ISOutdoors | November 2014 by ISOUTDOORS

! NOVEMBER 2014

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DEAD ON AT

500

PART 2

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NEW APPROACH TO OLD STYLE

DIXIE QUAIL

HUNTING

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Great shooting is available at the Southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pay-to-shoot preserves.

New Approach to Old Style

Dixie Quail Hunting

by Ed Rivers

Like many other southern sportsmen of the Baby Boom Generation, quail is what I cut my hunting teeth on. Thanksgiving Day my dad and his brothers assembled for a day long hunt that was as much of a tradition as turkey and dressing. Looking back on it, I cannot help but wonder how I took for granted those many coveys of quail that we kicked skyward then. Changes in farming techniques, the

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South’s widening urbanization, and the blanket protection now afforded to hawks that were once shot on sight have all contributed to today’s diminished population of once plentiful coveys of wild quail. In many areas such as my home in eastern Tennessee, the standing crop of quail on opening day is at such a low level that is now hardly worth hunting them. Ironically, it is a fact these days the best wild quail hunting is found in Kansas. Luckily for Dixie’s wingshooters, the love www.isoutdoors.com

gunning for the “Prince of Pamebirds” has begat an explosion of pay-to-hunt quail shooting preserves throughout the region. Once regarded by southern wingshooters as little more than back pasture shooting galleries, today’s modern quail hunting preserves operators go to great lengths to provide shotgunners with a quality, old time southern quail hunting experience. At many pay-to-shoot quail hunting destinations in the South the owners go to great lengths to create the ambiance and

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flavor of old fashioned hunting. Dixie bobwhite hunting occurs on spreads as large as 15,000 acre and 1,000 acres of mixed woodlands, briar patches and millet fields. To add to the unique southern quail hunting experience, they provide hunters with top drawer, yet folksie hunting guides and use only the highest quality bird dogs. As often as not, hunters are carried in open wagons identical to those used 100 years ago on plantations when hunting quail, with the exception they are now towed with tractors www.isoutdoors.com

rather than the traditional matched pair of white mules. Most of the pay-to-shoot now use flight trained and ready, liberated quail. Such high quality bobwhite typically flush and fly much the same as wild quail, something that was not the rule two decades ago. The slow, low flying released birds of that era were often of great disappointment to savvy shooters.

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Convenience is a byword of modern preserve shooting. Arranging a morning or afternoon of gunning fun for a pair or threesome is as easy as reserving a tee time at a golf course. Most preserves have standard packages that include a designated number of birds set out prior to hunting, the use of bird dogs and a handler, and care and dressing of birds for taking them home to enjoy for supper. Most preserves allow dog owners to bring their own bird dogs, but this is not necessary. In fact, even if you do not own a shotgun, these can usually be provided. Costs for a half and a full day of preserve quail hunting varies widely as does the quality and amenities of such a hunt. Costs range from $100 to $200 per half day of hunting, which usually entitles you to take the 10 to 20 birds per hunter that are set www.isoutdoors.com

out prior to a hunt. When you figure in a great meal of southern fried chicken, taters and homemade biscuits, plus the fact your birds for the day are dressed and ready on ice for you to carry home, it starts like sounding like a bargain. Odds are you live or pass through several places which offer pay-to-shoot bobwhite quail preserves. Finding them is as easy as googling shooting preserves and the state where you want to hunt. Most of the time it is necessary to reserve a hunt at least a few days in advance so everything is ready for you when you arrive, so plan a head. Week day hunts are easier to reserve than are weekend hunts. If you have not sampled Dixieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pay-to-hunt quail gunning fun, consider giving it a try this fall. It is like stepping back in time to a world that has escaped us forever.

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M e c h a n i c a l l y, t h e o n l y r e a l n o t a b l e c h a n g e f o r 2 0 1 4 i s a n e w 8 - s p e e d a u t o m a t i c t r a n s m i s s i o n r e p l a c e m e n t . D o d g e c l a i m s t h a t t h e n e w t r a n n y b o o s t s f u e l e c o n o m y b y a b o u t n i n e p e r c e n t , a n d a l s o c l a i m s t h a t t h e V 6 e q u i p p e d v e h i c l e s a l s o h a v e t h e l o n g e s t d r i v i n g r a n g e b e t w e e n f i l l - u p s i n i t s c l a s s . Wi t h a r a n g e o f 6 0 0 m i l e s a n d a 2 4 . 6 g a l l o n t a n k … b a t h r o o m b r e a k s a n d r e s t s t o p s a r e g o i n g t o b e f e w a n d f a r b e t w e e n ! C a r r i e d o v e r i s t h e s t a n d a r d 3 . 6 - l i t e r P e n t a s t a r V 6 t h a t c a m e i n t h e D u r a n g o L i m i t e d w i t h AW D t h a t w e t e s t e d a n d i s r a t e d a t 1 7 m p g c i t y / 2 4 m p g h i g h w a y. I n o u r c o m b i n e d d r i v i n g b o t h o n / o ff r o a d a n d t o w i n g a s m a l l c a m p e r t r a i l e r, w e c a m e i n a t a r o u n d 1 8 m p g . U n d e r t h e h o o d s p e c s p u t t h e V 6 a t 2 9 0 h o r s e p o w e r a n d 2 6 0 l b - f t o f t o r q u e . T h a t t r a n s l a t e s t o b e i n g a b l e t o t o w u p t o 6 2 0 0 p o u n d s o f “ s t u ff . ” T h i s r a t e s f a r m o r e t h a n m o s t o f t h e c o m p e t i t o r c r o s s o v e r S U V s c a n p u l l . I f y o u w a n t t o i n c r e a s e t h a t c a p a c i t y t o 7 2 0 0 p o u n d s i n a n y o f t h e AW D m o d e l s , y o u m a y w a n t t o o p t f o r t h e o p t i o n a l 5 . 7 - l i t e r H e m i V 8 . T h e l a rg e r e n g i n e o p t i o n a l s o c o m e s w i t h a n E c o - d r i v i n g - m o d e f e a t u r e a s s t a n d a r d e q u i p m e n t t h a t a u t o m a t i c a l l y i s s e l e c t e d w h e n t h e v e h i c l e i s s t a r t e d u p a n d c o n t r o l s t h r o t t l e s e n s i t i v i t y, t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d t h e c y l i n d e r d e a c t i v a t i o n f e a t u r e . T h e r e i s a n o v e r- r i d e b u t t o n t o b l o c k i t o u t .

