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Hunting Illustrated Magazine Volume 12, Number 5 www.huntingillustrated.com Subscriptions and Questions 1-435-528-5080 editor@huntingillustrated.com
s n m u l Co
10 Fresh Sign 18 Hunting Forecast 24 The Dueling Duo 26 Product Review 28 Mule Deer 32 Elk 36 Predators
— Editorial Staff
News, Facts and Fun — Jon Crump
Insight From the Trailhead Guru — Grange & Spomer
Suppressors
— Steve Alderman
Zamberlan Tofane 1025 — Steve Alderman
Keeping It Real
— Steve Chappell
Elk Hunting the Post Rut — Les Johnson
E-Calling
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80 84 90 94
Braggin’ Board
Bringing Home the Bacon
2013 Gear Guide
Reviews on Leading Products
Mule Deer Watch — Michael Burrell Not Your Traditional Hero
Nuge Factor — Ted Nugent Opening Day Every Day
s e r u t Feaî ° 40 44 50 56 62 64 70 74
Photo Story — Matt Smith Mule Deer in Montana
King of the Bulls WD Martin
Eva Get Your Gun Eva Shockey
The Harvest Beau Knutson
I Heart Kansas Bucks Abbie Childs
1,2,3...Tagged Out Devin Jensen
Ruined
Weston Norris
The Northern Giant John Koster
WARNING!
Some of the photos in this magazine portray action performed by professional hunters or riders under controlled circumstances. We encourage safe practices in all outdoor activities. Hunting Illustrated withholds all liability for any damage or injury sustained while duplicating actions in photos.
Cover
Cover photo: Doyle Moss | Vic Schendel Denny Austad, mule deer Recreation: Matt Mogle
Late Fall 2013
7
EDITORIAL What’s Your Story?
T
he 2013 hunting season is drawing to an end. Most of you have wrapped up your season; and hopefully, have had the good fortune to put more meat in the freezer, and are able to reflect on great memories from your hunt as you enjoy a nice, new rack mounted on your wall. While it’s my favorite time of year, it’s also the busiest for me. This is typically our biggest, hottest issue of the year; and it takes hours to put it all together. Collecting the stories and pictures, putting them together, and then laying out the magazine, is something I enjoy. I’m always blown away by the cool content we have! There’s no doubt we run some of the best stories, and have some of the best editors in the industry. Hopefully, you feel the same. My dad’s been by the office several times this hunting season to share several of his stories from the past. It’s interesting how the industry has changed over the years. My dad’s generation rarely paid attention to the size of the bucks they killed or were after. When they did take that into account, it was usually because the bucks were huge. But when he tells the stories of his past hunts, dad always talks about the ‘adventure’ of the hunt and the amazing events that led up to the victory of taking a kill. I never get tired of hearing his deer hunting stories. They make me want to embrace the experiences of the mountains so I can also have great stories to share with my children. As you get ready and plan for next year, remember to keep our magazine in your back pocket. I’ve noticed some of our articles have gone viral online because hunters are finding the articles to be invaluable resources for their hunts. Chappell, Alderman, Shockey, Johnson, Grange, Spomer, Nugent, Burrell, Crump and the others, have years of wisdom; and they willingly share their personal stories. They also are generous with their tips and advice that are guaranteed to make us all better, smarter, more efficient hunters. Reading and studying their words will actually help us to become the guys ‘who know what they’re talking about’ when we head out with friends and family to the field. Let’s not take their articles for granted. Good luck and have fun planning your hunts for next year!
Managing Editor: John Mogle Art Director: Matt Mogle Field Editors: Courtney Crane, Matt Smith, Matson Tolman Copy Editors: Liz Buebe, Sarah Spomer Contributing Editors: Liz Buebe, Luke Jackson Columnists: Steve Alderman,Ted Nugent, Scott Grange, Ron Spomer, Steve Chappell, Les Johnson, Michael Burrell, Eva Shockey, Jon Crump Contributing Writers: John Koster, Devin Jensen, Abbie Childs, Beau Knutson, WD Martin, Weston Norris Illustrators: Courtney Bjornn, Richard Stubler Advertising: 435-528-5080 ads@huntingillustrated.com John Mogle Courtney Crane Subscriptions / Questions: 435-528-5080 Submissions: Send your hunting stories and photos, Picture of the Week / Braggin’ Board photo contest and parting shots to: Hunting Illustrated PO Box 1045 Gunnison, UT 84634 editor@huntingillustrated.com ©2013 Hunting Illustrated LLC PO Box 1045 Gunnison, UT 84634
PHOTO: GRANT MOGLE (EDITOR’S FATHER)
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Hunting Illustrated is published quarterly with additional bonus issue, $24.95 U.S. /$34.95 Outside U.S. Printed in U.S.A.
The Latest News and Insights
2nd Amendment Sucker Punch: President to Sign Gun Treaty -- Next Up, the Senate Interview with Luke Jackson, of the grassroots Constitutional group, Loyal9.org Q: For those who don’t know, tell us what the United Nations (U.N.) Arms Trade Treaty is and why we should be worried. Over the past couple of years, the U.N. has worked toward a “Small Arms Treaty” which gives power to the U.N. to keep a gun registry and intervene with gun laws. Luke: Defenders of the U.N. mandate say it is only to protect people from illegal guns and international trade and that there is no harm here. They also denied for a long time that the project was in the works at all, and then they said it was to control heavy weaponry, but mixed right in the list among tanks and helicopters is ‘small arms’. They argue it only pertains to ‘illicit’ arms, but there is no definition on what counts as illicit, how that may change, and who controls that definition. Former UN Ambassador John Bolton himself has confirmed the fear of those of us who are being dismissed as paranoid. He said the U.N. “is trying to act as though this is really just a treaty about international arms trade between nation states, but there is no doubt that the real agenda here is domestic firearms control.”
We absolutely must stand up and demand our senators do the right thing. So that they know we are watching and spreading the word, send your letters, on your own or through our member service where we have letters ready to go. Q: Will a letter make a difference? Luke: It’s huge -- at least when we join our voices together. Our Senate staff insiders tell us that each letter they receive is interpreted as a thousand voters of similar mind. That’s a lot of leverage when we are together in influencing the thing they care about the most, which is their own reelection. The fight over gun control is not just about guns. It is about the protection of the standard of the Constitution, and whether there is indeed a process that guides this country and protects our individual liberties and national sovereignty.
Q: U.N. treaties cannot conflict with the constitution, though, so can this be put in place? Luke: We should be comforted by the fact it still needs ratification by the Senate, and that the Constitution should still trump international treaty. But it’s hard to find hope in the stewardship of the Senate when we have tracked 22 blatant violations of the Constitution in the past two years. In the past months they have passed bills to make a felony of the right to assemble to protest; to empower the IRS to blacklist travelers; that mandate trackers in all vehicles; that allow CIA to collect ALL electronic communication.
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5FRESH SIGN5
by Editorial Staff
Colorado Residents Exercise Basic Rights
I
n September, the citizens of Colorado exercised their state-constitution-provided rights, and recalled two of their lawmakers. Although the gun-control debate is, and will be, an ongoing issue, the exciting part of this news is the action taken by average citizens exercising their rights. Adherence to assumed political correctness, rather than deferring to the will of the constituents can and should be a fatal decision by any lawmaker, regardless of the topic of concern. Not all states have recall options in their constitutions, as the following information found at http://ballotpedia.org exhibits:
NUMBERS 355 2/8” #1 B&C non-typical mule deer taken by Ed Broder in Chip Lake, AB
States with no known recall provisions are as follows: Delaware Hawaii Indiana Iowa Kentucky Maryland Mississippi New Hampshire New York North Carolina Pennsylvania South Carolina Utah Vermon States with provisions for recall of local officials: Alabama California Idaho Massachusetts Montana New Jersey Oklahoma Tennessee Wisconsin
Alaska Colorado Kansas Michigan Nebraska New Mexico Oregon Virginia Wyoming
Arizona Florida Louisiana Minnesota Nevada North Dakota South Dakota Washington
Arkansas Georgia Maine Missouri New Hampshire Ohio Texas West Virginia
When preparing this article, I was made uncomfortably aware that this option is not universal, and doesn’t exist in the state where I reside! But I know that as a proactive citizen, I have the right to petition for changes in the laws that govern me. This right is a critical one that we all must exercise. Complacency carries a high cost! In the words of the great statesman, Thomas Paine, “It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same.” And if I can borrow another, “If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.” - Thomas Paine. Accolades to the citizens of Colorado who not only exercised their rights, but were aware of them. We all should acquire the same knowledge and exhibit the same concern. --- Rossi
5FRESH SIGN5
226 4/8” #1 B&C typical mule deer taken by Doug Burris Jr. in Colorado
213 5/8” #1 B&C typical whitetail deer taken by Milo N. Hanson in Biggar, SK 333 7/8” #1 B&C non-typical whitetail deer picked up in St. Louis, MO
Late Fall 2013
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Accolades to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Thanks to Pheasants Forever Members For Speaking Up!
W
ashington, D.C. – October 11 – Kudos to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for listening to the voices of sportsmen and women across the United States and re-opening Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) for hunters, effective immediately. This decision came on the eve of opening day of pheasant hunting seasons in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, where WPAs are critical public hunting areas. “I want to thank all the Pheasants Forever members and bird hunters who called or sent emails to our organization over the last few days. We took those messages direct to Washington, D.C. and they definitely were read and listened to,” says Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever vicepresident of government affairs. According to the official FWS press release announcing the reopening of WPAs, “Despite the limited staffing, the Service has undertaken an assessment to determine what, if any, potential exists to open lands to public use consistent with their obligations under the government-wide shutdown, and it has been determined that allowing public access to Waterfowl Production Areas will not incur further government expenditure or obligation and is
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allowable under a government shutdown. Therefore, effective immediately, all Waterfowl Production Areas will reopen to public use.” WPAs are wetlands and grasslands set aside for the production of waterfowl and other wildlife species. These public lands have been purchased by resources provided from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. WPAs are managed by the FWS in conjunction with the National Wildlife Refuge System. Nearly 95 percent of WPAs are located in the prairie pothole areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. There are over 26,000 WPAs averaging 223 acres in size. “We are very pleased for this news and excited for pheasant hunters to enjoy opening days beginning tomorrow. Those opening day traditions are critical to many families. This is not the end, however, and our voices must be louder than ever as attention now returns to the longer term, bigger problem of habitat loss and the concerns over still not having a federal Farm Bill,” noted Nomsen. “Today, hunters and conservationists have proven what we are capable of when we stand as one.” Additional information about FWS efforts to support conservation on national wildlife refuges can be found at http://www.fws.gov.
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Staff
GO BALLISTIC .223 WSSM (Winchester Super Short Magnum)
T
he .223 WSSM (Winchester Super Short Magnum) was introduced in 2003 by the Browning Arms Company, and Winchester Arms. It is a shortened .300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum) case necked down to accept a .224 caliber bullet. The .223 designation is a reference to the popular .223 Remington. It is currently the fastest production .22 caliber round in the world with muzzle velocities as high as 4,600 feet per second. Even before the cartridge was commercially introduced, many were claiming that it would be extremely hard on barrels, a “barrel burner” to say the least, and some still argue that it is a good varmint round for long distances but is very hard on barrels and is not good for medium game any farther than 200 yards. The Winchester-made Model 70 in .223 WSSM has not been revived in the
new Browning-made Winchester Model 70s, but Browning has chosen to use chrome-lined barrels on all of its guns chambered for .223 WSSM and has introduced the .223 WSSM cartridge as a chambering in its A-bolt rifles. Browning rejects the charge that the .223 WSSM round is especially hard on barrels: “The .223 and .243 WSSM cartridges are said to ‘burn up’ barrels in as little as 300 rounds. Nothing could be further from the truth.” According to Browning, the .223 WSSM offers a 600 ft/s gain, with a 55 grain bullet, over the standard .223 Rem. It also offers a 440 ft/s gain over the .22-250, a popular varmint round. This comes out to a 600 ft·lb of gain over a standard .223 Rem, and a 350 ft·lb of gain over the .22-250. For those enthusiasts who have a need for velocity and stopping predators dead in their tracks, this caliber is an enticer for sure! This caliber is a screamer with attitude!
Late Fall 2013
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Jon Crump
HUNT FORECAST
Insight From the Trailhead Guru
A
s I write this application forecast, the 2013 hunting season is winding down in many areas while others still have several months before rifles and bows will be winterized. When it comes to hunting opportunities, I have been fortunate this year to participate in a wide range of hunting excursions. Along with my hunt consulting and hunter services business (HuntersTrailhead.com), I also guide a number of hunters in Utah each fall. As I ponder each of those trips, two stand out in my memory and the events leading up to those hunts apply very well to the intent and purpose of this article. One involved a young man with special needs who had been applying for a moose tag for 17 years. Only three other applicants had accumulated the number of points he had. The other was an older gentleman that wanted one more high country adventure before his body said ‘No More’ of that type of hunting. He had applied for a mountain goat hoping to get lucky in the drawing. As it turned out, lady luck did smile on him and he drew the tag with only two points. Both of these hunters worked hard and each was rewarded with a very special trophy. Each also understood what it had taken for them to get there. One had been waiting for what seemed like forever and savored each and every moment of this longanticipated adventure. The other knew that he had been given
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an opportunity that some would consider unfair, but was just as determined to take everything he could from what would likely be his last journey into these extreme high-altitude habitats. The stark contrast between their accumulated points and the years they invested in acquiring their tags supports what I tell so many hunters each year - “You never know when the tag will have your name on it. Someone has to draw and it may as well be you!” Each state uses a different system to award their limited tags. Some use point systems, others don’t. Some systems have been around for years while others are relatively new. Many systems are designed to favor those who have been applying the longest; however, it is common for those with far fewer points to be successful as well. Using my home state of Utah as an example, it is common for a third of the tags to be awarded to hunters with 6 or fewer points. In some cases, this can go as high as half the tags. The point is - if you are not already applying for these special tags, get in the game now! There are hunting adventures out there that are difficult to find anywhere else - low hunter numbers - incredible trophy potential - big game species that can only be hunted with a drawn tag - the opportunities are there. Start simple - choose a single state
and the species that most interests you and start applying. Build on that as time and finances allow. It may take a few years, but it could happen at any time. My intent with this article is to assist you in making the best decision on where to apply. So let’s go over each state and their drawing system with the species I recommend in each. Watch future issues of Hunting Illustrated for specific unit recommendations. Alaska Alaska’s system of awarding limited quota tags is what I call a “Straight Up” system. They do not use any type of point system and they do not give preference to anyone. A first-time applicant will have the same chance of drawing as someone who has been applying for many years. However, the non-resident hunter is required to hire a guide if they plan to hunt sheep, goat or grizzly bear. All other species can be on a do-it-yourself basis. For those who are considering a trip north, I recommend mountain goat, moose, dall sheep and grizzly bear. Obviously, several of these species can be hunted elsewhere in the US, but Alaska offers top quality. The deadline to apply is mid-December and all fees are required at the time of application. For those that do not draw, there are some over-the-counter options for most species. Arizona Arizona’s drawing system is a modified preference point system. In this system, 20% of the tags are reserved for those with the most points. The remaining 80% can go to anyone. Included in this system is a 10% cap on nonresident tags. That is not to say that the non-residents will get 10%, but they will get no more than that. Anyone looking for top quality elk, mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn sheep need to apply in Arizona. Elk deadlines will be in mid-January with the remaining species not due until June. You will have to purchase a $160 hunting license to apply but each application is only $7.50. Full fees will be required only if successful in drawing a tag.
the drawing. Even with what I consider to be the worst drawing system of all the western states, Colorado is certainly a top producer of trophy mule deer. Almost every unit in the state can and does produce trophy quality deer. Colorado also offers a large number of rocky bighorn and a fair number of mountain goat permits. Some of the top scoring trophies for these species are taken in Colorado each year. If applying, all fees are required at the time of application and the nonresident is required to apply by paper application for the moose, sheep and goat tags. The deadline will be in early April. Idaho Like Alaska, Idaho uses a straight up system giving no preference to anyone beyond the 10% non-resident cap. However, each applicant must choose between applying for deer, elk and pronghorn or one of the moose, sheep or goat tags. With that limitation in mind, I encourage most of my clients to pursue the moose or bighorn sheep permits as there are better deer and elk hunting opportunities elsewhere. In Idaho, you will be required to purchase a $154.75 hunting license at the time of application and submit all permit fees. Some moose units have very good drawing odds and some of the biggest rocky and California bighorn sheep in the country reside in Idaho. The deadline to apply is the end of April. Montana Montana’s point system is a bonus point system with a twist. Each point you accumulate increases your chances of drawing, but in 2012 they started squaring those points. If an applicant has five points, they have 25 chances of drawing (5x5=25). There are no guaranteed tags to those with the most 17 years of waiting finally resulted in a trophy bull moose for Justin. Taking the bull in a blizzard with his father at his side only added to the sweet taste of success.
