote howler. Make sure you pull off the road before trying your locator call. I can’t tell you how many times I have stopped in the middle of the road in the dark and blown my howler and a gobbler answers close but now the truck has to be started and moved off of the road. It almost always ruins your chances on the bird. Instead, if you pull over first before calling, you can slip into the roost position without being detected.

10. ALWAYS TRY AND GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO A GOBBLER BEFORE CALLING TO HIM

If you spot a gobbler with your binoculars, try and move in very close to him without being detected. I try to get within at least 100 yards or closer if the terrain and vegetation will allow it prior to making my first call. Your success goes up ten fold if you practice this method.

11. THE CADENCE OF YOUR CALLING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE TONE AND SOUND OF YOUR CALL

This is one opinion of mine that others may strongly debate, but I noticed a big difference in my success when a friend of mine showed me the correct cadence to my hen yelps.

He told me I sounded decent but my rhythm was off. As soon as I changed my rhythm and cadence it was like a light switched on and the gobblers became way more consistently responsive to my calling. The key is to listen to the hens and focus on the cadence or timing/rhythm of their call.

12. POSITION YOUR DECOYS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE FROM THE HUNTER ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF WHERE THE GOBBLER WILL COME Decoys can be a huge asset if you use them correctly. On the flip side, decoys can hurt you if they are positioned on the wrong side of where you want the birds to end up. An example of the correct way to set them up is the following: If the gobbler answers your calls to your left, then it would be best to set the decoys out to your right about 25 yards away. In this case, the bird will come to your call but when he gets close he will see the decoys and walk right by you on the way to the decoys to your right. Remember when the gobbler gets close to remain silent and very still because he will be really looking for the turkey he heard. He should then spot the decoys. You will then be able to have a clear shot as he focuses on the decoys. These tips have helped me harvest many turkeys for me and for clients in many different states. Turkey hunting can be extremely frustrating and challenging at times, but if you stay persistent and employ these tactics, you may have a more successful hunt. Check out my Gould’s turkey hunts website for more information at http://gouldsturkeyhunt.blogspot.com

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Kirchner

PATIENCE KILLS

By Josh Kirchner

Originally published at GOHUNT.com

“The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.” What you just read is the definition of the word patience. It’s the attribute that fills more tags each year than any piece of gear in existence. Often, it’s the difference between blowing an opportunity and a heavy pack out. Patience isn’t something that we all just have endless amounts of though. Some have tons of it and others scrape the bottom of the barrel for it. Impatience is much more prevalent. The instant gratification lives we live feed that impatience. Yet, I do believe patience is something that can be learned, especially through the bits of positive reinforcement that comes from hunting success. Fighting through impatience is a battle most hunters deal with. I assure you: it can be beat.

PRE-SEASON ANTICIPATION

IS THERE REALLY NOTHING THERE?

Just this past January, I had a killer backpack Coues deer hunt with a great friend of mine. The amount of deer that we saw was just plain silly. “Tripping over deer” is how we described it. Shortly after that great hunt, I sent another great friend of mine in there, assuring him there were loads of deer. After backpacking in there for a few days, he came back to tell me there were minimal deer in the area. I was shocked to hear this. My response was to join him back there for a few days to see these “minimal deer” for myself.

Upon my arrival, there were magically deer everywhere. This friend is a fantastic hunter and far from a newbie. His issue, though, was impatience behind the glass.

Once I started pointing out deer after deer, he said, “I guess I wasn’t looking hard enough.” He was glassing too fast. The point here is that impatience often causes us to walk away from opportunities that are sitting right in front of us.

We don’t know what we don’t know and we won’t know if a spot is good until we give it a fair shot. The only way to do that is to let things materialize and be there to witness them.

THE SHOT

Assuming that you are anything like me, I’m going to guess that the upcoming hunting season is something that fills your jar of anticipation to an all time high. These trips only come around a few times or even once a year for some. So, the fact that we get excited about them is completely understandable. That very excitement/anticipation can have a way of skewing our patience once we do get in the field. Beforehand, getting ready for a hunt seems like a mad dash because we’re so pumped to get out there. Running through checklists, grabbing groceries, finishing up home projects, etc. It’s a lot before setting off into the mountains. That seemingly never ending and fast way of life is not the mindset we want to bring to the hills. We need to slow down because life out there is just different. It isn’t a hustle and bustle every day. It’s a take your time and go with the flow type of situation. I’m as passionate of a hunter as they come, but once in camp, it’s time to slow down and shake the city off. A tempo change is in order in the name of patience.

I lay in bed at night thinking about things like releasing a perfect arrow. From walking myself through the motions of a stalk to feeling that shot break, it’s a full-on dreaming with my eyes open scenario. Whether you consider yourself a bloodthirsty hunter or not, if you’ve got a tag in your pocket, you’re out there for a reason that spans past pretty sunsets. We all want to get that opportunity and make a great shot. This is a very intense moment, though, right? Everything we’ve worked for before the season and during is standing right in front of us. With all of that pressure, it’s no wonder that many choke under it. I’ve certainly been there myself, wanting it so badly that I end up rushing a shot and inevitably screwing up. While these are intense moments, we’ve usually got much more time than we think. So, soak it up. Revel in the opportunity you’ve created for yourself and let things happen how they may. There are definitely times that we need to be aggressive, but we also need to wait for that right shot. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be right. Pulling a trigger out of desperation or worry that the animal is going to disappear on you is not a good place to be. Breathe, take your time and be a good hunter.

All photos credit Josh

TOUGH BLOOD TRAILS

Once you’ve made the shot, if that animal hasn’t fallen in eyesight, it’s time to blood trail. When an animal is hit well, blood trailing is pretty straightforward. It’s when the shot is less than ideal that things get tricky. This can be an agonizing process and I truly believe that this is where many hunters fall victim to impatience, give up and cut their losses. If there was ever a time to truly slow way the heck down, it’s now. That might mean getting down on all fours and looking for any speck of blood that is hiding on the backside of a rock, leaf, etc. Something that I’ve found helpful here to fight impatience is taking a break. Sit down and eat something. Hitting the trail again with a slightly new perspective is often what’s needed when all feels lost. The amount of times I’ve been able to pick a blood trail back up by doing this is more times than I can count. We owe it to ourselves and the animal to give it everything we’ve got in these tough situations. Impatience is simply not welcomed here.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

A couple years back, I found myself standing above a group of rutting Coues deer late in the evening. I was within bow range, but the only problem was, I didn’t have a visual upon my arrival. Knowing that they were there, I simply just waited from above.

Eventually, a doe popped out feeding from behind a juniper and the buck followed. Suddenly, there was one less arrow in my quiver. Had I fell victim to my impatience, I would have pushed right down into the area where the deer were and probably blew them out by getting too close. Patience won the day that evening. At the end of the road, we all get a little impatient from time to time. Whether that’s at work or in the mountains, it hits us all in different degrees. Managing that impatience is what it’s all about and recognizing when we’re being too hasty will speak volumes. Patience kills.

Davenport Angler Reels In A New State-Record Lake Whitefish

The Washington Department Of Fish And Wildlife https://wdfw.wa.gov

The first state record fish of 2023 was caught in a north-central Washington lake.

A Davenport angler made quite the surprising catch while fishing for walleye at Lake Roosevelt on the afternoon of Feb. 11.

Gavin Boggs, who spends a lot of time fishing at Lake Roosevelt — a vast impoundment stretching more than 150 miles from Grand Coulee Dam into Canada — was out with his college buddy near the Lincoln boat launch when he hooked something very big and heavy.

