OUTDOOR LIVIN’
6 Classic Trucks That Still Make Good Hunting Trucks If you love old trucks, consider buying one for your next hunting rig
NOVEMBER
2021
OUTDOOR LIVIN’ Featured Stories Talladega Nights.........................3 6 Classic Trucks That Still Make Good Hunting Trucks.....7 Bowhunter Arrows 220-Inch, 18-Point Buck............................13 HOOKED.......................................19 HOOKE
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Talladega Nights Spanning nearly 400,000 acres the Talladega National Forest in Alabama has a variety of vehicle-based and outdoor exploration opportunities. Exploring Alabama’s Talladega National Forest by Freddy Taul and Ruston Smith
We knew we had our work cut out for us. Our sights were set on Talladega National Forest’s Skyway Motorway, and facing its challenges would make for an eventful and memorable weekend. It was August when my new friend, Freddy Taul, and I began our expedition in the Talladega National Forest, which spans almost 400,000 acres across the state of Alabama. Winding through it is the Skyway Motorway, a 27-mile trail made up by forest service roads 600-1, 600-2 and 600-3, with dramatic elevation changes and plenty of rocks and water. Besides a vague forum post online, we were virtually driving blind. However, the GPS on my 2015 Toyota 4Runner managed to How pick up the road, making navigation much easier, even with trees blocking the signal periodically. We rolled up to the head of the trail at FS 600-1 around 4 p.m., and began to understand in part why this trail is not widely known. The trailhead is at the apex of a curve in the road and proceeds straight up a hill. In other words, if you’re not looking for it, you won’t notice it. Thankfully, we did find it and our adventure soon began. day gave us roughly four hours to cover the The long summer d seven miles between us and our campsite, located on a bluff overlooking the forest. Confidently, we headed off down the trail only to learn how soon we and our vehicles would be tested. The first 500 yards of the trail were about as tough as driving up your own driveway. The next 12 miles were a different story. The trail, if you can call it that, is scored with massive washout ruts and miniature lakes which, in places, massi swallow the road entirely. It was much more than we had anticipated getting into, as we were both driving stock vehicles, though with aftermarket tires. Freddy was in his 2006 Lexus GX 470 and I was driving my 2015 SR5 4Runner. The key for us to make it without body damage was to take it slowly, painstakingly slow at times. The routine went as follows for the seven miles to the campground:
After 30 minutes more of scouting and driving we caught a break. A clean section of road allowed us to make up lost time before arriving at our first water crossing, a small pond formed in the road from the previous day’s heavy rains. We decided the best course of action was to first wade through the water to test its depth and feel for large rocks or logs. After determining it was safe to cross, we decided to take advantage of this rather fun opportunity and take some pictures of the rigs splashing and making waves through the murky water.After a bit of fun we remembered that time was not on our side and we made haste toward camp. Over the next two hours we worked our way around three-foot deep gouges in the earth and several more collections of water we decided not to drive through. Roughly a mile from camp we came across an opportunity that we simply could not resist. Located at the top of a ridge, some 2,100 feet above the earth’s surface, is a power line cut straight over the mountain and through the forest. We stumbled upon this amazing sight at the perfect time as the sun was in the process oof setting, illuminating all of creation in a brilliant golden glow. Taking in this moment was much more important than having adequate light for setting up camp, though we may have spent a little too much time soaking in this amazing view, if that’s possible.