Colorado For deer, elk and pronghorn, Colorado uses a true preference system to award their limited quota tags. All the tags are awarded to those with the most points. They implemented a “Hybrid Draw” a few years ago in an attempt to give those with fewer points a small hope of drawing a premium tag, but this did little for the nonresident applicant. For sheep, moose and goat they use a simple bonus point system where each point gives you an additional chance of drawing but you need to have accumulated three points before you will be considered in
Early Fall 2012
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points, but this system does shift the odds in favor of those with the most points. Montana provides great deer and elk opportunities, but with the requirement of drawing a general season license first, which is a license you may choose to not use, I suggest skipping those species and going for the rocky bighorn and moose. Montana consistently produces the largest bighorn sheep and some of the biggest moose. All fees are required up front and the application deadline is in early May. Nevada Nevada’s system works the same as Montana. You earn a point for each unsuccessful application and those points are squared in the drawing giving those with the most points a better chance of drawing. Where Nevada differs is that you get up to five hunt choices and each choice is considered when your application is drawn. I know many people who have drawn very good tags with their later choices so make sure that you want to hunt an area before including it on your application. Though drawing a tag in Nevada can be very tough, it is worth the wait. Giant mule deer, enormous elk and record quality desert bighorn roam the mountains of this desert state. Applicants are required to purchase a $142 hunting license before applying and each application is $10 or $15 for elk. The permit fees are due only upon drawing a tag. The deadline to apply is in mid-April. New Mexico New Mexico is the third state that does not have a point system when awarding their limited quota tags. They require you to purchase a $65 hunting license before applying, but Hoping for one last high country hunt, Steve beat the odds and drew a Utah goat tag after applying only twice. After a 2500 foot climb and lungs ready to burst, he was finally rewarded with a fantastic 9-inch billy.
they are unique in that they will refund that license fee if you are unsuccessful in drawing a tag. New Mexico also offers unique opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere in the U.S. This is the only state that offers free range hunts for Ibex and Oryx (the African gemsbok). In addition, this state consistently produces record quality Coues deer, elk and pronghorn. If you are considering hunting with an outfitter anyway, you should apply in the outfitter pool and increase your chances of drawing a tag. Participating in this drawing requires a signed contract with the outfitter before making your application. The deadline to apply is mid-March. Oregon Oregon does use a point system with their deer, elk and pronghorn tags, but the non-resident allotment is so small (3%) that I don’t recommend applying for those species. What I recommend is their sheep. There is not a point system used for these species and there are great quality rams taken each year. Non-residents can apply for either the rocky bighorn or the California bighorn subspecies. In Oregon, you are required to purchase a hunting license ($140.50) before applying. Then the application is an additional $8. The actual permit fee is not required until a permit is drawn. The deadline to apply is mid-May. Utah Utah’s point system guarantees 50% of the tags to those with the most points and the remaining 50% awarded to anyone at any point level. To apply, you are required to purchase a $65 hunting license and each application is an additional $10. The actual permit fees are not required until a tag is drawn. Utah has become famous for their giant elk and mule deer. Record quality bucks and bulls can be expected from several units around this state. Though tough to draw, the wait is well worth it when that tag is in your pocket. Utah also has some incredible mountain goat hunting as well. If you are already applying for any of the other species, an additional $10 application fee for a goat is a good investment in my opinion. The deadline to apply is in early March. Washington The state of Washington has incredible bull elk. But due to the fact that you are required to purchase an expensive general season elk permit ($497) every year, one that you may not use, and a $110 application fee, I don’t recommend applying for elk in this state. However, if hunting general season areas each year while you build your points is acceptable to you, this would be a great state to apply for. I recommend applying for a rocky bighorn in Washington. Though there is the $110 application fee, you
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are not required to purchase the permit until you draw the tag. The deadline to apply is in late-April. Wyoming We finally get to Wyoming – You almost can’t go wrong with any species in Wyoming. Permits are awarded with a modified preference point system with 75% of the permits going to those with the most points. The remaining 25% are awarded to anyone in a random drawing where points are not considered. The only concern in Wyoming is that non-residents are required to hire a guide to hunt designated wilderness areas. This can present some complications for most species but if you are conscious of where you are applying, you can easily avoid these issues. Though applying can get expensive, I recommend almost everything in Wyoming. There are more pronghorn in Wyoming than most other states combined. There are substantial elk, mule deer and moose opportunities available and more rocky bighorn permits are issued in Wyoming than any other state. All permit fees are required up front but Wyoming does spread out the deadlines. Elk is due by late January, moose and sheep are due in late February and deer and pronghorn are due by mid-March. With the 2013 season winding down, start
planning for 2014. If you have not been applying for the tens of thousands of limited quota tags around the western states, I strongly encourage you to start this year. With a little planning and effort some unparalleled hunting adventures are out there waiting for you. Someone has to draw and it may as well be you. This is the year to GET IN THE GAME.
Position your camera to the north or south of your Trophy Rock, otherwise the sun might ruin many of your pictures. Trophy Rock also provides over 60 natural trace minerals to help with antler growth. Enter our trail camera contest at www.trophyrock.com.
Early Fall 2012
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Trophy Rock and Stealth Cam have teamed up to host your amazing trail cam photos! We’re giving away a Stealth Cam trail camera and a gift package from Trophy Rock to the winner of each issue. Send your pics today to: WINNER! mytrailcam@huntingillustrated.com. Jeff Callister Great pics,r eaders! Keep ‘em coming! HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
Scott Grange
Ron Spomer
THE DUELING DUO Supressors
Love ‘em or leave ‘em?
con
By Scott Grange
Suppressors? Perhaps Not “Can you hear those coyotes yipping, dad?” By the look on my son’s face, I knew he knew the answer before I could shake my head no. And my grandkids know, by the goofy looks I give them, that I have failed to understand their simple questions. They are good sports, however, and repeat their questions until I figure out what it is they are asking. I grew up during a time when seat belts were nonexistent, all gasoline contained lead, and ear muffs and plugs were for sissies. I can’t tell you how many times I touched off a cylinder of .44 Rem. Mags. in my Model 29 Smith&Wesson…without hearing protection. Today, I am paying the price for years of neglecting one of man’s most precious senses. If those who do not experience constant ringing in their ears could hear what goes on twenty-four-seven in my head, they would not believe it. The fact that I can fall asleep with this amount of never-ending noise is nothing shy of a miracle. I tell you all this in order to demonstrate my appreciation
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for good hearing, and support for good hearing protection. As much as I hate to admit it, this is one of those occasions where I believe Spomer has some valid points, this time regarding the use of suppressors for hunting big game as well as predators and other varmints. However, we may well be addressing a moot point and here’s why. Suppressors are not as simple to possess as some would like to think. First, one must go to a dealer who sells these devices and fill out a BATF Form 4 and pay $200 for a tax stamp. Once he or she is approved, the firearm, if it does not already contain barrel threads, must be taken to a gunsmith who can install them for an additional $100 to $150. We are up to $300 to $350 so far and have not yet purchased the suppressor, which, depending on caliber and model of firearm, will set you back another $500 to $1000. How many folks can afford between $800 and $1350, on top of the initial cost of the firearm? Not many. Another very important element in owning a suppressor needs to be addressed here. Imagine a scenario where your son or buddy ends up with all the rifles, including yours with a suppressor, in his truck after a weekend hunt. He is stopped for whatever reason and a routine inspection by an officer reveals a suppressed rifle. The only person who can legally possess that suppressor is you and you’re in another vehicle. The
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unsuspecting transporter of such a device is in illegal possession of a Class 3 firearm - which could result in a felony conviction. Suppressors, at first glance, seem to be a good idea. But is all the baggage they bring to the equation worth it? I think not.
pro
By Ron Spomer
Put a Muzzle On It If your parents or friends haven’t given you some good shooting advice, your spouse probably has: “Put a muzzle on it.” They may have been talking about your mouth, but I’m talking about your barrel. You’ll shoot better with a muzzle on your rifle barrel. Or at least suffer less. Muzzle blast is a major crippler of young adult ears. After a misspent youth behind one too many guns (okay, maybe a few too-loud musical instruments, too) I’d ruined my hearing enough to flunk my Army physical. Goodbye Vietnam! Thank goodness. But now I’m known as the guy who mostly says, “What?” Gun muzzles could have prevented this. You probably know
So what’s wrong with legalizing suppressors for legitimate hunters? A suppressed .270 Win or .300 RUM is no more deadly than an unsuppressed one. It’s just easier on the ears. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of trying to shove foam plugs in my ears before I shoot at game. Here’s the deal, a .22 Long Rifle fired from a handgun can generate 150 decibels of sound. An impulse noise of 140 decibels is considered the ‘safe’ maximum. Most suppressors can reduce that by 14 to 44 decibels. Common center fire big game rounds from .223 Rem. through 30-06 peak at between 155 to 163 decibels depending on barrel length. However, these larger cartridges also extend peak pressure over a longer period, so the effect (damage to hearing) is increased. A .375 H&H magnum
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with a muzzle brake can peak at 170 decibels. Science really doesn’t know how much higher these noise impulses might be, due to limitations in testing equipment. The key point is that a 165-decibel pressure impulse (noise) for two milliseconds is equal to 40 hours of continuous exposure to a noisy industrial workspace. If a suppressor knocks just 20 decibels off a 160-decibel report, the resultant bang approaches the relatively ‘safe’ level of 140 decibels, but hardly ‘silences’ the gun. Other benefits of suppressors are reduced recoil (by about 20 to 30 percent in typical center fire ‘deer’ rifles) due to the slowing of escaping gases plus the weight of the suppressor itself. There is potentially better accuracy, too, because the shooter doesn’t flinch in anticipation of the report. I’ve shot rifles with suppressors attached and can’t say I liked the looks or even balance of them, but I sure appreciated the attenuated noise levels. Last July in South Africa I borrowed PH Andrew Pringle’s suppressed Ruger M77 308 Win. to shoot a free-range fallow buck. The buck jumped, dived over a rim and paused in a small gap among the brush 200 yards downhill. I had no time to fish out and insert earplugs, but, with that suppressor out front, I had the speed and confidence to put the reticle on target and squeeze the trigger. Dead buck and I’m still here to hear about it. Despite silly federal laws (tacked onto automatic gun bans passed during the violence of the prohibition years) that limit suppressor ownership and use, they are legal for some forms of hunting in some states. Let’s broaden that, save our hearing and reduce complaints about ‘loud, dangerous guns’ from nervous neighbors. We live under a cloud of Hollywood myth surrounding ‘silencers’. It’s time we blew the cloud away and let the clear light of reality illuminate this issue.
Late Fall 2013
ILLUSTRATION: COURTNEY BJORNN
them better as ‘silencers’, those mysterious, dark, evil devices used by assassins, double agents, and nefarious criminals of all types. Surely a law-abiding citizen like Spomer wouldn’t advocate the legalization of such a heinous weapon? Oh yes I would. The truth is, silencers are a myth. They are really suppressors, and not outstandingly effective ones. But they’re better than nothing. The best description is ‘mufflers for guns’. Just as a muffler on your car softens the explosion of gas vapors blasting from cylinders, a gun suppressor softens the explosion of powder gases erupting from your barrel. The puny pffft of James Bond’s handgun is not what you hear when you mount a ‘can’ (as suppressors are commonly called in the shooting fraternity) on a rifle. Instead you merely knock the percussive, earsplitting (and nerve-damaging), BANG down to a less painful level. This makes so much sense that suppressors are standard attachments in some European countries where gun laws aren’t nearly as reasonable as ours. If a suppressor can be tolerated by the French, what’s the problem over here? Poaching? Please. Poaching is illegal. Why would an illegal poacher suddenly start obeying anti-suppressor laws? He’s already a lawbreaker. Poachers have been working with homemade suppressors for decades, and an effectively suppressed deer rifle is still going to go bang—it just isn’t going to be quite as loud of a bang. The relatively quiet .22 Long Rifle is already a suppressed poacher’s tool. Deer in the headlights, brain shot. Who needs a suppressor?
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PRODUCT REVIEW Putting It to the Test
T
Tofane 1025
ready for the long 300 yard walk to the truck from the show building. If you have never put your foot into something that makes your face light up like a little kid at Christmas, you need to try on a pair of these boots. The first thing I noticed was I had to go down a half size to get the proper fit. For some reason, the Italian boot makers think that Americans all have fat feet. Once I got past this hurdle, it was euphoria for the foot, pure bliss, a refrigerator full of cold Snickers bars, walking up on your first 200 inch muley…you get the point!
o be honest, I was skeptical…having loved my old boots and not really having a reason to change brands. THE TRUE TEST However, a few of my colleagues were all abuzz about a new player in the hunting boot business. Apparently, a wellI love to test products and push their limits and mine to established hiking-backpacking boot company was making the breaking point. Most of the time, it’s my limits that get its way into the hunting arena. And not just any backpacking broken, as was the case when I set out to put the Tofane boot company, but Zamberlan -- the maker of the world’s finest 1025’s through the ultimate test. My first stop was the gym. Italian hiking and backpacking boots. Yep, you heard me right, the gym. Within two days of Could Zamberlan make the transition to the hunting owning this fine Italian leather, I hit the gym in them. Talk industry which is already flooded with boots for the beginner about turning heads! I was decked out from head to toe in through to the professional hunter/athlete? Embarking on a UnderArmor, except for a shiny new pair of boots. Test one journey to see what the buzz was all about, I laced up my was the treadmill. boots and went down to the local sports show to see if I could My average run during the off season is three to find out more about this new player in the hunting industry. four miles every few days. On the day in question, I ran three Finding the Zamberlan booth was easy as it was miles, feeling the stares from truly confused onlookers as my filled with people trying on boots. At first I wasn’t impressed poor, slightly embarrassed wife, snapped pictures and laid as I stood there waiting my turn; then out of nowhere a voice down some video. My attention was focused on not getting said, “I will be with you as soon as I get a chance.” A couple turf toe and biting it -- which would have given the spectators of minutes later I was thrust into the world of Zamberlan something to laugh about. I couldn’t think of a better way hunting boots. First came a history lesson on Zamberlan to test a new pair of boots than running three miles at 7 to and their longevity in the hiking and backpacking industry. 7-1/2 miles per hour. I expected blisters, hot spots, sweating Second, was a lesson on boots and what truly makes a great and maybe even a stumble or two with the added weight of hunting boot. Last, but not least, came the fitting of multiple the boots. Twenty four minutes later, I had finished without a boots that complimented my style of hunting. I was impressed single incident, which impressed me. with the boots. Round one was complete without a Zamberlan isn’t a new hitch, except for a ton of questions competitor; they are a leading industry from the gym rats and some very player making a run for the top of tired legs. Overall, I gave the boots the hunting market! Since 1929, an ‘A’ for comfort; it would have Zamberlan has been making fine, been an ‘A+’, but the boots are a bit handmade, Italian, mountain boots. stiff in the collar region and need a To this end, as a family-run business, little breaking in. the Zamberlan family carries on the Round two, and the most passion of their forefathers. They have important test, was hiking the hills. a love for the mountains and remain When I do a review on a product, committed to making the finest boots I’m not the kind of guy to give a for trails, valleys and high granite knee-jerk reaction or write a bogus peaks. review just because someone gave I left the outdoor show with me something to try or they are a new appreciation for high quality a sponsor. Ninety percent of the boots…and a thinner wallet! As I reviews out there are what I call paid walked out the door, a smile crept reviews. Luckily for me, I have across my face. There’s just something never had to tout a product because about a new pair of boots. The testing it was free or from a sponsor. I tout started immediately as I had my new Can’t get on the hills to break in your boots? them because I use them and they Jump on the tread mill! Zamberlan 1025 Tofane’s laced up and
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HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
Steve Alderman It doesn’t take long before Steve’s put in several miles in a pair of boots. This has been possibly the best pair of boots he’s ever tested.