“I was targeting walleye at a depth of around 75 feet using a four-inch swimbait [a lure often used for walleye and bass], and it was a pretty tough day on the water,” said Boggs, who is a junior at Gonzaga University. “We did mark a lot of fish on the fish-finder and had caught one walleye before this big fish took my lure.”

Boggs whose family has a place at Seven Bays toward the southern end of Lake Roosevelt, fought the fish for just a couple minutes, and it didn’t pull a lot of line off his reel although he knew it was rather heavy from the bend of his fishing rod.

“As soon as I hooked it, I thought it was a big walleye,” he said. “I carefully let the fish do its thing down below the boat and then when it came to the surface and we netted the fish, I was totally surprised. I’ve never targeted lake whitefish in Lake Roosevelt. It is my favorite place to fish for smallmouth bass and walleye, and this has changed my mind about fishing for lake whitefish.”

It was getting late in the day, but the duo returned to the boat ramp and Gavin texted his father Tony Boggs, who did some research on lake whitefish and figured his son could potentially have landed a record-sized fish.

Boggs immediately iced the fish in a cooler and drove from Seven Bays to Davenport Family Foods, where an official scale verified the weight as 7.86 pounds. The store owner, a friend of the Boggs family, stayed late just so Gavin could have it officially weighed.

Gavin then took the fish to the WDFW Spokane regional office on Feb. 14 where WDFW Biologist Danny Garrett helped with the paperwork and verification process. The new state-record lake whitefish is 26.25 inches long with a girth of 16 inches and was signed off as the new official record on Feb. 17.

The old state record weighed 7.50 pounds and was caught Feb. 19, 2021, by Jacob White at Cox Lake in Franklin County. “My dad raised me with a fishing pole in my hand and my brothers and I have pretty much fished our whole lives,” said Gavin, who plans to have the fish mounted. He said former record-holder White even reached out to him on Facebook to “pass the torch.”

The large lake whitefish caught in Lake Roosevelt comes as

Gavin Boggs of Davenport with the new state-record lake whitefish he caught in Lake Roosevelt on Feb. 11. Photo courtesy WDFG

INSTRUCTIONS

Smoking the Salmon

Preheat the smoker to 450. Add your favorite wood for fish, I prefer a fruit wood such as cherry. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and onion powders, ground ginger, and mirin. Massage the soy sauce mixture into the salmon, taking care to coat all the fish’s surface.

Place salmon skin side down on smoker.

Smoke for thirty minutes for a two and half to three inch thick piece of fish. Smoker time will vary depending on fish thickness. (I set a timer for 22 minutes and began checking the salmon for “doneness” at this time every few minutes.)

Salmon Nachos Recipe

A 12 Gauge Girl www.huntingandcooking.com

Wonton Chips

Fill a ceramic dutch oven, or whatever heavy bottomed pot you have on hand, and add enough oil to be about two inches deep.

S

moked salmon piled high over light and airy wonton chips, acidic and sweet seaweed salad, crunchy cucumbers, creamy avocado, and finished with a spicy mayo and sweet soy sauce.

INGREDIENTS

Salmon Nachos Ingredients

2-3 pound slab salmon, skin-on

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 tablespoons mirin

Wonton wrappers

Vegetable, canola, or avocado oil for deep frying

Seaweed salad, pre-made

2 Avocados

1 Cucumber

Bunch green onions

Spicy Mayo Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons sriracha

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar

Sweet Soy Sauce Ingredients

1/2 cup mirin

4 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons vodka

1/2 cup soy sauce

You need a high heat oil, such as vegetable or canola, for frying.

Heat the oil over medium high heat until it reaches 360 degrees.

Place three to four chips in the hot oil and let cook for about one minute. Flip and let them finish on the second side for about thirty seconds

Place the cooked chips on a paper towel to drain

Spicy Mayo

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar.

Sweet Soy Sauce

In a small sauce pan, bring to a gentle boil the mirin, sugar and vodka.

Cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add the soy sauce and reduce to a simmer. Reduce sauce for five to seven minutes, until just starting to thicken.

Compiling the Salmon Nachos

To a bowl add a handful of the wonton chips. Add about a half cup of seaweed salad, some thinly sliced cucumbers, and some diced avocados. Flake the smoked salmon into bite size pieces and add about a cup on top of the seaweed salad. Top with diced green onions.

Drizzle a few tablespoons each of the spicy mayo and the sweet soy sauce. Dig in!

Photo credit a 12 Gauge Girl www.huntingandcooking.com

Where To Catch Sturgeon:

Rivers, Lakes & Oceans By US Region

By Chase Fly Outdoor Empire www.outdoorempire.com

Sturgeon are popular fish to go after because of their massive size and because they produce caviar, which is a delicacy around the world. But the survival of the mysterious and prehistoric-looking fish has been threatened by decreased habitat and commercial fishing over time.

Thanks to conservation efforts, however, sturgeon have found refuge in many areas around the United States.

There are generally a lot of regulations and restrictions around sturgeon fishing. Short seasons, barbless hooks, and wet release requirements are a few of the rules you’ll need to commit to before attempting to reel in a dinosaur.

For the most part sturgeon fishing will be catch and release only, though a very limited harvest in some states. But that doesn’t make it any less fun.

Sturgeon fishing can be done both legally and responsibly. But first you need to know where to catch sturgeon.

Most sturgeon are anadromous, meaning they spawn in freshwater and migrate to saltwater. In North America, sturgeon primarily live in freshwater lakes or rivers. Deep rivers of the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region generally offer the best sturgeon fishing opportunities in the US.

We have compiled a helpful list of where you can find and fish for sturgeon throughout the US. We have broken it up into three main areas: Pacific Northwest, Midwest & Great Lakes, and Other Areas in the US.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Pacific Northwest

Some of the best sturgeon fishing in North America is found along the Columbia River, and its estuaries, in Oregon and Washington.

The white sturgeon, found along the West Coast, is the largest freshwater fish in North America.

It is the largest sturgeon that you can catch, reaching lengths of 10-20 feet. They can weigh in at up to a whopping 2000 pounds. However, most are under 10 feet and weigh around 500 pounds.

You have many options to choose from when it comes to sturgeon fishing in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and beyond. Here we outline the best spots. Remember to check the regulations and current rules before you head out on a fishing trip.

Columbia River Estuary

The Columbia River is probably the best-known area for sturgeon fishing. And the Columbia River Estuary is thick with food for these beasts, so it has sturgeon all year round. But the most popular time to fish for them is during the late spring and early summer when the numbers are high and seasons open.

Here are a few spots to try:

Astoria: There’s an area off the northwest shore of Astoria called Desdemona Sands. It’s a shallow area north of the deep shipping channel.

Baker Bay: There are other shallow spots in this bay, near Chinook and Ilwaco, that are great for catching sturgeon and aren’t as challenging to get to. Be sure you are mindful of other fishermen and be especially careful to stay out of the shipping channel and away from the big ships. They have the right-of-way and you should give them a wide berth.

(continued next page)

Photos courtesy Outdoor Empire

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Where To Catch Sturgeon: Rivers, Lakes & Oceans

By US Region

Near Portland

(continued from page 17)

If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area and want to get out sturgeon fishing, there are a lot of great areas to do so. Be prepared to have some crowds since you’re so close to two major cities. But this can be a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and try to find a dinosaur.

•Government Island, on the Washington side of the island

•Kelly Point Park area, at the mouth of the Willamette River

•Sauvie Island, on the tip of the island near Warrior Rock

•Scappoose Bay

•St. Helens

There are sturgeon in these areas year-round, but it’s best to fish for them during the colder and wetter months of November through March.