O n t h e r o a d , w i t h o r w i t h o u t p u l l i n g a b o a t / t r a i l e r, t h e V 6 D u r a n g o h a s a l o t o f p e p a n d e n e e d t o o p t f o r t h e o p t i o n a l V 8 . H a n d l i n g a n d s t e e r i n g a r e t i g h t a n d p r e c i s e a n d p r o v i d e g o i n g t o b e p l e a s a n t l y s u r p r i s e d a t p o w e r, h a n d l i n g a n d r i d e . T h e D u r a n g o i s n e v e r g o i n g f a c t o r y - i n s t a l l e d s k i d - p l a t e , b a c k t r a i l t r a v e l t o h u n t i n g / f i s h i n g a r e a s , a s w e l l a s t r a i l e x o n l y 8 . 6 i n c h e s o f g r o u n d c l e a r a n c e , s o t a k i n g t h e D u r a n g o i n t o t h e b a c k c o u n t r y a n d o ff

e a s y a c c e l e r a t i o n . U n l e s s y o u ’ r e d o i n g h e a v i e r t o w i n g t h a n 6 2 0 0 p o u n d s , t h e r e r e a l l y i s n o e s a s m o o t h , l u x u r y v e h i c l e r i d e . H e a d t o t h e g r a v e l / b a c k r o a d s a n d w i t h t h e AW D , y o u a r e g t o b e a t r a i l - b u s t i n g J e e p , b u t w i t h a f u l l 8 . 1 i n c h e s o f g r o u n d c l e a r a n c e a n d a s t a n d a r d p l o r i n g s h o u l d n o t b e i n t i m i d a t i n g . E v e n t h e m o r e r u g g e d i z e d J e e p G r a n d C h e r o k e e o ff e r s f r o a d r a t e s h i g h !

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D e s i g n e d t o c a r r y s i x / s e v e n f o l k s w i t h a l l t h e s e a t s i n t h e f u l l - a n d - u p r i g h t p o s i t i o n , t h e D u r a n g o r e a l l y d o e s h a v e d e c e n t r o o m a r e a f o r t h o s e r i d e r s b a n i s h e d t o t h e b a c k o f t h e b u s , t h i r d r o w s e a t i n g a r e a . B o t h b a c k s e a t r o w s f o l d d o w n f l a t a n d a ff o r d s 8 4 . 5 c u b i c o f c a rg o r o o m . T h a t ’s l e s s t h a n l a rg e r c r o s s o v e r S U V s f r o m C h e v y a n d M a z d a , b u t s h o u l d

a c c o m m o d a t e m o s t w i t h l o n g g u n c a s e s , a m m o , f i s h i n g g e a r a n d c a m p i n g e q u i p m e n t . B e s i d e s t h a t , t h e D u r a n g o o ff e r s a r o o f - m o u n t e d r a i l s y s t e m r e a d y t o m a t e t o a h o s t o f a f t e r- m a r k e t r o o f r a c k s . A n d a s y o u k n o w, w e a l w a y s l i k e t h a t feature!

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“The Obion River Cut Across Duck Traffic Jams Spell Great Gunning” by Buck Wilder

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Ducks behavior is as predictable as the weather and trying to second guess what wildfowl will and will not do will drive you crazy. On the other hand, if you know where they are going and where they came from, it is not such a difficult task. It’s rare these days when I do not sleep soundly before a hunting trip. However, when it is a duck hunting trip to the Obion River in western Tennessee, I still experience those Christmas Eve-style restless nights in bed.

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The Mississippi River Flyway funnels more ducks from Canada in the heartland of North America than any other two of the flyways combined. Located beside the Mississippi River in Tennessee’s northwestern corner is Reelfoot Lake. One hundred fifty miles to the east is Kentucky Lake which is ringed by some of the country’s most well managed federal waterfowl refuge lands. Connecting these two food rich waterfowl holding bodies of water is the east to west flowing Obion River.