are great products. I use and test products thoroughly, before sharing my opinions. The same goes for the Zamberlan boots; I wanted to wear them 100 times in the field before I gave you my synopsis. As of this writing, they have been in the field 105 times. And by the time you read this, they will have been in the field over 150 days or better. That means they will have travelled well over 400 miles of rocks, sand, brush, water, mud and even the occasional tile floor. Encountering every test I could throw at them, i.e., sand, dirt, mud and rocks, and hundreds of miles of grueling desert conditions, these boots passed with flying colors and haven’t revealed a weakness. One critical test with any boot is the wet rock test to see how well the sole grabs a wet rock. Other boots start out great, but the older the boot gets, the harder the sole gets, making it like stepping on ice when you apply weight to the shoe, at any sort of angle, on wet lava and granite. The best sole I have ever tested is the Vibram sole, as it stays pliable after years of use. With the Vibram sole of the Zamberlan boot, you have the best boot money can buy, rain or shine. The overall comfort of this boot rates an ‘A’. It does need some breaking in as it is a stiff boot. This boot is made for the mountain hunter who carries his camp on his back. They are what I refer to as a cross between mountaineering and hunting boots - very rigid with tons of support. The leather is an ultra thick, waxed leather upper with a top of the line Vibram sole. This boot comes with what Zamberlan calls a multidirectional joint at the ankle. It gives you more freedom of movement at
the ankle with all the support of a traditional, all-leather upper. The boot’s collar is crafted from calf skin for added comfort. Don’t let this fool you though; the thick 2.8 mm leather of this boot needs a break-in period even with the calfskin lining of the upper collar. I would have scored these boots an ‘A+’ if not for the stiff ankle support. I like my boots a little softer in the collar; but that being said, stiffness is important in a mountaineering boot. Most of the testing I did was in the desert and not on granite mountain peaks. Overall durability of this boot is an ‘A+’ all the way…I don’t care what you throw at this boot, it is by far the most durable boot I have ever put on my foot. Except for some cosmetic scratches and smells, this boot looks like it came right out of the box. The little dimples are still on the Vibram soles in spite of the lava beds of southern Idaho, which are notoriously hard on boot soles. This handmade Norwegian-welted boot is as tough as a boot can come. The rubber protection on the toe is a must-have, here in the boulders I call home, and it still looks brand new. With a quick coat of Hydrobloc and some odor eaters, I could sell these boots as new! Durability gets an ‘A+’, and I don’t think there is any way you can improve on this boot’s toughness. Overall design and materials rate an ‘A+’ as well. Zamberlan doesn’t cut corners when producing their boots. From the Norwegian welt contraction and patented Vibram sole, to the Gore-Tex and 2.8 mm leather upper, these boots have the best materials money can buy. No seconds in these boots, top quality all the way. The Vibram sole has a three part, layered construction for added comfort, insulation, and wear resistance. They are Gore-Tex lined for greater waterproofing and breathability. They are also lined with calf skin leather for comfort and have a Zamberlan RRS reinforcement and protection rand. If cared for, these boots will last you a lifetime. I feel safe confirming that the maker of the world’s finest Italian backpacking boots has made a great transition into the hunting world. There are many great boots on the market; I even own a few pair of them, but for now they have all moved one step further back in the darkness of the closet. My new hunting boot is the Zamberlan! I can’t wait to try some of the other styles.
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Steve Alderman
MULE DEER Keep it Real! Learning From Our Experiences
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s I peaked over the edge of the rim, I was startled by movement off to my right. I shifted my focus and my jaw just about hit the ground. Making his escape, 200 yards down canyon, was one of the widest, most awesome mule deer I had ever laid eyes on. I’ve seen some big deer on the hoof, in the last twenty years, some as large as 260-plus inches, but this deer still took my breath away. He ran out of sight, then up on a plateau 600 yards out, on a dead run -- not
looking back. All I could do was focus my binos on him and hope I would get another chance to see this magnificent creature again. I started tracking this buck through the sandy, windswept soil. Minutes turned into hours, hours of second guessing myself, and wondering if I was doing the right thing. My hunt didn’t start for another four days. Should I chance bumping him again?... or just let him be, and come back on the opener with a gun in hand? I decided that I had to try and
lay down some footage of this buck. I had to see him again, even though it might be the worst decision I could make. Heck, up until this point, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to hunt deer this year. I made up my mind and decided to track him and play the wind to see if I could catch this master-of-escape in high definition for the world to see. For two miles this buck ran, never stopping to look back and never slowing until he reached the mouth of the canyon. I was amazed,
Looking for the wide one! Chasing rumors can cost you thousands of dollars, but when it pays off it can be well worth it!
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HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
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PHOTO: VIC SCHENDEL
The author spends hours researching areas to hunt for success. When not out in the field, there’s still plenty of time to do homework, thanks to Google Maps.
because I had never seen a buck go this far, or this fast, without slowing to a walk. As the tracking continued, I gained more and more respect for this animal. Four hours and two miles later, I reached a 20 acre box canyon. His track led around the corner heading straight in, taking him out of the wind. I played it like any experienced hunter would; I got on top of the canyon wall and worked a half circle pattern around the entire area, peaking over six different times. It wasn’t until I reached my last vantage point, that I saw him again. He was 365 yards away and had spotted my movement. His antlers swung toward me and we were eye-to-eye.
I reached for the camera, but he was up and gone in a flash…and I mean gone. He just disappeared – giving me no opportunity to video, photograph, study him or anything! On his head was the biggest set of typical antlers that I have ever imagined. He was 35 inches wide, with mass, which he carried all the way out to the tips. This buck should score 200-205 gross, and might just have scared the heck out of us if we ever got a chance to put a tape on him. He was huge, heavy, and bladed…and that did not even start to describe this buck. As quickly as he was gone, I ran down to the local store and grabbed my tag. With only four and a half days until the opener, much as I wanted to, I wasn’t going back to look for him again. I had already pushed him twice
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in a matter of hours and I didn’t want to push him again -- for fear he would hold up in a corn field or a place where I wouldn’t spot him again. I was hoping the lapse in time would bring him right back to the first place I jumped him, his home. He lived in an area near rich, green, hay fields and ribbon cliffs a mile away, to bed out of the sun, with water in between. A good friend of mine said she had a face-to-face encounter with a big buck in August, while out running with her dog; and described this new quarry of mine as well as any hunter that knows mule deer. The giant that I had just spotted was the same one she had seen. So here it was, four days and three long nights to wonder and contemplate my next move. Four days gave me plenty of time to make sure my gun was sighted in and scout for some other monster to chase if something foiled my first plan. One day and counting… On the day before my hunt opened, two days after the encounter, all I could do was think of the giant. I checked my gear over and over and made sure everything was where I needed it to be. I even spent time at the range -- one more time -- doing a 100-yard check, 200-yard check, and 300-yard check…not that I would ever shoot that far. I like to get close, but I was not taking any chances with this wise, old deer. To make matters worse, a buddy called and told me about a giant he jumped a day earlier, while elk hunting, that matched the description of this deer perfectly. The buck was three miles from where I had last seen him. So now where had he gone? I was told he went north, placing him even further away from where I had first spotted him. The good thing was that it was in the same canyon and gave me a place to start the search the next day. I had 17 days to turn him up and get him on the ground. Getting him on the ground was going to be the hard part,
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The author is ‘keeping it real’, enjoying the sights, sounds, smells and history of the great outdoors!
considering the last experience I had with him. He was smart and he didn’t stick around when he sensed any danger. When talking about keeping it real, I’m referring to doing the right thing and enjoying the real reason we are outdoors -- doing the right thing when no one is looking as well as doing the right thing when others are looking. Learning from our experiences while in the field, even though each experience is different for every encounter and every person. However, if you sit back and reflect on past hunts, consider what you have done and what you should have done, you may figure out the best thing to do in subsequent hunts. I knew that I had jumped this buck and startled him. I also knew I had done it twice in the same day, and that usually spells death. I don’t mind jumping deer from a distance, letting them calm down, and then coming back a day or two later. But being right on top of him and jumping him twice meant I had to play my cards right if I ever wanted to see him again during hunting season. My best bet 30
HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
was to stay clear of the area entirely and hope nobody else would stumble across him. This was the moment I had molded my whole life around. It was time to shine. This hunt would be my biggest game of hide-and-seek and I was ‘it’. I had counted the days and knew it would be hard to find the buck. I fully understood that I might not ever lay eyes on him again. That has
happened before, when I decided to go after one buck and went home with ‘tag soup’ or as I like to call it, ‘the wife isn’t going to get it’ moment. Regardless of what happened, I would keep it real. I would enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. I would learn from my mistakes and take away things that would improve my hunting in the future.
SNEAK PEEK: Steve got a big buck and wanted to shared a teaser with us. Stay tuned for the next issue to get the whole story. Congrats, Steve, on your well earned trophy and for “keeping it real” for the rest of us.
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Late Fall 2013
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PHOTO: DOYLE MOSS
Steve Chappell
ELK
Elk Hunting the Post Rut The Challenges & Rewards of Late Season Hunting
I
have a saying that goes like this: “Elk hunting is 90% frustration and 10% elation.” Over the years of my elk hunting/guiding I have experienced many highs and lows while hunting these incredibly hardy, resilient animals. Sometimes on late hunts, I think it is more like 99% frustration! One thing is
for sure, more often than not, an elk hunt will test your resolve and determination like nothing else—especially when you embark on a late-season elk hunt! It should be no surprise that for me there is nothing that compares to hunting elk during the rut. No other sound in nature can match the majesty of
This massive late season bull was glassed up by the author from 2 miles away. The next morning the author and his hunter stalked in and tagged this great bull.
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HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
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a bull elk bugle. As fun and addicting as rut-hunting elk is, I’ll have to admit that late-season elk hunting is much more difficult and offers unique and different challenges. When you have met and overcome the challenge of succeeding on a late hunt, the sense of accomplishment is indescribable and overwhelming. Big bulls are never easy to tag. Even during the rut, a big bull will typically have an army of everalert cows watching out for him. When the rut ends, big bulls become very reclusive and don’t tend to stand out in open meadows during shooting light. Mature bulls have survived at least five years, with multiple hunting seasons, by learning behaviors to avoid hunters. Therefore, they are an incredibly hard-won trophy— especially during the late season. To tag a big bull on a late hunt, you must have a winning game plan and be determined to expend maximum effort in order to be rewarded. One of the most important aspects of post-rut elk hunting is to adapt your hunting strategy to the terrain that you will be hunting in. For a late hunt, I prefer to hunt/guide in areas that are suited to glassing. To be glassable, the country needs to contain topography like mountains, canyons, or rolling hills so that you are able to hike to vantage points and glass up elk. Keep this in mind when you are determining what hunt units to apply for. In Arizona, my favorite “rut” unit is not my favorite late-season unit because it lacks the topography that some of the other units have. During late seasons, I definitely prefer hunt units that contain mountainous or canyon
The author prefers glassing late season terrain using the Leica Duovid binoculars mounted to a quality tripod.
country and contain Pinion and Cedar country mixed with browse such as Cliff Rose, Mountain Mahogany, & Serviceberry. Late in the year, elk will switch from being mostly grazers to being predominately browsers, and this is why you will find them in the more rough, and remote areas of your hunt unit. The key to glassing on late hunts is to use quality binoculars mounted on a quality tripod from a good vantage point. If you can afford Swarovski, Leica, or Zeiss binoculars, you have made an investment that will make a significant difference on your hunts for many years to come. The reason I say this is because of the clarity of these optics and, most importantly, the way they perform in low light situations. If these brands are too spendy for you, maybe consider saving for an extra year or two to buy them anyway, or buy the absolute best glass that you can afford. Vortex and Nikon offer some good optics at a more modest price. Never scrimp on your optics, or your late-season hunting will suffer for it! I prefer to carry a carbon fiber tripod on late hunts since they are less weight to pack. A quality tripod, no matter the brand, should have lots of adjustment range, telescoping legs, and a smooth panning head. In the past I have made the mistake of trying bargain-priced tripods and found
them to be difficult to set up and adjust and very prone to falling apart when put through the rigors of a late hunt— something you will want to avoid! These days, I like to scan big elk country with my Leica Duovid 10-15x50’s and use a spotting scope if necessary to judge a bull for trophy quality. If I am glassing areas less than a mile away, I will usually set my Duovids to 10 power since I like the wider field of view and save the 15 power for longer distances or for dialing in for a closer look at a bull that I have spotted. Once I have chosen a prime location to glass from. I make certain that I am there and ready to start looking right at first light. If at all possible, I prefer to have the sunrise at my back or to the side. If I need to glass areas that are into the sunrise, I hit them first before the glare makes it impossible to deal with. The first thing I’ll do at first light is look at all the areas that I believe would most likely contain elk (sweet spots). I call this “cherry picking.” During this first 15 to 20 minutes of light, I am scanning and looking at these areas with no real pattern. I am not just looking for the entire body of an elk, but parts of it such as legs, the rump, or parts of a bull’s antlers. If I don’t find a bull by cherry picking, I will then settle in and grid the country. I like to glass across an area horizontally rather than vertically. Once I have methodically glassed across at
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one level, I will adjust my binos down slightly to allow for a little overlap of what I have just viewed and then pan across horizontally again. If you have ever glassed this way for two to five hours straight, you will undoubtedly understand the importance of buying the highest quality binoculars that you can afford. Just last year, I watched a trophy 6x8 bull for six straight hours through my Duovids with no rest or breaks. Let me tell you, poor quality glass would not have allowed me to do this! Glassing like this with poor optics will bring on a major headache, so throw some Advil in your pack if you plan to use bargain-brand binoculars! Another tip is to carry a cushioned pad or small, lightweight seat to sit on while glassing. This will keep you off the cold, hard ground and allow you to spend much more time looking for bulls instead of constantly adjusting your position because your rump is cold and sore. Another tactic that I have used with success on late hunts is “still hunting.” This involves slipping slowly through areas where you will likely encounter elk when glassing from a vantage point is not feasible. For this type of hunting, 8- or 10-power binoculars will work very well. I carry a Stoney Point Pole Cat adjusted for standing height so I can glass off it. It also serves as a shooting Late Fall 2013
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breaks in the terrain to locate bulls. While elk still need water during the late season, they are not nearly as dependent on it as they are during the rut. In fact, they seem to be able to go without it for a few days if necessary to avoid hunting pressure. I have seen bulls use water sources during shooting light if not pressured, but on most high-pressure late rifle hunts don’t count on killing a big bull over a water source.
This incredible Arizona late season bull was taken in steep, rough country. Be prepared to hunt difficult terrain to find big bulls late in the year.
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rest for my hunter. I use a wind checker to monitor the wind and then hunt patiently and slowly through the timber, pausing often to glass, listen, and smell the air for elk. When I am hunting this way, patience is key, and I let my hunting instincts dictate my pace. If I encounter heavy elk sign or smell elk, I slow down and become a predator. Sometimes while still hunting, if I feel the time is right, I will cow call occasionally as I ease along. I don’t call every time I still hunt, but when I do, it seems to pay off. I have had several bulls bugle back to my cow calls during late November, and a couple even came into the call. Calling in November or December should not be overdone by any means. I like to blow a soft, nasally cow call once or twice when my instincts tell me the time is right. I would stress that calling can work, but it can also hurt during a late hunt if used at the wrong time. At times, calling can actually alert elk to your presence and spoil your opportunity to sneak up on them. If in doubt, don’t blow the call! It’s difficult to recommend hard and fast rules about late-season calling other than to say use it sparingly, and when you do, be subtle about it. I mostly use calls on late hunts to settle elk down when the shooting starts, allowing my hunters to take follow-
up shots if necessary. I’ve even had bulls bugle to the calls while being shot at! Of course, calling can always give you standing, broadside shots at a bull, so there is never a need to take a shot at a moving elk. Another thing I’ve learned over many elk seasons is to key in on natural funnels, saddles, ridges, & benches that elk will utilize to travel. Elk are like us—they like to conserve energy and will choose the path of least resistance whenever possible. While glassing or still hunting, key in on these natural
HUNTING ILLUSTRATED.com
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To sum it up: in most circumstances during a post-rut hunt, you will want to glass or still hunt for your bull. Don’t forget that many times the difference between success and failure comes down to your attitude and determination. During the late season, my hunters and I have succeeded many times late in the hunt by being persistent and hunting smart. I guarantee you will never kill an elk from camp or your couch at home! Remember, you will have the rest of the year to sleep in and either have regrets or relish in the memories of tagging a hardearned trophy bull. Make it happen while you are in the woods this year! I wish all of you safety, fond memories, and success on your late season elk hunts. My wish is that after the 90% frustration, you get to enjoy the incredible 10% elation. There is nothing sweeter!
Another incredible late season Arizona bull earned by hard hunting, good glassing, and fine long range shooting. This bull scores over 370” as is, and would score over 390” unbroken!
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Late Fall 2013
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Les Johnson
PREDATORS E-Calling Electronic Calls and Some of Their Advantages
A
local farmer once asked me to call in coyotes that had been waking him with constant howling. I suspected the coyotes wanted to do away with the farmer’s dog. I decided to slip in near the farmer’s place before sunrise so I could give the coyotes a taste of their own aggression. I parked in the farmer’s yard and walked out through the cattle pens to set up near a natural vantage point. My thinking was that the coyotes would hear a
distress cry near the farm and think it was the farmer’s dog, drawing them right in. I didn’t want my calling to wake the farmer, so I snuck down the county road about 400 yards to a draw that ran north for several miles. As I snuck in and found a nice spot along a cow trail to set up, about three coyotes howled about 300-400 yards north of me. I set up my Montana Decoy, Miss Hoptober, then slipped back to the cow trail. Once set up, I slowly glassed the distant hilltop to the
Predator Quest’s Phantom Calls is one of the best E-Calls on the market and has been proven in the field. This is one of the author’s key tools for hunting.