Snake River

There are certain portions of the Snake River that are best for sturgeon fishing.

Southern Idaho: According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the best sturgeon fishing in the state is in and around C.J. Strike Reservoir. This 65-mile stretch of the Snake River is some of the best sturgeon fishing in the state.

Bonneville Dam Area

The Bonneville Dam, on the Columbia River, has been a very popular site for sturgeon fishing for a long time. Due to the falling population, sturgeon fishing has become very heavily regulated in this area. Be sure to check the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife site (https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/ columbia-zone) for updated rules and regulations.

Sturgeon fishing is only open for catch and release in this area, but don’t let that stop you. Fighting one of these huge fish is a rite of passage and a ton of fun. There are only certain dates and times it’s open, so check the website and book a trip.

Upper Columbia River

Portions of the Columbia River above the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington have opened to sturgeon fishing in recent years. This area is open under emergency regulations, so you will need to check fishing regulations regularly to be sure you are in compliance.

For the 2022 fishing season, this area was open from Grand Coulee Dam to China Bend Boat Ramp. It was declared open from June 18-September 30, 2022. Check for announcements (https://wdfw.wa.gov/ fishing/regulations/emergency-rules) regarding the 2023 season for white sturgeon.

Between The Bliss Dam And The Upper

End Of C.J. Strike Reservoir

In Southern Idaho.” – IDFG

North/Central Idaho: Hells Canyon has produced some of the biggest sturgeon caught in Idaho. The most popular areas are between the Hells Canyon Dam in western Idaho down to Lower Granite Dam in eastern Washington.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Midwest & Great Lakes

Like many areas of the US, commercial fishing and habitat loss lead to a decline in the population of sturgeon. With conservation efforts, numbers are now rebounding and sturgeon are returning to their native waters.

The midwestern US and Great Lakes regions have seen a great rebound in their sturgeon numbers. While this is a very large area, we have outlined a few spots for you to go find that monster sturgeon of your dreams.

You can have some success in the Greak Lakes, but you will see your opportunities increase the farther north you go. The more you can fish upriver, the more likely you will succeed.

The Rainy River

With the right gear and patience, anglers can find Lake Sturgeon in various spots in Minnesota. Some of the most successful areas are:

•The Rainy River

•4 Mile Bay

•Lake of the Woods

In any of these areas, it’s best to fish in deep holes in the river. Position yourself just upstream from the hole to try to snag the sturgeon as they swim up current to feed.

“The Healthiest Populations Of White Sturgeon Remaining In Idaho Are Found In The Free-Flowing Stretch Of The Snake River

The St. Croix River

This is a popular spot for Anglers in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN area. Just 20 minutes east of St. Paul will get you into some great fishing spots on the river.

The season opens in June, but the fishing won’t be great until the temperature starts to cool off. When the fall temperatures of around 70 degrees Fahrenheit kick in, you know it’s time to head to the river.

Where to Catch Sturgeon: Other Areas of the US

We have listed some of the areas with the largest sturgeon populations. But this is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are some additional areas you could look into if you’re looking to fish for sturgeon closer to where you live.

•Missouri River

•Upper, Mid- and Lower-Mississippi River

•Mississippi Delta

•Gulf Coast

•San Francisco Bay Area, California

Commission Approves Fishing Regulation Change For Paddlefish

In The Lower Yellowstone River

MFWP https://fwp.mt.gov

During its meeting on Feb. 22, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a new regulation that prohibits snagging of paddlefish within the intake fish bypass channel on the Yellowstone River.

The intake fish bypass channel is part of a Yellowstone River intake diversion dam project. The project’s objectives are to improve upstream and downstream fish passage for pallid sturgeon and other native species, including paddlefish, while maintaining water diversions into the lower Yellowstone project main canal.

Snagging for paddlefish is very popular in the lower Yellowstone and can lead to high concentrations of anglers targeting paddlefish during spawning migrations. Since it is not yet fully understood how the fish bypass channel will influence fish movements and angler behavior, the department proposed closing the bypass channel to snagging to avoid any unintentional catch of migrating pallid sturgeon and other native species.

Closing the bypass to snagging could also reduce potential conflicts between paddlefish anglers and FWP monitoring crews. The bypass channel will remain open for passage by boats and for angling by other methods.

Conclusion

Sturgeon fishing is a thrill of a lifetime. These monsters will give you a run for your money. If you are able to reel one in, you will have a souvenir photo like none other.

Regulations vary widely depending on where you go, the time of year, and the type of sturgeon. So, be sure to check with the local fish and game office before you head out.

PAS SIO NATE

Your Montana Toyota dealers are in their support of the outdoors, and groups such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with its mission to conserve wildlife habitat and open space.

2023 RAV4 HYBRID WOODLAND EDITION Get ready to expand your territory.

The RAV4 Hybrid Woodland Edition joins the lineup and lets you bring the comfort of the indoors while freely roaming the great outdoors. From camping by the lake to running errands around town, RAV4 is ready to maximize sport with utility. So jump in to

HAB I TAT STE WAR DSH IP

For hunters, anglers and others who enjoy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything. Quality habitat means quality wildlife.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation does not look to just conserve wild landscapes for the benefit of elk, other wildlife and hunters, it also looks to maintain and improve habitat. Dating back to 2020, RMEF volunteers gathered annually to remove four and a half miles of defunct wire off the landscape from the old Milwaukee Road electric rail line along the Hiawatha Trail, an extremely popular bike trail destination along the MontanaIdaho border. The wire is a deadly miles-long snare for elk and other wildlife. Volunteer crews removed the wire while dealing with steep terrain and thick vegetation. So far, workers found two bull elk that died after having their antlers tangled in the wire. The fourth annual Hiawatha Trail Wire Pull is tentatively scheduled for July 6-7. 2023.

HI AWATH A TRAIL

LOCATION

In the Northern Rocky Mountains seven miles from Lookout Pass and about 12 miles east of Wallace, Idaho, in the rugged Bitterroot Mountains between Montana and Idaho

The project hosts its fourth work outing in the summer of 2023 to continue to improve passage for elk and other wildlife

Photo: John Hafner

Photo: John Hafner

23 For 2023: Make This Your Best Fishing Year Ever

Rapala www.rapala.com

To help get this year off to a great start, our team of fishing nerds and geeks put our heads together to create the Top 23 lures, jigs and line that you need to make this your best…year…ever!

1. Rapala® Jigging Rap®

It’s not just for ice fishing! The Jigging Rap is also highly effective on open water for deep water vertical jigging.

2. Rapala® DT® (Dives To) Series

When you see fish hovering at a specific depth, kinda getting there won’t cut it. This is where the DT series excels – DT lures are designed to hit a specific depth and stay there, and put the lure right in front of a fish.

4. Blue Fox® Classic Vibrax®

Bass, pike, musky, trout, crappie, walleye…there may be no more versatile, multispecies lure than a Classic Vibrax featuring its legendary Vibrax bell that drives fish to bite.

3. Rapala® Original Floating®

This is the lure that started it all. And, 87 years later, it’s still the best-selling lure in the world and Rapala VMC’s No. 1 seller. You will never go wrong with a No. 11 Original Floating Rapala in either Silver or Gold. They catch everything.

5. Rapala® Rippin’ Rap® Series

The Rippin’ Rap features a lipless, deep belly profile designed to crank, swim and rip. Its tall, skinny body design creates an irresistible flutter on the drop and hard vibrating action on fast and slow retrieves. Featuring a loud, distinctive BB rattle, this lure drives bass crazy.