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We were greeted with a small river running down the middle of the trail from the rain of the night before. We knew immediately this would be slow going. The road was washed away to little but the ancient rock that makes up the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Having no body armor in the form of rock sliders or off-road bumpers, we proceeded with extreme caution. bumpe
As the sun set we made the final push to camp. Lucky for us the next mile was the most subdued section of trail, allowing us to maintain a higher speed. Arriving at our campsite, we knew we made a good decision. As the sun hit the edge of the earth we snapped some photos and then set up camp with what little daylight we had left. Once camp was set, we whipped up a quick meal of hot dogs before parking our chairs on the edge of the bluff. do We watched storms roll in and spoke of life and our goals as overlanders around a dim lantern. There is nothing quite as amazing and un-nerving as sitting on a bluff at 2,000 feet watching a southern summer thunderstorm. That night we were lulled to sleep by the pitter-patter of rain on the tent, then awakened by flashes of lightning and claps of thunder. This is one of the scariest, yet most majestic, things I have ever experienced on an overland expedition. Around 5 a.m. we decided to abandon the flimsy tents and retreat to the cars to weather the last of the storm. Sleep was elusive, so I found myself recording car. video and snapping pictures while sitting in the ca Around 6:30 a.m. the storm broke, revealing one of the most amazing scenes Alabama can offer. We found ourselves in a unique position; the fog from the storm was pushed down the side of the mountain below us while the clouds were just above our heads. This is an experience I will not soon forget and may never experience again. As we cooked breakfast out of the back of the 4Runner the kicked up, pushing the fog up and over the bluff, winds kic exposing the forest below and the sky above. Despite a miserable and ominous start, it turned out to be quite a morning! Once properly caffeinated, we took advantage of the location and newfound sunlight to take some “glamour shots” of the rigs! Far too many pictures later, it was time to pack up camp and press on, if we were ever going to finish the route. The remaining four miles to the end of the first section went like clockwork, only taking about 40 minutes.
Since this trip I have returned to Skyway Motorway, mostly 600-1 and our campsite. I have grown to respect the difficulty of the drive and the beauty of the area. I also learned that 600-3, the section we did not get to, is a well maintained gravel road that anyone in any vehicle could enjoy. That being said, the Skyway trail is, and will forever be, a place of great significance to me and the emerging overland community in the south. It epitomizes what overlanding can be: A good trail that can be navigated by any stock 4×4 with the proper technique. A truly accessible trail for all, with amazing views and one hell of a campsite!
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6 Classic Trucks That Still Make Good Hunting Trucks
If you love old trucks, consider buying one for your next hunting rig BY SCOTT MURDOCK
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f you want to combine your love of hunting with an old square-body Chevy, you’re in luck. The right classic truck can make a damn good hunting truck. It might not be capable as a daily driver, but if you’re in need of a dedicated hunting rig, they won’t break the bank. Buying an old 1970s Dodge Ram—something most consumers would consider an antique—is far more affordable than driving a new pickup off the lot.
1. Best Half-Ton: 1973-1987 Chevrolet K10 I recommend picking a classic truck that was good to begin with and has extensive parts support. Old Chevrolet K10s have both bases covered better than just about any other classic truck. Ch Chevrolet didn’t always use the current 1500, 2500, and 3500 distinctions for its trucks. They used to sell a C10, C20, and C30–or, in the case of four-wheel-drive trucks, K10, K20, and K30. The K10 is a classic truck with timeless looks and rugged work-truck credentials to keep you moving. Aftermarket options are plentiful, and there’s a selection of kits for just about everything from interior amenities to engine swaps. These trucks are also among the easiest vehicles to work on, so DIY maintenance will be a snap. These square bodies come from an era when rust prevention wasn’t great, so you’ll have to do some digging to find a clean truck.
2. Best Diesel: 1983-1987 Ford F-250 and F-350 Ford’s F-150 seems to get all the love (maybe deservedly so), but its Super Duty trucks should be just as high on your shopping list. The pre-Powerstroke F-250 and F-350 trucks built from 1983 through 1987 came with engines that have become icons in the diesel community. naturally aspirated 6.9-liter IDI V8 generates The n very little power compared to the turbocharged alternatives of today, but it has a reputation for being incredibly reliable and can tow quite a load. The rest of the truck is classic Ford: great lines and a functional interior. If your style of adventure involves a camper, bass boat, or portable blind, this could be the perfect ttow rig for you.
This Land Cruiser has a fully-boxed frame, four-wheel9 drive, a low-range transfer case, solid axles, and locking hubs. The 2F engine, a 4.2-liter straight-six, doesn’t make much power but it’s known for being bomb-proof. Stock FJ60s have about 7.5 inches of ground clearance, but most of the ones you’ll find on the used market have been modified with taller suspension and larger tires.
3. Best Midsize: 1979-1983 Toyota Pickup
The Toyota Tacoma is such a mainstay in today’s truck market that it’s hard to believe there was a time when the Japanese manufacturer didn’t even bother to name it. It was sold simply as the Toyota pickup, and model years 1979 through 1983 were some of the best built small trucks.