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north. I saw nothing, but I knew they were close, and once I called with my Extreme Dimension electronic call (e-call), I would get an immediate response. Even though there was a little breeze, sound was traveling a long way—I could hear vehicles on the highway over a mile away. I decided to play my hand sound on the Extreme Dimensions, starting softly and gradually turning up the volume. Just seconds after I began playing, I saw a coyote bounce to the top of the
hill straight north of me. Then another and another. As soon as the lead coyote ripped down the hill toward me, I sat back in my EZ Chair to lower my profile and brought up my CZ 712 shotgun. Within seconds the lead coyote broke over the rise and stopped. I had shut the caller off. The coyote took a look at Miss Hoptober, then moved toward me. When he hit about 15 yards, I let him have a load of the new Hornady Nickel Plated BB Heavy Magnum Coyote. After shooting him, I jumped up went to the edge of the draw to look east, but never saw the other two. They must have run around the hill to the east where I could not see. The lead coyote was a fully furred male. I like to think there are several good reasons to use e-calls when calling predators. Some of these include a wide selection of sounds to use; the ability to play sounds continuously or intermittently at different volumes, hands-free; the
ability to locate the caller away from your position so that the predators’ attention is not directed toward you. As a bonus, after giving hand calls a lot of use, sitting back and letting the e-call make the noise for several stands is very relaxing. Sometimes just changing a sound can yield more predators that want to respond. Some days, if I am walking in to call coyotes, I notice bobcat tracks in the dirt or snow. This would make me sit a little longer on stand and possibly change up the sounds to use higherpitched calls such as “bird in distress” or “baby cottontail distress.” Changing the sounds can yield better results. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given up on a stand only to have a predator appear out of nowhere. Another great benefit is the ability to play a distress cry when the situation permits. One time, I called for quite some time with my “jackrabbit distress” through some thick ceder draws. After 15-20 minutes of nothing
but blue jays fluttering around the trees, I figured the bobcat I knew was nearby didn’t want to venture into the open. I scanned under every tree, but never saw a thing. I decided to switch over to a “woodpecker distress,” letting it play continuously at low volume, and after about a minute, a bobcat stalked through the tall grass. Had I not had access to the distress cry, I highly doubt I would’ve ever seen that bobcat. One thing that can get us all busted calling predators is our outline. One great feature of e-calls is how you can place the call away from you so predators will be less likely to spot you as they approach the call. It is easier for me to spot predators when I’m not blowing on a hand call and can pay closer attention to my surroundings. This brings me to another hunt of mine. It was a pristine, cold morning. The local gas station was open early. I grabbed a saturated-
Need further proof that e-calls work? This fallen predator was lured in with intermitten calling from an e-call placed a short distance from the hunter/author.
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The author has had success hunting coyotes nationwide using a bear/fawn ball .
fat-filled package of doughnuts and filled the largest cup I could find with steaming hot coffee. I topped off the diesel tank in my pickup, then it was off to places unknown to see where I might decide to call at first light. More times than not, I have no idea where I am going to make the first stand of the day. I often find myself driving during the best times of the morning because something just doesn’t give me the confidence that I’ll successfully call a coyote (or it is because as I get older, I rather like enjoying the cold morning with a hot
cup of coffee?). This first spot that I wanted to call was a drainage several miles wide and 10-15 miles long. There were a few rolling knolls in the basin that I could not see from my vehicle; they made excellent bedding areas for the coyotes. Over a foot of semi-drifted, crusty snow made spotting them from my vehicle easy. I decided to leave the area for a little while and let the coyotes do their morning traveling while I finished my coffee. Then, game on! I drove back to one of the areas where I had seen a few coyotes headed
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for a small patch of brush. I presumed they would hole up in there for the day, but wasn’t positive. After strapping on my snowshoes and loading up my gear, I trekked to a patch of brush the rancher had pushed into a pile during the summer months. As I have told viewers many times on my show, I like to call from places from where a prey species might squeal. This was one of those spots—the pile provided a great vantage point for hawks, which compete with coyotes for food. After settling into the big brush pile, I opted to use a sound called the Bear/ Fawn Bawl on Extreme Dimensions. It has proven to call in coyotes all over the country. I let it run for about 20-30 seconds as I moved the caller around to give the impression of an animal’s head moving back and forth. It did not take long for a dark speck to appear in the distance. Soon three more specks showed up near the first. I played the Bear/Fawn Bawl intermittently as the coyotes grew closer. The lead coyote was about 200 yards ahead of the other three— getting several of them was going to be a tough feat. Once the lead hit about 80-90 yards, he circled to my left, trying to get around the back of the brush pile. A soft lip squeak stopped the coyote in its tracks and I was able to send a VMax right into his ribcage. As soon as I shot, I switched the Extreme Dimensions over to my “Kiyi” sound and let it play. The next closest coyote stopped to take a look back, and I put the crosshairs on his back and squeezed the trigger. I heard the whop of the bullet hit. In being able to quickly change up sounds while the call performed its duty, I was able to add one extra coyote to the bag. If you are going to try your luck at calling predators, I believe an electronic call can help put odds of a successful predator-calling adventure in your favor . Until next time, I’m gonna get to CALLIN’! LJ Late Fall 2013
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Photo Story
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MULE DEER IN MONTANA
A PRIMOS BLIND IS AWARDED TO EACH PHOTO STORY AUTHOR. SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO STORY TO: EDITOR@HUNTINGILLUSTRATED.COM
Matt Smith takes out a coyote during his Montana deer hunt Photos: Author/ David DeAustin
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Photo Story
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MULE DEER IN MONTANA
A PRIMOS BLIND IS AWARDED TO EACH PHOTO STORY AUTHOR. SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO STORY TO: EDITOR@HUNTINGILLUSTRATED.COM
Matt had good fortune and a great hunt, ending in this great buck harvest Do you have a Photo Story to share? Submissions can be sent to: Hunting Illustrated PO Box 1045 • Gunnison, UT 84634 editor@huntingillustrated.com
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WD Martin in Alaska for the Moose of a Lifetime
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BY RACHELLE HEDRICK
y dream of an Alaskan moose hunt became reality after my dad mentioned to his friend, Alan Helfer, owner of Talon Air Service (Soldotna, Alaska), that I wanted to book a guided moose hunt. We thought he could refer us to a good outfitter. As it turned out, one of Alan’s fishing guides, Bill Werneke, was also a registered guide for big game. To make a long story short, Chase (my brother-inlaw) and I booked a hunt with Bill Werneke for 2013. Chase and I landed in Alaska on September 2nd and met up with Bill and Alan. Flying out to set up base camp on the 4th gave us a couple of days to get our permits, shoot the rifles, and tour the Kenai, Soldotna area. When the day arrived, we packed our gear into the planes and I began to get apprehensive about the flight; however, once airborne, I relaxed and became entranced with the scenery. We made our descent onto a lake next to a campsite Alan and Bill had previously located and where they had set up a tent - although we noticed a bear had discovered the same spot – so much for the tent! Evening arrived, and as I lay in my sleeping bag, I was excited for morning, but also a little apprehensive about the bear. The first morning we hiked from base camp and made our way through an old burn over to a hillside
overlooking a lake and swampy river bottom. As we sat overlooking the bottom, I pulled out my GPS to see how far we had hiked - sure we were at least three miles or so away from camp, but we had only gone about a mile. Our guide, Bill, mentioned that he measures distances in Alaska by time, rather than miles. We spent the afternoon at the lookout and did not spot any moose. That evening we hunted behind camp, where we could hear and see signs of moose activity, but were unable to see the animals. Day two we hiked again from base camp and traveled about three miles to another lake that was fed by a stream, where we spotted our first bull on the edge of some nearby timber. He was a bruiser of a bull with good palms and impressive brow palms. We nicknamed him ‘Bruno’, then stalked him to within 100 yards, but lost sight of him as he walked into the timber. Bill decided we should make our way into the timber and see if we could locate the bull. We had previously decided that Chase would take the shot if the opportunity presented itself. Making our way through the timber -- quietly -- was a challenge. As luck would have it, we walked right up on the bull at a distance of 40 yards for a brief second. I pulled Chase backwards in an attempt to bring the moose into his view for a shot, but the moose Late Fall 2013
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Pictures don’t do justice to the epic scenery that’s found in the Yukon. The view is part of the reward for ascending high altitudes here.
took off and neither of us was able to make an ethical shot. We hiked back to base camp disappointed. We both knew we had missed a great opportunity. After discussion with Bill, we concluded that the bull we startled in the timber wasn’t ‘Bruno’, but another bull. This did not ease my disappointment as they were both great bulls and I knew those opportunities were rare. On day three, we returned to the hillside location of the first day; however, we ended the day empty-handed. Just before dark we decided to give moose hunting a rest and decided to go after Black Bear. We had seen a couple of good bears on a nearby hillside each day, so we set up a spike camp a few miles from base camp that evening. On day four, Chase harvested a nice Black Bear. Unable to get a shot at a bear, I was still focused on my main objective -- a big bull moose. So at the end of the day we set up another spike camp hoping to locate a big bull in the same vicinity. Day five we awoke to rain, a common theme from previous days, but looking more like this storm would hang around for awhile. We heard some cows, although we couldn’t locate them, and assumed there would be a bull nearby. Sure enough, we spotted a bull on the move, about 800 yards away. We could tell he was a good prospect, but with him on the move we had little chance of catching him. We found a good glassing point and decided to finish the day there, but after 46
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The author’s brother-in-law, Chase connected with this giant bull near the end of the hunt.
sitting in the rain for more than nine hours, my morale was pretty low. I was soaked; my gear was soaked; all I wanted to do was crawl into my warm sleeping bag and dry out. I learned that day why good rain gear is crucial in Alaska. The next morning, my gear still wet, we went back to the same glassing spot and glassed for a couple of hours with no result, when Bill decided to make a few calls -- hoping to hear the bull or cows we had seen the day before. Bill got a response from behind us and it sounded close. We hunkered down near a fallen tree but the bull would not come to us, so we decided to move toward him as the wind was in our favor. We tailed the bull for a distance, but as we would close in, he would move away. Unable to see the bull during this stalk, I knew that if presented a shot, I would have only a moment to determine whether this bull was the one we had seen the day before. Arriving at a pond that was 150 yards or so across, we heard the bull grunting at us from the timber on the other side of the pond. We edged around the pond to get closer, hoping to spot the bull. While stopping for a brief rest, I spotted the bull’s palm and realized that he was mobile and headed our way. Shortly after, he stepped to the edge of the pond. I knew this bull looked big but quickly turned to Bill for confirmation that he was a shooter bull. Bill quickly responded, “Shoot that bull!” I raised my gun, realizing that the bull had spotted us, and shot him off-hand. The first shot
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connected and I quickly chambered another round and shot once more before he dropped. I can’t describe the excitement I felt. My morale had been in the dirt just hours before and now I had just harvested a great Alaskan bull moose! As we approached the bull, I was amazed at his size. Antler size is one thing, but the body mass of an enormous animal is not something you can fully appreciate until you experience it firsthand. The bull was unique and not what I had pictured. His palms had some unusual folds and creases. He had long tines and a six inch drop tine on his right side, along with a 71” outside spread - truly a once-in-a-lifetime bull. Thanks to the help of Ryan, Jason, and Alan, we were able to get the meat and antlers back to base camp before dark, where we decided to get some extra rest and not hunt the next morning. Extra rest provided opportunity to dry out gear; then on the afternoon of day seven, we set up another spike camp to look for another bull for Chase to harvest. As we loaded the plane with gear, we encountered a visitor in camp. A Black Bear had wandered in looking for a meal. So, with a bear tag in my pocket, I shot the bear in the door of my tent! He was a decent bear and made for an easy pack. After the chaos ended, we finished loading the plane for spike camp, where we spent the next few days trying to locate a bull for Chase.
PHOTOS: AUTHOR
The author heads out the same way he came in, only this time he’s got a lot more weight on his pack!
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On the next to last day of the hunt, we located a bull in the burn where we had hunted at the beginning of the hunt. We watched him for a bit and assumed he had bedded on the edge of the burn or in a pocket of timber. We made our way toward the timber knowing a fast reaction would be required if we were to be successful in harvesting a bull for Chase. The stalk was perfect. The bull stood up about 150 yards from us, turned and ran; Bill quickly stopped him with a cow call -- giving Chase a 200 yard shot. Chase made the shot and the bull dropped where he stood. After the excitement of Chase’s harvest and picture-taking, we packed the bull to a nearby lake and transported him back to base camp. We flew back to Soldotna on the last day of the hunt, greatly satisfied. After ten days in the bush - a cheeseburger and cold beer never tasted so good! Looking back, it was a great experience and a great hunt that I would highly recommend. Bill Werneke is as professional a guide as they come. His experience and knowledge of Alaska made this trip an unforgettable experience. Alan Helfer is a great pilot and friend. Ryan & Jason made the pack outs much easier and were a big help at base camp. Thanks also to my wife who tolerates my absence for weeks at a time every fall. Last, but not least, thanks to dad who has introduced me to great hunting experiences.
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“
r parents, Louise
The author with he
and Jim Shockey
Whitetail hunting is a family affair!
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h
ey Eve! Get your gear; we’re going out whitetail hunting in the morning. It’ll be real cold, though, so you have to dress extra warm. This is the coldest winter we’ve had in a decade!” It's one thing to know you have to sit quietly for endless hours in a dark cave carved into the side of a hill staring at row of trees in hypothermic conditions, but it's another thing altogether to actually do it. This week is uncharacteristically cold for early November, so my usual early season hunt is totally sabotaged by the premature winter. “Yes Eve. I know you’d rather hunt in the warmer weather, but there’s a way better chance to get a buck when it’s so extremely cold like this.” I have always known my dad to be a real man’s man. He has practically been raised outdoors and has spent the better half of my lifetime thriving in harsh situations that even the toughest of men would find unbearable. So when he asks me to sit in temperatures that even he finds cold, I know I should be well prepared. Pre-dawn invites us at 5 a.m., with a view that is pitch black, with windows fogged and fresh snow covering the yard. My dad’s diesel truck is outside grumbling; it too, is unhappy with the frigid morning air in its lungs. My mom is up making coffee. I drink one big cup and half of a second. I am too tired to say thank you, and am already shivering as I glance out the window at the thermostat – which reads 2 degrees Fahrenheit. I picture “Death by Hypothermia” inscribed across my gravestone. Usually we have our Heater Body Suits to keep us nice and toasty when the weather gets this cold, but since we weren't expecting this early season cold front, our Heater Body Suits weren't due to arrive in camp until the following week. In hindsight, not very good planning! Doing my best to make up for the missing warmth, I dress in as many layers as I can. I put on two pairs of extra warm, long underwear, one hoodie, three jackets of my own, followed by three of my dad’s XL coats. Added to that
BY EVA SHOCKEY The author’s parents, Louise and Jim Shockey, trail behind her as they push into the early dusk in pursuit of the mighty Rusa!