6. VMC® Neon Moon Eye Jig

VMC redefined the traditional aspirin-shaped jig head with 3-D holographic eyes to create the illusion of a wider profile while adding realism. Featuring a VMC® Premium high-carbon steel hook and a wide range of colors including UV Bright finishes that means more fish in your boat.

7. Rapala® Shad Rap®

It’s the crankbait by which all others are measured. The ultimate multi-species bait. Constructed with premium balsa, the Shad Rap is just as effective at casting or trolling. Hand-tuned and tank-tested for perfection right out of the box. It’s a must-have. Your 2023 will be much, much more fun when you use Shad Rap lures.

Neutral buoyancy allows the lure to suspend on pause in retrieve while an internal rattle chamber creates loud and rhythmic attraction.

8. Rapala® X-Rap®

The X-Rap is all about the action. Fish it using an aggressive slashbait technique or reel it back slowly to produce a classic Rapala wobble. Stop it, and watch it rise. The angler defines the cadence for maximum effectiveness. Loaded with features from tip to tail, a textured translucent body, internal holographic foil, an internal long-cast system, 3D holographic eyes, flash foil teaser tails, and more.

12. Rapala® Countdown®

Sinking at a consistent rate of one foot per second, the CountDown® allows you to easily target specific depths repeatedly. Whether the fish are suspended, at the weed tops or holding on bottom structure, the CountDown® can get you to them consistently. Trolled or cast, this weighted balsa lure swims with a slow-rolling Rapala action. Outfitted with VMC® black nickel hooks, each lure is hand-tuned and tank-tested to swim perfectly right out of the box.

9. Rapala® Husky Jerk®

Perfectly balanced, the Husky Jerk is the perfect jerkbait and that’s why it’s a favorite of anglers worldwide, year after year. It can be cast or trolled at any speed and still run true. The rattle chamber transmits sound waves that amplify through the water.

13. Storm® Largo Shad®

Originally developed for saltwater fishing, tournament bass pros discovered how great the Largo Shad catches big bass. Swims on both retrieve and free fall with an enticing slow body roll and exaggerated tail swing, its paddle tail creates a huge thump that drives bass crazy. Grooved at the top and bottom for a weedless hook rigging option, the Largo Shad offers a number of unique rigging options.

10. Sufix® 832 Advanced Superline®

Sufix offers many lines for many situations, but if you had to go with just one, then go with 832 Advanced Superline. It is simply the strongest, most durable small-diameter braid on the market.

14. Rapala® Jointed Shad Rap®

If you love the Shad Rap, you’re going to love the Jointed Shad Rap, too. It features a wide swimming jointed action with a loud rhythmic rattle that mimics and exaggerates the action of a wounded baitfish. It’s just too much for fish to resist. Another must-have for 2023.

11. Rapala® Down Deep Husky Jerk®

When it’s time to reach fish deep down, turn to the Deep Down Husky Jerk. With an oversized deep diving lip, the Down Deep Husky Jerk reaches depths of 20 feet when trolled and will run up to 10 feet deep when cast and retrieved.

15.

The Ned Rig Jig offers the perfect distance from the keeper to the jig head, which allows the plastic to remain in place on the hook shank by collapsing tightly in that area creating superior holding power.

(continued on page 38)

VMC® Ned Rig Jig

How Close Is Close Enough?

By Tom Cooper

I

n between hunting seasons, one of my outdoors hiking expectations is to spot elk and snap a few photos. The challenge, as with anything involving elk, is can I plan and execute stalks as close as possible, take my pictures, then slink away, without disturbing the elk? Slinking away is not the hardest part physically; leaving elk, that probably just became some of my closest personal friends, can be emotionally draining. Of course, for every positive adventure, there will be two, three, probably four instances when I see elk, but they are seriously aware something is not right, followed very quickly by them changing locations, usually by one or two counties.

Elk in a group feed, stand, and lie down looking in different directions. Pretty sure it’s a conscious effort, refined over the last 100,000 years. Anyway, sneaking close to one elk is easier than sneaking close to 20 eyes, 20 ears, and 10 noses (if you’re counting, that’s 10 elk). The odds are pretty much against you. Although practice should help, I’m not so sure because I continue to alert far more elk than I calm.

I’ve found every elk adventure is different.

Just because my adventure today resulted in pictures of two bull elk in velvet at 75 yards, does not assure me of any such success tomorrow. I don’t believe I do what I do for practice anyway, I just want more elk adventures. I guess that means, I do what I do for entertainment.

Camera, Small and Lightweight

My digital camera is a small “shirt pocket” version. A strap fits around my neck, and the camera resides in my shirt pocket. It is easy to find when animals show, I grab the strap at my neck and pull. Don’t button your shirt pocket, it causes a lot of unneeded frustration. My camera has a few basic configurations, and I mostly stay on one of the pre-set modes. It’s labeled “automatic”. Bottom line is I don’t enjoy searching menus to search a list for different settings, and I’m pretty sure I don’t understand most options anyway. Over the years, I’ve used zooms from 5 to 30 power.

While I like higher zooms, I can’t hold a camera steady enough to take advantage of a zoom over about 10 power. My cardiologist calls it tremors, to me it’s just annoying. In the meantime, I added bolt studs to the top of my walking sticks.

This allows me to remove the camera from my neck and screw it onto my stick, which is considerably more stable than I am. I also stick (get it?) by a rule that says do not place the camera onto the stick, until I see an elk. Attaching to my stick before seeing elk, assures no elk for the day!

Here’s My Story

Ok, how close is close enough? I am about to describe my closest non-hunting encounter. No, it’s not the two cows that wanted to share a game trail with me. There wasn’t a passing lane or a turn lane; I just moved off the trail and they proceeded right on by like I really wasn’t five feet away. And it isn’t about the velvety spike who walked up to a ground blind, looked in, and detecting nothing of value to an elk (yes, that means me), slowly walked away.

Photos credit Tom Cooper

Tom’s walking stick showing bolt stub used to attach camera. Top picture shows bolt cap.

It was just a Saturday morning hike in late May. New green grass was everywhere, some sparkling from a perfect combination of sunrise and a little morning dew. I followed an old mining road trace up a shallow ridge. Recognizing the trace made a turn to the right, I knew the hillside to the left curved around the ridge into less timber. I wouldn’t call it a meadow, but it was open with considerable new green grass amongst the trees. Deciding to leave the road and look for elk on this south facing ridge seemed obvious; why was I waiting? Proceeding slowly, I began my hike around the ridge. In less than 100 yards, I spotted two elk, both cows, 75 yards away feeding on new vegetation. Dropping to my knees to reduce the elk’s ability to see a full-size two-legged human, it was clear these two had not heard, smelled, or seen me. There was a very slight breeze, and it was in my face. Feeding appeared to be their primary concern.

Another thing was in my favor, the Sun. By now, it was 45 minutes after sunrise, and these elk were looking directly into the Sun to me, not something elk like to do. I covered the first 20 yards by moving from tree to tree when both elk were feeding. Because the elk seemed close, I took a couple pictures. I crawled on hands and knees for the next 15 yards, watching elk eyes, before moving. I took a couple more pictures. Then, I spotted a small deadfall tree (12 inches in diameter) ahead of me, maybe another 10-15 yards. With the log as my goal, I crawled flat out on my chest and stomach, gaining two to three yards at a time. With each stop, I raised my head enough to look beyond the log to check my elk, then continued my crawl.

Where’s the Spare Battery?

After reaching the log, my next peek revealed both elk were feeding toward me. I guessed they were 12-15 yards away. It was time for pictures. Turning on my camera, I didn’t recognize that little beep. Looking at the screen, it said “low battery”, then the camera shut off.

