Western Hunting & Fishing News December 2022 Issue

HUNTING & F ISHING

Photos credit Caribou Gear www.caribougear.com

5 Important Keys To Planning A DIY Alaska Moose Hunt

By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com

Each person in the party needs to be involved. Throughout these planning meetings, responsibilities should be divided up, so that one person isn’t doing all the work.

“The planning stages of the trip will require a lot of research like finding a place to hunt and contacting bush plane pilots,” Ted explained. “Then, the partners or the group will need to share gear responsibilities, shipping costs and so on.”

Then perhaps most importantly, the hunting partners must look out for each other in the field. Your hunting partners should be people you can rely on, and also people with whom you are compatible. “If you forget to drink enough water or if you’re not feeling well, your buddies may need to recognize when it’s time to stop for a break and re-energize,” Ted explained.

A successful DIY hunting trip to Alaska begins with a good team.

2. Plan Your DIY Alaska Moose Hunt in Reverse

Ted recommends that you begin by finding a place to hunt and a bush plane to get you there. Then, work your way backwards, finding a local flight from Anchorage or Fairbanks, and then finally your airfare to one of those cities from home.

ADIY

Alaska moose hunt? Yes! Many hunters in the lower 48 are surprised to learn that it’s possible to hunt moose in Alaska without a guide. In fact, you can hunt moose, caribou, black bear and wolf (plus small game and fishing of course) on your own.

The logistics are crazy. It’s a ton of work. And it takes a great deal of planning. But after decades of doing his own DIY trips to Alaska, Caribou Gear founder Ted Ramirez will tell you that it’s all worth it. Every trip is the trip of a lifetime!

It should go without saying that planning a trip to Alaska is a big undertaking – and this article couldn’t possibly include all the detail that goes into it. Our intention here is not to provide an instruction manual. Our goal is to share some of Ted’s wisdom on the subject. If you’re interested in planning a DIY Alaska hunt, what are some important things to consider? What are some of the big keys to making it a success?

Planning your own DIY Alaska moose hunt is possible. We sat down with Ted to talk about some of the most critical keys to success. Here’s what he had to say…

1. Find Yourself A Reliable Team

According to Ted, a DIY moose hunt in Alaska requires teamwork. The first thing you need is a partner or a few partners that you can rely on. The logistics of hunting in Alaska are easiest with an even number. So start with either two or four people. Either way, these must be people you can count on.

The teamwork begins as soon as you commit to going. Once the team is committed, everyone needs to pull their own weight. Ted recommends having regular meetings leading up to the trip.

Ted shared an example of someone he knew, who once planned an Alaska hunt, only to discover that he couldn’t get a bush plane pilot to fly him out to where he needed to go. He had to burn his moose tag and couldn’t go on the hunt.

The point is, don’t plan a hunt you can’t access. Start with the hunt location and the bush plane. Communicate clearly with the pilot and make sure he is able to take you where you need to go. Only then, can you begin planning the rest of the trip to get there.

3.

Know the Alaska Rules and Regulations Inside and Out

One of the most difficult parts of planning a DIY hunting trip to Alaska is sorting through all the different rules and hunting regulations.

Ted explained that each hunting unit in Alaska has different season dates and different regulations. Even within a single hunting unit, the regulations might vary from one river or one drainage to another. Some rivers or parts of a unit might be closed to hunting – or the season dates might be different. (continued on page 36)

Steaks

*tenderloin or back strap cut into two inch thick steaks (1 per person)

*bacon (one slice per steak)

*salt and pepper to taste

Horseradish Crust

*one stick unsalted butter

*two tablespoons horseradish...

*3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

*one cup panko bread crumbs

*salt to taste

Horseradish Sauce*

*half cup sour cream

*half cup mayonnaise

*tablespoon wasabi horseradish

Begin by preparing horseradish crusts. Combine softened butter, horseradish, parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs, and salt. Form into 1/4 inch disks and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Prepare steaks by seasoning with salt and pepper and wrapping in bacon. Let rest at room temperature for up to thirty minutes. Prepare the dipping sauce by combining sour cream, mayonnaise, and wasabi horseradish. Preheat broiler on high and a pan on the stove top on medium high heat. Once pan is preheated, place steak on side in order to cook bacon. Cook bacon for thirty seconds, and then rotate meat. Perform this three more times, for a total cook time of two minutes. Sear steak for three minutes and flip to second side for additional three minutes. Place chilled horseradish crust on top of steaks and place entire pan in oven broiler for up to two minutes, or until crust is bubbly and golden brown. Serve with horseradish dipping sauce.

Make The Most Of The Season’s First Ice-Fishing Opportunities

St. Croix Rods https://stcroixrods.com

In

northern climates, long rods and long casts will soon give way to hardened surfaces and vertical presentations with short sticks as impassioned anglers try to pull a host of fish species through holes in the ice. But simple sticks they’re not. Growing numbers of ice anglers expect to take full advantage of new materials, improved ergonomics, advanced construction methods, and ice-specific componentry to give them the upper hand in their personal hardwater pursuits. More than ever, fishing tools that deliver more success and more enjoyable on-ice experiences are in demand. Technique-specific custom ice rods like St. Croix’s hyper performance Croix Custom Ice (CCI) Series have increased the ice IQ of anglers across the Ice Belt, offering presentation and species-driven lengths, powers, and actions that simply make better tools for any given task. But even as high-tech options far surpassing the overly whippy, rug-beater ice rods of old abound, anglers demand some middle ground, too. This is where St. Croix Rod – the family-owned, American company that’s been handcrafting the Best Rods on Earth® for nearly 75 years – upholds its promise to anglers, offering no less than 49 distinct ice rod models across five different series to meet the specific performance goals and budgets of anyone who wants to experience more success or have more fun while ice fishing. No doubt, that’s a lot of options, but first ice is often all about having such options. Enter legendary fishing guide, Rob Manthei of St. Germain, Wisconsin. Manthei needs little introduction to those in musky circles; he is widely regarded to be among the best musky anglers, not just in a specific geographic area or time period, but one of the best ever. What many don’t know, however, is that Rob also has a deep-rooted passion for ice fishing for walleyes and panfish.

Break Line and Deep Option ‘Eyes

Early in the season, Manthei primarily fishes first-break weed lines to target aggressively feeding walleyes. “We can fish multiple lines here, so it’s nice to set up a tip-up or two to monitor an area, but we catch most of our early fish by actively jigging,” he says. “The fishing can get tougher as the season drags on, so I really focus on that first streak of good ice.” Simple 1/16-to-1/8-ounce spoons tipped with either a minnow head or complete minnow fit the shallower depth range and size profile that hungry walleyes are looking for this time of year. “Good green weeds are definitely one of the keys here,” adds Manthei, who takes note of the best weed beds during the late stages of his open-water fishing and returns to them at first ice.

Photo

Photo courtesy St. Croix Rods https://stcroixrods.com

DOWNTOWN 321 We’ve Got You Covered Wherever You Go.

Fuller Avenue NORTH MONTANA 3030 North Montana Avenue H.O.M.E.

North Montana Avenue EAST

Snow While Hunting: Friend Or Foe?

By Jake Horton Originally published at GOHUNT.com

Whether

you are hunting Arizona, Idaho or anywhere in between, it is possible — and often likely — that the high country gets snow as early as September and as late as June. Snow has a lot of benefits when it comes to hunting, but also some disadvantages. If you can plan to use the benefits to your advantage and overcome the disadvantages you can be more successful during any season for any animal you are hunting. Overall, the most important thing is to be in the mountains hunting if you want to harvest deer, elk or other animals, which makes understanding the good, the bad and how to benefit from snow in all situations important. This knowledge and experience will help make you the best big game hunter you can be and get the most out of your limited days afield.

The good

When it comes to snow, there are three main ways that we can obviously benefit from it being on the ground.

The first way is animal visibility even in the thickest of terrain. Wild animals blend in excellently with the brown terrain and, without snow, they are difficult to spot.

When we get even the lightest coating of snow on the ground, animals seem to pop out to our eyes. Whenever I start glassing with snow I can see animals with my naked eye — even at long distances.

The second way that snow benefits us is by being able to see animal tracks in it. Whether we are trying to dog a moving herd or just trying to determine what elevation the animals are calling home, snow helps. Snow even allows us to tell the difference between a big buck track and a doe or a big bull elk track or a cow. This type of information can help us get closer to harvesting big game and, specifically, bucks and bulls.

Brady Miller hunting in the snow. Photo credit Luke Dusenbury

Snow can be an obvious benefit, but also has a lot of negatives when it comes to hunting that we need to keep in mind. Planning for snow appropriately will make us better hunters and have better experiences. The first obstacle that snow can create is travel restrictions. Whether we are driving or hiking, snow that is too deep can create a dangerous and tiring adventure for us. Having good tires, chains or an ATV can help us navigate snow and ice-covered roads safely to reach our spots. Having good waterproof and insulated boots or, even, snow shoes can allow you to hike further with warmer feet. Always having some extra boots and a boot dryer at the truck can also give you dry feet the next morning, which is crucial to a long day afield.

Snow can also create visibility problems for us. Sometimes this visibility restriction is from an active snowstorm. If we are trying to stalk or stick with a herd at a close distance, snow can help; however, if we are trying to glass, it can really restrict our visibility. Even on a sunny day, the sun reflecting on the snow can create a situation that is too bright and straining on the eyes. Bringing sunglasses may keep you from squinting all day and getting a headache. Another common snow-related problem is wetness. Whenever glassing when there is snow on the ground, a glassing stool (like a Hillsound BTR Stool or a glassing pad like the StHealhy Hunter or Therm-A-Rest Z Seat), small tarp or waterproof pants can keep your pants and butt from getting wet and cold — even after sitting and glassing for a long time. A good pair of gaiters can also keep your ankles from getting wet and keep your boots dry, too.

Overall, hunting in the snow can be a prime time to find and harvest animals in the West. They often go to feed earlier and are active on south-facing slopes where the snow is the shallowest. The animals are more visible, easier to track and recover, which makes your overall success rate better. As long as you plan to have trouble driving and hiking, stay as dry and warm as possible and bring backup equipment and clothing, you should be in a good position this hunting season. Many people do not like to hunt in the snow, which creates less competition. Animals like deer and elk are used to the winter and will often stay in places they feel safe — even if there is a foot or two of snow on the ground. Be there and make an opportunity count on a bull or buck that is holding tight to some late-season high country.

Remember, a great tool such as our Terrain Analysis tool on GOHUNT Maps is key for locating areas where you might find animals on late-season hunts.

Learn more about how to use this tool to your advantage below: https://www.gohunt.com/content/insider/maps/analyzingterrain-to-find-better-mule-deer-hunting-areas

Photo credit Chris Neville

All photos credit Anthony Wright

The Back Bar Benefit When Bowhunting

By Anthony Wright Originally published at GOHUNT.com

In 2018, at a Total Archery Challenge event, I was introduced to a small, family-orientated archery company: Shrewd Archery. Prior to speaking with them, I was what you consider a “back bar basher.” I was under the impression that I was good enough without one, that they were for target archers only, that they were cumbersome, etc. I was naive, but willing to listen to what Shrewd Archery had to say about a back bar setup given that they specialize in high-end stabilizers. They offered a setup for me to try for the next course I was going to shoot, which at Big Sky, had plenty of sloping shots to offer. I was shocked with the results — enough to never go back to a single bar setup.