The author poses with her mother and father, Louise and Jim Shockey, during a cold hunting day.
are two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks, one scarf, ear warmers and the warmest fur hat I can find. In addition, I don one pair of fleece pants, one pair of winter pants, one pair of insulated pants and top it all off with a pair of my dad’s XXL fleece camo pajama pants. Sweating and nearly immobile, I can barely fit through my bedroom door as I try to escape toward the cold air outside. Squeezing through the doorway, I finally get downstairs, into the truck and we head to our stand. Better late than never. “Here we are Eve! Grab your stuff, we’re late. Yes I know we are still a mile from stand, we’re walking the rest of the way. Yes I agree it is hard to get around with all those extra clothes on, you’re supposed to dress light for the walk and layer up once we get there. That’s right Eve, that’s the sun coming up. Yes I know it’s not supposed to rise until after we’re on stand, guess it’s early today.” Near as I can recall, by the time we finally made it to the stand and I finished wiggling and fidgeting around, the sun was almost overhead. We became one with the stillness of the cold, snowy world around us … well at least my dad did. I became one with the inside of my eyeballs. Dad, relieved that I’m finally being quiet, doesn’t wake me. I nap while Dad watches intently for deer – we’re bonding. In and out of consciousness, I finally regain my focus just in time to see absolutely nothing. No deer have
shown up, but he assures me they will if we sit long enough. The sun is just dropping below the horizon when the first doe noses out into the clearing. “Shhhh. Eve, you have to be quiet. There’s a doe standing right over there, get your gun ready. There could be a buck coming in. Shhh, stop wiggling!” Wiggle. CLANK. Tink. Thump. Silence. I can feel my dad’s eyeballs burning through me without even looking at him. I bet he doesn’t think wiggling is so bad anymore, relative to what just happened. It turns out that my depth perception is a little off when I’m dressed in my ten-too-many layers of clothing. With all my gear, my arm is about eight inches fatter than usual, and happens to be eight inches closer to any object, than what I am used to… including my gun that’s resting against the side of the blind… or should I say was resting against the side of the blind. Acutely aware of my wrongdoings, now I have another problem. Reaching down to the ground to retrieve my fallen gun is a feat in itself. Trying with all my might to overpower the 10 layers of insulated cushioning fighting my every move, I strain and reach for my gun lying in the dirt two feet ahead of me and finally make one last advance with all the strength my popsicle body can muster. It turns out that along with impaired depth
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perception, my weight distribution is also affected by my bulky upper-half. The final thrust toward my fallen gun proves too much for my top-heavy body as I lose balance, and both my chair and I take a nosedive and join my toppled muzzleloader. Good thing I have so much cushioning to break my fall. Don’t worry Dad, I’m OK. Have you ever seen a marshmallow lying on its back, a marshmallow with legs? Trying to turn over? That’s kind of like what I looked like, only fatter! After brushing my pride aside and gaining the momentum to roll onto my stomach, I brace myself with the butt of my muzzleloader and the leg of my overturned folding chair and slowly try to recompose myself as gracefully as an over-sized Michelin Man possibly can. The look of displeasure on my dad’s face is a look I’ve learned to avoid since the beginning of time. In this situation, this particular look tells me three things: One, that all the deer within five miles have high-tailed it out of here, including the doe that had been casually standing 30 yards from our stand. Two, he’s seriously reconsidering his hunting partner for tomorrow morning. And three, today’s hunt is officially over.
The author’s father, Jim Shockey, connected with this giant non-typical whitetail during the hunt.
DAY TWO: After a long evening and early morning spent convincing my dad how much better I promise to be in stand today, he finally caves and agrees to give his hunting buddy a second chance. This time I’m out of the house on time, (5 a.m.,) gear ready, 10 layers deep in clothing with pockets full of snacks and disposable hand warmers – my very own tiny packets of pleasure for the bitter cold morning ahead - I am ready to face another day in the Saskatchewan arctic. By the second hour of the second morning of our hunt, my rear end is nearly frozen to my chair. In all honesty, it’s probably a good way to keep me from repeating the incident-that-shall-not-be-spoken-of that happened the night before. I am stuck in Nature’s Straight Jacket, and I am not going anywhere anytime soon. By the fourth hour my hands and feet lose all feeling and by the time prime-time rolls around, I am officially a popsicle. The stand we are hunting from is part of my dad’s whitetail territory, known for having some of the highest densities of whitetails in northern Saskatchewan. When hunting this land, average siting of one to three bucks per day is reasonable, but often one sees up to 15 bucks in one day. Unfortunately for us, with the first evening ruined due to “human error,” and the second evening coming to an end without any action, it looks like Day Three is in our cards. DAY THREE: Day three is a huge improvement from the first two epic failures, but make no mistake, the danger of hypothermia is still real. Hunting in the bitter cold requires respect for nature’s power; however, hunters have their own nature ... a powerful, driving force, a force that will keep that hunter on stand, in bitter cold, in hopes that a giant whitetail will come by. Today is one of those days. By mid-morning, although no shooter bucks are coming in, the only thing that keeps my eyelids from freezing shut is the number of does coming through our stand. The weather report says a cold front is moving in, and dad says the deer are getting their last food before the snow hides it from them. My dad has always said that there are a few signs to watch for when determining the best time to hunt whitetails. He’s says to look for ‘windows’, days when the stars line up, rendering one or more of the whitetail's senses inoperative; windows of opportunity as it were. One of the easiest factors to recognize is the wind. If the trees are swaying around like “drunken sailors” and their branches are “clunking” against one another, then it is time to consider hitting the
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With a nice layer of snow on the ground, conditions, though cold, are perfect for deer hunting. The team heads out to the blind in Jim’s trusty Ford pickup.
woods. Wind is the deer hunter's best friend. It effectively neutralizes one of the deer's strongest defensive senses, hearing, and severely inhibits two others, the deer's ability to see and smell approaching danger. Normally this factor would be more beneficial to a still hunt, because on such a day, it doesn't matter a hoot what the ground conditions are, even a forest floor littered inches deep in Cocoa Puffs won't adversely affect the hunt. The deer simply cannot distinguish between sound produced by the wind and sound produced by a stealthy hunter. However, as it turns out, these windy conditions also aid in the success of a hunt from a ground blind, when the hunter happens to be your fidgety, noisy, clumsy daughter. With strong winds blowing, the chill factor hovers only slightly above zero degrees by the Fahrenheit scale and the slightest breath forms a cloud of vapor around my head inside the blind before exiting outside. My feet start to tingle as they start to freeze, and I think about how nice it would be to leave the stand and head for the warmth and comfort of home…but it’s too late now. I’m committed. Perfectly hidden in the shadows of the dugout blind, we sit in silence as my watch hits the much-anticipated four o-clock. Primetime. Less than 20 minutes pass and there’s action in front of us. A doe mystically emerges from the thick forest that I’ve been watching closely for the past eight hours. Silently we sit, hoping for more. I exhale a cloud of condensed air into the cold Canadian evening. I don't know for sure how long I watched her, but I do know that one second there was nothing and the next, as my fogged breath cleared, a buck appeared right in the open… a big buck. His head was low, as if he couldn’t lift it for the weight of his antlers. He couldn't run easily either. His massive neck and shoulders far outweighed his hindquarters, giving him a lumbering, lurching, awkward gait. But what took my breath away and started my heart
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pounding were those antlers, his antlers. I'd never seen so large a buck before and nothing in my limited past experience provided anything to compare with those antlers. As quickly as I could raise my rifle and fire, it was over. The crosshairs settled behind the great buck's shoulder like they were made to fit there. BOOM! And in that instant my hunt ended, the buck shuddered hard, twisted away and raced his last race, a 50-yard sprint to the end of his life. And so too, in that instant, did the cold leave, the weariness disappeared and hope turned to reality! We’d done it! My dad and I had done what we’d set our internal sights on. We’d defied Nature, fought against the cold and the urge to quit - and together, we’d taken the buck we were after. “Squiggle” we called him from the many Stealth Cam pictures we had taken of him over a three-year period. And in that moment, before we left the blind to see the fallen giant, to touch it, my father said the words that always mean so much to me... “You did it! Proud of you Eva...!” Along with the unspoken words that he was also feeling…’Thank You God! No more wiggling, fidgeting and noise!’ Eva endured tough, wintery conditions and finally put down this big buck she had nicknamed “Squiggle!”
FREAKY
FAST!
FREAKY
GOOD!
™
©2013 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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BY BEAU KNUTSON
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PHOTO: VIC SCHENDEL | RECREATION: MATT MOGLE
very hunting season starts the same for me. In early July, I start hanging trail cameras and setting up blinds; and then in mid-August, I try to cover as much ground as possible in the mornings and evenings with the hope of locating a giant mule deer. This year would have been similar to any other year except for the fact that I had some extremely big shoes to fill after last season’s archery mule deer hunt. Without a doubt, I had harvested a once-in-alifetime deer; but the thing that frustrated me the most was when people began to say, “You will never shoot a bigger one than that one!” My motivation, and that of my hunting companions, is the love of the outdoors and the enjoyment of time spent with friends and family – not whether or not I can “shoot a bigger one!” That is what motivated me to get my butt out of bed at 4:00 a.m. in August, in search of a shooter buck. We had an extremely harsh winter this year, and after I had spent many days on the trails this spring looking for sheds, I was doubtful that 2013 was going to produce many mature deer. However, during the early summer I was surprised to notice that the mule deer herd in our area was not looking that bad...but it was still too early to guess what the horn growth was going to be like. By the middle of August, I relocated a few bucks that I had noticed had potential last year; but they had stayed relatively the same size as the previous year.
E
It wasn’t until the latter part of August that I found a deer that a buddy had spotted during the muzzleloader season last year. Last year, he had seen a basic four-point, with a few small sticker points and a small drop tine off his right beam. We had guessed that he was close to the 200” nontypical mark, but my buddy, Ken, had the draw tag and chose to pass him up. I was quite impressed with the amount of horn he had put on this year; however, the only time I could spot this deer was in my headlights, going to - and coming from - other scouting locations! It was a bit strange, because last year, I seen this buck in legal shooting light just about every time I was out. I’m not sure why, but this deer was pretty much nocturnal. A friend of mine did happen to catch him in some alfalfa in the early summer and got a few long distance pictures. I was starting to get a bit concerned because I hadn’t figured this deer out yet; and, being a rancher, it was time for me to start harvesting. This meant I’d have zero chance to scout unless it rained until the season started. I had some ideas, but he was far from figured out. After harvest was done, I returned to puzzle solving; but it wasn’t till the third week of the season that I had a chance at this deer. I spotted him out in the field before sun up and watched him walk away in the darkness and bed down - well before shooting light. Once the sun came up, I snuck into his bedding area, only to find out that I had no chance. There he Late Fall 2013
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Ken was the author’s close hunting pal on this big-buck pursuit. Ken got this great buck after barely missing a shot on the muley the author was pursuing.
was, lying right in the middle of a slough with not a breath of wind; I wouldn’t have gotten within a hundred yards of him, so I backed out and went back to work. I got back to the farm and told the guys I had found a pretty good buck. Right away they both looked in the box of my truck. I told them I knew where he was laying and if the wind picked up I’d have to sneak away early that day. Sure enough, at about 4:00 p.m., the wind picked up and off I went. I snuck into position only to find out that he had moved during the day. I sat at the edge of the slough and glassed, trying to pick up a horn tip or an ear twitch, but I had no luck. Just when I was going to call it quits, I caught a glimpse of a horn in the sunlight - it was the little buck that had been accompanying him that morning. Game on! I started belly crawling toward the little fella, with the hope that the big guy was bedded nearby. I got into a position where I couldn’t go any closer without the risk of busting the buck, so I just started glassing again and finally picked out horn tips. I was 30 yards away and all he had to do was stand... seems simple, right? That’s what I thought. I lay motionless for a couple hours and nothing happened; all of a sudden, I looked over my shoulder and noticed a 50” bull moose coming up behind me, grunting like crazy. I was a bit concerned because it was mid-September and the moose rut was starting. Now, there were two things that could happen: one, the moose could push me out; or two, the moose could motivate the deer to leave! The big bull walked parallel to me at 50 yards, grunting the whole time. I was a bit tense for a bit because he came straight downwind and stared me down the whole time! Lucky for me he continued on, but when he got to the end of the slough, he
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busted the small buck out of the bush. I figured my night was done but since I hadn’t seen the big guy get up, I waited till the end of hunting time...but he never stood up. The big guy had outsmarted me so I backed out and headed back to the truck. The next few days required me to focus on work, but I knew my friend, Ken, would be down for a week, when my work concluded, so I was confident we would relocate this deer. The only concern was that he was bedding close to a road and I knew time was limited before someone else would discover him. The night Ken got here, it was raining like crazy! We had received an inch the day before and ended up with three total inches before we could finally get out hunting. I was a bit worried that we wouldn’t be able to hunt for a day or two, but we managed to get out the next morning. Our plan was simple, we were going to go sit on post and watch him go off the field and bed down, and then we would sneak in and slide an arrow through him. Sounds easy...but it didn’t go quite like that! We pulled into our spot at least an hour before shooting time so we wouldn’t spook anything off the field. About a half hour before shooting time we saw headlights coming up the trail; the truck stopped and two guys got out and walked out to the slough where we were hoping to locate the buck. That was not in our plans! As soon as the sun came up, Ken could see through his binoculars that the big guy was heading right back where we thought he would, the only problem was the two guys walking around in the slough. I was worried that they were going to spook this deer off the face of the earth. I figured the
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Approaching the buck, the author realized it was bigger than he originally thought.
way they were walking around, the chance of them killing the deer was zero; but more concerning was the fact that older, mature muleys don’t give second chances -- they disappear when they are spooked. We watched the show go on for about an hour and finally the hunters started walking back to their truck. We knew the big guy had gone in and hadn’t come out; only a couple little bucks had fled the country. Our plan now was to let the deer relax a bit, and wait for some wind; so we drove around for an hour or so and then came back to do our stalk. When we got back, the wind was perfect. We were a bit uncertain as to the exact location of
the buck, but we knew he was in there somewhere. I’d seen it before, where muleys will use their same bed - over again - so our plan was to stalk where I had spotted him the week before. Sneaking quietly, we got to about within 60 yards when Ken spotted horn tips with his Swarovski binos. We watched for a few minutes and figured we were safe to close the distance to 30 yards. I figured it would be better if only one of us tried to get to 30 yards, so Ken snuck up and got there - no problem. The buck was bedded and didn’t appear to be alerted, so Ken waved me forward. When I got in position, the buck was still bedded and still had no idea we were there. I figured we would be sitting there until 7:00 p.m. and it was only 10:30 a.m. -- so I was going to have a snooze. I had just settled in for a nap, when Ken tapped my boot and whispered, “He’s up.” I kind of fumbled my stuff together and we got ready. Ken appeared to have a clear shot to the lungs, at 30 yards; but when he released his arrow, it deflected over the deer’s shoulder. I was uncertain where the hit had been, so I went through the trees to get a look and was startled by the buck coming right toward me. I wasn’t sure he was going to stop! So when he was at 40 yards, I drew my bow and watched the Fletching disappear into the deer’s chest. The old buck made it about 50 yards and plied up. The best thing about this hunt was having someone else along to celebrate with. It was a great hunt and one I won’t forget for a long time. Later in the week, Ken, my daughter Mackenzie, and I, took the deer to be measured. It ended up scoring 235 net and 241 gross non-typical. I can hardly wait to see what next year brings!
A well placed arrow put down this huge Saskatchewan muley. This is the second year in a row the author has put down a buck over 230-inches with a bow. This buck grossed 241-inches and netted 235.
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his year I had the opportunity to go to Kansas with my dad, to join a youth hunt for Whitetail deer. Mom gave permission for me to leave school early, and we flew to Kansas on Friday afternoon; but didn’t get to camp until after dark. We wanted to make sure that the airlines had not knocked my scope off, so we shot the gun using the headlights of the truck to see the target and found out that everything was good to go. Then we went to camp to get some rest before the first hunt, but we were only faking, we were too excited to sleep! The first morning was beautiful, but we didn’t see any deer at all. It got hot quickly and was soon over 100° in the shade. Somehow, my lack of sleep caught up with me, and I fell asleep in the stand. We went back to camp mid-morning and ate some lunch and got ready for the afternoon.