First, oh so very calmly (I wish), I quietly unbuckled my pack, quietly dragged it right under my nose, quietly unzipped the main compartment, and finally, quietly stirred the contents until I found my spare battery. Another peek over the log suggested I was quiet enough. My quarry had separated a bit, the farthest cow was probably 10 yards; the close cow was less than 20 feet! Oh my, I get a little giddy just reading about it.

Setting the camera on the log, I found elk on the screen and collected a couple more shots. Deciding to check these pictures to verify I was getting decent photos, I placed the camera under my nose, looked at 2 or 3 pictures on the screen; they seemed ok, but not great. Once more I peeked over the log. Now the farthest cow was just 6-7 yards away and a bit uphill from me. The close cow was (gasp) no more than 10 feet from my log. As I tried to focus on how to hold the camera above the log without my head or arms drawing attention, I felt a shadow move across me. Feeling a shadow is not comfortable, but when it happens, get ready quickly. Rotating my head to see if I could figure out this shadow thing, I halted because there was an elk nose, two eyes, and two ears looking over my log. Madam elk was two-three feet from my nose to hers, straight up! Apparently she wanted to help with my pictures. I stopped, rotated the camera still on the ground, and clicked a few shots, hoping for the best, but mostly finding blue sky. It was like today’s “selfies”, except this event occurred 20 years ago, and I didn’t end up with a picture of both of us.

I know we maintained our relative positions for at least a minute. The only real difference between us was she was breathing, I was not. Then, she simply went back to eating grass on her side of the log. I could hear her teeth crunching, chopping, and clicking. She was a noisy eater. When I next looked over the log, both elk had strolled up the hill, still nibbling green grass. As they headed toward thicker brush, I left my log to crawl back from whence I came. Finally standing behind a mature tree, I watched them disappear, undisturbed into the timber.

Answer is Obvious

So, I had an answer to the question: how close is close enough? The answer is a two parter. Zero feet between me and an elk is in fact “close enough”. However, zero feet is also too close for comfort or common sense. When a large wild animal is breathing on you, and you’re on the ground, there is no wiggle room. If something startles the elk, there won’t be time to yell, make that scream, and forget about running away. My satisfaction came with slinking away, without alerting my two new friends. I suspect they thought I was close enough too.

Common DIY Bear Hunting Mistakes

By Jake Horton

Originally published at GOHUNT.com

The unpredictable weather, steep slopes, unforgiven terrain and wary animals can make the West a tough place to hunt anything. Bears are one of those animals that can be a great hunt in both the spring and the fall, but can also be super hard to hunt — even for the most experienced hunter. After all, they are a nocturnal animal that hibernates for a large portion of the year. During the rest of the year, they prefer the solitude of dense timbered forest where they scrounge and hunt for their food throughout the night. As a hunter, the spring is the best time to be chasing bears even though the fall has the most bear seasons in most states. However, a DIY hunter can make a lot of mistakes that will keep them from notching their tag. If you can make some changes and find ways not to make these five errors, you will be in a better position to take home a nice trophy and a freezer full of meat.

Wrong elevation

The single most challenging part of hunting bears in the West is finding them whenever you are hunting them. They are nocturnal omnivores that can eat pretty much anything on the mountain; they are also elevation-dependent. Which is why GOHUNT’s Terrain Analysis Tool is perfect for finding spring bear spots! I mean that bears will change elevation frequently and the elevation they are at can dictate their behavior. Bears that are at higher elevations will hibernate earlier and for longer since their weather gets colder sooner and their food source has a shorter growing window. Bears at higher elevations are also prone to dropping in elevation to the greener areas, especially in the spring when they leave their den. If you are not in the correct elevation, you will see fewer bears or possibly none while someone who is hunting in the correct elevation may see a ton of bears. Look for green areas, bear signs and constantly changing your elevation to help you get into more bears and be more successful.

Poor glassing points

When it comes to spot and stalk bear hunting, there is nothing more important than finding bears; however, the next most important thing is to find killable bears. Time and time again, I have seen hunters — including myself — find the perfect bear habitat with an excellent green south-facing slope. There may be multiple bears visiting that slope; however, if you cannot see or shoot from your glassing point, then you might as well be in a different spot. You also need to pay attention to the direction you are facing. Bears are most active at first and last light, so if you are glassing into the sun during these times, you may just miss a sighting or a shot opportunity. The wind direction is also essential. Time and time again, I have seen bears hundreds of yards away put their nose in the air and run away after smelling a hunter. The wind in the upper portion of the drainages can be unpredictable.

But if you can put yourself in a favorable wind, you have a better chance not to blow out a basin and make a good stalk within range.

Overestimation of shooting ability

When it comes to e-scouting and bear hunting in general, it is easy to underestimate the size of a basin. This is why I highly recommend that e-scouters use a measuring tool that will show the straight line or shooting distance from a proposed glassing point to the area you think that you will find bears. The GOHUNT 3D map has a great tool that you can use to do this. This will help you understand whether you can shoot across the basin or not. If you cannot, then you can determine how you would hunt the area if it’s possible and, if it is, how you can easily get to a closer shooting spot undetected after spotting a bear. I find that many hunters — especially those who are not familiar with hunting in the mountains — often think they can shoot farther than they can. I have glassed up numerous animals that look to be in range only to see that they are more than 1,000 yards from my current location. Do not overestimate your shooting ability. Instead, find a way to cut the distance to something more lethal.

Rushing the opportunity

Bears — especially in the spring — can become creatures of habit. If they have a green slope that they enjoy, wild berries or a herd of elk that are about to calf, they will frequent that spot repeatedly. If you are hunting an area and see a bear, slow down and do not rush the opportunity. Take a few minutes to plan the stalk, plan the wind and plan for the bear to do something unexpected. It is better not to rush the opportunity and bump the bear. If, for whatever reason, you can not get close to the bear, that is okay. Simply plan to be there the next day around the same time. There is a good chance the bear will be following a similar routine. Of course, other variables such as hunting pressure can affect this, but this is usually a great way to go.

Poor shot placement

Bears are large animals with good size vitals; however, many hunters place poor shots on them. This is primarily because their black fur hides the back of their front leg, which has hunters shooting at a black blob instead of the vitals. This is also because many hunters take shots that are too long on bears and hit them poorly. Either way, this is not the way to fill a tag. This is why a hunter who wishes to kill a bear ethically should be at close enough range to see the crease behind the front leg where the vitals are and then execute a well-placed shot. If you cannot do that, then you would be better off not taking the shot.

Hunting bears can become an annual tradition in the spring and fall, especially in the West. Bears are prevalent in numerous states. There are readily available tags and hunting them can be a blast. Some hunters choose to bivy camp while others day hike from trailheads — all with success. If you get out into the mountains in a place with good bear numbers, cover a lot of ground and glass up good territory, you should be able to find bears. If you do this and don’t make any of the mistakes mentioned above, you have a great chance of coming home with a bear.

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The Best Hunting Zero Technique?

Maximum Point Blank Range

(continued from page 5)

A difference of 50 fps can result in an MPBR reading difference of 6 yards, which doesn’t render the calculation ineffectual but does add up.

Ballistic Coefficient (and Drag Function)

You must also know your specific projectile’s ballistic coefficient (BC). This measurement of the bullet’s shape helps shooters estimate the bullet’s ability to buck the wind. It’s complicated to calculate and changes based on the bullet’s velocity.

Thankfully, you can just get this off your bullet manufacturer’s website with little fuss.

Another factor, the drag function, also affects the calculations. It has to do with the bullet’s shape, such as the ogive’s shape (curved point) and the boat tail’s angle.

