FILL YOUR FREEZER : DIY DEER BUTCHERING GUIDE (pg. 54) N O V E M B E R 2 0 17
PUNCH
TAG YOUR
10
TOP
TROPHY WHITETAIL HOTSPOTS
NEW DEER GEAR
SECRET MULE DEER SPOTS
TOP 4 BUDGET SCOPES
John Hafner
NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL. 45 | NO. 7
13
FEATURES
State Trust Lands Whether these lands belong to you—and are open to hunting —depends on whom you ask. DAVID HART
44 Tag Out on a Big Muley Looking for a big buck this season? Boddington shares his secret mule deer hotspots to hunt this fall. CRAIG BODDINGTON
54 DIY Butchering How-To Field, freezer, table: PH’s guide to processing your deer and the equipment to get the job done right. JUSTIN K ARNOPP
67 Top 10 Whitetail States Records don’t lie! According to Boone and Crockett’s all-time record book, these 10 states are must-hunt spots for the whitetail afflicted. JOSEPH VON BENEDIK T
54
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NOVEMBER 2017 | VOL. 45 | NO. 7
DEPART MENTS 28
14
24
32
38
BULLET BOARD FEDERAL .308 200-GRAIN EDGE TLR JOSEPH VON BENEDIK T
16 RACK ROOM PENNSYLVANIA WHITETAIL PAUL HEASLEY
16 CARTRIDGE CORNER
10
32
42
FROM THE EDITOR
WHEELS AFIELD
Dream Jobs
With the 2017 Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS, Polaris super-sizes the standard UTV to a six-seated beast.
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
DAVID DRAPER
24 GUNS & LOADS
38
KEITH WOOD
Didn’t draw a tag? No problem. Here are five OTC hunts you can do instead.
28 WHITETAILS
18 NEW GEAR MUST-HAVE DEER GEAR
CRAIG BODDINGTON
Seekins Precision is entering the 6.5 market with a gamechanging bolt-action rifle.
6MM CREEDMOOR JOSEPH VON BENEDIK T
MIKE SCHOBY
What is Ozonics, and is it the answer to the great scent-eliminator debate?
Spiral horned and varied in color, this high-country resident is coveted by hunters: the Stone sheep.
OPEN COUNTRY
JOSEPH VON BENEDIK T
88 REAR VIEW Sometimes our greatest memories aren’t with the biggest deer— but the smallest. JIM ZUMBO
JEFF JOHNSTON
K ALI PARMLEY
22
24
FIELD TEST BUDGET-PRICED RIFLESCOPES DAVID DRAPER Hunting (ISSN 0146-4671) November 2017, Volume 45, Number 7. Copyright 2017. Published 8 issues per year with three double issues (March, April/May, June/July, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Outdoor Sportsman Group,® 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703. Periodical postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change (Form 3579) to Hunting, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, Iowa 50037-0539. Return undeliverable Canadian addressess to: 500 Rt. 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 41405030.
GET MORE OUTDOORS.
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An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication PUBLISHER Kevin E. Steele EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR David Draper MANAGING EDITOR Kali Parmley ART DIRECTOR Tim Neher GROUP ART DIRECTOR David A. Kleckner STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Anschuetz COPY EDITOR Mike Brecklin FIELD EDITORS EXECUTIVE FIELD EDITOR Craig Boddington WESTERN FIELD EDITOR Joseph von Benedikt CONTRIBUTORS
David Hart, Mike Schoby, Keith Wood Jeff Johnston, John Hafner, Dusan Smetana, Tom Martineau, Lee Thomas Kjos PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Jenny Kaeb ENDEMIC AD SALES NATIONAL ENDEMIC SALES MANAGER
Jim McConville (440) 791-7017 WESTERN REGION
Hutch Looney hutch@hlooney.com MIDWEST REGION
Rob Walker (309) 679-5069 Mary Jo Oliver (309) 283-7164 EAST REGION
Pat Bentzel (717) 659-8095 WHERE TO GO / MARKETPLACE
Mark Thiffault (800) 200-7885 NATIONAL AD SALES EAST COAST ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Kathy Gross (678) 589-2065 MIDWEST ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
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WEST COAST, MIDWEST & MOUNTAIN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Carl Benson (312) 955-0496
PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL
DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING/NON-ENDEMIC
Anthony Smyth (914) 693-8700 www.petersenshunting.com
DO NOT USE BARNES 300 Weatherby 180 grain TTSX VOR-TX AMMUNITION WITH LOT NUMBERS: Z08SA15L, Z08SB15L, Z09SA15L, Z09SB15L, Z11SB15L, Z11SC15L, Z12SA15L, Z12SB15L, Z12SC15L, Z08SA15R, Z08SB15R, Z09SA15R, Z09SB15R, Z11SB15R, Z11SC15R, Z12SA15R, Z12SB15R, Z12SC15R. Barnes Bullets, LLC determined that eighteen (18) Lots of its Barnes Bullets, LLC 300 Weatherby 180 grain TTSX VOR-TX ammunition (the “Ammunition”) packaged product may contain cartridges of a different caliber (collectively, the “Affected Product”). The eighteen (18) Lot Numbers are identified above. Firing a rifle with the incorrect caliber of ammunition may result in damage to the firearm, serious personal injury, or death. To determine if you have Affected Product, please note the following: - If you have a case of the Ammunition, the Lot Number is stenciled on the outside of the case; and, - If you have a box of the Ammunition, the Lot Number is stamped on the inside flap of the box.