Increased stability

The first benefit that stuck out to me was the stability at full draw. During my old draw cycle, I would always feel like I was inducing torque to get stable.

Once I added the back bar, I immediately felt the need to torque eliminated.

I could really see the added stability shooting in windier conditions given to the increase in weight. Initially, it can feel cumbersome, but with familiarity and repetition, that feeling subsides. Last season, I started utilizing the eight-degree offset, which drops the front bar downward. I felt it helps and can reduce how much weight you use on the front bar to get the same effect due to the angle. Another great option is the Last Chance Archery Multi-Angle Mount. It enables you to go from zero to 20 degrees with the same bar so you can find the angle that suits you best.

Quick leveling

This was one of the most apparent benefits to adding a back bar. On flat ground, you can definitely see the difference, but once you start shooting off slopes, you can really see the change in just how easy it is to make your bubble level in the shot process. Once you have tuned your bar setup with the correct weights and angles at full draw, your bow naturally goes to plumb.

The expedited leveling, if you will, eliminated a lot of human-induced torque and led to very clean shots, especially when stretching out to farther distances.

Tip: Take the additional time to perfect the weight setups on both the front bar and the rear bar for your setup. This will pay off in the long run once you start shooting off of slopes.

Micro tuning

The setup that I currently use has numbers/lines for indexing. This helps when setting up your bars for initial setup and for other configurations you may shoot in such as those times when you take your quiver off.

Finding the perfect angle both vertically and horizontally for your rear bar in either configuration is key.

One thing I like to do, so I know what numbers to use, is make index marks with a silver sharpie on the back bar mount: one with quiver installed and another with quiver removed. Don’t forget to carry the proper Allen key so you can adjust on the fly if needed.

Along with the indexing portion, you can micro-tune the weight you add to each bar by using either aluminum weights, stainless weight or a combination of both. This once again enables you to find that “Goldilocks” zone of stability.

Many style offerings

Shrewd Archery has a plethora of styles for everyone’s taste. They have a wide variety of bar diameters, lengths and weights. I personally like the Rev-X line. The Rev-X line features internal dampening, slim-line bar diameter and multiple lengths. The GOHUNT Gear Shop also offers a variety of brands to suit your needs from brands, disconnects, bars and weights. Check them out here (https://shop.gohunt.com/ collections/stabilizers).

Overall, I don’t believe you can go wrong in adding a back bar — unless you are going for a super light setup, then I could see why maybe a back bar isn’t for you. Otherwise, I believe every archer who hasn’t tried one should. There are many positive benefits to utilizing one in the field that I’ve found outweighs any negatives that I have come up with. Many may debate that the back bar gets in the way in the elk woods, but I haven’t seen that to be the case — even in dense timber.

3 Reasons Why You Missed That Shot

Vortex Nation Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

We’ve

all been there.

You’re at the range or in the field. Shooting a gun, optic, and load you know. You squeeze the trigger, break what feels like a decent shot, and then … nothing No ringing steel, no hole in the paper, or, even worse, a spooked animal running to safety as fast as the echo of your missed shot. You hang your head and wonder, “How the heck did I miss?”

While it seems like a simple question, figuring out why you missed can drive even seasoned shooters crazy. And, while there can be issues with your gun and your optic, it usually boils down to user error. Here are three reasons you missed, and some ideas on how to get back on target.

1. YOU’RE NEW.

Many issues boil down to one simple fact: It takes a lot of practice to learn your shot and your weapon. In fact, the more you shoot, the better you get at calling your own shots, which just means being able to not only tell if you hit or missed at the trigger break, but why.

When you’re just starting out—and this goes for all shooting disciplines, from action shooting pistols to getting that 6.5 dialed for elk—each shot can feel like chaos. There’s a violent explosion, one that jars all of your senses, and you’re just focused on the absolute basics.

As you get more experience under your belt, what seemed like chaos becomes nothing more than your sights rising and falling, or resettling behind your optic. Experience will help you understand the process of each shot, and you’ll get a feel for why you missed.

As you work on getting some serious hours in at the range, here’s what you can do now to help learn from your misses: -Work with more experienced shooters. Often, they can diagnose your problem, and help you identify ways to fix it. -Use an app. Apps like Coach’s Eye allow you to record yourself, then play the action back in slow motion for yourself, or for someone with more experience. -Make sure you’re taking full advantage of range time. Set yourself up for success by using the same ammo and following a consistent routine so you can more easily rule out issues.

(continued on page 29)

Photo courtesy Vortex Optics www.vortexoptics.com

Where To Go Upland Bird Hunting

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

One of the biggest problems hunters face, and it’s especially true for those who are new to the sport, is finding productive places to hunt. If you’re looking for spots to hunt upland birds, here are some suggestions.

During the hunting seasons 2007 through 2011, Washington hunters harvested about 102,000 forest grouse, 98,500 quail, 62,000 pheasants, 11,500 chukar and 5,300 gray partridge a year. While both quail and forest grouse are available in a majority of Washington counties, chukar, gray partridge and (wild) pheasants are not, so a good place to start searching for hunting opportunities is to determine what regions of the state produce the highest harvests of the bird or birds you’re looking to hunt.

Grant County is the state’s top pheasant producer, averaging 12,000 birds harvested annually. Whitman County hunters harvested about 9,700 ring-necks a year over the past five years, followed by Walla Walla (7,100), Yakima (6,600) and Franklin (4,600) counties.

The best forest grouse hunting is found in the northeastern and north-central part of the state. Okanogan County led the way in grouse harvests over the past five years, with hunters taking more than 14,600 grouse a year. Stevens County was second at 13,300, followed by Ferry County at 8,300, Pend Oreille County at 5,400, and Western Washington’s Grays Harbor County at nearly 5,300.

Yakima County doesn’t have much competition as the best place in the state to hunt quail. Hunters there harvested an average of 25,000 quail annually over the past five years, nearly double the 13,000 birds taken in Grant County each year. Chelan County quail hunters averaged 8,900 quail a year, Okanogan County 8,800 and Douglas County 7,300.

As for the best places to pursue chukar partridge, five counties stand alone atop the list. Asotin, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas and Yakima counties each produced an average of 1,500 to 1,700 chukars a year from 2007 through 2011.

Gray (Hungarian) partridge aren’t as abundant as the other upland species pursued by Washington hunters, but the best counties to look for them (and their average annual harvest over the past five years) are Grant (666), Whitman (642), Asotin (631), Okanogan (569) and Columbia (474).

The complete five-year-average upland bird harvest figures for all Washington counties are listed in the Washington State Migratory Waterfowl & Upland Game Seasons pamphlet: (https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/ migratory-waterfowl-upland-game).

The state’s public lands offer a variety of upland bird hunting options, including WDFW wildlife areas. The 192,000-acre Columbia Basin Wildlife Area, for example, includes over a dozen units, most of them offering good hunting opportunities for pheasant, quail and other upland species. Although much smaller, the Sunnyside/Snake River Wildlife Area and many of its 18 units are also worth investigating. The wildlife areas west of the Cascades also provide some upland bird hunting possibilities, both for forest grouse and for released pheasants.

WDFW releases pheasants in over 50 locations throughout the state, about half of them in Western Washington and half on the east side of the Cascades. Many of these pheasant release sites are in our state’s wildlife areas. Release site descriptions and driving directions are available on the Places to go hunting page (https://wdfw. wa.gov/hunting/locations).

Upland bird hunting opportunities also abound on several of the Northwest’s National Wildlife Refuges and on properties managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Many of the state’s best upland bird hunting opportunities are found on private land. In Washington, hunters must obtain landowner permission to hunt on private land, but the Department of Fish and Wildlife is working with hundreds of landowners to help acquire permission. The WDFW private lands access program has over 600 landowner cooperators and over 1.2 million acres of private land under agreement in eastern and western Washington. Those programs are:

Feel Free to Hunt: Private lands where WDFW has a management agreement with the owner to provide public access for hunting. At last count more than 500,000 acres were available to hunters under this program, including more than 106,000 in Klickitat County, 62,000 in Benton County, 64,000 in Walla Walla County, 58,000 in Franklin County, 38,000 in Adams County and 37,000 in Grant County.

Register to Hunt: Private lands in which WDFW has a management agreement with the owner where hunting is regulated by registration. Some 20,000 acres are currently in the Register to Hunt Program, including 8,300 in Benton County, 5,500 in Garfield County and 4,000 in Douglas County.

Hunting by Written Permission: Private lands where hunters must contact the landowner to obtain “written permission” before hunting on their property. Over 550,000 acres are included in this program, 131,000 of them in Adams County alone. Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Garfield counties also offer large tracts of Hunt by Written Permission property.

Landowner Permit: In some cases, landowners are allowed to work with the Department to set special hunting season dates on their property and have hunting opportunities on their lands customized. Hunting opportunity is available to hunt these lands through special permit drawings. Most of the property involved in this program is in Benton County and Grant County.

For more information on these programs, check out WDFW’s hunting access website: (https://wdfw.wa.gov/ hunting/locations/private-lands)...

Photo credit schlag | www.depositphotos.com

•

Wolverine®

•

•

• FOX® 2.0 iQS

Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Model shown with optional accessories. ©2020 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved • YamahaMotorsports.com

years and older with a valid driver’s license. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Model shown with optional accessories. ©2020 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved • YamahaMotorsports.com

Wolverine®

Early Ice Walleye Tactics Now

Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

Prepare now for more bites with select Northland Fishing Tackle baits and sound advice.

Ice fishing is just around the corner. There’s frost on the ground, ponds are beginning to freeze, deer hunting is here, and the next step in nature’s calendar—fishable ice on larger bodies of water. Along those lines, it’s time to get gear in order for ice—not only augers tuned and sharpened, shacks pulled out of storage, rattle reels and ice sticks spooled, but tackle organized for what can be one of the most epic bites of the entire season—early ice walleyes.

To get you ready, we talked with Northland Fishing Tackle pros and ice aficionados Joel Nelson and Brian “Bro” Brosdahl. Their knowledge of this distinct point on the ice fishing calendar is time-proven and should get you on track.

Ice Safety

The first consideration for fishing early ice, though, is safety. For anglers fishing on foot, it’s a good idea to wait until there’s five inches of ice and eight inches for ATVs and snowmobiles.

For the first few trips on foot, it’s recommended that you carry a spud bar to test the ice ahead of you as you walk out. Ice picks worn around the neck are also a must-have for this time of year and should be worn diligently each outing.

Additionally, apparel manufacturers now offer ice suits with float technology for an extra level of safety on early ice. The advantage of a float suit, especially the bibs, is your legs will be buoyant should you break through.

Instead of having to pull your entire body out of the ice you’re essentially just needing to crawl or roll out. And don’t forget that each angler should also carry a good length of rope. Besides that, a portable sled should house all the gear you need and is typically easy to pull out by hand during first-ice conditions.