If the bullet maker shares this information, it’ll be a G followed by a number. G1 is the most common, though you’ll likely notice G7 on some very low-drag bullets.

Some manufacturers, such as Hornady, give you several BCs and specify which drag function to use. Make sure to match the BC to the drag function.

Don’t see a drag function?

Just use G1. It’s the most popular.

Sighting In Your Rifle with the Maximum Point Blank Range Zero Technique Step-by-Step

1. Write down the results from the calculator and keep the info with you as you go to the range.

2. Bring a target that’s good for sighting in rifles. I like to use those with 1″ squares so I don’t have to measure how far away my bullets hit.

3. If this is your first time sighting in your rifle, then you will need to bore sight your rifle to get on paper before you throw lead down range. Otherwise, head to the shooting range!

4. Look at those three numbers, the Near Zero, Far Zero, and 100 yards Sight-in. Which one is the closest to an easy-to-use round number? Choose the most convenient of the three and set up a target at that distance. This is likely the Near Zero or the 100-yard Sight-in. For either the Near Zero or the Far Zero, you want the bullet hole to be at the exact point of aim. For the 100-yard Sight-in, you want the point of impact to be the calculated distance above (or maybe below) the point of aim.

5. Aim at the bullseye and shoot slow, controlled groups. I start with three-shot groups at first, then five-shot groups when I’m confirming that the rifle is sighted in.

6. Shoot a group, observe the results, adjust your sights, and repeat until you’re on target.

7. Now, test your rifle at various ranges.

You’ll hit below the bullseye up to your Near Zero, above it until the Far Zero, and below it past there, all the while staying in your target area.

Congratulations! You’re ready to hunt with full confidence in your ability to deliver a one-shot kill.

Example Maximum Point Blank Range Zero Calculations

While it’s best to enter information specific to your rifle and ammunition into the calculator, here are a few example calculations based on common hunting calibers.

Remington 700 Chambered in .270 Winchester

Putting

it All Together and Calculating Maximum Point Blank Range

Now here’s the part you’ve been dreading: Doing the math.

Just kidding!

You can use an online calculator (https://shooterscalculator. com/point-blank-range.php) to figure out your MPBR.

Choose your drag function and enter the measurements you picked out above.

If you’re feeling spicy, you can click the box to enable atmospheric correction, though this will have a minor effect on your final results.

Click “Calculate Point Blank Range” and you’ll have five numbers:

1. Near Zero

2. Far Zero

3. Minimum PBR

4. Maximum PBR

5. Sight-in at 100 yds

Maximum PBR will give you the farthest you can engage your target and still make a kill shot, provided you do your part well.

Near Zero, Far Zero, and Sight-in at 100 yds give you what you need to sight in your rifle for the Maximum Point Blank Range zero.

.270 Winchester is a venerable cartridge that’s effective against almost every game animal in North America. Many Remington 700s are chambered in .270, making this a rather common combo.

Out of a 24″ barrel, Hornady’s American Whitetail 140 gr InterLock bullet has an initial velocity of 2,940 fps with a ballistic coefficient of .486 and a G1 draft factor.

The average Remington 700 scope’s height over bore is 1.68″.

We’ll use a deer’s vitals for our target size.

This gives you a Near Zero of 26 yards, Far Zero of 281 yards, and MPBR of 330 yards. The bullet will hit 3.2″ high at 100 yards...

Your Average .308 Winchester Hunting Rifle

Open up most ballistic programs and you’ll find a 1.5″ scope height as standard. Grab a bolt-action rifle with a not-huge scope, or even some semi-auto rifles, and that will match up close enough.

Load up that .308 rifle with some Hornady American Whitetail 165 gr InterLocks and you have a fine hunting rifle. How does its MPBR hold up, though?

Use a velocity of 2,700 fps, .435 BC (G1 draft factor), and point the rifle at a large deer or small sheep for a target size of 12″.

You’ll get a Near Zero of 17 yards, Far Zero of 299 yards, and MPBR of 352 yards!

That .30-cal bullet will hit 4.8″ high at 100 yards.

This sounds high, but the Maximum Point Blank Range is working as intended. You’ll hit high out to almost 300 yards, but never more than 6″ high!

When to Use Other Hunting Zero Techniques

As much as I like using the Maximum Point Blank Range zero for hunting small and large game, it’s not perfect for every situation.

You may always hunt at the same known distance, such as from a hunting stand to the edge of a field. This will let you sight in your rifle so your point of aim and point of impact intersect at exactly that distance.

On the other hand, people who are hunting at very long ranges won’t see any benefit from using MPBR. It’s only useful for that indicated maximum distance. Then afterward, you’ll have to calculate bullet drop.

You might as well sight in that firearm with a more convenient zero.

And if you’re only going to shoot at paper or steel targets at specific ranges, then you’ll want the precision of a more specific zero. Especially when in a shooting competition where accuracy matters.

Also, the MPBR zero is designed for fixed elevation sights or sights where it’s a pain to adjust the elevation. If you have sights that are designed to be adjusted to compensate for range, then using an MPBR zero will muddy the calculations.

Examples are some high-end scopes and AR-15 iron sights with the elevation drum. Sight those in as recommended by the manufacturer and you won’t need to use the MPBR zero!

Conclusion

Calculating your Maximum Point Blank Range will give you several zeros you can use to dial in your rifle for hunting at various ranges.

Best of all, you won’t need any range measuring or elevation adjustment. Aim at the center of your prey’s vital zone and fire. You’ll hit right where you need to hit!

This is perfect for hunting in situations where that pesky deer can show up 50 yards away or 200. It’s also good for smaller targets.

Even some 3-gun shooters can take advantage of the technique.

Most of my hunting rifles are zeroed according to their Maximum Point Blank Range.

How do you zero your hunting rifles?

Are Mornings Really That Bad For Spring Bear Hunting?

By Josh Kirchner

Originally published at GOHUNT.com

Throughout life, you hear all sorts of myths that float about. Stuff like if a penny was dropped from the top of the empire state building and it landed on someone, it would kill that someone. This has been debunked. The penny might hurt, but it isn’t going to kill anyone. Another one is lightning never strikes the same place twice. That is far from correct as lightning often does strike the same place twice. In the case of hunting, there are those who say herd bulls can’t be called in, but this is proved wrong every year. Spring bear seasons are right around the corner and there is a common myth that comes along with it. It has been said by more than one person that spring bear hunting in the morning is bad and a waste of time. Bear hunting is an evening thing they say. There is no doubt that hunting bears in the evening is good, but the fact that mornings are bad? That my friends is a falsehood.

A BEAR’S BEHAVIOR

Bears have an excellent memory and will often return to the same seasonal feeding sights year after year. I’ve personally witnessed the same bears in the same areas during certain times of the season. Bears that I saw in previous years there. From both trail camera pics and my own glassing, they were most active in the mornings and evenings.

TIME AND DATE ARE ACCURATE

How active a bear is throughout the day is going to depend on what stage of the spring season we’re in. During the earlier/middle parts of spring, bears are heavily focused on trying to find food. They will be doing this during the first hour of light, on and off throughout the day bedding in between feeds, and then again the last few hours of daylight. At this time, they are very patternable. If you see a bear feeding in a chute in the middle of the day, chances are you’ll see that bear again that evening in the same chute. Now, when we fast forward to the later spring and get into the rut, bears are active on and off all day long. It’s similar to the deer rut. You never know when a buck is going to run out chasing a doe. The same can be said for bears. A boar’s desire to breed will toss predictability out the window. Breeding season is a tough season to nail down a bear. So, generally when you see a good bear, you need to make a move. Seeing them again later that day is up in the air.