If you have Affected Product, immediately discontinue use of it and contact Barnes at the telephone number below. Barnes will arrange for the return shipment of your Affected Product and, upon receipt, will send you replacement Ammunition at no cost to you. If you are unsure whether you have Affected Product or if you have mixed boxes of ammunition, please immediately discontinue the use of the ammunition and contact Barnes Bullets, LLC at the below telephone number – we will replace this ammunition for you. For any other questions relating to the return of Affected Product, please contact the Barnes
SUBSCRIPTIONS INQUIRIES: Should you wish to change your address, order new subscriptions, or report a problem with your current subscription, you can do so by writing Hunting, P.O. Box 37539 Boone, IA 500370539, or e-mail us at hntcustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, or call TOLL FREE 1-800-800-4246. BE AWARE THAT PETERSEN’S HUNTING ONLY ACCEPTS SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM AUTHORIZED AGENTS! WE MAY NOT HONOR REQUESTS FROM UNAUTHORIZED AGENTS, AND YOU THEREFORE MAY LOSE YOUR MONEY IF YOU BUY FROM AN UNAUTHORIZED AGENT. If you are offered a subscription to Petersen’s Hunting, please call 1-800-800-4246 to determine if the agent is authorized. For more information on subscription scams, please visit www.ftc.gov. Subscription rate for one year is $19.94 (U.S., APO, FPO, and U.S. possessions). Canada add $13.00 (U.S. funds) per year, includes sales tax and GST. Foreign add $15.00 (U.S. funds) per year. Occasionally, our subscriber list is made available to reputable firms offering goods and services that we believe would be of interest to our readers. If you prefer to be excluded, please send your current address label and a note requesting to be excluded from these promotions to: Outdoor Sportsman Group® 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703 Attn: Privacy Coordinator or email your label information and note to privacycoordinator@outdoorsg.com
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SAFETY FIRST - Always observe Barnes’ Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety and wear approved eye and ear protection anytime you are shooting.
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Copyright 2017 by Outdoor Sportsman Group®
about Stauer knives...
W., Dept. WHK217-01 ® 14101 Southcross Drive
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FROM THE EDITOR
Dream Jobs More years ago than I care to count, Mike Schoby and I sat around a campfire, sharing a bottle of cheap whiskey while a fresh backstrap roasted over the coals. We were a couple of years out of college, starting our careers cranking out copy for Cabela’s. Dream jobs for a couple of young guys who wanted nothing more than to hunt and fish. Mike soon left for greener pastures, but I toiled for another decade or so, until the cubicle walls of the corporate world started closing in. In 2010, with the simple goal of making enough money to feed myself and a voracious black Lab, I quit to become a freelance writer. By then, Schoby was running this magazine, and when he heard I’d left, he tried to hire me on the spot. I was bent on making it on my own and built a successful career. Much of that success came thanks to Schoby and the space he gave me in Petersen’s Hunting. Last spring, he came to me again, this time for some advice. Schoby had an opportunity to oversee all the gun titles printed by Outdoor Sportsman Group. It was a great offer, but Editor in Chief of Petersen’s Hunting was his dream job, and he was hesitant to give it up. We talked it over a bit, and when I asked who would take over Petersen’s, he simply said: “You.” Oh, no. I wasn’t looking for another career. Besides, freelancing was my dream job, and not only could I feed my Lab, I ate well myself and had more adventures than I could cram into a calendar. Why give all that up to run a magazine? Mike and I were both stuck, and after several phone calls and one late night standing in my kitchen passing around another bottle of whiskey, we talked each other into taking on a whole new set of challenges. I’m a month into the job, and those new challenges are, well, challenging. But I am more than a little excited to lead Petersen’s Hunting into the future. Just adding my name to a pretty exclusive list that includes the likes of O’Connor, Boddington, Rupp, and Schoby is enough to cause my chest to puff out a bit.
Rockhouse Motion
You know how to catch your food...