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That afternoon we decided to try a different spot. The group had viewed a deer on a trail camera that seemed to be very mature. He was very distinctive with long brow tines and main beams that curved up, as opposed to out over his nose. We set up a ground blind and cut some shooting lanes through a row of trees with the hope that he would cross from his bedding area in the sand hills to nearby wheat and alfalfa fields in the afternoon. After another nap at camp, we headed out to the blind that afternoon and sat very, very still for a few hours… in extreme heat! As it got dark, we had a few deer sneak in behind us. We don’t know if the new blind spooked the deer or if they smelled something, but one of them blew and they ran off. We couldn’t tell if the buck we were after was one of them or not. The second day was a mirror image of the first except for the fact that the wind picked up. The only other
BY ABBIE CHILDS
The hunt started early with a serene sunrise. After seeing no deer all morning, the author could no longer keep her eyes open and took a little siesta just before heading back to camp for lunch.
big difference was that we took down the ground blind and put up two tripod stands side-by-side on the other end of the tree row. While Dad and his friends cut down a bunch of tall grass and tied it to the tripods to hide us from the deer, I went to check the trail cameras and feeders with one of the other daughters and her boyfriend. That afternoon we saw several beautiful, but very young, bucks. The mature deer we were after was nowhere to be found. I started to get discouraged, but dad told me that many times the hunt itself is more important than just getting a nice deer. He said the harder you work, the more it will mean to you when you get one. The third morning was a little bit different. This time we drove way around the field and trees and came in through the sand hills where the deer were going to bed. As the sun rose, we started to see deer coming from the alfalfa through the trees and gradually heading toward the hills where we were located. First came a few does, then some young bucks; then we could see a mature deer with small horns looking back through the trees. All of a sudden, a huge buck with long brow tines stepped out and we knew it was him! The only problem was that he was 607 yards away! I begged Dad to let me shoot him right then and there, assuring him I was super steady and that with the scope at maximum power, it would be an easy shot. Each time I was told to just wait and see if he came closer. We watched the deer as he gradually fed westward, but even though many of the deer came right by us, he completely disappeared into a dry creek bed. After waiting and watching for a long time, we knew
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he had given us the slip again. We went back to camp to eat and get ready for the afternoon. Early afternoon found us in deep thought trying to figure out the best place to try and see the big deer. Should we go back to the tree row leading to the food, or should we try to get in the sand hills where we could watch the creek bed where we thought he would bed? Eventually, we decided to try the trees again. By now, the wind had really picked up and was blowing 20 to 30 miles per hour, steadily -- with gusts much higher. While trying to spot a deer, I also watched movies on my iPad to keep myself occupied. When the deer reappeared, they were very nervous, and were running every time we saw them. Eventually, one of the nice young bucks from the day before, made his way back into the trees, but kept anxiously looking behind him. As I kept watching where the deer was turning his head, I started to see the tip of a deer’s nose. Looking back, I realize my dad had given me some good advice. He had made me study the trail camera pictures in detail so I would recognize the specific deer we were after, from any angle. I thought he was crazy at the time, but when this deer stepped out, all I saw was the tip of a main beam -- and I knew it was him! The time had finally come. I was already getting my gun ready when my dad turned to tell me it was the buck we were after. However, it is never as easy as you would think… the big buck walked directly toward us for almost 40 yards, never giving me a shot. He stopped at just over 30 yards looking down the trees. Right when my dad was getting very nervous, the deer turned broadside, and I didn’t miss a beat. I took my 2-1/2 breaths and slowly squeezed the trigger. The shot was perfect, and the deer dropped instantly! We high-fived and hugged and then ran over and took tons of pictures. We estimated that he weighed 275 pounds. Dad also admitted that the horns were a lot bigger than he had thought. When a friend scored them the next day, they measured 189-3/8”!!! The big antlers and the score didn’t mean nearly as much to me as the hunt did. This was definitely the hunt of a lifetime!
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One of the challenges of this hunt was enduring really hot weather. Nonetheless, the author didn’t miss a beat when she spotted the buck she was after and made a perfect shot on this 189 3/8-inch toad!
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Three hunters take on an average Idaho unit with low expectations and end with a perfect 3-for-3 hunt
1,2,3...TAGGED OUT
My experiences hunting for Idaho mule deer ran a gauntlet of emotions that would compare with a roller coaster. yet ultimately finished with an incredible, picture perfect ending -- one I’m pretty sure will never be repeated again. It all began in 2012, when my passion for hunting mule deer and a casual invite from my cousin, combined to trigger a five day hunting trip. In summary, we only saw a few bucks; and though an opportunity presented itself, I wasn’t able to capitalize on it. Disappointment and frustration continue to haunt me whenever I remember, with certainty, feeling that I had dropped a buck from 500 yards. We walked up and saw a blood trail and tracks, but due to a heavy downpour, we lost the trail. The buck had gone down, yet somehow it had slipped away. We ended up calling it the ‘Zombie buck’! Although I wasn’t able to bag a buck that trip, I was able to gain appreciation for the unit’s potential. When the opportunity
came to return and hunt that area again, needless to say, I didn’t hesitate. My cousin, (Jason Beck), was gracious enough to invite me back this year, along with my brother-in-law, (Luke Gillman). I must admit the wait was long and agonizing, as I anticipated the opportunity to avenge the ‘Zombie buck’. Luke and I made the short trip from Utah to Southern Idaho and met up with Jason to begin our hunt. This hunt is technically categorized as a draw; however, there are unlimited tags so we have the opportunity to hunt this area every year. With that said, Idaho has a great program called ‘Access Yes’, which allows the public to hunt on a landowner’s property as long as they hunt on foot or horse. The program opens up private land to the public, so we took every opportunity to hunt on ‘Access Yes’ land. We decided to pack in and set up camp the day before the hunt so we could do a little scouting and also shorten the opening morning hike. We didn’t spot any mule deer that evening,
but held hopes of seeing a nice buck at first light. Opening morning was a little discouraging. Jason was able to get a quick shot through some thick mahogany bushes, but wasn’t able to connect. To make matters worse, Luke and I didn’t even see a deer, let alone a buck. After a discouraging morning and much contemplation, we decided to move camp that afternoon, and push a little further into the backcountry. We established a new camp and set out for the evening hunt. Jason and Luke decided to go check out an area where Jason had spotted deer earlier in the year. I hiked up to a ridge close to camp, to glass. After a grueling hike, I made it to the top, caught my breath, and then pulled out the spotting scope. Within a few minutes of glassing, I spotted a couple of bucks about a mile away. I confirmed they were worth pursuing and began hoofing my way along the ridge, down a canyon and back up on another ridge. I got within 500 yards before they spotted me.
BY STEVE PECK BY DEVIN JENSEN “Idaho has a great program called ‘Access Yes’, which allows the public to hunt on a landowner’s property as long as they hunt on foot or horse. The program opens up private land to the public, so we took every opportunity to hunt on ‘Access Yes’ land.”
The author and his brother-in-law, Luke, glass prosective hills the night before the opener.
With daylight rapidly disappearing, and concerned the bucks would bust over the next ridge, I set up for the shot. I had practiced this distance and felt confident I could make an ethical shot. I ranged the two bucks, got prone, and squeezed the trigger on the bigger buck. At first I thought I dropped the buck in its tracks, but then I saw the smaller buck and some other movement as it went across the ridge into an area that I couldn’t see. I reranged the distance only to discover that I miscalculated the distance. Somewhat discouraged, I pursued them as quietly as my adrenaline would allow. To my amazement, they bedded down on another ridge about 350 yards away. So I set up for another shot, squeezed the trigger and then heard a click. My gun had misfired. I ejected the round and set up again. By this time, the smaller buck had bedded in front of the bigger buck. It was decision time -do I wait for them to stand up or do I try to slip in a narrow shot? While waiting,
the sun started to go down, forcing the decision to take a shot. I got in a good prone position, zoomed in my scope and fired a round. The smaller buck jumped out of its bed and the big buck dropped out of sight. Thoughts of last year’s ‘zombie buck’ quickly entered my mind. Surely, I dropped this buck? With daylight running out, I walked over to find the buck lying in its bed. One clean shot to the neck had dropped it. At last I had avenged my ‘zombie buck’ from last year. I was thrilled to put my arms around what would be my biggest set of antlers to date. Day one, buck down, two more to go! Meanwhile, Jason and Luke had their own adventure that evening. After hiking several miles and glassing each ridge and valley they traversed, the sun started to go down. Although they knew the trek back would have to be done in the dark with headlamps, they decided to go around the next bend in the canyon. Shortly thereafter, Luke spotted a couple deer up in the top of a
bowl over 1000 yards away. Jason used his binoculars while Luke pulled out his spotting scope, and they determined that the deer were definitely worth pursuing. With only ten minutes of shooting light available, they both took off running up a steep hill in an effort to cut them off. As they crested the ridge and looked down where the deer should be, they realized that the deer had probably gone over a saddle into another valley. Although disappointed about not getting a shot off, they were thrilled to see a couple really nice bucks. Luke got up early the next morning and set out to pursue those monster bucks. He took a different route in an attempt to reach a better vantage point above the bowl where they had spotted the deer the night before. Waiting there for a few minutes, Luke then headed down the ridge, keeping his vantage point, hoping the deer would come back to bed down. Not seeing anything, Luke started to second- guess his assumption about where they might Late Fall 2013
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PHOTO: VIC SCHENDEL | RECREATION: MATT MOGLE
Jason’s wounded buck was found and looked like it was put out of its misery After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the giant bull finally by predators. stepped out. The author states, “He stopped for a moment and I took my shot. He lunged forward and as the smoke cleared I was reloading in case I needed to take another shot.”
Luke Gillman tagged out with this beautiful 180-class trophy.
be, so he moved back up and around the ridge to look in the direction they had headed the night before. Soon his mistake became obvious when he saw one of the bucks heading right toward his original spot. Luke quickly pulled up his rifle and fired a 180 grain Scirocco through his 300 RUM as the buck passed through some thick brush. Running down to see if his shot was good and looking for any signs of blood, Luke glanced down the canyon and saw the buck on a dead run. Getting quickly down on one knee, he fired a second shot. This time, the bullet connected. The buck slowed down to a walk and then came to a complete stop behind one of the few juniper trees on the sagebrushcovered hillside. The buck seemed to vanish behind the juniper. Unsure of what to do, the wait became a mental debate between pursuing the buck or waiting to see if it would step out. Fortunately, Luke chose to stay where he had the best vantage point. The buck finally stepped out providing a perfect target. Luke fired a few more rounds, one of which struck him in the vitals and the buck piled up, sliding down the steep hillside into some bushes. Luke said that he knew he was a good mature buck, but walking up to it created a memory he’ll never forget. The buck was a great, typical, mature, 180 class jewel. After acquiring radio reception, Luke radioed Jason and me to let us know that he had tagged the buck of a lifetime. As thrilled as we were for Luke, Jason also had shot a buck and we were trying to track it down, so our attention quickly
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Jason Beck with his recovered buck.
turned back to tracking Jason’s buck. After several hours of tracking a blood trail that turned cold, we ultimately gave up hope of finding the wounded deer. Discouraged, heartsick, and exhausted, our efforts shifted to getting my buck quartered and packed out. After meeting up with Luke, we shared stories and took a much need rest. We decided we would
stay one more night and continue looking for Jason’s buck. The next morning, acknowledging that it was going to be like finding a ‘needle in a haystack’ we decided to split up and look for Jason’s wounded buck. It seemed like the decent, ethical thing to do. Jason and I headed back to where we last spotted blood, while Luke went down a completely different canyon. A short while into the search, Luke radioed us and said, “You’re not going to believe this, but I found your buck!” In disbelief, we backtracked up the canyon to meet up with Luke to see for ourselves…if, in fact, it was Jason’s buck. Sure enough it was the same buck; however, it was mangled from coyotes or a mountain lion. As impressive as Luke’s buck was, this outcome was equally impressive. Though not ideal, it was surreal. Jason tagged the buck and we all went home with punched tags! An incredible hunt that we’ll certainly not forget!
The author overcame nightmares of last year’s Zombie Buck by tagging out with this sweet typical Idaho muley.
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ruined "
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here’s a good bull,” Cory said in a matter-of-fact tone. It was the second day of the combined third season deer and elk hunt in Colorado and we were glassing a canyon from a high vantage point in the middle of the day. We were surprised to find the sun shining directly on a couple of bulls up and feeding. I was hunting with my 12-year-old son, Hunter, and good friend Cory Hays. Our primary goal was finding a big buck, but the prospects looked slim due to the unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions. We hunted low opening day and were disappointed with what we found, so we were trying some new country at a higher elevation. Cory had spotted the bull along with a much smaller
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one, and we forgot about deer and focused our attention on the giant. It was a 6x7 with long tines and good mass. The bulls were a long way off and feeding in some small quakies so we sat and studied them as much as possible before they moved into some pines to bed for the day. While we watched the bull some other hunters approached our location and sat down to glass within twenty yards of us. We were nervous they might spot the bull, but luckily they didn’t notice him and eventually moved on. We debated back and forth about how big we thought the big bull was but as we settled on a score of around 360. We were hunting in an over-the-counter elk unit in Colorado on public land, so we knew that finding a
BY WESTON NORRIS
The author’s friend, Cory, spotted this big ol’ 7x6 off in the distance with a smaller bull
bull of this size was almost unheard of. Cory commented that it would be great if Hunter could kill the bull. I couldn’t agree more. The bull was a long way off in a bad hole, so we debated our options. To complicate matters, there were two hunters who had packed a in camp with horses about ¾ of mile up canyon from the bull. I had planned on going back to work the next day and taking time off later in the week to hunt, and Hunter was supposed to go back to school. With a bull of this caliber, some plans needed to be changed fast. I decided to take my wife and daughter home that afternoon and talk to work about changing my schedule, and we would return to hopefully get the bull the next day. Cory stayed behind to keep tabs on the bull that evening. We were excited about finding him, but knew that getting him on the ground was a long shot at best. That night, Cory watched the bull feed within 400 yards of his position, and he was able to get some great video footage. Everything fell into place, and Hunter and I were back on the mountain the next morning. As luck would have it, we couldn’t find the bull. We started to wonder if he had just been passing through. We spent the day glassing for any sign of him, and right at dark we spotted him coming out of some pines further down the canyon. It was too late to get into position for a shot, but we were relieved to know he was still in the area. We had a long, restless night, and the next morning we were at our spotting location at first light. We spotted the bull and a few rag heads feeding downcanyon and scrambled to come up with plan to get killed him. They were in a good position for getting a shot, so we immediately went after them. We decided the best option was to drop into the canyon and try to get within a couple hundred yards. We were a long way off, so we hurried to cover the distance. Throughout the stalk we kept checking on the status of the bulls, and they seemed content to feed at their current location, so we were feeling good about our chances of getting a good shot. The mountainside was steep and slick, and I was so excited that I half-dragged Hunter down the mountain by his backpack straps. We went through a thick patch of quakies and when I looked up where the bulls had been feeding, they were gone. Hunter and I sat there in disbelief. Cory was
ahead of us and when we met up he couldn’t believe the bulls were gone. We felt sick. We sat there for a while, trying to figure out where we went wrong. I was certain we wouldn’t get another chance at him. At this point, our only option was to hike back out of the canyon and hope we hadn’t blown the bull completely out of the country. We slowly worked our way out of the canyon and stopped to rest about halfway out. We discussed our options and what went wrong earlier. I was looking down-canyon through my binoculars, hoping for a miracle, when I spotted something in a patch of quakies. I was sure it was a rock, but I dug my spotting scope out just to make sure. You can imagine my disbelief when I focused the object and saw the 6x7 bedded in the trees. He was around 500 yards farther down-canyon from where we had spotted him feeding that morning. We couldn’t believe our luck—we were back in the game! We quickly decided that we would stay out of the bottom of the canyon to avoid spooking the bull again. Our best move now was to sidehill it down the canyon, get across from the bull, and hope for a shot. We slowly worked our way across some exposed faces and got as close as we could. We were still around 650 yards from the bedded bull when we found ourselves ledged up. Our only option was to wait for him to make Hunter enjoys warming up by the campfire the night before his big bull elk hunt starts.
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This hunt couldn’t have ended better. The author states, “all the points on the rack were long than we had guessed.” Good job, Hunter!
the next move. He could come within 400 yards if he fed in our direction. After a while, he moved to a different bed and the waiting game continued. After what seemed like an eternity, he got up again and started feeding in the afternoon shade. Cory had recently built a 280 Ackley that he had dialed in out to 1,000 yards. We decided Hunter would shoot this gun if a shot presented itself. We set up two packs to make a solid rest and had Hunter dry fire on the bull for practice and to help calm his nerves. After an hour it became apparent the bull was not going to feed any closer that evening. He stood broadside at 640 yards. The sun slid behind the mountain. The canyon wind had calmed. It was now or never. Hunter chambered a round, Cory focused his video camera on the bull, and I watched through my spotting scope. Hunter took his time and finally touched off a shot. The bull bolted for the trees he had bedded in earlier. His front legs slipped from under him, but he regained his footing and disappeared into the quakies and pines. A few seconds later, I thought I saw see him roll downhill through the timber, but I couldn’t tell if he got back up. We watched the shot on Cory’s camera but couldn’t tell for certain where the bullet had hit. We only had about an hour and a half of daylight left, so we scrambled to load our packs and find the bull. We worked our way down a steep chute toward the bottom
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of the canyon and Cory set up his scope at the bottom while he waited for Hunter and me to catch up. He suddenly raised his arm in victory—he saw the bull lying in the trees. We raced to the bull and stared in disbelief. All the points on the rack were longer than we had guessed. His body was massive. There wasn’t a single weak point on the rack. Hunter had just killed the bull of a lifetime! The shot had passed perfectly through the lungs and he had only run 60 yards before piling up. There couldn’t have been a sweeter moment for me to share with my son and good friend.
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BY JOHN KOSTER
This picture almost looks unbelievable. This giant boar measures over eleven-feet wide and 9’ 6” long! Incredible!