SHOULD I HUNT BEARS IN THE MORNING?

How a bear moves throughout the year is a direct reflection of two things: their motivation for food and, in the case of boars, their motivation to breed. Bears wake up and generally will stay fairly close to their dens right out of the gate, venturing out for a stretch and to check on food availability here and there. As the temperatures warm and the snow melts, they’ll travel farther from their dens in search of food.

Now that we’ve taken a look at bear behavior a little, we are left with a question. Despite what myths float around the hunting world, should you hunt bears in the morning? I feel this is a rather silly question to be honest and forgive me if I’ve offended any of you diehard bear hunters by thinking that. Sorry, I meant to say “knowing that.” What I’ve experienced and close friends of mine (bear guides) have experienced only intensifies the silliness of the question. All of us each year witness bears walking around in the morning during the springtime. If you aren’t out looking in the morning, though, you aren’t going to see them. It is no secret that bears are most active at first and last light — no matter if we’re talking spring or fall. That is just the way of the bear and many other species out there. Countless biological studies have been done on the behaviors of bears. To go against that is, I’ll say it again, silly. So, yes. If you have a morning to get out and bear hunt, then by all means make it happen. You’d be doing yourself a disservice by not going hunting. Is it better than the evening, though?

All photos credit Josh Kirchner

Based upon biological studies conducted in Idaho, bears showed major peaks of activity from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and then again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This study was done from March through May as well as from June through October.

ARE MORNINGS BETTER THAN EVENINGS?

Commission Approves Fishing Regulation Change For

Holter Reservoir

MFWP https://fwp.mt.gov

New regulation increases possession limit for yellow perch

HELENA – FWP’s Fish and Wildlife Commission has adopted a new regulation for yellow perch in Holter Reservoir near Helena.

Effective immediately, the new regulation is 25 perch daily and 50 in possession.

Previous regulations allowed both a daily and possession limit of 25 perch.

We’ve established by both experience and biological fact that spring bears are indeed active in the morning. And if we can see them, we can hunt them. They don’t disappear into thin air during the morning hours. Is pursuing bears in the morning more fruitful than the evening though? I think that depends on a few things. First off, does a person even have evenings available to hunt? If they don’t, then the answer is a hard yes. The exact opposite is also true. If someone only has evenings available to hunt, then those are going to be more productive obviously. I also think there is a lack of motivation to get up early and hunt spring bears in the morning. Folks are late to glassing spots, busy making coffee and, in turn, aren’t hunting as hard. Spring bear in general is looked at as a lazy type of hunt. I’ve heard it called a laid back hunt actually. Why get up early to glass when we can sleep in, have a nice breakfast, hang out in camp and just hit the hills fresh in the evening? So, it’s easy to see why mornings get thrown to the wayside. Naturally, if more people are out bear hunting in the evening, we’re going to hear more success stories about evenings. I’m not going to say either is better than the other because there are too many variables.

THE BEST TIME TO HUNT BEARS

If we lay out an entire day and create hot and cold zones for spring bear activity, it would look something like this. First light would be mild, followed by mid morning being hot. Middle of the day would be a little cooler than mild with evening returning to hot again. This is based off of what I’ve personally seen and others in my circle have seen. It’s really easy to hear these “rules”or myths that people throw out there about things and have them affect our decision making down the road. To hear that bear hunting in the morning isn’t good and have someone not go bear hunting then because of that is sad. Use your own judgment and create your own rules. Create your own best time to bear hunt whether that is at first light or the last part of the day. They’re there. The best time to bear hunt is when you can go out and bear hunt. Bottom line: go bear hunting.

Perch numbers in Holter Reservoir have increased over the past few years. The Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan guides Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to maximize fishing opportunities when yellow perch abundance increases above goal objectives in the plan. This is now the case with perch, and the rationale behind the regulation change.

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Hunting & Conservation News

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Hunt Expo Raises Nearly $14 Million For Conservation

Mule Deer Foundation https://muledeer.org

2023 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Closes After Record-Breaking Tag Sales and Attendance Raise Nearly $14 million for Conservation

The 2023 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed on February 5 after four busy days with packed halls of people walking the 544 booths on more than 511,000 square feet of the Salt Palace Convention Center exhibit halls in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most notably, the event once again shattered records raising nearly $14 million from show passes, auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers. Hosted by the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo has become one of the most important conservation fundraising and consumer hunting events in the country.

“To be part of this Western Hunting & Conservation Expo—to be in the room when two different mule deer tags sold for the most ever for auction tags—and to know that those funds will go back down on the ground for conservation was truly something special,” commented Mule Deer Foundation President/CEO, Joel Pedersen. “I’m proud of the hard work of all those who made this year’s Expo such a success and to know that we have created a can’t-miss event for passionate hunters and the entire outdoor industry.”

The 2023 Hunt Expo evening events once again raised significant funds for conservation efforts. The Thursday night Super Banquet engaged a crowd of 1,100 people in games and drawings, and the Friday and Saturday auctions attracted sold-out crowds of nearly 2,000 people each night. Perhaps most remarkable were the many record-breaking tag sales at the Friday and Saturday evening banquets including the two highest ever prices for conservation auction tags. Friday, February 3, Utah’s Antelope Island Mule Deer Tag sold for $500,000, making it the highest selling conservation tag in history, but that record stood for less than 24 hours when the Arizona Statewide Mule Deer Tag sold for $725,000 the next night.

Also noteworthy was the Texas desert bighorn tag sold at Expo for the first time that brought $175,000—well more than it has ever sold for before. The Alberta, Canada Minister’s Special Elk and Deer Licenses sold for $85,000 and $225,000, respectively. It’s important to note that most of the sale price for the auction tags goes directly back to the state and provincial wildlife agencies to use for habitat projects to benefit the species. For example, 100% of the Arizona tag is used by Arizona Game and Fish for mule deer conservation projects and 90% of the Texas bighorn tag will be used in their bighorn sheep program. In addition, most states have a comparable tag available for draw that allows all hunters to have the chance at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Evening entertainment at the banquets included American Idol runner up Hunter Girl on Thursday night, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Robert Bonnie and Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha on Friday night, and music by Ned LeDoux on Saturday night.

“This year’s Western Hunting & Conservation Expo broke nearly every record on the books,” said Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife.

“Attendees, exhibitors, and the rest of us were absolutely blown away at the energy and excitement that emanated from this year’s show. There’s nothing like it in the hunting industry, which is also proven by attendees who travel from virtually every state in the union and beyond to participate. We are already looking forward to making it even bigger and better next year.”

The 2024 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 15 to 18 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Stay tuned to the WHCE website at www.huntexpo.com to plan your travel to next year’s event.

Hunt Expo visitors were greeted with an abundance of taxidermy, stoking the dreams of thousands of attendees.

Photo courtesy Mule Deer Foundation https://muledeer.org

Rod And Reel Setups For Fly Fishing High Alpine Lakes

By Zach Lazzari Budge’s Wilderness Lodge www.budgeslodge.com

Hitting the high country gives you access to stunning wilderness areas and wild trout that rarely see anglers. Chasing fish in the backcountry is one of the most rewarding wilderness experiences an angler can enjoy. The gear for fly fishing high alpine lakes is relatively simple but it’s important to have an adequate setup to avoid frustrations.

Here are a few recommendations for rod and reel setups on high alpine lakes:

Packability is Key

Accessing the backcountry means you are riding horses or hiking to reach remote areas. On our guided and semi-guided fly fishing trips, we use packhorses and mules for backcountry travel. Choosing a rod and reel that packs down easily is important on the trail.