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During the gunning seasons, webfoot traffic back and forth between Reelfoot and Kentucky lakes starts before dawn and ends after sunset. Mallards and other puddle ducks are the main fare, with no shortage of black ducks, woodies, gadwalls, and widgeons. When the cold front accost the Mississippi River valley hosts an invariable smorgasbord of divers such as blue bills, golden eyes, and redheads. It is not even all that unusual to have canvasbacks and pintail to be coaxed into a spread of decoys. www.isoutdoors.com

When it comes to waterfowl hunting, referring to the Obion River is something of a misnomer, as it is only within a few miles above the mouth of the Obionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discharge into the Mississippi River where four major forks converge. In actuality, the North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork and Rutherford Fork (the last being named for the town of Rutherford) run more or less parallel in their east to west treks. North to south travel by humans is almost impossible, as these watersheds are so closely aligned and are

ISOutdoors bordered by treacherous swamps such as the Crockett Bottoms.

So many new birds travel this watery turnpike that even long standing dekes and blinds remain efficient

Located a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River, Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural lake created almost two centuries ago by the greatest earthquake ever recorded in the eastern US. Much of it is really more of a swamp, with bayou-like ditches (some natural, some manmade) connecting more open bodies of water called basins, the largest of which is called Blue Basin. Reelfoot Lake’s 36,000 acres of water arenoted for their bald cypress trees and shallow swamp lands. The lake is 4 feet or less in depth with a third of the lake in its four scattered federal waterfowl refuge.

all season long.

Most of the best hunting spots have been staked out and guarded from interlopers for generations. For example, the only Blind in Black Jack Pocket, located next to the www.isoutdoors.com

Grassy Island Refuge has been the domain of a single family that dates its lineage to General Robert E. Lee. It not only is the lake’s top puddle duck habitat, it is also is universally acknowledged as the number one waterfowl crossing route at Reelfoot Lake.

While it is not a written law, it is well understood among those going to Reelfoot Lake that enlisting the services of a guide is the most often recommended way to hunt these waterfowl rich waters. It is possible to freelance your own duck can hunt flooded timber or other areas with temporary blind setups as long as you keep the 200-yard distance between you and any permanent blind and pick up your rig and decoys after shooting time. However, before giving that serious consideration, I recommend that you familiarize yourself the “night rider” history of Quake Lake.

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The Mississippi River sive TVA impoundment.

Located over 100 miles to the east is Kentucky Lake which has substantial public-hunt opportunities for waterfowlers. This TVA lake has over 80 permanent draw blinds on its scattered wildlife management areas. These include the Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Harmon’s Creek, Springville Bottoms and Camden Bottoms areas. Any hunter can occupy these permanent blinds if its card has not arrived there by shooting hours. Rules say other hunters can locate shooting blinds 200 yards away from any permanent blind. The Kentucky Lake has a bevy of waterfowl refuge areas found with the bounds of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.It is worth noting that waterfowl hunting on Kentucky Lake is not limited to the WMAs. Great gunning is available along this mas-

Flyway funnels more

There’s two ways to take advantage of the waterfowl traffic going between Reelfoot and Kentucky lakes along the Obion River. The most recommended is fork out a little money to a guide that has a permanent blind/ decoy set up. So many new birds travel this watery turnpike that even long standing dekes and blinds remain efficient all season long. The other is a try your hand at floating one of the forks, with jump shooting or setting up along the way. Either can be productive, but the perils are real. In many places the murky, slow waters of the Obion River system flow more like a maze than a straight line. Also, snags and trees lurking just below the surface can spell disaster in the wink of an eye by overturning a johnboat. Unless you know the river and what you are doing, sample these waterfowling here by first opening your wallet. It’s worth the cover charge.

ducks from Canada in the heartland

of North America than

any other two of the flyways combined.

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Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts Kicker

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We a l s o t r i e d o u t K U I U ’s b o w h o l d e r w i t h t h e p a c k . I a m i m p r e s s e d w i t h i t s a b i l i t y t o h o l d m y b o w s e c u r e w h i l e p r o v i d i n g q u i c k a c c e s s . I t t o o k a f e w p r a c t i c e d r a w s t o g e t i t d o w n , b u t o n c e y o u m a s t e r i t y o u c a n g o f r o m p a c k m o d e t o f u l l d r a w i n j u s t a c o u p l e o f s e c o n d s . T h e b o t t o m c r a d l e o f t h e b o w h o l d e r o ff e r s g r e a t p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e l o w e r c a m . I w a s n o t c o n c e r n e d w i t h s e t t i n g t h e p a c k d o w n a n dd d a m a g i n g m y b o w. T h e I c o n P r o 1 8 5 0 h a s m u l t i p l e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s d e p e n d i n g o n y o u r n e e d s . I t c o m e s f u l l y a s s e m b l e d w i t h t h e c a r b o n f i b e r f r a m e . T h i s i s m y c h o i c e f o r t h e t y p e o f h u n t i n g t h a t I d o a n d t h e a m o u n t o f w e i g h t t h a t I c a r r y. I t i s s o l i g h t w e i g h t e v e n f u l l y a s s e m b l e d t h a t I d o n ’t h a v e m u c h n e e d f o r t h e s l i m m e d d o w n c o n f i g u r a t i o n s . I f y o u f e e l a n e e d t o r e - c o n f i g u r e t h e b a g i t i s p r e t t y s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d . IItt c o m e s w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d a d d i t i o n a l s t r a p p i n g / w e b b i n g . I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d t r y i n g i t a c o u p l e t i m e s i n t h e l i v i n g r o o m b e f o r e t r y i n g i t i n t h e d a r k o n t h e s i d e o f a m o u n t a i n .