Overheating has been known to warp heads, but there are fixes and replacement parts available. Leaf springs get the job done, but this isn’t the luxury yacht that later iterations of the Land Cruiser became. The biggest barrier to buying an FJ60 is probably going to be the cost. 4. Best SUV: 1981-1989 Toyota Land Cruiser
Almost all oof the pre-Tacoma trucks came with a manual transmission, so you better be comfortable shifting your own gears. Because the Toyota pickup was so capable off-road, many have been heavily modified and will have signs of hard use. Don’t expect a show truck or luxurious daily driver. Still, I can’t think of many trucks that are better for slipping between trees and ccrawling over rocks on the way to a remote hunting spot.
6. Best Sport Truck: 1968-1972 Chevrolet El Camino In my used truck roundup, Ford landed this spot with its racing-inspired Raptor. There wasn’t anything 5. Best Urban Hunting Truck: 1978-1987 comparable back in the ’60s and ’70s, but the Chevrolet If you like to venture off the beaten path, you have to El Camino cemented its status as a classic sport truck in other ways. at least consider a Subaru BRAT (bi-drive
recreational all-terrain transporter).
Before you put down money on one of these, remember Be Aggressive off-roading is inadvisable and towing is that the El Camino is really a muscle car disguised as a truck. Plan on sticking to paved roads or well-maintained out of the question with the Brat. Your best bet is to dirt roads. The SS badge will cost you a pretty penny, so use it as a weekend hunting or fishing truck and leave look for lower-trimmed vehicles to save money without serious hauling to something else. losing the classic muscle truck experience.
‘The future Earth lies in
Almost 600 conservation experts have signed a l coincide with UN report Overfishing “We are overfishing our oceans at an alarming rate and choking them with plastic and other pollutants. If we want to see healthy seas that will continue to provide us with food, we need to stop this over-exploitation, protect our incredible marine pr environments and make sustainable fishing the norm, as we see here.” Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, chef and vice-president of Fauna and Flora International
Deforestation “Eve “Every year millions of hectares of pristine tropical rainforest are lost for the production of beef, soy, timber and palm oil. These magnificent forests store huge amounts of carbon and are home to some of our planet’s greatest wildlife. Their gre protection is critical to stop runaway climate change and halt the sixth mass extinction.” Jack Harries, film-maker activist and WWF ambassador
e of life on the balance’
letter by the wildlife charity WWF, published to t into loss of biodiversity Wildlife trade
Plastic pollution “N “Nature is our life support system and without it our lives on this earth would be impossible and unimaginable. We have to stop seeing the natural world as something to be exp exploited and taken for granted. We need to put more value on our natural assets and stop destroying our precious planet.” Chris Packham, TV presenter, naturalist and founder of Wild Justice
“The world is waking up to the fact that pangolins are facing extinction as a result of the illegal wildlife trade. Sadly, their natural defence is a gift to traffickers. When threatened they roll into a tight ball. This protects them from predators in pr the wild, but enables criminals to transport them with ease, just like footballs. To save these remarkable creatures, we need to spread the word and push to stop this illegal trade.” Paul De Ornellas, chief wildlife adviser at WWF
Land degradation “Humankind has already alrea seriously altered three-quarters of Earth’s land surfaces – with no hint of respite. If we are truly to live within the sustainable bounds of our extraordinary planet and leave the space for nature that it so desperately needs, we have to desper step back and be more considerate about the way we treat our world. More than that, we must actively work to repair the blatant damage we have done. And we have to do that immediately; starting today.” Mark Wright, director of science at WWF
Polar ice cap melting “The Arctic A is in meltdown – it is warming over twice as fast as the global average. Climate change means that walrus, polar bears and people may soon face an ice-free Arctic ocean during the summer, unless we take urgent action now. Though it may seem remote, the impacts felt in the Arctic are not limited to national borders … Nature is crying out for help in every corner of the planet, and it is time for us to listen before we lose the wonders we take for granted.” Rod Downie, chief polar adviser at WWF