What does this change mean for readers? I’m not so cocky that I’m going to make wholesale changes to what I consider the best hunting magazine on the newsstand. Those famous names before me did a great job leading PH, and I’m going to do my best to keep the train running full-speed down the tracks. Petersen’s Hunting is still going to be the leading voice of hunters, especially those who are passionate about elk, mule deer, and pronghorns. Whitetails will get their due, too, as well as the birds I’m prone to chasing around the world. And speaking of that, we’ll be adding to our reputation as international hunting authorities with Boddington and others sending in regular dispatches from the far reaches of the globe. PH will also continue to fight for the rights of gun owners and hunters. Like you, I’m a public lands advocate and will hold politicians’ feet to the fire to keep public lands in public hands. Same goes for gun rights, wildlife management, easing restrictions on suppressors, and other issues our readers care so deeply about. Perhaps most importantly, I want to hear from you. I plan to keep up the tradition of responding to every letter and email received. Write me here, or email hunting@outdoorsg.com. This might be my new dream job, but it’s your magazine. See you around the campfire,
BROWNING.COM
THE
MEASURE
OF A HUNT Just any ram is not what it’s about for me. Mountain sheep are too special to just notch a tag because I could. Taking a mature ram or nothing at all is the contract I made with myself. The tape only tells me I lived up to my end of the deal.
Hunt Right, Hunt Hard
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HUNTING NEWS | TIPS | INSIGHT
BULLET BOARD RACK ROOM CARTRIDGE CORNER NEW GEAR FIELD TEST
14 16 16 18 22
In Access We Trust? PUBLIC LAND ISN’T ALWAYS PUBLIC LAND. Roll out a Land Status map of any state in the West and you’ll be greeted by a rainbow of colors arranged in geometric patterns. From vast blocks of green and red to a mishmash of yellow to isolated blue squares, the West consists of a conglomeration of state, federal, and private lands. The yellow and green? That’s Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service land respectively. It’s
your land, and it is open to hunting, fishing, and other uses. Those blue squares? That’s state trust lands. Whether or not it belongs to you depends entirely on whom you ask. Although it is owned by the state, it is not considered public in most western states. What’s more, the agencies that oversee trust lands aren’t a typical government agency. Step on trust land in some states and you’ll be arrested for trespass.
r o v e m b e r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r r
13
“There is a lot of confusion sur-
access to their land. Landowners are allowed to use the tags or sell them to whomever they want. Christy says as many as one million acres of trust land could fall under the CWMU program. That would allow SITLA to get and sell tags or lease land to commercial hunting operations. “We expect fair-market value for the resources on our land,” he says. “That’s what we are mandated to do,” adding that the lease agreement with the DOW precludes any claim to big-game tags or the right to lease the land to commercial interests under the management program. In other words, they charge because they can. “The problem with the $3.2 million figure is that they were treating their land as if it was private, so they wanted to get in on the CWMU program in order to raise money,” Styler says. “Adjoining landowners would have been able to lease SITLA land under the program, too.” The agencies that oversee trust lands are tasked with a single purpose: to maximize revenue for the benefit of public schools. In Utah, as in other states, it’s a constitutional declaration. As such, trust lands are leased to a variety of commercial interests. Oil and gas developers, ranchers, and even outfitters all contribute a steady stream of revenue. SITLA also sells as much as 2,600 acres per year. The more money land agencies generate, the more successful their mission. Christy says whether they are public or private, these agencies are just following through with that constitutionally mandated mission, which is exactly what they’ve always done. Why the uproar now? “Times have changed,” says Joel Webster, director of Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership’s Center for Western Lands. “We think state trust land agencies can make decisions that are more thoughtful to the public. We aren’t against state trust lands, and they serve a valuable purpose, but with a growing interest in outdoor recreation and a continued loss of access to private land, there ought to be more emphasis on uses that provide
rounding that,” says Kim Christy, deputy director of Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). “Trust lands are owned by the state, but they are technically private, as mandated by the state constitution.” Trust lands were granted upon statehood for the purpose of creating a revenue stream, primarily for public schools. States were divided into 36-square-mile townships, and each township had one to four square miles designated as trust land. A total of 134 million acres was granted, and nearly every state had some trust land at one time. Only 46 million acres remain. The bulk of it is in nine western states. Montana resident John Gibson agrees the state trust lands issue is confusing, but it shouldn’t be. The land is owned by the state, he says. Therefore, it should be managed for everyone, including hunters and anglers. “Who is the state? It’s the citizens,” he says. The issue came to the forefront in Utah this year when SITLA demanded more money for public access to the state’s 3.4 million acres of trust lands. Under a longterm lease agreement, the Utah Division of Wildlife (DOW) currently pays $775,000 per year, a cost passed on to sportsmen through license fees. SITLA asked for up to $3.2 million per year, according to Mike Styler, director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The request didn’t sit well with the state’s hunters or the wildlife department. “They seem to be private when it suits SITLA’s case and public when that works to their advantage,” says Styler. “Maybe we need to get the courts to clarify whether or not these lands are private or public. It certainly isn’t very well-defined right now.” He said the new lease rate was based on a study that examined the potential value of hunting if trust lands were managed under the DOW’s Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) program. It gives landowners a certain number of big-game tags as long as they allow public
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Federal .308 200-Grain edge TLr
Bullet Board BULLET BASICS Designed to dominate today’s competitive longrange hunting market, Federal’s new Edge TLR (terminal long range) projectile is a streamlined, high-BC version of the outstanding Trophy Bonded Tip bullet. It features a heat-resistant hollow-core composite tip, a generous boattail, and a specially grooved shank to aid aerodynamics, along with a computer-engineered sleek profile that flows easily through the atmosphere. The advantage it offers over popular long-range hunting bullets is reliable low-velocity expansion coupled with unequaled toughness by virtue of its solid copper rear half and bonded-core front.