T h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n o p t i o n s a r e :

- Wi t h c a r b o n f i b e r f r a m e a n d l o a d s l i n g c a p a b l e - S h o u l d e r h a r n e s s , h i p b e l t a n d i n t e r n a l s t a y s ( n o f r a m e ) - S h o u l d e r h a r n e s s , w e b b i n g h i p b e l t a n d i n t e r n a l s t a y s ( n o f r a m e ) - S h o u l d e r h a r n e s s , n o h i p b e l t , i n t e r n a l s t a y s

T h e l o a d s l i n g c a p a b i l i t y i s a g r e a t a d d i t i o n t o t h i s s m a l l e r p a c k a s i t g i v e s y o u a n a d d i t i o n a l 2 5 0 0 c i . o f l o a d c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y w i t h o u t a n y a d d i t i o n a l g e a r. T h e p l a c e m e n t o f t h e l o a d i n t h i s c o n f i g u r a t i o n w o r k s g r e a t f o r h e a v y l o a d s l i k e a n e l k q u a r t e r b e c a u s e i t k e e p s t h e w e i g h t u p c l o s e t o y o u r b o d y a n d d o e s n o t c a u s e t h e a w k w a r d l e v e r a g e t h a t s t r a p p i n g w e i g h t t o t h e o u t s i d e o f m o s t p a c k s c aauu s e . T h i s a l s o l e a v e s t h e i n t e r i o r o f y o u r p a c k c l e a n a n d a v a i l a b l e . ( Yo u d o n ’t h a v e t o d u m p a l l y o u r g e a r o n t h e g r o u n d i n o r d e r t o p a c k a q u a r t e r i n t h e b a g . ) K U I U s e l l s a n X X L r o l l t o p b a g d e s i g n e d t o f i t p e r f e c t l y i n t h e l o a d s l i n g s p a c e .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s a v a i l a b l e w i t h j u s t t h e 1 8 5 0 . Yo u c a n a l s o i n t e r c h a n g e a n y o f t h e I c o n P r o b a g s . T h i s i s a g r e a t f e a t u r e f o r p a c k i n h u n t s w h e r e y o u n e e d t h e s p a c e o f a l a rg e r p a c k o n t h e w a y i n b u t a r e l e a v i n g t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h a t w e i g h t i n c a m p . Yo u c a n p a c k t h e 5 2 0 0 c i . o r 7 2 0 0 c i . a n d o n c e i n c a m p e x c h a n g e t h e b a g w i t h y o u r 1 8 5 0 b a g w h i c h w e i g h s o n l y 2 2 . 8 o u n c e s t o u s e a s a da y p a c k . ( T h e s a m e f r a m e , h i p b e l t a n d s h o u l d e r s t r a p s w o r k w i t h e a c h b a g . ) I n i t i a l l y t h e p a c k m a d e a l i t t l e n o i s e w h e n w a l k i n g b u t w o r e o ff w i t h i n t h e f i r s t 2 0 m i l e s o r s o . T h e m a t e r i a l o f t h e p a c k i s n o t o v e r l y q u i e t i n t h e b r u s h b u t i s a f a i r t r a d e o ff f o r t h e t o u g h n e s s o f t h e f a b r i c . T h e c o m p a c t d e s i g n d o e s a l l o w y o u t o s t a y o u t o f c o n t a c t w i t h m a n y o b s t a c l e s t h a t a l a rg e r p a c k w o u l d s u r e l y b e b r u s h i n g a g a i n s t a n d c r e a t i n g n o i s e . O v e r a l l i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e K U I U I c o n P r o 1 8 5 0 : T h i s i s a g r e a t p a c k t h a t h a s b e e n v e r y w e l l t h o u g h t t h r o u g h a n d d e s i g n e d f r o m t h e g r o u n d u p f o r t h e m i n i m a l i s t h u n t e r w h o i s m o r e c o n c e r n e d w i t h m o b i l i t y a n d w e i g h t s a v i n g s t h a n t h e c o m f o r t s o f h o m e . I t i s c o m f o r t a b l e , d u r a b l e a n d w i l l b e m y g o t o p a c k f o r y e a r s t o c o m e .

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G A M E

CORNHUSKER STATE

BUCKHUNTING by Bob Foulkrod

“Large growing bucks roam Nebraska’s ranch and farm lands.” You have to be a hunter or farmer to appreciate the scenery of the Cornhusker State, where the most famous export is a college football team that is feared from coast to coast. It was November when I arrived for awhitetail bow hunt with Brad Thayer, a lifelong Nebraska farmer/rancher who also has a passion for going afield. On the drive north along state route 29 to Harrison in the northwestern corner of the state a few miles south of the famed Oglala National www.isoutdoors.com

Grasslands, Thayer chatted with me about the unseasonably warm temperatures that had ascended on the region. He said that it was a good 30 degrees warmer than usual for early November. Thayer gave me a tour of his property, which along with offering pay-to-hunt opportunities, it is also a working farm and ranch. Crops grown here include corn, alfalfa and milo, of which some is left for wildlife.Located in the hill country between the headwaters of the Nebraska and White rivers, the ranch has one large creek that bisects it. Most of the crop farming occurs along the creeks’ watered bottoms. The hill over these low lying areas is forested in ponderosa pine and scrub oaks. This is where the bucks bed during the day, overlooking the bottom land fields where they