Wildlife corridors “Tigers can travel tr over 100km to establish their own territories, so these connecting habitats are critical for wild tiger population recovery, and to help achieve the global goal to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, from as few as 3,200 in 2010. However, they are under pressure from habitat loss and poaching. It’s crucial that we do all we can to maintain and connect their habitats, and protect tigers from being hunted. We are seeing tiger populations recover in gre areas where this is happening, which gives us great hope of protecting these incredible creatures for the future.” Rebecca May, tiger conservation manager at WWF
Freshwater habitats “River dolphin populations popul in Asia are plummeting due to human activities such as dam building, fishing, boat traffic and pollution. We cannot allow that to happen to one of the Amazon’s most charismatic mammals. We need charism to act fast to save this species and avoid the fate of the baiji, the first river dolphin species driven to extinction by by humans. Our freshwater habitats – including lakes, rivers and wetlands – are the most threatened of all our global habitats. We know that populations of freshwater species have suffered huge declines since 1970 - falling an average of 83%. That’s a staggering and depressing figure. Our rivers and streams are the blue arteries of our world. Without thriving freshwater habitats, our planet will not survive.” Damian Fleming, director of conservation at WWF
Bowhunter Arrows 220-Inch, 18-Point Buck on His 90-Acre Farm in Kansas
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After his son was diagnosed with a serious disease during deer season, bowhunter C.J. Garrett doubled down on hunting the big buck they'd been tracking
It takes a lot of discipline (and big-buck experience) to pass four good bucks (each scoring over 140-inches) while waiting for one buck in particular to offer a good shot. But that’s what C.J. Garrett did the morning of Nov. 13 while hunting his 90-acre farm in Douglas County, Kansas.
C.J.’s business has him looking at Kansas property daily, and he chose that 90-acre spot because it adjoins other good farms with an ideal mix of crop fields and timber, plus it’s close to his home. In the spring, he began working on the farm and planting food plots.
“I bought that th farm in March for family hunting, particularly for my 6-year-old son, Grant,” says C.J., a 33-year-old real estate broker who lives in De Soto. “Grant took a nice 7-point buck in September with his crossbow, but recently he was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia, a disease in which the bone marrow fails. He’s my best friend and hunting buddy, and he missed out on hunting the giant buck we’ve been tracking on our farm with trail cameras.”
C.J. says by the first week of November he had the rutting buck figured out. The deer was using a very tight core area, living on only about 40 acres of the farm.
C.J. focused on the massive buck, patterning the deer, and learning his every move. Grant was part of the hunt until his illness sidelined him. “I want this Kansas buck to catch the eye of people who can help Grant,” says C.J.
“I got photos of that buck every dawn and dusk from Oct. 30 to the day I killed him,” says the veteran bowhunter, who had three bucks each scoring over 180-inches to his credit. “I just bided my time waiting for the wind to be just right before I got close to hunt him—trying to stay away from his core area as much as possible.” days later conditions were right again and Three d C.J. climbed into a Lone Wolf hang-on stand. That morning four bucks 140-inches or better walked to within bow range of C.J.
15 “I looked up and he was coming down a ridge right to me, moving along steadily looking for does,” C.J. remembers. “I watched him work a scrape at 35 yards, and he came right to me and stopped at 20 yards, broadside.” C.J. drew his Elite Ritual 30, and sent a 4-blade fixed broadhead through the deer’s heart. The buck ran 30 yards and C.J. watched him fall. “I immediately called Grant and told him I got the big buck, and he was overjoyed,” C.J. says. Grant, his grandfather Jim Buttron, and a friend Clayton Coyle drove out to meet C.J. and recover the buck. “I took Grant to the spot where the arrow hit the buck, and he tracked the deer right to where he fell,” C.J. recalls. “It was a great moment for all of us.”
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Luke Combs LIFE IN THE REEL WORLD
In the past few years, Luke Combs has spent more time on the road, at the studio, and in the spotlight than he has at home. Such is the life of a country music star with seven consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart; ACM, CMA, CMT, and Billboard awards; a Grammy nomination and entry into the Grand Ole Opry.
How have you been spending your days during this unexpected downtime? Luke Combs: To be honest, it has just helped me live a little bit of a normal life, even if it’s just for a little while. It’s allowed me to be at home for an extended amount of time, which I don’t normally get to do. I’ve written a lot of songs.