TESTING GROUND A mature blue wildebeest was shot at 80 yards with the bullet pictured. Fired from a .300 Win. Mag., the 200-grain Edge TLR impacted the quartering-away animal at an estimated 2,700 fps.
FIELD PERFORMANCE Blue wildebeest are known as the “poor man’s buffalo” due to their extraordinary toughness, but the blue gnu staggered only a few steps before dropping.
STATS Impacting at an angle, the bullet mushroomed beautifully as it smashed through thick hide, ribs, vitals, more ribs, powerful shoulder muscle, and came to rest against the hide on the far side. Even so, the recovered projectile retained 85 percent of its original weight, tipping the scale at 171 grains. Average expanded diameter is 0.63, well over double the original diameter.
NOTES/OBSERVATIONS Capable of pulverizing a close-up moose shoulder knuckle with enough retained mass to still penetrate vitals, yet also expand reliably at very low, extreme-range velocity (rated as low as 1,350 fps), the Edge TLR offers unprecedented versatility. —Joseph von Benedikt
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Monthly Rack Room winners will receive a YETI Rambler. Every quarter, one winner will be drawn to win an Aimpoint H-2 sight. Enter your trophy photo at PETERSENSHUNTING.COM/RR recreational opportunities while preserving the habitat.” Thanks in part to pushback from the sporting and conservation communities, some state trust land agencies are doing that. The Idaho Department of Lands recently created maps showing recreational access to the 2.4 million acres it oversees. There is no charge to access that land, and almost all of it is open. Much of the information was not easy to find prior to the new digital maps. Washington and Oregon also allow unrestricted access in most cases, although Washington requires a $20 annual permit. Webster praises Idaho’s Department of Lands for its transparency, but he wonders why some states either limit access or even deny entry. Colorado does not allow public access except to land leased by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Just 16 percent of Colorado’s trust land is open to public hunting, and DOW pays $1.3 million annually. Some of the remaining land is actually leased to outfitters. New Mexico’s State Land Office charges the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish $1 million each year. The agency controls nine million acres, with most of it open to hunting. However, hikers must buy a $35 annual permit just to walk on it, and camping is allowed only with the lessee’s permission. “I’m okay with charging a small fee if it would create more opportunities, but many of the rules seem to be arbitrary and make no sense,” Webster adds. “I don’t know why much of this land can’t serve a dual purpose —grazing and hunting or fishing and even
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energy extraction, for example, if they don’t conflict with each other.” Christy says the idea of a nominal annual permit fee was brought up by his agency, but it didn’t go over well with the DOW or the hunting community in general. Montana hunters pay two dollars annually, an amount Gibson thinks is more than fair. However, it took a court challenge and an act of the state legislature to open the state’s 5.8 million acres of trust land to the public. Until that victory, access was at the discretion of lessees, who could deny access but hunt the land themselves. A group of sportsmen, including Gibson, challenged that rule in court and lost. The Billings-based Public Land/Water Access Association then took their case to the legislature, which ultimately forced the trust land agency to allow public access in most cases. “We still can’t get to a lot of it because it is surrounded by private land,” Gibson says. “There is no access to it.” The good news is that a large portion of it is open to the public, even if they have to pay a small fee to access it. Utah hunters will also continue to have access, but only because the state legislature agreed to kick in an additional million to SITLA. It may seem odd that the state is paying a state agency to allow state residents to use state land, but Styler is relieved. “If we didn’t reach a solution, we likely would have lost access to that land, or we would have had to pass the additional cost on to our sportsmen,” he says. “They would not have been happy about that and neither would we.” —David Hart |
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Cartridge Corner HISTORY Driven primarily by GA Precision and the PRS (Precision Rifle Series) competition crowd, the 6mm Creedmoor is nothing more than a necked-down 6.5 Creedmoor. The very popular 6mm version has just been legitimized as a factory cartridge and will be offered by Hornady. While it’s based on the 6.5 Creedmoor, its ancestry harks back through the .30 T/C to the .300 Savage, which provided the original parent case that eventually became the most popular precision cartridge available today (6.5 Creedmoor).
APPLICATION Particularly efficient courtesy of its powder chamber shape, the 6mm Creedmoor has a short case that enables long, sleek bullets to be seated well out so they don’t intrude on powder capacity. Extremely low recoil enables shooters to spot their own impacts through their riflescope, particularly when paired with an aggressive muzzle brake. While engineered for match shooting, the 6mm Creedmoor performs much like the .243 Winchester on game, making it ideal for small to medium deer and antelope-size game and for predators at long range.