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G A M E

slip into around sundown to forage. This area of Nebraska is a consistent producer of big whitetail bucks. Abundant food is found here, largely thanks to the agricultural efforts of landowners who generously share with these animals. Genetically, these animals are well disposed to become trophy, as they are what wildlife biologists refer to as the Dakota whitetail, a very large growing deer equal in size to the Northern whitetail of Wisconsin. Found from Nebraska and Wyoming in the south, northward through Saskatchewan and Alberta, these animals have slightly lighter colored winter coats, and grow heavy, wide spread antlers. Thayerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property has produced more than a few 150 to 160-Boone & Crockett (B&C) class bucks, and doubtless such animals roam where I hunted. During my nine-day hunt, I glassed several animals in the 120 to 140 B&C class, and can say with confidence that if you book a hunt there that you have an excellent chance of getting a crack at such a trophy buck. Thayer does not take more than a 2 to 4 hunters at any time, and www.isoutdoors.com

limits the number of hunts he will book there per season to only eight. This insures that everyone has the highest quality hunt and a legitimate opportunity to take the caliber of animal they visit Nebraska to get. Like most men of the land, Thayer had so often seen the whitetail residing on his property that he could recognize a few of them. He told me about a big eightpointer he often saw in the vicinity of the old abandoned farm house. Aside from a set of stout, wide antlers, he said the other distinctive marking on the animal was black around the eyes where most whitetail would have white around their eyes. He said that if I got an opportunity to shoot this animal, to be sure and take advantage of it.

The next morning as setting sun brightly lightened the western sky a group of does arrived from the bottoms where I was hunting in the cover of an old farm house. Reaching the hay bales stacked near the house, these hungry does stopped to browse before moving on to the main course of alfalfa and milo. It was then that I saw the black-eyed buck. Trotting briskly, the animal moved quickly to reach the does, obviously more than a little curious if any of them might be receptive to breeding overtures. Spotting the animals out the window located to my left, I had a perfect quartering away shot, then the animal turned. I moved to the other window. From that angle, I had a not-so-perfect quartering toward me shot. During my seminars and at my bowhunting school, one thing I strive to convey is the importance of making quartering away or forward shots--the goal being to shoot so your arrow exits at an angle at the leg on the opposite side. Such an arrow path places a broadhead smack in the middle of the lungs and often takes the heart as well. Another thing I talk about during my school and seminars is controlling your emotions.

At this point in the hunt I committed two mistakes. The first was not controlling my emotions, so that I made a good judgment call on my shot. There he was--a big buck-a buck that makes you heave and sweat like going to your first dance with that little brown-eyed girl in your English class. I put the pin on his chest--he was mine. I released the arrow as smoothly as a 1958 Buick hitting overdrive. I saw the arrow hit. It was dead on---dead on the chest--not at an angle. I instantly knew I had made a mistake. The broadhead missed the lungs and heart, exiting short of the buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hind leg. Its path had mortally wounded the liver and the guts. Typical of incorrectly arrowed whitetail, the big buck leaped upward, bowing its body in reaction to the pain. When its hooves hit the ground, the animal raced away. While my stomach was not hurting as badly as the buckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, it was certainly knotted. Just like you, I strive to make the cleanest kills possible. And, just like you, I make mistakes. And just like every bowhunter, gut shooting any whitetail nauseates me. There was no use trailing the buck. I knew we had to let it lie down and die. Pushing it www.isoutdoors.com

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O V E RV I E W: T h e f i r s t t i m e y o u c a r r y a M o d e l S e v e n i n t h e f i e l d , y o u ’ l l u n d e r s t a n d w h y i t ’s c o n s i d e r e d o n e o f t h e f i n e s t d e n s e - c o v e r r i f l e s i n A m e r i c a . L i g h t n i n g - f a s t i n c l o s e q u a r t e r s . S u p e r b l y a c c u r a t e f o r t h e l o n g s h o t . W h e n y o u u s e t h e h a r d e s t - h i t t i n g c a l i b e r k n o w n t o b i g g a m e w i t h s h o r t - a c t i o n m a g n u m c a r t r i d g e s , y o u n e e d a l o n g e r b a r r e l . S o M o d e l S e v e n r i f l e s i n t h e s e c h a m b e r i n g s h a v e a 2 2 " m a g n u m c o n t o u r b a r r e l . T h e N E W M o d e l S e v e n ™ S y n t h e t i c f e a t u r e s a b l a c k s y n t h e t i c s t o c k . • C a l i b e r s i n c l u d e 2 2 3 R e m i n g t o n , 2 4 3 W i n . ( f u l l s i z e a n d c o m p a c t ) , 7 m m - 0 8 R e m i n g t o n ( f u l l s i z e a n d c o m p a c t ) , 2 6 0 R e m i n g t o n a n d 3 0 8 W i n . K E Y F E AT U R E S : • 2 3 / 8 " s h o r t e r o v e r a l l l e n g t h t h a n M o d e l 7 0 0 ™ c o u n t e r p a r t s m a k e s t h e M o d e l S e v e n p e r f e c t l y s i z e d f o r s m a l l - s t a t u r e d s h o o t e r s a n d d e n s e - c o v e r h u n t i n g s i t u a t i o n s • C o m p a c t d e s i g n f o r f a s t h a n d l i n g • F e a t u r e s t h e s a m e l e g e n d a r y s t r e n g t h a s t h e M o d e l 7 0 0 ™ a c t i o n : “ T h r e e r i n g s o f s t e e l ” w i t h t h e b o l t f a c e , b a r r e l a n d r e c e i v e r e n c a s i n g t h e c a r t r i d g e h e a d • C y l i n d r i c a l r e c e i v e r d e s i g n p r o v i d e s a c o n s i s t e n t b e d d i n g a r e a i n t h e s t o c k