Two-piece fly rods are very difficult to pack on horses, so we ask that our guests do not bring two-piece rods. They are also more cumbersome when hiking. They tend to protrude at a high level and will catch on branches and be a bit awkward when walking through brush and around obstacles.

Four-piece fly rods in a hard case are ideal. Cases with a reel space are nice but not necessary as you can always store your reels and extra fishing gear in your daypack.

Rod & Reels vs Tenkara

The rise in popularity with Tenkara style fishing in the backcountry opens a new door for anglers. Tenkara rods essentially eliminate the reel and are extremely easy to pack along. They work well on small backcountry creeks where casting distance is not necessary.

However, we’d recommend a fly rod and reel setup for high alpine lakes. Long casts are often necessary and windy conditions can be expected anytime. Plus, some backcountry fish can really grow and it’s nice having a drag and extra line to play them effectively.

Tenkara is a great option when space is limited however. If you’re packing for a hunt and can’t afford much in the way of fishing gear, a Tenkara setup and a few flies will get the job done.

For most backcountry situations that we encounter, your allaround 9-foot 5-weight fly rod will be the ticket. If you want a lake-specific rod, then a 6-weight or even 7-weight rod can be nice for throwing streamers and for battling windy conditions. And a rod in a 9’ 6” or even 10’ length is excellent for lake fishing. That extra length also helps when casting in windy conditions. But it’s also nice to have the extra reach when fishing from a float tube or when using an indicator rig.

Fly Line Considerations

The line plays a very important role on lakes. In some backcountry situations, you may be frequently roll casting or working with trees and rocks that limit the backcast. A weight forward line is ideal for generating power and shooting line on shorter casting strokes.

A floating line will handle most situations, but it helps to have an intermediate sinking line along as well. When the fish are down deep, you can let the line sink and find their level. When we’re fishing for lake trout, that full-intermediate line is a great thing to have.

The alternative to carrying a separate spool or reel is a sinking leader like the Rio Versileader. This essentially makes your full-floating line into a sink tip.

Contact Us With Questions

If you have questions or need help preparing for a backcountry fly fishing trip, please don’t hesitate to ask. You can find our packing list with suggested gear on our Guest Info Page (https://www.budgeslodge.com/guest-information). Or contact us with questions at (970) 536-1341: CALL or TEXT, Lodge (Satellite): (970) 422-1311 (Jul-Oct) or email howdy@budgeslodge.com. We’d love to help you plan an unforgettable Colorado fly fishing adventure!

Photo credit Ryan McSparran

Photo credit Ryan Lee

Photo credit Ryan McSparran

Why You Should Shoot A 3D Archery Match This Summer

Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

ElkShape’s Dan Staton Explains How Competition Makes You A Better Bowhunter.

Twenty-plus years of bowhunting has taught me: Murphy’s law has a not-so-discreet way of perversely sabotaging hunts. A broadhead slices your bowstring. A D-loop snaps when you’re drawing on a bull at close-range. Or maybe you accidentally run over your bow at basecamp. I’ve actually done that twice.

When you’re miles from home (and the nearest pro shop), rest assured anything that can go wrong probably will.

That’s why doing my best to mitigate Murphy is always at the top of my summer to-do list. And one of the best ways I’ve learned to do that is to regularly test my equipment (and nerve) by competing at local 3D shoots.

PERFORMING UNDER PRESSURE

Local shoots can be a great opportunity to lace up your hunting boots, don your chest rig, strap on your backpack, and go shoot foam with some trustworthy peers.

To take it a step further, among our group there’s always a few friendly wagers and intense trash talking, which adds a degree of shooting pressure you just can’t recreate when shooting solo in your backyard.

Wear the gear you plan to use in the field. Shoot from varying distances, shot angles, and see how your equipment performs.

If you’re lucky, you’ll come across some steep uphill, downhill, and sidehill scenarios that will test your shooting mechanics and third-axis on your bow sight—a minuscule adjustment that can make or break your left and right impacts if you don’t have it dialed.

LUCK FAVORS THE PREPARED

We have a saying at ElkShape: Separation is in the preparation.

It’s a reminder that there’s always something we can be doing to get ready for the fall. Shooting summer 3D matches is one of those things you can do to build confidence in your shooting skills and the equipment you rely on in the field.

So, in the name of better elk hunting, get a local 3D shoot on your calendar. Whether you go to a big tournament or a smaller, local event, wear your gear and put some money on the line to add a form of stress inoculation that a backyard shooting session can never accomplish.

When you want to take the best-of-the-best to the next level. Enter the Razor UHD. The Ultra High Definition optical design features an improved optical prescription and unparalleled image resolution. Whether you need to pick apart a densely packed hillside, or observe the finest details at insanely close distances, the Razor UHD can do it all!

23 For 2023: Make This Your Best Fishing Year Ever

(continued from page 23)

16. Rapala® OG Slim® 6

Born from the sawdust in Ott DeFoe’s Garage, the Rapala OG Slim 6 is a flat-sided balsa bait with a medium wobble and tight side-to-side action. Designed by Rapala tournament bass pro Ott DeFoe, the OG Slim 6 features a lightweight circuit board lip that is extremely thin yet strong enough to provide a sensitive feel of bottom structure. A modern-day classic.

20.

A saltwater classic! The massive diving lip takes the X-Rap® Magnums deep… unassisted. Nothing to hinder the action. Built saltwater tough, each dives to its preset depth…the XRMag10 dives to 10 feet, the XRM15 dives to 15 feet, etc. Big water patterns compliment the X-Rap construction standards – textured translucent body, internal holographic foil, 3D holographic eyes.

17. Luhr-Jensen® Krocodile®

The Krocodile spoon operates on a simple premise: big fish eat smaller fish. Year in and year out, the Krocodile proves itself to be the most productive spoon ever built. It can be cast and retrieved, jigged over structure, or trolled.

21.

This VMC® upgraded version of the traditional Aspirin-shaped heads provides added control. 3-D holographic eyes create the illusion of a wider profile while adding realism. Assembled with a VMC® Premium high-carbon steel hook with top-of-the-line black nickel finish. The wide range of colors includes UV Bright finish colors that guarantee you catch more fish in all water conditions.

18. VMC® Bucktail Jig

The oval-shaped head design of the BKJ Bucktail Jig provides added control and balance for a variety of techniques, while the bucktail hair of the lure maintains its shape offering a larger profile presentation.

Building on the success of the OG Slim 6, the Rapala OG Tiny 4 is a thin, flat-sided balsa bait with a tight wobble and finesse-like action. Developed by Rapala bass pro, Ott DeFoe, the lure’s thin design and lightweight circuit board lip moves less water and provide a sensitive feel of the bottom structure. Tie one on for hours of bassing fun!

19. Rapala® Scatter Rap® Minnow

Baitfish skitter and scatter when they are pursued by predators – this erratic and evasive action triggers the strike. Made of balsa, with a custom Scatter Lip, the Scatter Rap Minnow consistently swims with an erratic and evasive sweeping action – perfectly mimicking vulnerable baitfish. Cast or trolled, it is the perfect choice for any species of gamefish.

When it’s time to go down deep for walleye and bass, tie on a Deep Tail Dancer. This deep-diving, banana-style body balsa lure swims in a pronounced wide tail action without sacrificing the classic Rapala® “wounded-minnow” attraction. The Deep Tail Dancer® features an enlarged, extreme diving lip that plummets the lure as deep as 30 feet unassisted, getting this bait down where the big ones lie during the mid-summer and early fall months.

Rapala® X-Rap Magnum®

VMC® Moontail Jig

22. Rapala® OG Tiny® 4

23. Rapala® Deep Tail Dancer®

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