“I like five inches of ice before I start fishing. What people forget is ice can be so variable and you might have five inches in a back bay and you get out toward the main lake and you have one or two or nothing. Five inches helps buffer the effect of that variability. I diligently chisel and like to use my spud bar to define the safe zone around where I’m fishing,” says Nelson.

He continues: “I wear a float suit and ice picks early-season. Another thing I always have with me is a throw rope. I’ve gone through twice in my life, and I’ve been out with other anglers who have gone through. Fortunately, each time we’ve had a throw rope. I don’t leave home without it.”

Location Methodology

For Minnesota-based Northland Fishing Tackle ice pros Brian “Bro” Brosdahl and Joel Nelson of Joel Nelson Outdoors, first ice is one of their favorite times to capitalize on walleyes.

Both Brosdahl and Nelson agree that the most beneficial thing you can do for strategizing early-ice locations is to start where you fished in the fall.

Pull GPS waypoints from boat electronics and put together a plan. Walleyes should be close to the same locations as they were found during the last month or so of open water— and generally, that’s shallower close to the first break.

“For first-ice walleyes, I think about fish that were up shallow chasing shiners in the fall,” said Nelson. “Some of that bait hasn’t left and a lot of walleyes haven’t left either, so there’s a lot of first break and weed edge action to be had.

I focus on the first break. It’s safer to fish the first break and I feel strongly that a lot of the fish you’re going to find first-ice will be as shallow as six feet of water and as deep as 12 to 15 feet. I like to set up tip-ups on the shallow end and jig the deeper edge. Sometimes, if your tip-ups keep tripping don’t fight it, get up there and jig the shallower water inside the tip-ups.” Nelson continued: “I fish lakes like Minnesota’s Mille Lacs, Leech and Red on that first-ice routine. It can be really simple. Wander offshore until you hit some edges where weeds were or are still standing. Then you fish quiet. It’s a totally different approach to deep water stuff. Buzz a couple of holes and take it slow. Don’t race around the ice and drag stuff all over. You have to ease into it and wait it out. If you’re gonna hole hop in shallow, clear water you probably aren’t going to have many bites. The fish are there—you just can’t be spooking them.”

Photos courtesy Northland Fishing Tackle www.northlandtackle.com

Again, go to spots where you caught fish during the fall. A lot of anglers will go out and concentrate on where they want to be in the morning and evening but don’t discount that middle of the day period to see if you can raise some of those fish off the bottom and get a reaction.

“First-ice is a continuation of fall patterns,” cited Bro. “As weeds die off, minnows start dumping over the edge. As the minnows are following the edge, other types of fish are coming up to the surviving weeds after those minnows. So, there’s mixing of walleyes and bait in these areas— that first-break or weed edge becomes a virtual buffet for anything with teeth. Any kind of saddle bottom or bottleneck or river bottom that comes around a weed bed or inside turn that dumps into the main lake on a weed edge can be a fantastic area for early-ice.”

Brosdahl continued: “Lakes like Red Lake, which is the quintessential early-ice destination because it freezes before other bodies of water, offers a perfect example of this close-to-shore routine. On Red Lake the walleyes flush toward shore. There’s lots of bait on that first break. The shoreline break on Red can be fantastic—where the depth changes from three or four feet to six...As December rolls around the walleyes will push deeper but there’s a few weeks right away when the walleyes will relate to the first break. And I’m a fan of weeds. On some lakes the walleyes will be deeper, but the problem is you won’t be able to access them. So, for me early ice is all about finding structure close to shore.”

Presentations

In terms of presentations, Nelson’s a fan of Northland’s Buck-Shot® Rattle Spoon and the Buck-Shot® Coffin Spoon. “Especially shallow, a lot of times you need to call in fish from the sides. In shallower water walleyes can’t watch the bait fall from a long distance. A lot of times you’re targeting fish working down a break or a weed edge so a little bit of noise can go a long way.”

He’s also a big proponent of tip-ups in his early-ice arsenal. Along those lines, Nelson employs Northland’s unweighted Mini Predator Rig dressed with a small-to medium-sized sucker minnow. “A great way to target trophy walleyes at first-ice is to rig suckers on tip-ups and work ‘em on the shallow end of the break. Especially in stained waters walleyes are pretty tuned up and this tactic works well.”

Nelson continued: “The Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow is another bait I like early-ice. It’s a little more aggressive approach that I fish a bit deeper. If I’m out in that 12- to 15-foot zone watching tip-ups shallower the Rattlin’ Puppet Minnow is a nice bait to really explore with. It searches to the sides of the holes—not just below you—so you feel like you’re getting more bang for the buck for every hole you fish.”

But in clear waters like Mille Lacs, Winnie, and Leech lakes Nelson goes a bit simpler. “I sometimes feel like on those water bodies too much rattle doesn’t produce as well as a flash-style spoon. This is where the Northland Macho Minnow or the Forage Spoon works. I’ll even downsize them at times.”

An early-ice favorite for Bro is the new Bro-Bug Spoon in the colors Sneeze and Red-Glow tipped with a minnow head. In terms of design, the Bro-Bug Spoon has a nice gap to the treble hook with a body that thins out toward the bottom. Walleyes see it as a bloodworm or mayfly larvae or youngof-the-year perch. Along the same lines, Bro packs tungsten Gill-Getters and Mud Bugs. “Early-ice walleyes don’t always eat big meals,” said Brosdahl. “There are times when smaller spoons or jigs loaded with larvae simply produce.”

But like Nelson, Bro often seals the deal on first-ice ‘eyes with the Buck-Shot® Coffin Spoon. “The Coffin Spoon has an ever-changing, quivering action that’s amazing. I tested it throughout last year’s ice season and it was a solid producer. Dress it with a minnow head and rip it. Each time the bait falls it does something different and calls in fish to eat. I’ve watched it on the underwater camera and like how it tumbles towards the fish, summoning them to absolutely kill it. You’ll want to pack a lot of different colors because I’ve seen different colors work depending on the weather for the particular day. You’ll want options for clouds and sun and clear water or dark water. Loading up on jigging spoons is the cheapest part of any fishing trip, so don’t skimp.”

Bro also divulges a little secret he employs during first-ice, something overlooked by all-too-many anglers. “Don’t forget to stop at your bait shop and load up on different-sized minnows to dress your spoons. Sometimes a big fathead head is the ticket, but I’ve seen success in the nuance of using a smaller fathead or crappie minnow head to dress up my spoons. Sometimes it’s really a finesse deal.”

Parting Words

“My approach to first-ice walleyes is pretty simple,” said Nelson. “I think a lot of anglers get all worked up and they drill up and down a break and start hole-hopping—and there’s a time for that, especially over deeper water later.

But first-ice walleyes for me is an evening game. It’s a couple hours at a time. It’s learning as you go—it’s getting yourself tuned in and knocking off the rust.

You’re going to be green behind the ears with those first few fish. It’s nice to ease into first-ice walleyes. Get a couple of evening trips in. The walleyes will have moved down the first break and get active or they won’t. And that’s great information, too. The next night try some place different. Inside turns on the bases of points have always been good to me. Points themselves have been really good, but because I’m fishing first break stuff. I’m typically looking for irregular shorelines anyways.”

But remember, when it comes to early ice, safety has to be number one. Nothing comes before that. Early ice is a great time to be out and capitalize on some great fishing opportunities before the heart of the winter sets in and fish go neutral to negative, but you must do it safely and then work on efficiency. Once you know the ice is good, walk out with a buddy or buddies, be mobile, and be ready to capitalize on the opportunities the lake is going to give you that day.

Gear Review

Sitka Gear Blizzard Aerolite Parka

Sitka’s warmest GORE-TEX big game gear, this waterproof insulated jacket is built for late season hunts that have you sitting on exposed glassing points or riding into howling wind and snow. Synthetic PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation with Cross Core™ technology replicates the performance of down insulation, but with warm-when-wet performance.

Style: 30079

Eskimo Folding Ice Fishing Chair

These Eskimo chairs are ergonomically designed, providing you with a comfortable place to sit while on the ice. The triangular design makes them perfect for jig fishing. When you need to move quickly from hot spot to hot spot, the triangular folding arrangement and travel bags make the Eskimo ice fishing chairs easy and quick to transport.

Style: 69813

Leica Geovid 10 x 42 R Rangefinding Binoculars

Binoculars and rangefinder, both in one product. Focusing on a few key features makes the glass affordable for those who have not yet opted for rangefinder binoculars. The Geovid R series offers everything you need. Whether at long distances or in poor visibility, with the Geovid R you can clearly identify and precisely determine animals at any time. They combine excellent optics and long-time proven laser technology with a sophisticated mechanical concept.

Tubbs Wilderness Men’s Snowshoes

Style: 40428

A well-balanced Day Hiking snowshoe, the Wilderness is the perfect blend of functional technology and comfort. The Fit-Step™ 2.0 frame with SoftTec™ decking provide ample flotation when the snow gets deep, while the tried-and-true Cobra™ toe crampon and Tubbs heel crampon bring the traction and stability needed on varying terrain. Style:

See these and other fine products at one of the 5 Montana Bob Ward’s Sports & Outdoors stores in Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Butte and Hamilton or 24/7 at bobwards.com Free shipping on $49.00 or more with some exclusions.

Photos courtesy Rapala www.rapala.com

Trigger Bites Down Deep With The Storm®

Original Deep Wiggle Wart®

Rapala www.rapala.com

When walleye, bass, pike and other species head deeper, it’s time to pull out the new Deep Wiggle Wart®. Boasting the Original Wiggle Wart’s time-tested, proven action, Storm’s newest bait delivers deep-fish satisfaction. The Original Deep Wiggle Wart triggers big bites in water depths from 11 to 13 feet.“Being able to get down there in that strike-zone with that deeper profile – that’s a huge deal,” said Rapala® Pro Jacob Wheeler, a four-time Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour winner. “This Deep Wiggle Wart – it’s a fish-catcher. You just know when you pick it up, you’re going to get a bite.”

“You throw that Wart in the spring and the winter – you see everybody go to it,” said Rapala Pro Gerald Swindle, 2016 Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

As have many competitive anglers, Wheeler has “cashed a lot of checks on an Original Wiggle Wart®,” which runs about 7 to 9 feet, depending upon the diameter of the fishing line he’s using.

For Brandon Palaniuk, 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year, the best time to throw a “hard-charging, hard-thumping” Wiggle Wart is often in the spring, when frequent rains dirty up a lake.

“You get that spring runoff, a lot of times that’s what these fish need to be able to track your bait down,” said the Storm® and Rapala® pro. When targeting bass holding on deep, rocky bottoms, Wheeler said, a slow and steady retrieve will allow an Original Deep Wiggle Wart to trigger bites best.

“But now we have the new Original Deep Wiggle Wart®, which allows me to really get down there to fish that I feel have not really seen that profile or that action before,” he said. “That’s a huge deal.”