BALLISTICS Hornady’s initial factory load features a 108-grain ELD Match bullet at a relatively moderate 2,850 fps. (PRS shooters handloading the wildcat version regularly achieve in excess of 3,000 fps at the expense of case life.) Handloaded big-game bullets in the 85- to 100-grain weight range should safely reach 3,000 fps, and light 58- to 75-grain varmint and predator bullets at 3,600 to 3,200 fps simply vaporize destructive rodents. Given its extraordinary inherent accuracy and relatively good barrel life, the 6mm Creedmoor is one of the best cartridges available for extreme-range predator and varmint control. —Joseph von Benedikt
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Learn more at federalpremium.com
Mike Anschuetz
unshakeable KALI PARMLEY
When the tines of a Booner buck appear through the fall leaves, we all get a little shaky. Trembling fingers can make it hard to pick up an accurate rangefinder reading. Nikon’s new MONARCH 7i VR features groundbreaking technology to help with buck fever by reducing shake by 80 percent to align the image with the activated laser beam. The results make for clear, crisp images and precise readouts. The 7i ranges from 8 to 1,000 yards, features incline/decline technology, and two different ranging modes: First Target Priority and Distant Target Priority depending on your hunt situation. $400; nikonsportoptics.com
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THE BUCK STOPS HERE WITH NORTHWOODS STYLE AND COZY COMFORT
Graphic side panels shows off custom camo print
BACK
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Contrasting forest green hood displays a 10-point buck silhouette
“Forest King” Hooded Camo Fleece Jacket A Design Exclusive Available Only from The Bradford Exchange Now you can bring along a little wilderness adventure wherever you go with a wardrobe essential that provides comfortable everyday wear. Introducing the “Forest King” Hooded Camo Fleece Jacket, only from The Bradford Exchange. Our exclusive black fleece jacket is tailored in a popular hip-length cut and features side panels with a custom camouflage print. On the front of the jacket, an embroidered 10-point buck stands out and the forest green woven hood with brown trim boldly displays a buck silhouette. This versatile hoodie has two front zip pockets, an inside zip pocket, and metal toggles on the cords... perfect for
year-round comfort. Imported. RESERVATION APPLICATION
An Outstanding ValueÑSatisfaction Guaranteed The “Forest King” Hooded Camo Fleece Jacket is a remarkable value at $119.95*, and you can pay in four easy installments of $29.99. To order yours in men’s sizes M-XXL, backed by our unconditional, money-back, 30-day guarantee, send no money now; just fill out and send in your Reservation Application. You won’t find this jacket in stores, and it’s only available for a limited time, so order today! *For information on sales tax you may owe to your state, go to bradfordexchange.com/use-tax.
www.bradfordexchange.com/buckhoodie
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Please reserve the ÒForest KingÓ Hooded Camo Fleece Jacket for me as described in this announcement. I’ve checked my size below. Please Respond Promptly
T Medium (38-40) 01-24553-011 T XL (46-48) 01-24553-013 T Large (42-44) 01-24553-012 T XXL (50-52) 01-24553-014 *Plus a total of $14.99 shipping and service; see bradfordexchange.com. Please allow 2-4 weeks after initial payment for shipment. Sales subject to product availability and order acceptance.
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NEW GEAR
Sitka has upped the ante by creating entire systems dedicated to female big game hunters. The Fanatic jacket and bibs are just two pieces of the system made for whitetail hunters, and both are crafted with Berber fleece, Primaloft insulation, and Sitka Groundshield Technology, a high-tech insulation layer. The jacket features a safety harness port, diagonal-zip opening, and removable hood. Pair it with the bibs and you’ll be toasty in your treestand. bibs $389, Jacket $399; sitkagear.com
Rubber boots are a favorite for hunters because of their versatility—but lack of traction is one of their drawbacks. Rocky has replaced the fake-chain grip with an aggressive outsole on their Claw Rubber Insulated boot. The four-stage outsole features a deep-lug tread pattern to grab slick, muddy ground. The shafts are thick 5mm neoprene, that may be a bit warm for early season, with durable rubber overlays that resist wear. Available with 1,200-gram Thinsulate. $150–$160; rockyboots.com
Federal Premium’s new line of centerfire cartridges speaks to the hearts of the whitetail afflicted. Made specifically for deer hunting, the Non-Typical ammunition is available in 12 different calibers ranging from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag. The cartridges utilize a softpoint bullet with concentric jacket that provides a jawdropping punch and lethal wound channels. Muzzle velocities range anywhere from 2,200 to over 3,000 fps depending on caliber. $20–$28; federalpremium.com
The Big Bear X pack is a modular system perfect for the treestand or spot-and-stalk whitetail hunter. The two-in-one design allows sportsmen to choose between a lumbar or day pack, or both. The lumbar pack features a large main compartment, two side pockets, and a front pocket. A large extendable day pack unfolds for an additional 1,900 cubic inches. The padded shoulder and waist belt are adjustable and removable, and they can be paired with Alps accessory pockets. $140 ; alpsoutdoorz.com
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SH O OT I N G
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start-up
scopes
DAVID DRAPER
Want a quality scope without breaking the bank? Try these new companies on for size. From ride-sharing services to retail shopping hacks, the way the world does business is being disrupted by small, savvy start-ups. Once dominated by a few big names, the optics industry also is entering a brave new world as companies pop up on the market each year. Here are four new riflescopes— all with friendly price tags—from optics makers you may not have heard of.