H
istory is an important thing to understand. It tends to repeat itself if you don’t pay attention. In 2009 I had the pleasure of hunting with Tom Kirstein on Kodiak Island for my first Kodiak brown bear. A quick re-cap of that hunt is helpful as background for the second hunt. We had seen, tracked, and chased bears unsuccessfully and it finally came down to the last day. After watching yet another monster disappear into the alders we found another opportunity late in the day—another bear high up on a hill. I rushed to range him, set up, and took the 250 yard shot, without really getting Tom’s permission. It was a very good shot followed up by a second as the bear ran down the hill. My bear turned out to be a female and now this was one of the few times in my life I wish I had missed. I really felt very low; I never want to harvest a female anything, let alone a brown bear. I left in “hunters defeat” and really felt anguish for shooting a female. But I did promise Tom I would be back in four years, God willing, to go for a big boar—and I would be paying attention to history. Fast forward to late 2012. I confirmed with Tom that I was ready to head back in May of 2013. Another spring brown bear hunt on Kodiak Island in Deadman
Bay is where I wanted to be, with Tom as my guide. We agreed on dates and I arrived in Kodiak in early May, delayed one day in Kodiak by bad weather, a common Alaskan occurrence as many know. I landed in Deadman Bay via Sea Plane, a great part of the experience which Steve Harvey’s Flying Service has been operating for many years. He did some great flying, dodging around the remaining nasty weather. Tom’s crew met us on the beach, unloaded the plane, and Steve headed back to Kodiak Town. At camp we verified my muzzle loader was on at 100 and 200 yards. I had brought a rifle, a .338378, in case we ran out of time, but my sites were set on using the muzzle loader. I’ve had quite a bit of success with my Ultimate Firearms .50 caliber muzzle loader, which has some custom work done by Christensen Arms. Their arrangement with Ultimate allowed some changes, including their well-known carbon-fiber barrel. This gun is accurate to 300 yards and probably would be fine at 400 yards, though I wouldn’t take such a shot at a brown bear. You can’t hunt on any day you fly in Alaska, so the next day we headed Freeze Out Lookout. This
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He’s the Andre the Giant of bears! His paw is bigger than the author’s head!
hill provides a great vantage point that overlooks the converging rivers of Deadman Bay and some spectacular mountain scenery. The lookout is a great jump-off point if you spot a bear off in the distance. April had been one of the coldest on record and May was vying for its own record with average morning temps was in the 20’s. Not very many bears had been seen so far and the snow was still sitting low on the mountains. We did see an older boar with long white claws, but deferred to another hunter. We hunted from the boat for a couple days and saw maybe four bears each day—one was a 9-footer or so, but not what we were looking for. We saw a good boar on day three of the hunt while coming back to the camp on the boat but it was late and he disappeared into an alder thicket. Day four broke a bit warmer, but still cold— right around 30 degrees. We decided to pass on the boat and set out to Freeze Out Lookout again. I was the only hunter left at this stage. There may have been a resident hunter or two still in the Bay, but we basically had the whole place to ourselves. Steve, another guide, joined us for the hunt. We made good time up to the lookout and glassed for a while before deciding to have some lunch. Cold air and hiking makes you hungry! I was still munching away when Steve spotted a bear. Tom zeroed in with his spotting scope—the bear was 2.5 miles away to the east. By how they were acting, this was a big boar. A quick look showed me a bear looking like a Volkswagen and walking towards us with the swagger of a large older male. Just what we were looking for! I didn’t need to ask if we were going to go after him; the guys were already getting their gear ready for pursuit. We left Freeze Out heading east, past beaver dams and ponds on our way to the north side of one of the rivers coming into Deadman Bay. Tom eventually spotted a large pile of fresh 76
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bear scat along with an enormous fresh track. We were getting close to parallel of where we had spotted the bear. Not ten minutes later, as we crossed into a dry creek bed surrounded by thick stands of cottonwoods and alders, we ran directly into the bear. He was looking right at us from no more than 50 yards away. Tom and Steve knelt down beside me; they both had rifles but of course would not shoot unless necessary. This bear was definitely a shooter and Tom told me to take him. I fumbled for my cap, loaded it in, took a knee, sighted in on his chest and squeezed the trigger. Nothing…a horrible feeling! I looked down and found the gun was not cocked. I fumbled to eject the cap and cock the muzzle loader. Meanwhile, the bear had seen this activity but didn’t run off or charge us; he moved to a nearby cottonwood stand. I was now cocked and primed and looking at a very large brown bear who had decided to stand up and rub his back on a cottonwood while looking down at us from 100 yards or so. He was blocked below the neck by alders. I waited. Tom felt the bear would cross the creek bed in front of us, so I took a knee and got ready. The bear dropped down and was walking through the thick alders, offering no clear shot. I swung on him as he cleared the alders presenting me with a good broadside view. I put the sight behind the shoulder, continued my swing, and squeezed. Boom! The amount of smoke that 180 grains of Pyrodex pellets generates is massive; the smoke probably went at least 60 feet up the creek bed. The boar ran up the creek at full speed but he seemed to have a misstep while going up the 10-foot bank. I was pretty sure I had hit him good. I re-loaded the muzzle loader and Steve and I headed towards where he had been when I shot while Tom swung around from below. Steve and I soon found bright, fresh lung blood in the creek bed. We had a wounded Kodiak brown bear trail to follow! We climbed up the creek bank carefully with guns ready. The bear had gone through some really thick stuff. We flanked the thick alder patch the bear had gone into and hadn’t moved more than 30 yards or so when I spotted a big brown head. We moved up on the boar from the right. He was lying down, face forward and not moving. By this time, Tom had come up from below and told me to put another one in him—“Don’t shoot him in the head!” I’m pretty good at aiming and generally never get anywhere near the head. I put one more in behind the shoulder and Tom told me to hit him again, so I did. The boar was well and truly done. I’m sure he was done with the first shot, but better safe than sorry. We went up to him and Tom verified that he’s dead. A lot of yelling and hand shaking followed. It’s a great feeling to have harvested such a bear humanely and with no real drama following the shot. It’s most definitely a large male. We take a lot of pictures and some video. Sadly, we hadn’t had time to get the
This 14-15 year-old boar weighs near 1000 pounds, with an official SCI score of 28 6/16-inches.
The fierce ability of wolves is apparent in the size and strength of their frames, their speed, fearlessness, cunningnus and their flesh-tearing fangs.
video camera out when we encountered the bear. That would’ve been quite a show—we did have some drama when we first ran into him. Tom and Steve began the skinning and caping process. Tom believed the skull would be in the high 27 inch range and was over 10 feet. He’s a very conservative man so I knew it would be bigger. The boys packed up the cape, the skull, and all the stuff that goes along with a brown bear hunt on Kodiak Island, while I took on some of their items. They still had the heavy packs. We had a 5 ½ to 6 mile hike back to camp. Even without the up and down any large mountains on the way back, it was still a long hike. I appreciated them carrying the very heavy packs; I was just shy of 8 months post ruptured Achilles tendon and the related surgery. I was having a very good workout on my ankle as it was. We had to side track up a hill to avoid a particularly high tide and finally got in around 1 a.m. in the morning. We ate a bit, had a celebratory drink, and hit the sack. In the morning while we were waiting for Steve Harvey to pick me up the guys did a bit more skinning of the hide and cleaned up the skull as best they could, getting
a rough measure at 28 ¼”. Steve landed around mid-day and we loaded up the Widgeon and flew back to Kodiak Town. Mary Ann Harvey drove me over to Game and Fish to get the full measure on skull and skin. The chief biologist and his assistant also came up with 28 ¼ on the skull and a rough measure on the skin was 11’ 1” wide and 9’ 6” long. That totals 21’ 7”. I’m told you then divide that total in half to get the “squared” total, which comes to 10’ 8”—nearly an 11-footer and still a bit wet and not completely ‘fleshed’, so he should easily make the 11 foot squared mark! The head biologist thought the bear was probably between 14 and 15 years old and Tom thought he’d weigh at least 1,000 pounds. Pretty hefty for a spring bear! An SCI scorer in Anchorage measure the boar for submission—the official score came out as 17 5/16 long and 11 1/16 wide for a total score of 28 6/16 and the score sheet will be submitted. Unofficially, I have harvested the SCI #3 Kodiak brown bear with a muzzle loader! I am a very happy camper. I had told Tom I would be back in four years and redeem myself, and I think I did!
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By Courtney Bjornn
Just For Laughs
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ley • Elk Jordan Stai • 2013 co New Mexi
Derek Lucero • Mule Deer Utah • 2013
“This issu e’s winner ” Winner: Bradley Fi fe
Frank Guzman • Elk 2013
Goat • Mountain Matt Ward Utah • 2013
Win Vortex Binos!
Each issue of Hunting Illustrated we will be giving away a pair of Vortex binos to the Braggin’ Board photo winner. We would love to see your photo in the mag. All you need to do is send it to us! We select our favorites to show in each issue. editor@huntingillustrated.com Randy Shol ey • Elk 2013
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Jon Copple • Elk New Mexico • 2013
Shelby Wood • Black Be ar Saskatchew an, CA • 20 13
Rod Radlinger • Whitetail Wisconsin • 2013
ward • Shauna Wood 2012
g • Elk Jared Youn Utah • 2013
Whitetail
John Barcla y • Elk Utah • 2013
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Braggin’ Board Submission
Send Photos To: editor@huntingillustrated.com
Scott Maho ney • Blac ktail Deer California • 2013
Each issue’s photo selected as the Braggin’ Board photo winner will be selected by the Hunting Illustrated team. Send in your entry today. Please use high resolution images. www.HuntingIllustrated.com Jeff Mossop • Elk Utah • 2013
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2013 GEAR REVIEW CANYON COOLERS - OUTFITTER 65 We were blown away by this cooler! Everything from the double-walled construction to the marine grade latches; this cooler is premium! We used the cooler on several outings and instantly loved a few features. First, is the slide skids on the bottom of the cooler. Anyone who has ever put a cooler in the back of a pickup understands why these are awesome. The skids are literally welded to the cooler. No parts to replace or feet that can come off. Second, we loved the handle system that uses a rope and handle. It works great but doesn’t waste space when you aren’t carrying it. Bottom line is this – the Canyon Cooler provides performance and longevity to match any of the four coolers in this review. Canyon is a smaller sized company, but is producing a remarkable product in a very competitive industry. www.canyoncoolers.com YETI COOLERS - TUNDRA 65 All of us have seen or heard of Yeti Coolers. Their commercials are well done and they have built a very tasteful product. After using the Tundra 65 we can comfortably say that they have built a superb cooler. The ice retention and components are excellent. Yeti uses a full-frame gasket in the lid of the cooler that effectively keeps the cold in and the heat out. Both Yeti and Canyon Coolers use a similar rope handle system. Yeti coolers use a rubber latch system and drain system that is very solid. www.yeticoolers.com
CAMP CHEF - RANGER II The Ranger II is a big stove in a compact body. Powerful, yet portable. Each burner pumps out all the heat you will need to cook a delicious hot meal. This is the best way to get the power of a big stove without extra packing and taking up more space. Coming in at just 14 pounds, it’s lightweight and small enough that your horse just might thank you if you’re packing it in for the hunt.. www.campchef.com
ENGEL – DEEP BLUE 65 The Deep Blue 65 from Engel Coolers was one of the more impressive coolers we tested. With thicker sidewalls, base, and insulation than the competitors, buyers will be hard-pressed to find a cooler that keeps ice longer then the Deep Blue, which at the end of the day is what we all want (8-10 days!) But this cooler doesn’t stop there. Its marine grade, recessed latches are attached with stainless steel inserts to provide longevity and allow for years of abuse. Multiple tie down options are available on this cooler, making it a breeze to secure in the bed of any truck or SUV. And finally, the air-tight, reinforced lid has a silicone gasket, instead of the usual rubber gasket, which creates an air-tight seal. This cooler is worth its weight in gold on long multi-day trips in the field or summer outings on the lake. www.engel-usa.com
GRIZZLY COOLERS - GRIZZLY 150 Grizzly Cooler asked us to review a 150 liter cooler. For the record, a 150 liter cooler is HUGE! This is the perfect hunting cooler. You can fit a wide range of meat in this cooler and still have options. If you had them quartered, you could easily fit two elk in this cooler. The Grizzly 150 is ideal for an August archery elk or big game hunt where meat loss, caused by high temperatures, is a serious concern. This cooler features similar latches to the rubber latches used on the Yeti; however, one of the big differences is that this cooler has solid molded handles on each end. These are needed with a cooler this size, but it does require more space for the cooler. Over all, this cooler is very substantial and would be a cooler that would be around for a long, long time. www.grizzlycoolers.com
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INTRODUCING NOSLER ACCUBOND LR. WITH CONTROLLED EXPANSION.