“As fish root around in the rocks, you do not have to crank the speed up too fast to trigger those fish into biting,” he advises. “Take the time to just sort of feel around in those rocks. You don’t want to overwork this bait.”Original Deep Wiggle Warts measure 2 inches and weigh 7/16 oz. They come armed with two No. 4 premium black-nickel VMC® treble hooks. They’re available in 25 color patterns. “There’s a lot of different colors that come in the Storm Original Deep Wiggle Wart, where you can match the exact color for every scenario that you’re dealt,” Wheeler said. “You have your confidence colors. Confidence is a fish-catcher in bass fishing.”...

Created from Storm’s original molds, both the Original Wiggle Wart and the Original Deep Wiggle Wart feature an inimitable wide-wobbling action and rattle that mimics the movement and sound of crawdads. Compared to other legendary crankbaits, like Rapala Shad Raps and DT’s, a Wiggle Wart’s action is extreme.“This bait is so aggressive,” Wheeler says. “There’s times when these fish just want that wide-wobbling action.”

How To Turn One Hunt Into Four Hunts

By Nathan Bare Originally published at GOHUNT.com

For most Western hunters, there is nothing better than chasing big game with your friends and family. The “old school” way of making these trips happen, was for everyone to apply together, in a “party application.” For the most part, every state allows this and it varies from two people, to five plus people for each party application. The best part about this strategy is everyone has a tag and you all have the opportunity to fill those tags.

Lately, with the increase of applicants, decrease in tags, shortened seasons and point creep, it’s been taking longer and longer to draw tags in several states. For example; a tag that used to take one to two points, is now taking four or five points. Noticing this change over the last several years from researching my options on Insider, I have adjusted my application strategy and found a new way to look at party hunts.

The typical way party applications go...

Let’s say I have four people in my party. We apply together and we all draw together. Perfect! But let’s look at some harsh realities. Depending on the state and the unit, what is the probability of us filling all four tags?

Realistically, you might fill two, possibly three. Maybe if it’s a phenomenal year, you might get all four, but that’s getting harder to do.

You also need to look at season dates before you commit to a party hunt. In some states, you might only have a five, seven or a nine day season. That’s a short amount of time to fill a lot of tags. Even if you have a two week season, or a month long season, how much time can you realistically take off work? These are all things to consider.

The big picture is, whether you fill all tags or not, everyone in your party is now back to ZERO points. You only get one trip together and another three to five year wait, to do it again. Personally I have run into this exact scenario twice. In both cases, we were in a new unit, in a new state and had a pile of tags. Let’s just say that we bit off a little more than we could chew. In the end, we filled a tag or two and still had a lot of fun, but the reality of losing all those points was a hard pill to swallow. Especially after we just spent all that time learning a new unit. Just imagine if we could hunt those units consecutively for the next couple years. Instead, we had to get back in line and start climbing the points ladder again.

We were like many others. Three to five years of waiting for one year of hunting. Why can’t we reverse those numbers? How can we hunt with our friends year after year? Here’s an example of how to do just that!

How to turn one hunt into four hunts

Let’s say it takes five points to draw a mule deer tag in Wyoming. You and your friends all have five points now. Instead of applying as a party and burning everyone’s points, only apply one individual. One individual draws a tag, while the others continue to build points. This allows all four friends to hunt together and really focus on that one tag. Not only will this increase your chances of filling that tag, but you can implement this strategy for the next three years!

You and your friends just turned one year of hunting together, into four years of hunting together.

This approach is extremely beneficial for those hunts with only a five or seven day season. Think about the years to come and how well you’ll know that unit by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time.

But don’t stop there! Remember, if you’re not the individual drawing the tag, you need to be building your points. By the time everyone in your party has drawn tags, the individual who went first, will already be back up to three points and you can repeat the cycle.

Approaching party hunt applications this way helps everyone involved and the more states you apply for, the better. More years in the field with your friends, less wait time and let’s face it; helping your buddy fill his or her tag, is just as satisfying as filling your own tag.

Photo credit kahj19 | www.depositphotos.com

Photo credit Sam Sarbacher

How To Clean A Rifle Barrel

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

Another deer season is over, and it’s time to clean our rifles and put them away for a few months. The best advice I’ve ever seen comes from an old book entitled “Do-It-Yourself Gun Repair” by Edward Matunas (out of print). I’ve been following Ed’s routine for years, and it’s the best.

–You’ll need a cleaning rod, brush, jag, patches and solvent. The best rod is a spring-steel model with a plastic, nylon or similar coating and a swiveling handle.

–Choose Hoppe’s No. 9 solvent.

–Always use a cleaning-rod guide to protect a gun’s receiver from the sharp jag, and also to protect the rifle’s throat from damage.

–Insert the rod into the bore from the chamber end to protect the muzzle. The last few inches of a rifle barrel are extremely important to its accuracy; wear or damage caused by a cleaning rod would ruin accuracy.

–Begin by pushing a soaked patch through the bore. Repeat. Run 2 dry patches through the bore.

–Run another soaked patch through the bore. Remove the jag, install a bore brush of the correct caliber and soak brush in solvent. Push the brush through the bore until it exits the muzzle; pull it back until it exits the chamber. Rule of thumb: Repeat this in-and-out brushing for each shot fired since the last cleaning—maybe 10 or 20 shots for a typical deer rifle?

Pass another soaked patch through the bore, and then another. Set the rifle aside in a horizontal position, with the muzzle pointed a tad down to prevent solvent from running into the action. Allow the bore to soak for at least 30 minutes; 3 or 4 hours are better.

–After the soak period, run clean, dry patches through the bore. Repeat until the bore is dry.

–Repeat the entire bore-soaking process, but this time omit the brushing step. It may take 3 to 5 daylong soaks to remove all the fouling from a barrel that has been fired only 15 to 20 times. A greater number of soaks may be necessary if a high number of rounds were fired since the last cleaning (or if you haven’t cleaned your rifle in years). It can take a week or more to get a barrel really clean.

–Wipe down the exterior metalwork of the rifle with a good coat of Rem Oil and store gun in a safe place.

After a thorough bore cleaning like this, a deer rifle that was shooting 2- or 3-inch groups at 100 yards might cluster bullets at or inside an inch.

Select Boone and Crockett Club’s license plate the next time you register or renew a vehicle in Montana and help us preserve your hunting heritage for future generations, maintain big-game records, promote hunting ethics, and continue our youth conservation and hunting education programs on Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front. B&C receives a $20 sponsor fee for each plate.

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

PASSIONATE

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.

THE LEGEND CONTINUES

4RUNNER 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

For decades, 4Runners have earned the reputation of being an off-road icon, and we intend to keep it that way. This heritage-inspired edition features tri-color striped exterior graphics and bronze-colored accents, including its 17-in. wheels and detailed interior stitching. Feel a part of something truly special every time you look at the unique embossments and emblem. With its legendary body-on-frame design, 4Runner 40th Anniversary Special Edition provides the sturdy and reliable support you need when your adventures go beyond where the road ends.

PUB LI C A CC ES S

For hunters, anglers and others who en joy experiencing the outdoors first-hand, it means everything. No access means no recreational oppor tunity.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation acquired and conveyed what were two private inholdings of the Stimson Lumber Company totaling 1,120 acres to the Lolo National Forest. The surrounding area features spring, summer and fall range and suppor ts more than 500 elk.

The project area is par t of a wildlife movement corridor connecting the Ninemile Divide with the Nor thern Continental Divide Ecosystem to the nor th and the Fish Creek area and the SelwayBitterroot Wilderness to the south. It also features prime habitat for deer, moose, bear and other bird and animal life, plus it includes springs that provide impor tant riparian habitat.

E D ITH P E A K

L O C AT I O N

In the Nor thern Rocky Mountains above the small western Montana town of Frenchtown, approximately 15 miles west of Missoula

IMPROVES

The project opened new public access to 1,120 acres and improved access to ad jacent public lands, while also conserving impor tant riparian and wildlife habitat

Photos From The Outdoors

High Noon Bull

By Vince Lindgren

Afew weeks prior to the 2022 archery season opener, it was the bull he set his sights on since checking the trail cam.

After viewing a handful of smaller bulls and one young six point, he set his sights on the bull we named The Five; a heavy bodied, larger five point.

He would really like to take the six point but, that bull ultimately turned out to be quite stealthy and elusive.

If it’s one thing I’ve learned about my son, it’s that when he sets his mind on something, he usually accomplishes it and this elk proved that.

So, as he reasoned things out as to why an elk would favor one ridge over another and his uncanny ability to deduce an animal’s whereabouts, we set out to get a crack at The Five.

The morning temps were cool, giving way to slightly warmer-than-usual afternoon temps as we set up near a water source in an elk transition zone.

Trying to blend in to our environment, we were treated to multiple animals slipping through to snag a quick drink before retiring to their bedrooms to wait out the heat of the day in the cool shade.

These included cow elk and a couple raghorns, mule and whitetail deer, all sorts of birds, squirrels, chipmunks, a couple of young black bears, one skunk and even a cow moose with a calf.

Nic with his 2022 Montana archery bull elk. His first elk. Photo courtesy Vince Lindgren

Kayden of Helena Mt. with his first kill with a bow. Hunting with grandpa Todd 9/26/22 by Boulder Mt.

Tyson Johnson with his 2022 Washington bull elk taken with a muzzleloader.

You can’t fake that smile! Sheila Larsson was pretty happy with the late season Largemouth Bass she reeled up at Lake Mary Ronan. The Larsson family has been fishing LMR for generations with similar results. This late in the season Sheila calls this, “A Bonus Fish!!” The crisp cool night coupled with an amazing sunset were in her words, “Truly a gift…” To catch a Bass makes it even better.”

Just as things were looking up, we had the unfortunate incident of two hunters “power bugling” all around the mountain with such vigor that Godzilla himself would have tucked his tail and run!

It just so happened that The Five came briskly through the timber, headed away from this seemingly gigantic sounding bull that was walking in the opposite direction.

As The Five past above us at fifty yards, I cow called and he hit the brakes only to resume his escape to his “safe place” which most likely consisted of some dark uncharted part of the timber so full of beetle killed blow-down that one would most likely be labeled INSANE for going after him. Well....

We chose to wait near the water source for the day and left that evening then returning again the following morning. Things were sterile to say the least so, as you may have guessed, my son opened his mouth and out came the words “We should go over to that other ridge where The Five took his leave and try over there.” And so began our hour-long excursion climbing over, under, around, sideways, upside down, and through all that blow-down. Well, it wasn’t as bad as that, but bad enough!

By the time we completed our hour-long trek, our stomachs were telling us to feed them. Sitting in the shade of a couple large Fir trees and surrounded by Nine Bark brush, we broke out our lunches while listening to a lone, distant bugle which carried a single high note. Being encouraged, I broke out my bugle and answered. That’s when everything abruptly changed as we were surprised by a much closer bugle just about five hundred yards down the slope and beyond a swath of blown down trees.

All I wanted to do was sit and relax in the shade, eat my lunch and discuss the plans for our afternoon hunt. That wasn’t going to happen though as I looked at my son then turned and bugled in response to the nearest bull. Next thing we knew, we were throwing our lunches into our packs and hastily stashing them under tree branches.

The bull retorted with a bellowing, raspy screamer and was hot and coming fast!