TRACT TURION T-PLEX 3-9X40
VANGUARD ENDEAVOR RS 3-9X40
Founded by a couple of optics-industry vets, Tract turns the traditional business model on its head with a direct-to-consumer website. By eliminating all the middlemen, the company can build feature-laden, high-quality optics at value-driven prices. The Turion features Schott HT glass that transmits maximum amounts of light through the optical system for clean, clear, bright imaging. Its aluminum 1-inch tube is argon purged and O-ring sealed for weatherproof performance. On the downside, a lengthy ocular housing and oversize focus ring limits mounting adjustment to just two inches. $424; tractoptics.com
Vanguard is not new to the optics world—it has been making tripods and binos for years—but the Endeavor series is the company’s initial venture into the riflescope market. For a street price well under $300 bucks, hunters get the benefit of extra-low-dispersion glass that’s multicoated throughout the optical system. This results in a level of brightness and clarity that punches above its price tag, although edge-to-edge sharpness is lacking. The 1-inch aluminum tube is durable, with an oversized zoom ring that, unfortunately, adds several unnecessary ounces. $210; vanguardworld.us
WEIGHT: 1 lb. PROS EXTENDED EYE-RELIEF, T-PLEX RETICLE CONS HEAVY
WEIGHT: 15.75 oz. PROS BRIGHT OPTICS, WEATHERPROOF CONS FUZZY AROUND THE EDGES
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Mike Anschuetz
FIELD TEST
GPO PASSION 3X 3-9X40
STYRKA S5 SH-BDC 3-9X40
This scope’s European-grade glass isn’t surprising, considering it comes from a company called German Precision Optics, but what is surprising is the quality of the scope given its entry-level price. For about three Benjamins hunters get a solid scope built on a 1-inch, machined-aluminum tube. The optics, with proprietary coatings and multi-laminated lenses, produced adequate clarity during our lowlight tests, though brightness suffered at the top of the zoom range. Another surprise for an inexpensive starter optic is a full, no-fault warranty for life. $300; gpo-usa.com
You’re going to pay a couple hundred more dollars for this scope, but the return on investment might be well worth it. What you get for those extra bucks is a serviceable side focus wheel that adjusts parallax from 10 yards to infinity and a ballistic drop reticle, albeit set on the second focal plane. Still, that versatility gives budgetconscious hunters aiming solutions at extended ranges up to 600 yards. Inside the one-piece aluminum tube, fully multicoated optics are bright and clear, delivering decent low-light visibility at dawn and dusk. $480; styrkastrong.com
WEIGHT: 14.5 oz. PROS PRICE, LIFETIME WARRANTY, GENEROUS EYE RELIEF CONS STIFF ZOOM ADJUSTMENT
WEIGHT: 1 lb., 2 oz. PROS BDC RETICLE, ADJUSTABLE PARALLAX CONS HEAVY, LIMITED MOUNTING RANGE N o v e m b e r
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GUNS & LOADS KEITH WOOD
SEEKINS PRECISION HAVAK Type: Bolt-action repeater
Seekins Precision Havak
Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge Capacity: 5+1 Barrel: 24 in., stainless steel, spiral fluted, 5R rifling, 1:8 twist, 5/8-24 threads Overall Length: 44.25 in.
The company known for scope rings and ARs is entering the 6.5 Creedmoor market with an impressive bolt action.