ISOutdoors CANINE CARE

Getting Older

As your dog ages, the likelihood he will develop various changes in the function of his body systems increases. Some of these will be normal changes due to the aging process, others may be indicative of disease. To be more easily alerted to possible signs of disease early in the disease process: • Monitor food consumption: how much is being eaten? what type of food is being eaten (e.g.; does your dog leave the hard kibble and only eat the canned)?, any difficulty eating or swallowing?, any vomiting? • Monitor water consumption: drinking more or less than usual? • Monitor urination and defecation: color, amount, consistency and frequency of stool; color and amount of urine; any signs of pain while urinating or defecating? any urinating or defecating in the house? • Measure weight every 2 months: for small dogs use an infant or mail scale, or use www.isoutdoors.com

the scale in your veterinarian’s office; for medium-size dogs, weigh yourself holding the dog, then weigh yourself and subtract to find the difference; for larger dogs, you may need to use your veterinarian’s scale. • Groom, check and clip nails, look for any lumps, bumps, or non-healing sores; any abnormal odors? any change in size of abdomen?, increased hair loss? • Monitor behavior: sleep patterns, obeying commands, tendency to be around people; any house soiling? easily startled?, anxious when left alone? • Monitor activity and mobility: difficulty with stairs? inability to exercise without tiring quickly?, bumping into things?, sudden collapses?, seizures?, any loss of balance?, any lameness or change in

ISOutdoors CANINE CARE

gait? • Look for any changes in respiration: coughing? panting?, sneezing? • Provide home dental care: brush your dog’s teeth, regularly examine the inside of his mouth; any excessive drooling? any sores?, bad breath?, are the gums swollen, yellow, light pink, or purplish? • Monitor environmental temperature and the temperature at which your dog Behavior Changes Pain associated with arthritis Loss of sight or hearing Cognitive dysfunction Hypothyroidism Liver disease Kidney disease Weakness or exercise intolerance Mitral insufficiency/Heart disease Anemia Obesity Diabetes mellitus Cancer Hypothyroidism Change in activity level Hypothyroidism Arthritis Pain Obesity Anemia Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease Kidney disease Cancer

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seems most comfortable. • Schedule regular appointments with your veterinarian. Some of the more common signs indicative of diseases are shown in the table below. Remember, just because your dog has a sign of a disease does not necessarily mean he has the disease. What it does mean, is that your dog should be examined by your veterinarian so a proper diagnosis can be made.

Weight gain Hypothyroidism Cushing’s disease Obesity Arthritis Weight loss Cancer Kidney disease Liver disease Gastrointestinal disease Decreased food consumption Oral or dental disease Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease Diabetes mellitus Inflammatory bowel disease Abnormally colored mucous membranes (gums) Anemia Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease Liver disease Coughing Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease Respiratory disease Heartworm disease Cancer

Increased thirst and urination Cushing’s disease Pyometra (uterine infection) Diabetes mellitus Liver disease Kidney disease Vomiting Kidney disease Liver disease Gastrointestinal disease Inflammatory bowel disease Cancer Diabetes mellitus Diarrhea Gastrointestinal disease Sudden changes in diet Inflammatory bowel disease Kidney disease Liver disease Seizures Epilepsy Cancer Kidney disease Liver disease Mitral Insufficiency/Heart disease

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M o s t o f o u r h u n t s a r e b a s e d f r o m t h e t o w n o f C l o u d c r o f t , N e w M e x i c o w i t h a n e l e v a t i o n o f 9 , 0 0 0 f t . a n d a p o p u l a t i o n o f 6 0 0 . C l o u d c r o f t , N M i s l o c a t e d i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e L i n c o l n N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , j u s t 4 5 m i n u t e s f r o m R u i d o s o a n d S k i A p a c h e , 2 h o u r s f r o m E l P a s o , 2 0 m i n u t e s f r o m A l a m o g o r d o , N M . We a t h e r w i l l v a r y f r o m 2 0 t o 7 0 d e g r e e s w i t h r a i n a n d s n o w p o s s i b l e . I n a d d i t i o n t o h u n t i n g , t h e C l o u d c r o f t a r e a i s k n o w n a s a y e a r - r o u n d m o u n t a i n p l a y l a n d f o r : h i k i n g , m o u n t a i n b i k i n g , h o r s e b a c k r i d i n g , s k i i n g , s n o w s h o e i n g , s l e d d i n g , c a m p i n g , g o l f , p h o t o g r a p h y, d i s c g o l f , b i r d w a t c h i n g a n d m o r e !