Nic speedily grabbed his bow and got into position behind the fir trees as I bolted over the ridge top to pull this fired up bull past my son. All of this happened so quickly and chaotically that it seemed almost surreal. Now with Nic in position, I ran back and forth on the back side of the ridge trying to make the bull pass within shooting range of him. I made one last sprint up the ridge and crouched down in some Nine Bark and let out one last challenge call, that’s when I heard a commotion then all was quiet.

MOTEL

I slowly stood to my feet and peering over the ridge top I saw dust rising in the air, apparently where the bull had been. My heart sank thinking I had just messed up and somehow the bull must have spotted me and spooked. Slowly I eased over the ridge and caught sight of it not fifty yards away standing motionless then lowering its’ head, let out a cough and laid over on its’ side; it was over.

My son had just taken his first elk and with a bow at just 20 yards!

Needless to say, I was ecstatic and overcome with emotion as I embraced him and felt tears welling up in my eyes. After a short prayer of thanks, I checked my watch to see it was just after 12:00, so from now on ‘The Five’ bull will always be remembered as The High Noon bull and will go down as one of the best hunting memories of my life. In a word, unforgettable!

Author Vince Lindgren with his son Nic and Nic’s 2022 archery bull elk. Nic’s first elk.

Photo courtesy Vince Lindgren.

Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

HOW TO BUY YOUR FIRST DEER RIFLE

By Mike Hanback Big Deer Blog www.bigdeerblog.com

Been getting a lot of questions from new 20- to 40 somethings who want to try deer hunting, but don’t know where to start. First thing you need is a good rifle, scope and ammo. While bowhunting looks cool and it is, I encourage you to start out with a gun, shoot a few deer, get some experience and then graduate to archery.–MH

For a lot less money than many of you pay in rent each month, you can buy a brand-new, highly dependable and accurate rifle that will kill a deer cleanly one day this November—and one day 50 years from now. Do your research and choose wisely, and you can purchase the first and last deer rifle you’ll ever need.

Which Caliber?

Two old-school cartridges that every man and woman should consider for their first rifle are the relatively light-kicking and smooth-to-shoot .270 (No. 1 choice) and 7mm-08. If you’re a good-sized guy and can handle more recoil, check out the .308 or .30-06. There are dozens more classic and proven cartridges out there, but go with one of my top 5 and you’ll be happy.

In your research you’ll run across newer, sexier rounds, most notably the 6.5 Creedmoor. This cartridge was introduced in 2008 primarily for long-range target shooting, but it quickly (and curiously in my opinion) developed a rabid following with hunters, particularly the social media and chat room crowd. While I have not jumped on the 6.5 Creed bandwagon yet, some people have and are reporting good results with the flat-shooting, light-kicking round.

Features to Look For

Definitely go with a bolt-action rifle. Virtually all of today’s modern bolt guns are strong and dependable. While some rifles will shoot better than others right out of the box, any new bolt-action you purchase will be more than accurate enough for meat hunting. All you really need is a rifle/scope/ammo combo that will shoot a 3-shot group of bullets that measures 2 inches in diameter at 100 yards.

Barrels on today’s hunting rifles are generally 20 to 24 inches long; any of these lengths is fine, with minimal differences in accuracy and velocity. Most of today’s functional, affordable rifles have lightweight synthetic stocks that are tough, look good and shed rain.

For liability reasons, many new rifles come from the factory with trigger pulls approaching 5 pounds. You can teach yourself to shoot a heavy-trigger well with practice, but you will shoot a rifle with a crisp-breaking, 3½- to 4-pound trigger better. While adjusting the trigger weight on many new rifles is relatively easy, I strongly recommend you have an experienced gunsmith at your local shop do it for a small fee.

Here are 4 nice rifles that fit the criteria above. Any one of them will serve you well in the deer woods your first time out and for years and decades to come. There are many other good ones out there, so do your homework.

Savage Model 11/ 111

This rifle has a black synthetic stock and carbon steel, 22-inch barrel. The Savage AccuTrigger is a top feature. The rifle comes in either right- or left-hand models. It comes from the factory with a Bushnell 3-9X 40mm riflescope mounted on top and bore-sighted. Chambered for a wide variety of deer hunting cartridges, from .243 to 30-06. MSRP $549.

Ruger American Standard

This rifle has a one-piece, 3-lug bolt, a well-designed composite stock, a free-floated 22-inch barrel and an adjustable trigger. The Ruger American was one of the first specially designed and no-frills deer-hunting rifles to hit the market a few years ago, and it has gained a reputation as a durable, dependable and accurate shooter. Seven popular whitetail calibers. MSRP $559.

Franchi Momentum Bolt-Action

The composite stock combines unique raised curves and crisp checkering for a good look and feel. It features a crisp trigger, 2-position safety and a free-floated, 24-inch hammer-forged barrel. Chambered for .243, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. A sharp-looking Elite model (6.5 Creed) with a Realtree Escape stock and a one-piece Picatinny Rail for scope mounting is available. Rifles start at MSRP $609.

CZ 557 Eclipse

I carried this lightweight, well-balanced rifle in .30-06 for 3 months last fall and shot 4 whitetail bucks with it. Push-feed action and cold hammer-forged barrel (20 inches) are dependable and accurate. Choose 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 or .30-06. While the Model 557 has been discontinued, look for one on the used rack of rifles at gun shops. This is one of the best-fitting and most accurate rifles I have hunted with in the past 40 years!

Utah Memories

By Tom Cooper

For most old hunters like me, the phrase “good old days” probably refers to a memorable hunt, or in this case a couple of memorable hunts. So, back in the day I was in the military and stationed twice at Hill Air Force Base, just south of Ogden, Utah; first 1978-81, then 1985-88. Turns out those two assignments translated into six Utah hunting seasons. I want to share two of my most memorable Utah hunts from those by-gone days.

John Wants to Hunt Elk John, a Federal employee at the base, and I worked together for 2 ½ years when he decided to accept my offer to hunt elk during the1981 gun season. Although he was an outdoorsman, a hunter most of his life, he had yet to shoot an elk. John wanted to include his 12-year-old son in our adventure. My response was, absolutely, let’s do it. My stipulation was all of us had to participate in our scouting effort; John readily agreed. We were considering an area north of Monte Christo mountain, east of Ogden. Initially, we reviewed US Geologic Survey maps. Remember, in the early 1980s topo maps were generally available at local libraries and a few sporting goods stores. Aerial photos were rare, and Google Earth was at best a dream in a far, far away land. Following our map searches, we decided to scout two canyons north of the highway that traversed Monte Christo to confirm our suspicions they were “elk-like” areas.

During our scouting, my memory says early-August, we walked the canyons end to end. Our goal was to identify key landmarks. We found elk tracks in both canyons and smelled elk as well. On the upper end of a small timbered draw, the grass was considerably greener. Although there was no running water, the area appeared wetter than the surrounding hillsides. We found two well-traveled elk trails. One was marked by a couple of large boulders. We decided John and his son would watch this trail because it was probably easier to find in pre-dawn darkness. Depending on the wind, I would circle around and set up on a small ridgeline overlooking the second trail.

After identifying our two ambush points, we returned to the vehicle still focusing on landmarks. Once there, I suggested John lead the way back to their ambush point. While we struggled a bit, I was confident he could find his ambush location in the dark. We scouted our area again in mid-September; this time we saw a few elk as we approached John’s boulders, and heard others closer to my trail. We left the area as quietly as possible. The elk rifle season was set for the first week of October.

Hunt Is On

Upon arrival at their house on opening morning, John and his son were ready to go elk hunting. Our trip to Monte Christo took an hour and a half; we didn’t find other vehicles parked near “our” National Forest area. Using flashlights, we hiked to a small park 150 yards from John’s boulders, where I left them and circled around to my trail. While not concerned about John finding his boulders, I was surprised when after twenty minutes, in the dark, I didn’t recognize a thing. Deciding not to panic, I moved just enough to make sure there were 2-3 clear shooting lanes, and a decent tree rest, then waited. When legal shooting time arrived, I was less than 80 yards from my ambush point. With a slight breeze in my face, I could also smell elk, and did not move. The breeze was swirling, and certainly any elk close by would smell me pretty quickly. Five minutes later, I heard brush breaking and elk running. They were headed toward John and his son. In about 30 seconds, there was one shot, then all was quiet. Slowly, I retraced my steps to the two boulders. Just beyond them, low and behold there was John, his son, and two smiles larger than the rising sun, rising directly behind them. They were standing over their 4 x 5 bull elk. When he heard the elk coming, John was ready and shot his first bull in the neck.

John’s First and Last Elk

After congratulating my friend, we took a few pictures (using real film, not a cell phone), then prepared his elk for transport. We found a road trace less than 200 yards from the elk, and after field-dressing the bull, we dragged him down to the trace. We used John’s old Suburban to hoist his bull to a solid pine tree limb, skinned and quartered it, then loaded the meat. Unfortunately, John’s first elk was also his last. A few months after our hunt, I transferred to Germany. Shortly thereafter, John was diagnosed with colon cancer; surgery did not solve the problem. Less than a year later, I received the news, my co-worker and elk-hunting friend had passed on. I’m confident, John has been in the land of year-round hunting seasons and unlimited tags ever since.

Another Utah Memory

My second memorable Utah hunt occurred in 1986. This hunt involved two friends, both aircraft maintenance supervisors, assigned to my squadron. Al and Bill were both experienced deer hunters, but neither had killed an elk, or participated in a successful elk hunt. These two gentlemen are responsible for encouraging me to try archery hunting.

Left to right: friends Bill and Al, Tom and, son Gary (holding antler). Photo courtesy author Tom Cooper

Thirty-five years later, I still believe early archery seasons are the best time to be in the woods. As it happens, Al was a member of a national organization focused on access to properties for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and many other outdoor activities. His membership included a ranch on the western slopes of Monte Christo mountain. We had to schedule our hunting days, and were fortunate to get opening day. Of course, we knew there would be other hunters.

We also scheduled a scouting day for late August, where we focused on a couple deep canyons that merged on a long ridge. Based on the elk sign, we decided Bill and I would hike the ridges on each side of the longest canyon. Al would hunt up the bottom of the canyon to our merge point. If we shot a bull elk, it should be downhill to our vehicle. We didn’t see any elk while scouting, but the sign seemed fresh, including 3 or 4 freshly rubbed trees. Our hunt plan included early arrival, because our target area was a mile and a half from the parking area. Naturally, we also agreed we wanted to arrive ahead of other hunters, if possible.

Opening Day Arrives

It turns out, Utah received its first major snowfall of the season the night before the opener. While it rained in Ogden, it quickly changed to snow, and there was a solid six inches where we parked. Based on the footprints leading up the road, several hunters were ahead of us. But, we had an hour before legal light, so we could adjust our plan, if necessary. After less than half a mile, a couple of the footprints departed north. The rest continued past the mouth of our canyon; good news for us. We heard a couple of bugles as we approached the canyon. One was up the main road, the second seemed to be near our ridgetop merge point. As the “designated” elk expert, I suggested it was late in the season for active bugling, plus we hadn’t seen any fresh elk tracks in the snow. Probably, the bugling was other hunters. (Note: Turns out sometimes designated elk experts get it wrong.) With 15 minutes to legal shooting light, we wished each other luck and moved into the timber to head up the mountain. Ten minutes later, I heard a bugle on the upper end of Bill’s ridge, but did not hear a response.