You recently released “Six Feet Apart” in response to this moment. How has this time inspired you creatively? LC: I think as a songwriter you just try and write about real life events going on that people can relate to and find hope in. And, as we all know, there is a very real life event going on right now. “Six Feet Apart” allowed my buddies and I to just write and document what is
What do you miss and what are you most looking forward to doing when the time is right? LC: I kind of touch on it in “Six Feet Apart.” I miss my parents, my fans, and my band. I’m used to being with them all of the time. I’m definitely looking forward to being with them all again one day soon, as well as other normal things we’ve been without in life—going out to eat, going to a bar, watching sports, things like that.
What kind of hunting and fishing have you been doing, and what kind of escape has that been for you? LC: Haven’t been able to fish, but I have been turkey hunting. Got to do that with some of my best friends. Nothing beats the quietness of being in the woods.
What’s been your favorite catch while fishing? LC: My favorite catch, besides [fiancé Nicole Hocking] of course, was on her birthday in Myrtle Beach when we went mackerel fishing. It was a great fish, a 34-pound king
What’s one PFG item that’s your favorite for fishing or just for everyday wear? LC: Everyday wear is definitely my Bahama™ II or [a PFG] hat, I’ve got at least 30.
12/12 5 PM
SIX MILE CREEK- NOVA ALASKA GUIDES
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KRISTINE FISCHER: HOOKED PHOTOS BY: GUILLERMO GONZALEZ LOCATION: EASTERN TENNESSEE
My absolute favorite thing to do is chase musky in a kayak. It’s physically and mentally taxing, it’s long hours and tough weather conditions, but it’s my therapy, my me time. A few years ago, I was in Kentucky for a Kayak National Bass Fishing Championship, and there was a major – a moon phase – a peak major that lined up with the sunrise, and a low-pressure system was moving in. I love that type of scenario for musky fishing. So, after the tournament I drove about four or five hours to eastern Tennessee to one of my favorite spots to chase musky and take advantage of the conditions. condition I can still feel where the hook went in. I have some permanent damage, especially on my left ring finger.
When this particular incident occurred, I was on the Jackson Kayak Fishing Team, and Bridget, a woman on their marketing team, wanted to go musky fishing. She was an angler but had never musky fished. I agreed to take her, but since I was driving from Kentucky, I tasked her with wrangling up a musky net, some long needle-nose pliers, some hooks and hook cutters, and a kayak I could borrow – that way I could fly home to Nebraska without worrying about the gear. When she picked me up, the “musky net” was a glorified trout net. I mean, the thing was like 18 inches in circumference. It wasn’t even going to fit the head of a musky.
I never musky fish without my net because things just…things go wrong. But the conditions were right, and I've been obsessed with these stealthy apex predators since I was a kid and didn't want to miss out. I thought, "You know what? I've hand-landed giant Barracuda by myself down in the Bahamas. What's the worst that could happen?" So, we went. Trout net and all.
I got it right by the boat, kept it in the water, and called Bridget over, yelling at her that I had this big fish. I had my hand under the gill plate, fish still in the water. I was like, "I'm going to lift this fish up really fast for a quick picture, get it back in the water, get the hook out, and we'll release her." But it didn't go that way. shake, and somehow one of the The fish threw a giant head sha barbs on the back treble lodged into my left ring finger well past the barb into the bone, right in the knuckle. I must have reached over to try to instinctively pull it out, and the fish shook again. Then another barb on that same back treble lodged into my right index finger. Suddenly both my hands were bound to this thrashing, 47-inch fish in my kayak.
I knew if we were going to get one, it was going to be21 within those first two hours of the peak major in the morning. And we did – just like clockwork I ended up hooking into one, and I hand-landed it with perfection. It was incredible.
Pain was shooting up both my arms, bearing those hooks deeper and deeper. And, oh my God, I was just screaming in pain. But I knew I had to try to stay calm and not let my emotions dictate my disposition because that creates a lot of room for error. Should we have gone to the hospital? Probably. But I don’t do hospitals. I ripped off a piece of my shirt and wrapped the wound tight. It bled pretty good, but after a few hours I was able to fish. It was unbelievably stupid. I probably wouldn't do that again.