dLL ndLR on bo cc bon ccu m Acc m/A m/Accu om/ co err..co e ler N lle Nos
■
01 3701 .3701 5.37 85 285 02 00. 800
ps 3200 ffpps 3200 320
fpss 33000 fps 230 23
ps ps 300 ffps 300 1130 13
2013 GEAR GUIDE REVIEW CASTING CREATIONS CAMO-LIT SKULL Dont let your mount fade out in the dark, Light it up! Casting Creation is the Home of the original Camo-Lit skull, Made in the USA for hunters to mount antlers on. We offer a variety of camo pattern options and the skull comes with a light kit / mounting hardware. Talk about have a conversation piece! We also clean and camo real skulls, check out our website www.camoitup.biz
ALPS OUTDOORZ TRAVERSE While being a bit heavy for a day pack (6 lbs. 12 oz.), it fits more comfortably than most and has enormous amounts of room for packing dang near everything you need for an outing on the hill. Available in Realltree AP and Realtree Max-1 camo patterns. www.alpsoutdoorz.com PRINCETON TEC - VIZZ The newest headlamp from Princeton Tec, the Vizz, is durable, versatile, waterproof and bright. A 150 lumen Maxbright LED light provides long-distance visibility up to 90 meters; two dimmable, white Ultrabright LEDs balance battery life with brightness; and two Ultrabright red LEDs preserve night-adjusted vision. A large push-button switch makes the Vizz easy to use with gloves on. Waterproof up to one meter, for up to 30 minutes, the Vizz is an excellent headlamp for outdoor adventures. With up to 150 hours of run time, the Vizz also has a built-in battery power meter, so you’ll know when it’s about time to switch out the three AAA batteries it uses. MSRP: $49.99. www.princetontec.com/vizz
FEATHERED FRIENDS - HUMMINGBIRD UL 20 When one thinks about quality down bags for the backcountry one of the brands that always comes to mind is Feather Friends. We tested the Hummingbird UL 20. This bag is quality! It features a narrow mummy shape but is still roomy. The soft down and continuous baffles in the bag combined with the Flite ripstop interior make the bag a joy to sleep in. We tested the bag on several mountain trips and fell in love with it! It is very light weight at 1 lb 9 ounces and is rated to 20 degrees. This bag is the ideal backpack/hunting bag. www.featheredfriends.com
ALPS OUTDOORZ COMMANDER+PACK BAG This pack was tested during a 3-day deer hunt pack-in to the Idaho wilderness. This pack provided enough room to pack everything for stayin on the hills for several days. During a deer packout, there was frustration getting it snug enough to fit without the back bar hitting my head but finally got it situated for a comfortable packout. www.alpsoutdoorz.com
YAMAHA - ALL-NEW VIKING SIDE-BY-SIDE Yamaha’s all-new Viking Side-by-Side vehicle is setting a new standard in the multi-purpose segment. Based on a utility platform capable of hauling 600-pounds and towing another 1,500-pounds, it combines Yamaha’s most powerful four-wheel drive engine with a comfortable and confidenceinspiring three-person cab, precision steering and class-leading handling. Every Viking is assembled in the U.S.A. at Yamaha’s factory in Newnan, Georgia.. www.yamaha-motor.com PHONE SKOPE - IPHONE 5 KIT Phone Skope has done what many of us have tried to do in our sheds using super-glue, plastic fittings and PCP pipe. They’ve made it possible for your IPhone (options available in other phones as well) camera to fit perfectly against your optics so you can get amazing high-res photos and video. This product has been blowing up and thousands of hunters are adding this to their must-have gear. Get yours today! www.phoneskope.com
LIGHTWEIGHT GEAR GUIDE BOWTECH CARBON KNIGHT It’s claimed to be the lightest premium bow ever made at 3.2 lbs. “BOWTECH generally doesn’t introduce bows mid-year, but the Carbon Knight was too good to hold any longer,” said Samuel Coalson, Director of Marketing for BOWTECH. “It is the perfect example of why BOWTECH builds the best bows on the market. We have pushed the limits of technology in search of peak performance and created a strong, lightweight carbon bow with a smooth draw and all the speed you need.”. www.bowtecharchery.com
TENZING - TZ 4000 The TZ 4000 is the everyday hunter’s pack we’ve been looking for. With space to carry enough gear to spike out for a few days, or light enough to grab and head up the hill on a quick day hunt, this pack has it all. With plenty of compartments that are arranged in a vertical design and multiple compression straps in all the ideal locations, this pack allows hunters to be prepared for anything. Comfort is at a premium with its adjustable torso suspension, rigid internal frame, and padded hip support. The rock solid construction and lightweight quiet material exhibits the common thread of top quality we’ve come to expect from Tenzing. This is easily one of the top packs available on the market today. . www.tenzingoutdoors.com
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ZAMBERLAN - 1038 NEVEGAL NW The latest addition to Zamberlan’s Norwegian Welted boot line, the 1038 Nevegal NW is refined and classic. Using Norwegian Welted construction and a new, lightweight dual-density PU and Vibram outsole, Zamberlan has once again expertly blended old world quality with new world technology. Hand-crafted in Italy, $400. www.zamberlanusa.com
FIRST LITE - BOUNDARY STORMTIGHT The Boundary Stormtight Jacket is the weatherproof shell component of the First Lite Layering Kit. Using patented Cocona Technology and the industries best DWR and lamination combined with custom constructed fabrics made to First Lite specifications, the Boundary Stormtight provides unsurpassed protection against the harshest conditions Mother Nature has to offer. There are so many features in this compact, packable jacket that they can’t all be listed making the Boundary Stormtight the perfect jacket for chasing that monster bruin in B.C.. www.firstlite.com
SAFARI TUFF - ARROWMASTER DUIKER DELUXE QUIVER This quiver perfectly answers both the needs of the traditional and compound archer alike. It conceals and protects your arrows perfectly, yet the arrow access is remarkable. The Duiker Quiver holds 5-6 broadhead arrows, has a foam bottom that provides a safe, rattle-free solution, and also keeps the broadheads sharp. The Duiker works well with a backpack. I personally use the side pocket for my tags, a knife, and a survival kit and I am still incredibly mobile and quiet. The quiver is also perfect for hunting in a tree stand or on a 3D course. . www.safarituff.com
TENZING - TZ 1250 This could easily become the pack one uses the most because of it’s versatility, comfort (unless you have a bow or rifle slinged, you’ll forget you have it on), packing room and weight. While scouting or out for a short distance hunt, you’ll reach for this pack everytime. You can easily sling your bow or rifle and be moving up the trails quicker than you ever have. Fanny packs aren’t for nerds anymore! www.tenzingoutdoors.com
FIERCE FIREARMS - FURY EDGE Fierce Firearms introduces the New Fury EDGE. The 60 degree stainless steel triad bolt action makes this rifle quick to cycle for follow up shots and keeps your hand out of the way of todays large turret scopes. The fluted bolt cut to minimum tolerances glides through the action smoothly and effortlessly . The NEW Fury Edge come standard with a fluted barrel, crisp 2 3/4 lb trigger with a three position safety, sako style extractor, detachable magazine and our Last Guard coating that not only weatherproofs the rifle but ads to its already smooth performance. Put all of that into a bedded carbon fiber stock and you have a master piece that only Fierce Firearms can bring you. You would expect this custom rifle to sell for over $5,000 but our introductory price is only $1,995 and weighs in at just over 6 lbs. We also offer carbon fiber barrels from our Custom Shop. The Edge comes in most standard cartridges. Titanium and tactical receivers will be available in spring of 2014. Call 435-528-5080 to order yours today. www.fiercearms.com
BADLANDS - HYBRID JACKET Comfortable, lightweight and warm. Plus, it’s a good looking piece of hunting apparel. The Hybrid is the only hunting jacket ever made combining fleece and softshell and scent management- all tied together with a Wind proof breathable membrane. www.badlandspacks.com
RIZZINI - ARTEMIS LIGHT The Artemis Light has an aluminum body and is quick and light, yet firm. Adorned in lazer engraved side plates with gold inlay and hand-selected Turkish walnut wood, this amazing over/under will perform solidly against any fine shotgun brand on the market. With the relaunch of Rizzini in the USA in the last year, the brand is building a strong reputation in both the hunting and competition arenas. Available in .410 ga and .28 ga, this is a great gun to have in the collection. www.rizziniusa.com
PELLET
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SMOKER SAVOR THE SIMPLICITY! Take your outdoor cooking to the next level with the Camp Chef Pellet Grill and Smoker DLX. Designed with the home griller in mind, built-in features simplify the process of smoking. The included digital temperature readout takes the guesswork out of the cooking process. The Pellet Grill and Smoker features range from innovative digital smoker controls to dual temperature sensors. Discover the real secret of award winning BBQ cooks, low and slow smoking. – PG24
Michael Burrell
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Not Your Traditional Hero
hat does the mule deer mean to you? For the average American, the mule deer is just a floppy-eared, grey-coated deer with a white rump and a rope-like tail. I happen to have a passion and love for mule deer and I know I’m not the only one. The other day, my 12 yr. old girl asked if I had a hero or an idol that’s alive today. I thought about it and replied with a nod, “An old mule deer buck.” She rolled her eyes with
an ‘I should’ve known’ face and gave a deep sigh. But I was serious. Recently, I was four mornings into an archery deer hunt sitting atop a sage knoll. Typically, I have my own personal rules, i.e., not listening to music or the news, and not thinking about the day-to-day norm while I’m hunting. My personal approach in connecting with nature has kept me relatively sane through the years. But
When asked by his 12-year old daughter about who was his idol that’s still living, the author replied, “An old mule deer buck.”
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this day, for whatever reason, I had broken my own rules and my mind wandered to work issues, our country’s future, my kids’ futures - all pressing items but ones I couldn’t resolve from my present perch. They were simply interfering with my hunt. Who is this Syrian dictator that uses chemical warfare on children? I hope everything is running smoothly at work. Did my mortgage clear this month? Meanwhile, I glassed up a buck that easily exceeded 30” wide and was wrapped in velvet. “A drop tine,” I whispered to myself and instantly my mind was clear of interfering thoughts as I eagerly watched the buck’s every move through my binoculars. From somewhere deep within, feelings of envy grew inside me. I don’t have antler envy, nor do I grow jealous of other hunter’s buck success. I simply envy the life of a mature muley buck. I’d like the sun to find me each morning on these mountain slopes. I envy the uncomplicated life of a deer and resent our overly complex human brains and the layers of politics, plastic, and chaos we suffocate ourselves with. I glanced down at my traditional stick bow and smiled. Honestly, I had little confidence in my ability to sneak up and kill such a wide buck, or any buck for that matter, within my 25 yard range. Although I’ve killed some nice bucks over the years, a 30” buck has always been one step ahead, but this hasn’t stopped me from trying to tear down that veil that separates me from them. The morning sun peered from behind the eastern horizon and highlighted the buck. He was regal - posing there with wide antlers and a heavy, sway-backed body. I was engrossed as I watched this aged buck exhibit his intelligence. The buck was aware of all ambient noises and movements as his eyes and ears could only detect pieces of a potential threat: the noise of rolling rock or a flash of movement in the shadows. Nosing the thermals often with credulous assurance, and relying on his olfactory senses to tell the whole story, he watched his back trail for minutes at a time as if expecting an unwanted visitor. Experience had taught the buck to be wary and trusting of his instincts. His behavior epitomized self-reliance and survival qualities I’ve worked on in my own life. As the shadows shortened and the buck considered bedding options, two side-byside mahogany trees, which provided shaded multiple deer beds, were the obvious choice to me; but apparently they were too obvious for a mature buck. Age and wisdom was evidenced as the buck glared at the trees and turned away cautiously, walking in a ‘J’ pattern and bedding
300 yards further away, under a solitary bitterbrush surrounded by tall sage and serviceberry. For you who have watched mature buck behavior, you understand it is not merely coincidence, but strategic planning on the deer’s part that includes pre-planned escape routes and well-hidden beds all based on prior good and bad experiences. Once the buck was bedded, I couldn’t even see antler tips. These old bucks rely on good decision-making and constant alertness to detail, as their life depends on it. The upward thermals were finally steady and it was time to make my stalk. My feet were wrapped in three layers of wool but still sensitive enough that I could feel each stick and rock underneath me. I thought about the mountain lion’s pads and hair underneath their feet that enable them to muffle sounds and move with stealth. Like a lion, my footsteps were noiseless and with the wind in my face I was closing the distance quicker than I predicted. Still, with many of the elements in my favor I worried about the extra sensory advantages big bucks seem to possess. Electromagnetic field detection, brain telepathy, heat thermal detection I’ve heard it all, although I don’t personally believe deer possess any of them, not that it really matters. If you’ve experienced how acute all five of their actual senses are, you know you can’t be too quiet or too patient in your stalk. What I would give to get rid of this tinnitus and possess just a quarter of the hearing capability of this buck. I was within 30 yards of the buck and still couldn’t see even antler tips. My throat was parched, my ears plugged up, and I constantly Do deer have a sixth sense that helps them sense when danger is drawing near? Many have speculated as they try to draw in on them during the stalk. Can the author get close enough to this wise, old, big buck for the kill?
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“I approached the dying buck in disbelief that I had fooled such an admirable creature. The moment was surreal. More than just a lifetime goal of mine; this buck represented every characteristic I look for in a hero.”
fought the shaking in my knees (I could’ve used some water). Some call it buck fever, but I tend to get its symptoms when I’m up close to a big buck. Maybe it’s me that possesses a sixth sense? I sense energy when I am in a big buck’s bedroom - almost like I am skirting the edges of his force field or radar - which jolts me with liveliness unlike anything I’ve felt. My three fingers held tension on my bowstring, pinching the knocked arrow between my middle and index fingers. I was ready for anything, knowing big bucks are known for their unpredictability. That is how they survive. That buck could pull a quick-witted move and escape from close range without even a shot. I crept closer…then closer…staying unexpectedly composed. I found myself eight yards from the bedded buck, the closest I’ve ever been to such an old veteran.
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Amazingly, in a few seconds of my life that are forever etched into the forefront of my memory, I kept my composure and snuck a fatal arrow into the old buck. I approached the dying buck in disbelief that I had fooled such an admirable creature. The moment was surreal. More than just a lifetime goal of mine; this buck represented every characteristic I look for in a hero: regal, wary, intelligent, selfreliant, strong, sensory, quick-witted, honest, and a symbolic icon of western freedom. I couldn’t help but feel sadness that I was responsible for cutting the warrior’s life short; nevertheless, I justified the hunt knowing another buck would take his place, just as our children will take ours. Some of you may believe that I’ve given the mule deer - larger-than-life, almost super-natural attributes. However, based on my own experiences, this is what the mule deer means to me and why I find myself longing to be near them.
5MULE DEER WATCH5
Š2009 Vortex Optics
X-FACTOR PERFORMANCE: Designed to exceed the perfomance requirements of western long-range hunting, our XR optical coatings deliver incredible image detail with extremely high resolution and light transmission. XD glass objective lens elements are carefully selected and precision crafted to exacting standards for true-to-life images of startling clarity and color accuracy. And our XT optical design virtually eliminates abbberation for edgeto-edge accuracy.
Opening Day Every Day
Getting skunked is good for you. Well, up to a point, of course. 21 days in a row is borderline psyche overload for this old bowhunter, but I think we can agree that the more difficult the pursuit, the more satisfying the success. Just take a look at Mrs. Nugent, won’t you? Twenty-five years ago she didn’t want to have a thing to do with me. Oh, how sweet it is! Floundering about like an overworked guitar player, I climbed into my many home tree stands day after day following the greatest summer-long musical jihad of my Motown life. We kicked off this 94
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year’s 80-concert run, Ted Nugent BlackPower2013, way back in April and pretty much rocked nonstop through September 1st. As the tour throttled on, I was far beyond pooped, but hunted, trapped and or fished every day I had off, you know, to “cleanse the soul” and recharge my spiritual batteries to keep the ferocious musical energy alive and on fire. Every single day that I returned to nature as healer was like a brand new opening day for me. The escape from the brutal sonic bombast was not only good for me, but it has always literally been lifesaving. If you are going to rock like me and my boys do every song, every night, every concert, you damn well better learn to shut it off and counter the pounding with some serious down time. After the dust settled and we dragged ourselves off stage for the last time in Henderson, Nevada at 10:30 PM on the first day of September, I bade an emotional farewell to my musical cohorts and we toasted a celebratory thank you for yet another incredible summer. The next afternoon I was in a tree stand in Chama, New Mexico with the renowned Fishtail Outfitters, and the purging was well on its way. We got skunked those three days, but I was in a hurry to get home to the wife and dogs and my own bed and all the wonderful things in life like my guns and trucks and bows and stuff. The cleansing can only be accomplished fully when settled in at home and settling in is what I did. My two best friends, Gonzo and Happy, the ultimate Labrador retrievers, were in a frenzy of joy fetching doves and squirrels and rabbits every day. Running my trap line is therapeutic beyond words, and I hit a different tree stand every morning and every night in pursuit of the always-fascinating exotic big game critters on our SpiritWild Ranch. In anticipation of the whitetail season, there is no better scouting
You won’t find more comfort... anywhere.
© KENETREK, LLC 2013
High country hunting takes preparation and experience, and so does designing a comfortable boot that meets the rigorous demands of an unforgiving alpine environment. Our thousands of combined hours hunting sheep and designing boots led us to build the most supportive boots you’ll ever slip into... and not want to take off. Each of our support features uniquely blends together to give you the ultimate all-day comfort boot. The thick 2.8 mm full grain leather uppers and stiff full length nylon midsoles form an integrated support system capable of carrying all the weight you need them to, wherever you want to go. Jim Winjum, Bob Sherer, Kenetrek Boots
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MOUNTAIN BOOTS
Supportive Performance Insoles in every boot High traction lightweight K-TalonTM outsoles Waterproof, breathable Windtex membranes Various insulation levels to choose from Narrow, Medium, and Wide Widths
HUNTING SOCKS The fit of every boot can be enhanced by the use of high quality socks. Constructed with the perfect blending of fine natural and synthetic fibers, the new Kenetrek Hunting Socks are form fitting with reinforced padding at the toes, heels, and under the ball of the foot to dramatically increase comfort and durability.
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT ...
This last summer, a couple of your competitors sent me boots to try out, and I must admit, one of them (like my Kenetreks) felt very comfortable right out of the box. I was lucky enough to draw a rare mountain goat tag this year, and as I prepared for my hunt, I tested these other boots in some aggressive terrain. Well, it didn’t take long to discover that they didn’t hold a candle to your boots. After an afternoon of climbing through shale up above timberline, I couldn’t wait to get them off. Your boots are absolutely the most comfortable I’ve ever worn, and I don’t just wear them on hunts - I wear them to do everything! When I finally went on my goat hunt, I covered some of the most aggressive terrain I’ve ever seen, and not once were my feet uncomfortable. I was blown away… For two years now I’ve worn these Mountain Extremes, and they look like they have at least that long left in them before they “might” need to have the soles replaced. What a pair of boots! Danny Farris, Peyton CO
Call today for a free catalog or the location of a dealer near you.
1-800-232-6064
www.kenetrek.com Late Fall 2013 95
than actual seat-of-the-pants observations from the crow’s nest. Wouldn’t you know it, that with the deer season still 20 some days off, it was the whitetails that surrounded my tree stands most mornings and afternoons, posing broadside every which way, teasing the old bowhunter as only deer know how. A big fat blackbuck ewe wandered a bit too close to my ambush perch on one late afternoon hunt, and my pretty zebra arrow found its way into her pump station for some fresh exotic back straps and a beautiful skin rug. It felt like the first time all over again. I was still plum tuckered out from the tour, but I pushed myself to hunt hard anyway. More and more these days, the whole world sucks, and thanks to the criminal, corrupt government under the Chicago community disorganizer in chief, America is sucking more all the time, but hallelujah and pass the Great SpiritWild, in a Texas tree with my bow and arrows, life doesn’t suck at all, and I was taking in all the healing powers of my predatorship for all it was worth. I am happy to report that there was no sucking to be found. So by the time you read this little update from the hunting-addicted old guitar player, here’s
hoping your soul too is cleansed, your freezers and bellies full of sacred protein from our BloodBrother beasts, your aim has been good, your spirit on fire and your batteries charged up to the max after every trip afield. It’s all about attitude, and with the right mindset, every time that alarm clock shatters your gentle sleep, may it awaken you to another magical day in the wilds of your favorite woods, prairies, swamps, mountains, and jungles to carpe diem like you mean it and appreciate it. Hunting isn’t bowling or golf. It is the definitive primal act of survival, and in this crazy world, if we the people are to indeed take back America from the America haters running amok out there, we will need all the soul cleansing and battery charging muscle we can muster, and nothing fortifies the mind, body, heart and soul like a good day in the great outdoors, where “aim small miss small” is much more than a marksmanship regimen, but rather, a teaching moment of just how capable we are in focusing on the task at hand. Make every day that magical opening day, my friends, and don’t let a single one get away from you. Look to the heavens and thank God Almighty that He made you a hunter, and how that higher level of awareness can make you a better American. It’s not just sport, it’s duty.
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