It wasn’t long before another bugle really got my attention, and this time it was near our merge point. If it was the same bull, it had moved about 250 yards from Bill’s ridge toward mine. Now ignoring slow, I was hurrying, thinking the elk were moving quickly north. If they passed me, we would not catch up. So, I hurried more. As the ridge flattened a little, there was a grunt-squeal ahead of me, on my right. The bull couldn’t have been more than 60 to 70 yards away. I stopped. Now, elk were trotting through the timber, breaking brush. With my left side against a tree, I knelt down, resting an elbow on my left knee. I was ready. Suddenly, elk began to trot past me at 30 yards. All cows, maybe 15-20, and finally, a brow-tined bull! Holding on his broadside left shoulder, I fired.

But, the bull did not react. Quickly ejecting the empty round, I was ready for another try. Now he was quartering away at 50-60 yards, with several trees in the way. I took the shot; he dropped before I felt the recoil. Later, we found the first shot shattered his left shoulder below the joint, sending bone fragments through his rib cage and lungs. Oh, the second shot, I missed.

Drag was Memorable Too

On the ground, it was easy to see he was a symmetrical 5 x 5 bull. I was about to start the gutting job when Bill showed up. Before my shot, Bill had cut the tracks and was already following the elk. Al was not far behind and told us the upper end of the canyon was filled with elk tracks. After we field-dressed our bull, we decided to drag him down the ridge. Using ropes, all three of us could help drag, and we reached the road an hour later. While officially downhill, now our road seemed the opposite. Suddenly, dragging was a lot tougher. With the rapidly melting snow, our bull acted more like a two-ton log than the sled we anticipated. In the slushy snow, our progress was too slow, and we decided to cut the elk in two, and make two trips to our vehicle. Although two trips took a little longer, it was much easier. When we reached our vehicle the second time, we were pretty happy hunters. After loading our bull, we headed for home. A few days later, we processed the meat together, and split it three ways.

Memories are the Real Success

I guess the lessons repeated with the telling of these two memorable hunts are: first identify your desired hunting area, next scout the area as much as possible, and finally, refine your plan. Simple, right? Will it always turn out as successful as these two hunts? My experience says no. But, that is not a bad thing. Success is just one of the rewards associated with hunting. Joining comrades in the field, and enjoying the mix of frustration and joy associated with hunting in today’s world are true rewards. For me, my Utah hunts continue to provide lifelong memories.

Left to right: Tom, John’s son with elk, and the elk hunter, John. Photo courtesy author Tom Cooper

WOMEN’S ARCTIC

II TALL

WOMEN’S REALTREE

Management for Maximum Comfort

3 Reasons Why You Missed That Shot

(continued from page 11)

2. YOU NEED TO DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR OPTIC AND MOUNT.

When you start to stretch your effective range, tiny variations in your optical system—a mounting screw that’s not quite tightened to spec, for example, or tightened too much—can cause huge problems. But this also goes for all optics, pistol red dots, LPVOs on an AR, everything.

Especially if your optic and/or mount is new to your gun, make sure you’ve tightened all the screws to spec. (If you don’t already have one, we highly recommend picking up a Torque Wrench to be sure you’re dead on.) Even if the screws are just slightly loose, or slightly too tight, your optic can move around inside of the rings or in the case of tootight rings, you may have an impinged tube, causing all kinds of issues with accuracy and sight picture.

It’s also important to read ALL the manufacturer’s instructions when mounting your optic. For example, we do not recommend the use of Loctite or other similar products in mounting our optics. These products can act as a lubricant, creating additional torque on the screws, which can exceed the recommended specs and actually damage your riflescope, limiting your ability to dial shots...

Signs of improperly mounted optics can include:

•Erratic point of impact. All other things equal, your shots are consistently hitting all over the target.

•Scope or red dot migration. Your optic moves slightly, or more noticeably on its mount.

•Crimped or deeply scratched riflescope tubes. This can be a sign that your rings are too tight and are causing an impingement in your tube.

See these videos on what you can do to make sure your optic and mount are not the problem: (https://vortexoptics. com/blog/why-you-missed-that-shot.html).

3. YOU CHANGED SOMETHING.

This one might seem pretty obvious, but it’s surprising how frequently the slightest change can affect your overall accuracy. Shooting is a holistic event; each part of the process from your mount, to your trigger pull, to each mechanical interaction in your gear—can affect your point of impact. It might not seem obvious at first, but even small things make a big difference. Here’s an example: Let’s say you just dropped a new trigger kit into your AR. It’s not a part of the optical system, and it certainly doesn’t affect how you mount the riflescope. But, especially downrange, the difference a new trigger makes— even if it’s an upgrade—can affect accuracy if it affects how you break a shot. Adding a new or different suppressor can also affect your point of impact to a surprising degree. Your gear, of course is only one part of the system. If you change the way you grip a pistol, where you hold on your shotgun, or how you approach a long-range shot, you’re introducing a new variable. If you find that you’re still grouping shots well, but it’s off your original zero, try and remember if you’ve made any changes to your form or gear. Also be sure your environmentals—wind, mirage, etc.—are consistent.

Here’s what you can do to ensure a small change doesn’t wreck range day: No matter how small the upgrade,always re-zero your weapon after adding new parts, or swapping one part for another. record yourself shooting so you have a reference for your form. When you re-watch, is there some part of your routine that’s changed? Especially if you’re shooting long-range, it’s a good idea to head to a shorter distance to get rounds on paper so you get a clear idea of where you’re missing. If you’re still missing, it can’t hurt to take your weapon to a gunsmith to rule out the possibility of any mechanical issue, like a crooked barrel.

of Montana

Broadwater County

Provide funding support for the Broadwater County 4-H Shooting Program that teaches youth life skills, safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, and develops a lifelong appreciation for outdoor activities.

Butte County

Provide funding for a week-long flyfishing and conservation camp hosted by the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program. Youth learn about fishing, ecology and identification, casting and tying, ethics and other skills (also benefits Flathead, Jefferson and Silver Bow Counties).

Cascade County

Montana Gets $3.6 Million For Conservation, Hunting Heritage

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation www.rmef.org

Help is on the way for Montana’s elk, elk habitat and efforts to maintain and grow the state’s traditional hunting lifestyle. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners allocated $3,664,902 for 44 different projects that support conservation and outdoor activities across the state.

“Enhancing habitat is paramount to our mission of ensuring the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “Wildfires burned nearly 54,000 acres of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in 2021. Some of this funding will replace scorched wildlife water developments, fencing and treat invasive weeds that crowd out natural vegetation relied upon by elk and other wildlife.”

The project is part of RMEF’s continuing $1 million commitment for wildfire restoration and is one of nearly two dozen Montana projects focused on improving wildlife habitat. There are also 20 projects that help archery and recreational shooting teams, mentored hunts and other outdoor-related efforts.

RMEF supplied $1,018,908 in funding that leveraged $2,645,994 in partner dollars.

“We would not be able to put this funding on the ground if it weren’t for dedicated RMEF volunteers who freely give their time to plan and host fundraising banquets across Montana,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “To them we say, ‘Thank you.’”

Since 1985, RMEF and its partners completed 1,226 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Montana with a combined value of more than $209.7 million. These projects conserved and enhanced 919,895 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 358,309 acres. Below is a list of the Montana projects, shown by county.

Beaverhead County

Restore two miles of riparian habitat along Fish Creek and remove encroaching conifers on 420 acres of sagebrush and grassland habitat at Blacktail Deer Creek land managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Dillon Field Office. It is critical winter range, an elk calving area and a migratory route.

Enhance 2,407 acres of habitat for elk, mule deer, moose and other wildlife in the Dillon Ranger District on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (BDNF) by removing encroaching conifers followed by prescribed burning. The treatments are part of a landscape-scale aspen restoration strategy.

Provide funding to Montana Scholastic 3-D Archery (SD3A) for supplies to help participants develop safe and ethical bowhunting practices, marksmanship and team-building skills in a competitive environment (also benefits Broadwater, Lewis & Clark, Madison, Missoula and Silver Bow Counties). Provide funding for the Little Belt Archers, an S3DA youth archery club for ages seven to 18.

Provide funding support for Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports that teaches safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment, including sound decision-making skills, self-discipline and sportsmanship.

Custer County

Remove regenerating ponderosa pine and encroaching juniper from 400 acres of land managed by the BLM Miles City Field Office. The Knowlton area is home to many big game species and used by hunters and recreationists. Provide funding for the Miles City National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) chapter that exposes participants to archery safety, awareness and skills.

Deer Lodge County

Upon completion of the 829-acre Willow Creek addition to the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area, RMEF will provide additional support to get the property ready for public use by including weed treatment, wildlife-friendly fencing, travel management infrastructure and parking areas.

Flathead

County

Establish biological control agents (insects) across 180 acres in the Glacier View and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts on the Flathead National Forest to reduce the density and spread of invasive weeds. Herbicide treatment is not an option due to the rugged nature and valuable native plants in the area.

Gallatin County

Provide funding to support an educational trailer for the Gallatin Invasive Species Alliance to offer education about native plants, invasive species and ways to mitigate user impacts on wildlife habitat when recreating in the outdoors (also benefits Madison County).

Golden Valley County

Upon completion of the 5,677-acre Shodair Children’s Hospital property acquisition and conveyance to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, RMEF dollars will provide start-up funding for the new Big Snowy Mountains Wildlife Management Area to help with invasive weed treatment, installing wildlife water developments and wildlife-friendly fencing, and getting the area ready for public use.

Jefferson County

Remove encroaching conifers and treat 392 acres for invasive weeds in the Butte Ranger District on the BDNF to reduce timber stand density in grassland and shrub communities as well as aspen stands on elk winter range. Utilize various treatments including cutting, mastication, lop and scatter, and jackpot burning across 341 acres in the BDNF’s Butte Ranger District. The multi-year aspen improvement project benefits elk winter and summer range. Remove encroaching conifers from 571 acres within aspen stands in the Basin Creek Watershed in the BDNF’s Butte Ranger District. The area serves elk as both a calving area and summer habitat.

Lewis & Clark County

Provide funding for the Lewis and Clark County 4-H Shooting Sports so it can add 3-D archery to its activities.

Liberty County

Provide funding for Great Falls Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs Camp Walleye, an opportunity for youth to fish and learn about water safety, fish conservation and the value of outdoor activity.

Lincoln County

Burn 908 acres in the Libby Ranger District on the Kootenai National Forest to maintain and enhance habitat, reduce hazardous fuels and improve site conditions to allow for continued use of fire as a management tool. Remove encroaching conifers from 20 acres, spot spray invasive weeds across 340 acres and make repairs to 5,000 feet of boundary wildlife-friendly fencing in the Tobacco Valley. The native Palouse bunchgrass prairies supply important habitat for elk that cross the British Columbia border. Use backpack sprayers to treat 635 acres of backcountry in the Troy Ranger District on the Kootenai National Forest to prevent invasive weeds and follow up treatment with seeding. Wildfires in 2020 and 2021 left the area susceptible to the spread of invasive weeds, including ventenata grass, that crowds out natural forage. A high-intensity wildfire in 2017 scarred big game winter range near the Montana-Canada border on the Kootenai West Wildlife Management Area. RMEF dollars support a reforestation project that includes planting a mix of western larch, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir seedlings to benefit elk, mule deer, moose and other wildlife.