ISOutdoors F I R E A R M S

DEAD ON AT 500 YARD: WHAT THE EXPERTS SAYPart Two

by Buck Wilder There is no shortcuts for hunters to achieve consistent accuracy at 500 yard ranges, but there it certainly does not hurt to get started on the right foot. The following is www.isoutdoors.com

how you can become â&#x20AC;&#x153;dead onâ&#x20AC;? an animal at 500 yards. Loads and Bullets: Factory ammunition is convenient, and usually economical, but not well suited if

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you want to be a consistent shot with a rifle at ranges of 500 yards. When I determined this was my goal, loading my own ammunition or getting someone else to load for me was the logical choice. This enables you to insure consistency, and to have the ability to tweak your loads to maximize the performance and accuracy of your rifle. Loads are like recipes for cakes or barbecue sauce. The reloading procedure can be as simple as putting the correct charge of powder in a sized case and seating a bullet www.isoutdoors.com

to specs, or can be made into many, many steps taking hours. It depends largely on the results you want to achieve. Accuracy is a relative thing. I wanted to drive nails at 500 yards. So for me the definition of a good load is one that gets this performance from my rifle. The closer they are followed, the better the resultant load. If or when you make any changes in components or get new lot numbers, you should begin again with the starting loads and work up to maximum cautiously.

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“Reloading is an essential part of shooting obtaining consistency at 500 yard ranges,” says Richard Beebe, president of Redding Reloading Equipment of Cortland, New York. “Reloading your own ammunition enables you to get the most performance from your rifle and insures the consistency of what you are shooting.” “Every rifle has its own personality. Reloading allows you to develop tailored loads that get the most from your rifle,” says Beebe. “Thanks to modern loading manuals that have tested recipes that often go as far to note individual powder characteristics for specific rifles, most of the time I can do this in a single weekend. Getting started reloading is easier and less expense than most shooters suspect. You can get started for about $250 to $300 equipment, plus $50 to $100 in supplies. Our Boss Pro Pack contains everything needed to get started including the Boss Reloading Press with solid cast iron “O”frame construction, a Model 2 Powder and magnetically dampened Bullet Scale, Powder Trickler, set of series A reloading dies and matching shell holder, a nonskid lube pad and our best case lube, deburring tool, a Model 18 Case Preparation Kit, aspecial-made of tough Lexan powder funnel, and the third edi-

tion of “Metallic Cartridge Reloading.” This volume is a single source for detailed information on advanced handloading issues, while offering a wide variety of loading data.” “Consistency is the most important aspect of reloading to achieve consistent accuracy at 500 yard ranges,” says Beebe. “Buying in bulk--500 to 1,000--units is key, whether it is powder, bullets or brass. Brass is more important than many suspect. Avoid picking up discarded brass at ranges. Strive to use the same brass from the same lot as often as you can. Make sure your brass is trimmed to the same length and size. Pay close attention for burrs and flash holes in brass.” Boat tail bullets are the perfect answer for longer shots. Compared to a flat base, the boat tail reduces drag. This allows boat tail bullets to achieve higher ballistic coefficiency so they will be less affected by wind

H O T P R O D U C T

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conditions. And, boat tail bullets also shoot flatter than flat base bullets. Insofar as most of long range shooting is for larger animals like bear, this proves very good for me. For long range shooting at coyotes or fox, socalled low drag bullets that are flat based with an extra long nose work well. This approach to bullet construction is excellent for varmint shooting in high wind conditions at medium to longer ranges. The long nose results in a higher ballistic coefficient. Due to their extreme length, these bullets do not work well in a lot of magazines. www.isoutdoors.com

Shooting Technique In A Nutshell: I sought the best of the best to help me critique my long range shooting skills. My mentor was Ray Sweat. Among his credentials was the Team Armor and gunsmith for the US Marine Corps Rifle Team for 14, then after retiring from the service, he set up the FBIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sniper school and served that agency as a firearms training instructor and gunsmith. Sweat observed me shooting, then helped me improve to achieve deadly accuracy.

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Sweat has broken down shooting at 500 and greater yardages into a science. He believes the weather and elements are far too often discounted and overlooked by shooters. The potential effects of weather are not absolute. They include mirage--heat waves or the reflection of light through layers of air of different temperatures and density as seen by the naked eye on a warm bright day. Properly reading mirage enables you to windage corrections. Usually the shallower the waves of the mirage the faster the velocity and resultant wind speed.

Boat tail bullets are the

perfect answer for longer shots.

Compared to a flat base, the boat tail

reduces drag.

Temperature is another weather factor that has a definite effect on the elevation settings. Temperature increases also increase the muzzle velocity. Temperature effects the elevation a bullet strikes. According to Sweat, a 20 degree rise or fall in temperature at 300 yard shooting ranges results in an elevation change of one minute. www.isoutdoors.com

Light may or may not effect your aim. According to Sweat, the general tendency is shooting high on dull, cloudy days and shooting low on bright, clear days--especially on days with intermittent clouds. A halo forms around the bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;seye causing us to aim low on bright days. The halo is gone cloudy days. There is a tendency is to hold closer to the bullâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye, causing high shots. When against a dark background, the sun striking targets on extremely bright days, a target tends to look smaller than it actually is.

Humidity is another weather key. The higher the humidity, the denser the air is and the more resistant it is to bullet flight. Its effects are not as noticeable at short ranges as at the long ranges. While elevation is not a weather factor, it is shooting environment condition. The higher above sea level you move, air becomes less dense. According to Sweat, for each 5,000feet above sea level climb, a bullet strikes .5- to 1-minute of angle higher.