Weight: 7.3 lbs. Stock: McMillan Game Warden Receiver: Stainless steel Sights: None; 20-MOA Picatinny rail Trigger: Timney, 3.5-lbs. pull MSRP: $2,200 Website: seekinsprecision.com
O
ver the past two years, the hunting rifle market has changed significantly, diverging into two separate paths. On one hand, there is the budget-rifle market producing serviceable rifles at very low price points. On the other hand, there is the emergence of a thriving high-end hunting rifle market where smaller manufacturers are putting custom rifle features into production models. The Havak from Seekins Precision is in this latter group. Part long-range precision rifle, part hunting rig, the Havak epitomizes the modern trend. This rifle is produced using premium components with innovative features that set it apart from most other rifles on the shelf. Glen Seekins was a mechanical designer whose life was changed by a broken set of scope rings. He put his design skills to work to build a better mousetrap and his first product was born. In the decade since, Idaho-based Seekins Precision has become a significant player in the firearms market by building parts, accessories, and firearms. The Havak is the company’s first entry into the bolt-action world, and true to its roots, the company did it its own way. Most rifle actions that enter the market are either an innovative take on (or a downright copy of) the Remington 700 or the Mauser 98—or a combination of the two. The Havak’s action is a different animal altogether and can’t be inextricably linked to any one previous design. The
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Havak uses a four-lug bolt that locks up at the 3- and 9-o’clock positions so that they don’t interrupt the feedramp at the 6-o’clock position. Unlike most multi-lug actions, the lugs on
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the Havak are big and beefy and appear to be plenty strong. A 20-MOA Picatinny rail comes standard and is securely attached to the receiver using an integral lug and five 8-32 hex The helical extraction cams are built into the bolt’s locking screws. The boltstop is located at the 9-o’clock position, and the lugs, providing a good deal of rearward force. The removable bolt head, which is made of tool steel and DLC-coated, safety sits at the right side of the tang where it is easy to access. attaches to the bolt body via two massive roll pins. The boltSeekins Precision’s own bottom metal is used to accept a detachable box magazine made by Accuracy International. The face is recessed generously to support the case head, and an magazine fits nearly flush with the bottom of the stock, so it M16-type extractor and plunger ejector handle getting cases out of the receiver with ease. The bolt body is full diameter and shouldn’t be uncomfortable when slung. The bottom metal has a deep groove milled into the left side that works as an uses an ambidextrous magazine release button, which can be anti-bind system in conjunction with the receiver-mounted pushed to either side to release the magazine; it’s easy to maboltstop. The result is a smooth bolt throw that runs straight nipulate, especially when shooting prone from a bipod. Like a back and forth with little or no wobble. The stainless-steel semiautomatic, the magazine’s follower locks the bolt to the bolt body is spiral fluted, and the stub that the replaceable rear on an empty magazine. bolt handle threads into is homogeneous to the bolt and will never snap off. PERFORMANCE (3-shot groups, 100 Yards) The receiver itself, which is machined from preheat-treated stainless steel, is designed to fit on the 6.5 Creedmoor Factory Load Velocity Accuracy (Avg.) Remington 700 short-action footprint and has an Hornady Precision Hunter 143-gr. ELD-X 2,655 fps 0.601 in. integral recoil lug. The round action uses a relaDoubleTap DT Longrange 129-gr. Barnes LRX 2,680 fps 0.604 in. tively small ejection port to maintain as much rigidHornady Match 140-gr. A-Max BT 2,670 fps 0.557 in. ity as possible, which is likely one of the factors that contributes to this rifle’s accuracy. The barrel on the Havak is stainless steel and is beadblasted to match the finish of the action. The 24-inch barrel uses 5R rifling and is twisted at 1:8 inch to accommodate the long projectiles common with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Six deep spiral flutes run nearly the length of the barrel. They cut weight, provide additional surface area for heat dissipa-
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G u n s & L oa d s tion, and look cool. The muzzle is threaded 5/8-24 for either a suppressor or a brake and comes fitted with a knurled thread protector. The paperwork for my SilencerCo Omega suppressor is trapped somewhere in the lumbering bureaucracy of the ATF’s NFA branch, so I wasn’t able to test it on this rifle. The Havak’s green stock is actually the McMillan Game Warden, a classic hunting stock combined with the vertical grip profile and butt of the A3 stock used on the USMC sniper rifle. The result is a rifle that is very comfortable to shoot from benchrest, prone, and other bipod-supported positions. Textured panels on the grip and forend provide a nonslip hold, and flush cups for QD sling mounts are located at the fore and aft ends of the rifle. The stock is fitted with two aluminum pillars to support the action, and glass bedding ensures consistent contact between the components. The barrel is completely freefloated forward of the receiver. I carried the rifle, sans sling, around the local hills to get a feel for the way it balanced and never found it to be a burden. We mounted a Leica 2.4-16x56i Magnus—a scope we were extremely impressed with—and headed to the range with a selection of three 6.5 Creedmoor factory hunting loads. Despite shifting and gusting winds, accuracy was excellent from the start. Most three-shot groups hovered just above a half-inch, with the Hornady 140-grain A-Max load turning in the best group at 0.459 inch. What was most impressive wasn’t that the rifle shot exceptionally well with a single load; it shot all three loads with nearly the same degree of accuracy. I’m confident that on a
calmer day I could have shot groups under a half-inch with every one of the loads. Bench accuracy is fine, but this rifle is made for the field. I attached a Harris bipod using the stud on the forend and used a nylon buttpad to get a proper cheekweld for the 56mm objective scope’s height. From the prone position, I set the Leica’s illuminated dot at the top of a 325-yard Pepper Popper target and squeezed off three shots. The 9-o’clock full-value wind pushed the shots to the right edge of the target but all three were hits. I didn’t measure the horizontally strung group, but you could cover it with your thumb. I kept this up from various positions until hitting the steel became boring. The Timney trigger was set to break at 3½ pounds, but it’s adjustable for user preference. Recoil was mild. The rifle fed, extracted, and ejected with 100-percent reliability. I found the way the rifle extracted/ejected to be very practical. When I cycled the bolt slowly during accuracy testing, the cases dropped out of the receiver. If I cycled the bolt rapidly, it ejected with authority and threw the cases a few feet to my right. This was the best of both worlds: reliable and positive ejection under field conditions and not having to chase brass across the range when I wasn’t in a hurry. The Seekins Precision Havak isn’t a budget-priced rifle, but it isn’t designed to be. This rifle is for hunters and shooters who are looking for top-tier components and innovative features and are willing to pay a bit of a premium for them. They won’t be disappointed with the fit, finish, and performance of the Havak.