Meagher County

Provide Torstenson Family Endowment (TFE) funding to remove burned fencing, repair/replace wildlife water developments and treat 1,515 acres to slow the expansion of invasive vegetation after four wildfires burned nearly 54,000 acres on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in 2021. The project will improve habitat and wildlife passage (also benefits Broadwater and Cascade Counties).

Mineral County

Remove heavy Douglas fir encroachment across 300 acres in the Superior Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest to prepare for future prescribed burning. Once completed, the combined treatments will improve more than 500 acres of elk summer and transition range.

Missoula County

Burn 3,000 acres as part of a multi-year approach to restore forest conditions on yearlong elk habitat in the Ninemile Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest. The Petty Creek and Frenchtown Face projects are designed to improve big game habitat by emulating historic natural fire regimes. Use a combination of hand and aerial ignition to burn 300 acres in the Missoula Ranger District of the Lolo National Forest to remove encroaching Douglas fir and open the forest canopy to rejuvenate decadent shrubs and grasses. Follow-up weed treatments will ensure the establishment of native forage for wildlife.

Provide funding for the Western Montana Fish and Game Association to increase youth participation in competitive and recreational shooting sports with a goal of creating lifetime hunters and shooters (also benefits Lake and Ravalli Counties).

Provide funding to support statewide shooting sports by sponsoring a fundraising event for the Montana Shooting Sports Association.

Park County

Erect wildlife-friendly fencing in the Gardiner Ranger District on the Custer-Gallatin National Forest to improve wildlife movement while keeping cattle away from ongoing wildlife and riparian habitat work. Additional work aims to remove dilapidated fencing and restore natural vegetation.

Provide financial support for the PERC Brucellosis Compensation Fund to create incentives for ranchers

managing quality habitat for elk herds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Provide funding to support hazing of elk from high-risk areas and reduce the chance of brucellosis transmission between elk and cattle.

Provide funding for Outdoor Education Field Day, a 4-H outreach program to introduce youth to hunting, conservation, fishing, outdoor survival, archery, air rifle shooting and other outdoor activities (also benefits Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison Counties).

Powell County

Provide funding for a Blackfoot Challenge elk hunt coordinator to serve as a mediator between landowners and hunters to make public access easier and less of a burden for landowners which would improve elk management.

Rosebud County

Burn 2,898 acres in the Ashland Ranger District on the Custer-Gallatin National Forest to restore ponderosa pine ecosystems while improving wildlife forage and reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires (also benefits Powder River County).

Sanders County

Treat 445 acres to restore native bunchgrass and improve forage on year-long elk and deer range in the Thompson Falls Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest.

Provide funding for the Trout Creek School archery program that offers hunter and bowhunter education as part of its classroom curriculum for 7th and 8th. Its 19-member team takes part in NASP competitions.

Silver Bow County

Improve habitat by treating weeds on 700 acres of private land that is in partnership with RMEF through a voluntary conservation agreement and winters hundreds of elk. Wildlife movement will also be improved by converting fence structures to wildlife-friendly and lay-down fencing.

Statewide

- Provide TFE funding to support the Montana Master Hunting Program, which provides advanced hunter education that increases skills, competence, ethical behavior and knowledge of agriculture and stewardship for up to 120 hunters. Also designed to improve landowner relations and understanding, the program hosted 13 service days on ranches and farms in 2021 to educate hunters about the role landowners play in stewarding wildlife habitat and challenges associated with land management.

-Provide funding for the Boone and Crockett Club’s mobile archery unit designed to teach youth archery basics as well as conservation and hunting as a wildlife management tool.

-Provide membership dues for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Montana Advisory Council.

-Provide funding for the Missoula Family YMCA to update its BB gun and archery ranges along with a zipline course at its summer camp site. Hundreds of youth from diverse backgrounds receive hands-on experience in outdoor skills, safety and shooting sports annually.

-Provide sponsorship support for a Montana Forest Collaboration workshop to help collaborative groups across the state with forest and grassland restoration, conservation and resource use.

-Provide funding for the Gallatin County 4-H Shooting Sports Program to offer youth education in safe and responsible use of firearms and archery equipment while advancing their knowledge and shooting experience.

Nationwide

-Provide funding for the Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation’s newest program, Hunt for Purpose, which uses archery elk hunting as a way for 9/11 combat veterans to find peace, meaning and purpose through recreational activities. Eight participants will take part in a six-month program that includes an elk hunt...

How To Buy Your First Deer Rifle

(continued from page 24)

Scope for your Rifle

A good, all-purpose scope for your rifle is either a variable 2.5-10X (X=power of magnification) model or 3-9X. You surely want a standard duplex crosshair reticle. My rule of thumb is that your scope should cost as much or more than the rifle you purchase. The better quality of the scope on your gun, the better you’ll see and distinguish deer in all light conditions, and the more accurately you’ll shoot. I use Trijicon scopes exclusively, and their great and affordable deer-hunting model, the 3X-9X Huron, is one of my favorites.

Ammo for Hunting

This is the hard part, and the easy part. Hard, because we are still in the throes of an ammunition shortage, although it is getting better. Easy, because todays’ excellent standard factory loads with proven bullet designs are all you need to kill a whitetail cleanly.

Once you’ve purchased a rifle, buy a minimum of two 20-round boxes of standard and relatively inexpensive loads of matching caliber. Good choices are Remington Express with controlled-expansion Core-Lokt bullets; Hornady American Whitetail with Interlock bullets; and Federal Power-Shok with lead-core jacketed soft-point bullets.

Ammo prices are all over the place these days, but expect to pay $30 or more a box. You could pay twice as much per box for premium loads from these manufacturers and others, but take my word, you don’t need it. I have shot dozens of bucks with standard loads over the years, and they perform wonderfully on deer.

Sight-In and Shooting Tips

You can mount a scope on your new rifle at home— it’s not rocket science and there are lots of how-to videos on YouTube—but I strongly suggest you have a gunsmith at your local gun shop do it, especially for your first rifle. The number one factor in your rifle’s accuracy will be how the scope is attached to the gun with scope base mounts and rings. A solid, well-mounted scope will enable you to shoot accurately, and the point of impact of your bullets will not change over time. I’ve had the same scopes mounted on some of my rifles for 10 years and they still shoot straight. Conversely, you’ll never get great accuracy with a scope that is not mounted properly and misaligned.

Once the scope is mounted on the rifle, have the shop guy “bore sight” it, which means he’ll look down through the barrel and then up through the scope, eyeball where the crosshair should go on a target’s bull’s-eye and then make the initial scope settings.

This should get you close to zero, but you still must go to a shooting range or safe place on your land with a good backstop and fire rounds at a target to fine-tune things.

For your sighting-in session, make sure you have a solid place to sit and rest your rifle on sandbags, or lay flat and shoot from the prone position with the rifle pinned on bags or a benchrest bipod. Never try to sight-in when you are unsteady or uncomfortable, sitting awkwardly with your rifle wobbling around. You’ll never shoot accurately or consistently that way. Not to mention your confidence is shattered when shots from an unsteady rifle hit all over a target. Always make sure you and the rifle are super steady and safe before each shot.

Fire 3 shots from a good rest and you should see a cluster pattern of where the bullets are hitting, or a “group.” Then move the scope’s elevation knob (top of the scope) to move the crosshair, and the impact of your bullets, up or down toward the target’s bull’s-eye. To move shots left or right, use the windage knob on the side of the scope. This is very easy to do.

Once your bullets are cutting the bull’s-eye and grouping 2 inches or closer together, click the top elevation knob to move your bullets hit 1-inch high over the bull’s-eye 100 yards. That way you can plant the scope’s crosshair on the front shoulder of a deer (always aim for this relatively large lung/heart area) that is standing anywhere from 50 to 200 yards away. Hold steady, press the trigger fire and drop the animal cleanly without worrying about how many inches your bullet might drop in elevation on a longer shot.

My best advice: Hold your shots at deer to 200 yards or less, always pin the crosshair smack in the middle of deer’s shoulder blade, take a half-breath and squeeze the trigger. You’ll get him, or the doe, every time.

Fire more practice shots at targets until you start to get a good feel for the rifle and its recoil, and the trigger pull. The more days you shoot before the season opens..., the better you will shoot in the woods, and the more confident you’ll be of achieving what we all want—one shot kills.

3 Steps For Effective Off-Season Archery And Rifle Practice

By Ryan McSparran Caribou Gear Outdoor Equipment Company www.caribougear.com

There’s snow on the ground here in Colorado and the fall hunting seasons are still fresh in our memories. In fact, many of us still have late season hunts to look forward to. But as soon as one season ends, we begin working on the next.

With a New Year on the horizon, there’s plenty to do in preparation for your 2023 adventures. But perhaps most importantly, it’s critical to keep up your archery and rifle practice. As hunter’s, practicing with our weapons is something that deserves a good deal of our attention – year round.

One of the most important elements of ethical hunting is being prepared and confident with your weapon. That means more than just a quick sight-in the week before your hunt. When guiding elk hunts in western Colorado, I have witnessed more than one botched opportunity for no other reason than lack of familiarity with a weapon.

In fact...during the 2020 2nd rifle season in Colorado, my friend Eddie and I were guiding a hunt for an outfitter friend of ours. On the second day of the hunt, Eddie’s client wounded a bull standing broadside at 160 yards. As it turns out, the hunter hadn’t practiced with the rifle. This unfortunate situation could have easily been avoided. When taking the time away from work and family, plus all the expense to embark on a hunting trip, it seems like a waste to go unprepared.

Whether your upcoming hunt is the trip of a lifetime or an annual occurrence, you owe it to yourself and the animal to put in plenty of practice time. Here are a few things to consider as we prepare for a New Year of hunting:

1. Finalize Your Setup

If you’re making changes to your archery setup or rifle loads, this time of year, early in the off-season is a great time to do it.

Don’t put it off and go into the summer still undecided. The last thing you want is to feel rushed trying to dial in your system right before opening day.

Over the next couple of months, spend time with those new arrows or bullets. And remember – you could spend eternity tinkering with these decisions. At some point, you’ll have to make a decision. Do it soon, giving yourself plenty of time to dial it in and then practice.

2. Get Familiar with Your Gear

Do you plan to be hunting with a new backpack next season? How about a new binocular harness? As you spend time at the archery or rifle range over the next few months, you should also think about your hunting gear, clothing and accessories.

When your hunting gear is settled, give yourself plenty of time to get familiar with it. How does your rifle sling work with your backpack? Can you comfortably draw your bow wearing that new jacket?

When the weather gets warmer in the spring, take your gear out into the field for some test runs. Don’t forget to practice with your bipod or shooting sticks. Wear your hunting gear to the range for practice. All these little things can cause hang-ups in the field. When it counts, you’ll be doing it out of breath and heart pounding. Will you be ready under pressure?