Sweat came to my lodge in north central Pennsylvania to instruct me. In a nutshell, his long range shooting philosophy is not radically different from the way top notch golf or archery coaches approach. In golf you keep your eye on the ball throughout the swing. When shooting a bow, you keep the pin on the target. When shooting a rifle, you keep the cross hairs of your rifle on the target--before shooting, while shooting, and after the shot. It sounds easier than it actually is for most shooters. Sweat schooled me by first observing my shooting techniques and form, then helping me critique. As with shooting a bow or holding a golf club, consistency in grip, handling, and stance are key elements in consistent long range shooting success. Correct eye relief from your riflescope is essential to maximize your shooting consistency. Sweat recommends 2- to 3-inches between the eye and reticule of your riflescope. Probably the most important thing Sweat thought me was following through with my shots. Under his observant eye, I dry fired my rifle over and over, striving to keep the cross hairs of the riflescope. When I was confident that I had accomplished, he

tested me by balancing a dime on the barrel of the rifle while I continued to dry fire. Yes, it took a little more work to dry fire my rifle without making the dime balanced on the barrel of my rifle not teeter or fall away. Breathing is another matter of considerable importance. Some expert shooters recommend pulling the trigger as you slowly exhale. I have always held my breath when shooting a bow--a practice that I was not comfortable trying to change for rifle shooting at 500 yard ranges. With Sweatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blessing, when I shoot my custom-made rifles I hold my breath. Consistency is never possible without cleanliness. Shooting a rifle creates a residue build up in the barrel which if not removed after 15 to 20 shots will impact consistent accuracy. When working up loads, or shooting that much at a setting, use a quality bore cleaner to remove copper, alloy and powder residue from the inside of the barrel. If you are serious about shooting animals at 500 yard ranges, you can do it with comparative ease if you have the right equipment and are willing to discipline yourself to accomplish this challenge. www.isoutdoors.com

H O T P R O D U C T

LACEMENT TRIGGER “ I f o u n d t h e 3 M R t o b e e a s i e r t o m a s t e r t h a n a b u m p - f i r e s t o c k w h e n s i m u l a t i n g f u l l y a u t o m a t i c f i r e . N o t o n l y d i d I f i n d i t a l i t t l e e a s i e r t o m a s t e r, b u t I a l s o r e a l l y l i k e t h e s e a m l e s s i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e s y s t e m i n t o y o u r r i f l e . ” – t h e b a n g s w i t c h . c o m J a n u a r y 2 0 1 4

H O T P R O D U C T

T h i s i s w h a t I e n d e d u p w i t h f o r i n s t a l l a t i o n o r i e n t a t i o n . A l i t t l e h i g h q u a l i t y e l e c t r i c a l t a p e a i d e d i n k e e p i n g t h e c o r d o u t o f t h e w a y o f o t h e r n e c e s s a r y o p e r a t i o n s . I l i k e b e i n g a b l e c o n t r o l t h e p r e s s u r e s w i t c h w i t h m y t r i g g e r h a n d o r r e a c h u p w i t h o p p o s i t e t h u m b t o a c t i v a t e t h e c o n s t a n t - o n t a i l p i e c e s w i t c h . I n t h e f i e l d : T h e u s e o f t h i s i s p r e t t y s e a m l e s s . T h e p r e s s u r e s w i t c h i s v e r y r e s p o n s i v e a n d a c t u a l l y h a s 3 s w i t c h e s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e o n e s w i t c h p l a t e . T h i s i s h a n d y a s y o u d o n o t h a v e t o s e a r c h a r o u n d t o f i n d t h e a c t i v a t i o n . I n t h i s i n s t a l l a t i o n o r i e n t a t i o n i t c a n b e a c t i v a t e d b y a n y o n e o f m y 3 f i n g e r s . T h e p r o j e c t i o n v s . g e n e r a l l i g h t i n g i s w e l l b a l a n c e d . T h e p r o j e c t e d s p o t i s r a t e d o u t t o 2 0 5 m e t e r s a n d t h e s e c o n d a r y h a l o i s w i d e e n o u g h t o l i g h t u p e v e r y t h i n g i n y o u r p e r i p h e r a l . T h i s i s a g r e a t c o m b i n a t i o n w h e n t e a m e d u p w i t h a r e d d o t s i g h t . C o n c l u s i o n : T h i s i s a g r e a t a d d i t i o n t o y o u r f a v o r i t e v a r m i n t h u n t e r o r h o m e p r o t e c t i o n w e a p o n . I t i s s t u r d y a n d d u r a b l e e n o u g h t o a l s o a c c o m m o d a t e u s e i n t h e f i e l d w h e r e a b u s e i s i m m i n e n t . I w o u l d l o v e t o s e e a l o n g e r c o r d v e r s i o n o r s o m e a l t e r n a t e i n s t a l l a t i o n o p t i o n s , b u t a s a u n i v e r s a l f i t p r o d u c t y o u w i l l b e a b l e t o f i n d a n i n s t a l l a t i o n t h a t w o r k s .

B O W P R E V I E W

T h e C h i l l ® X w i l l c o m e s t a n d a r d w i t h A l l N e w R O C K M O D S ™ f o r e n h a n c i n g p e r f o r m a n c e a n d v e r s a t i l i t y. T h e C h i l l ® X c o m e s s t a n d a r d w i t h 8 5 % R O C K M O D S ™ a n d a 7 5 % l e t - o f f o p t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e f o r c u s t o m s h o o t e r p e r formance.