3. Find Your Confidence

The benefit of starting these things early in the year is that there’s plenty of time to practice without feeling rushed. Little by little over the next several months, become confident in your weapon and how it works with the rest of your hunting gear. Don’t leave yourself any surprises.

Hunting is full of uncontrollable factors. So by the time fall hunting seasons arrive, it’s a great feeling to be prepared. That confidence in your weapon is one less thing you’ll have to worry about. Confidence is an important part of maintaining a positive mental attitude throughout your hunt, which subsequently, is a key ingredient to success.

Gearing Up for Your Next Hunt

As you gear up for the next big adventure, please let us know what we can do to help. From game bags to boots, and cook systems to knives, the hunting products we carry are items we have tested and personally use in the field. Contact us at www.caribougear.com

Photos credit Ryan McSparran

5 Important Keys To Planning A DIY Alaska Moose Hunt

(continued from page 4)

When planning your hunt and your location, don’t make any assumptions. Read all the rules and regulations. Make sure the land is public and open to hunting. If there are state parks or other land management agencies in the area, be sure to look up their regulations as well.

“In Alaskan, Chicaco is the word for a greenhorn,” Ted told us. “As a first-timer, planning a trip like this can be a mind-boggling experience. Studying maps, reading all the Alaska fish and game rules and regulations, different season dates and lengths in every unit, there is a lot to think about. But that challenge is also part of the fun and part of the whole experience.”

4. Be Prepared for Changes in Plans

Ted told us the story of a time they had been on a long float trip for moose in Alaska. At the end of the trip, they reached the pick-up point, which they had agreed upon with the bush plane pilot. It had been raining hard for days, and they were happy to have reached the end of their float. However, when they called the pilot on their satellite phone, they received bad news. Due to high water and weather, he wouldn’t be able to pick them up at that point. They would need to row another 40 miles down river, where he’d meet them the next day!

“On any trip to Alaska, you need to prepare for changes in plans,” Ted added. “The fog might delay a bush plane flight. You might have to sleep at the tarmac for a couple of days. Be ready to roll with those changes.”

Ted also told us of a time when the bush plane pilot wasn’t able to land in the spot they had planned to begin their hunt. He had to drop them off miles down the river from where they had originally thought they would begin their hunt.

Make backup plans, pack extra food, and expect that things won’t happen exactly how you had imagined. Part of an Alaska adventure will be rolling with the punches. You can expect that.

5. Be Methodical, Both in Your Planning and on the Hunt

“When planning a trip to Alaska, it’s about being methodical,” Ted said. “Whether you’re researching Alaska’s hunting regulations or you’re keeping your camp clean to stay safe from bears, be patient and methodical in everything you do from start to finish.”

Ted emphasized that patience is critical. Having patience and thinking through tough situations can keep someone from getting hurt. Always be aware of your surroundings. And be conscious of your fellow hunting partners.

When you’re exhausted and you just want to crawl into your sleeping bag, it might be tempting to cut corners. Don’t do it. Take the time to hang your bear bags properly and do all the little things that matter.

“Even seemingly insignificant things like where each person sleeps in the tent, those things matter,” Ted explained. “On a float hunt where you’re setting up and breaking down camp along the way, we always keep the same arrangement in the tent. If you wake up at 2 a.m. you’ll know exactly where you are and where each of your hunting partners is.”

Before you leave home, make detailed checklists. Keep track of who is responsible for what, and how it’s getting to Alaska. Know exactly how you plan to transport your gear and how you’ll get it home –along with any meat and antlers. Make your plans as detailed and meticulous as possible – right down to which hotels have freezers so that you can package and freeze your meat before taking it home.

Is a DIY moose hunt in Alaska a lot of work? Sure it is. “And it’s nonstop,” Ted added. “From the moment you get off the plane until the time you get home, the work is constant. But that’s also part of the fun. There’s nothing that compares to Alaska.”...

Make The Most Of The Season’s First Ice-Fishing Opportunities

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Another great first-ice option on some of Manthei’s waters are deeper grass flats where fish can settle out into larger areas. “Especially on many of the basin lakes I fish, we’ll find first-ice walleyes slid out a little deeper than many people might think,” he says. “You’ll have to up your spoon size a bit to get down to these fish, but the strategy is much the same.” Again, Manthei employs a set-line approach with several tip-ups as an efficient way to monitor high-percentage spots, while he and his pals press the edges with aggressive jigging presentations. “We’re looking for roving packs of hunting walleyes near changes in bottom content or other deeper structure. What we find while jigging regularly changes up the game plan,” adds Manthei, noting that it’s often an evolving bite. “Walleyes can start deeper and then just move their way up to a break, so you either have to anticipate that move, or move with them. Be prepared to drill a lot of holes and move your tip-ups a lot.”

As a fan of full-grip walleye rod options, Manthei loves the 27”, 30”, and 36” medium power, fast action models in St. Croix’s Tundra Series. “They’re just really versatile walleye rods with great performance for around $100 bucks,” he says. “I’ve always been a fan of the classic feel of a full-cork handle but have friends that definitely prefer split grip or full reel seat options. This semi-custom Tundra Series is going to serve the specific needs of a whole lot of anglers.” With a REC recoil stripper guide and SeaGuide light-wire single loop guides spaced along the rest of the rod, the overall low surface area reduces ice-ups too, which is crucial when Manthei hole-hops for walleyes at sundown when temps start to dip.

Panfish Prowling Manthei also enjoys chasing schooling crappies which congregate in basins come first ice and often remain there throughout much of the rest of the season. Schools of moving fish can require additional drilling and searching, making basin crappies a cat-and-mouse game until you settle over the group of fish, which may not last long. Once found, teasing fish into biting can be the most important part of the equation. Electronics are key, and so is being able to get down to marked fish before they disappear. “It’s fun to settle in over the top of a big school of fish and figure out what trips their trigger,” Manthei says. “So often for us, that’s a 1/16-ounce spoon. It offers them some finesse and smaller profile, yet also provides flash and the ability to fish down to the crappies fast.”

Hi-vis orange tips on select Tundra rods help anglers detect strikes from light-biting panfish like crappies, making the entire process of visual bite-detection that much easier. “I really like the models with a soft, extra fast tip. If they breathe on it, you’ll see it; there’s just no need for a spring bobber on these light power, extra-fast glass rods,” says Manthei. “That’s true when they just thump it and the rod tip drops, and also when they rise up and hit it, which often makes the rod tip lift in the process.”

Northern Exposure

Long-time St. Croix Pro, Josh Peacock, hails from Kenora, Ontario, where first ice comes sooner... As a former guide on Ontario’s famed Lake of the Woods with a fisheries degree and work experience among different species, Peacock knows what it takes to put a variety of northern species topside. He’s proud to mention that he’s taken over 14 different species through the ice throughout the wilds of Canada, primarily with the use of his St. Croix Premier Ice rods. “I just can’t get over how good they are for the money, especially these...Premier Series Ice Combos that come bundled with a super-smooth 100-size

St. Croix spinning reel,” says Peacock. “There’s five models available with sensitive, solid carbon blanks, reliable NPS reel seats, and lightweight stainless steel guides to cover any kind of fishing, and you get everything for just $65-$75.” Peacock notes that he has different generations of Premier Ice rods going back more than a decade. “I’ve never broken one and still use every one of them,” he adds. Never having broken a Premier is saying something for an angler who admittedly takes his gear to places and spaces that aren’t forgiving to most ice equipment. “I’ve fished with these rods in -40 degrees Celsius, taken them on long trips into the back-country, and even stuffed them into back-packs to do it.” Owning a rod series, and literally growing with them as an angler over time, is both a testament to the St. Croix name and a hallmark of the durability of Premier Series Ice Combos. “I ice fish with a bunch of big dudes with big beards that love the cold,” Peacock says. “They’re busy working all summer, and ice is when they do the majority of their fishing. There’s a lot of ice-fishing folks like this, which is why the performance, durability, and price-point of Premier Series Ice Combos provide so much appeal to so many.”

Troutin’ About

Aside from early-ice walleye bites, inland trout lakes get a great deal of focus from Peacock, who targets everything from trophy lakers, to a mix of rainbows, splake, and other trout species. Again, durability is a key component of any combo, not just over time, but for individual trips. “We usually snowmobile in, pulling a sleigh full of gear,” Peacock says. “Most of the other stuff we haul in does not play nicely with fishing rods. Even when you protect them in a case, you still have extremely rough terrain jostling things around combined with bitter-cold temperatures. These rods always survive unscathed.”

For most trout applications, as well as big pike or walleyes, Peacock loves that Premier Series Ice Combos are built with a reel seat. “It’s easier to swap out ice reels back and forth from summer use, and the reel seat just gives more solid feel and reliable performance when battling those larger species,” says Peacock, who adds that flexing butt sections under stress from heavy fish can cause reels on rods lacking a reel seat to move and feel unsecure. “In a market full of full-cork and split-grip options with fewer reel seats these days, it’s nice to have choices that cater to anglers who really prefer that option,” Peacock offers.

Parting Shots

It’s great to live in a world with options, especially in the case of today’s ice-rod market. “Once you fish with one or more of St. Croix’s pinnacle Croix Custom Ice (CCI) rods, I’ll admit, it’s hard to fish with anything else,” Peacock shares. “Especially for crappies and so many of the other bites where I rely on St. Croix’s top technologies to deliver for me. But on so many other bites, a quality stick – one that’s really durable and versatile – is even more important. I usually don’t have the luxury of taking 12 combos into a remote inland trout lake, so the rods I’m able to pack need to do a lot of things really well. For me, the St. Croix Premier Series Ice Combos get the nod because they offer affordable versatility, reliability, and durability that has been proven over the past decade of harsh, Canadian winters.”

For Manthei, it’s all about St. Croix performance with all the options he favors. “Full cork in a variety of lengths is what I’m used to for walleyes, and I just fish better when I have what’s comfortable,” he says. “When it comes to those crappies, it’s nice not to have to worry about a spring bobber either, as I don’t want to use it if I don’t have to.

It’s just built into the Tundra Series panfish options. While it’s just one of St. Croix’s five different ice series, the Tundra Ice Series has so much for just about any ice angler, not the least of which is exceptional performance across every St. Croix’s elite-level CCI rods, making them an affordable luxury for many anglers looking for elevated performance in any given technique.”

Appropriate for all on and off-road surfaces. The i*pike RW11 has strong braking power and excellent snow and ice traction. Optimized stud pins allow for more effective ice braking.

A studless winter tire that’s designed for use on CUVs, SUVs, and light trucks.

3D Winter sipes bite into the road to improve grip and further reduce braking distances on icy and snowy roads.

On-/Off-Road All-Terrain tire with tread formulated to improve fuel economy and provide cut and chip resistance on rough surfaces. Independent tread blocks have extra biting edges for grip off-road and in snow.

All-Season Tire providing remarkable off-road traction maintaining on-road performance. Extended thicker shoulder, optimized off road compound, reinforced under-tread gauge, nylon-reinforced belts, high strength steel belt.

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