LOGY, CE OF BOLTO IN THE SCIEN ACTIONS STOCKS AND , LS E R R A B , U G H, TRIGGERS PRODUCE TO O T R E H T E G TO 80 YEARS ARE JOINED MORE THAN R O F . S LE IF RELIABLE R MS® HAS LED EPEATING AR R R E T S E H C WIN -ACTION IELD OF BOLT F E H T IN Y R THE INDUST HE REVERED FIRST WITH T — N IG S E D H THE RIFLE ND NOW WIT MODEL 70® A CT : A PROVEN FA ’S IT . ® R P X N MODER
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Make your next big statement with the all-new MSR10 Hunter from Savage. A compact AR10 design takes bulk and weight out of your journey while a custom-forged Upper/Lower and premium BLACKHAWK! components give you the absolute advantage in every shot.
F I N D Y O U R M S R AT S AVA G E A R M S . C O M / M S R
WHITETAILS JEFF JOHNSTON
Is Ozonics The Answer? Can scent-covering technology fool a whitetail’s nose?
WHAT IS OZONE? Ozone (O3) is a gas molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms. Ozone is found in the Earth’s stratosphere and prevents certain harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching us. At ground level, ozone is an atmospheric pollutant. Ozone forms in nature when oxygen atoms are electrically charged via lightning storms or when they contact 185-nanometer ultraviolet light waves. (Some people believe that “clean” smell after a thunderstorm is ozone.) In the mid-1850s scientists learned how to artificially produce ozone by forcing ambient air (containing oxygen) through electrically charged metal plates called coronas. Ozone can also be created by exposing air to 185nm ultraviolet light. In 1896 Nikola Tesla patented the first O3 generator in the United States. He found that volatile O3 molecules seek and bind to other molecules either to turn
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them into other compounds (some good, some bad) or to destroy them. Ozone molecules have a very short half-life, from 20 seconds to an hour depending on temperature and humidity. Ozone is a powerful oxidant, and when administered at high levels, it purifies most things by killing bacteria and parasites in water and air. That’s why some municipal watertreatment plants use ozone; hospitals use ozone to sterilize surgical equipment; and ozone is used often in swimming pools because it’s much more effective than chlorine. Disaster cleanup companies use ozone machines to mitigate smoke smells in fire-damaged dwellings. IS IT SAFE? “When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts of ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation,” warns the EPA on its website. (The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone is a maximum eight-hour average outdoor concentration of 0.08 ppm.) The jury is still out on how much ozone is needed to be an effective cleaner and whether it’s safe at those levels. The Ozonics HR-200 and HR-300 are made to hang above your treestand and cover your scent with ozone, a gas molecule that eliminates smell. Justin Olk – Dream Point Outdoors
W
hen it comes to gadgets for beating a buck’s nose, I’m a skeptic. A whitetail’s sniffer contains 297 million olfactory receptors, and in 30 years of bowhunting, I haven’t seen them deceived by many things other than the wind and the rut. That said, I try to hunt as “scent-free” as possible. Recently, I’ve heard some old-school whitetail hunters rave about a company called Ozonics that makes portable ozonegenerating machines touted to mitigate human odor before it reaches a deer’s nose. Because it’s my job to test these things, I lugged an HR-200 model to various stands last season. More about those results in a bit, but first, here are some facts about ozone, its uses, and caveats.
Ozonics maintains that the output levels of its HR-200 and HR-300 machines when they are used correctly outside fall below the EPA’s threshold. I’m no scientist, but I’m reminded that most common chemicals like bleach (or even alcohol, gasoline, or soap) have health risks if used improperly or in large doses, yet when used at levels below the safety thresholds, these products, including ozone, 2 0 1 7
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Justin Olk – Dream Point Outdoors
W h i t e ta i l s
deliver fantastic results. Hundreds of companies worldwide have built businesses on ozone’s positive results. Even the USDA has approved it for many types of commercial food operations. Pretty convincing, but I’m more of a seeing-is-believing guy. Recently, I failed to use all the stink bait on a catfish outing, so I threw the remainder in the
freezer of my garage’s mini-fridge. Big mistake. A couple days later the fridge smelled like rotten chicken gizzards. I placed my HR-200 in the fridge and a short while later the terrible smell was gone. It was incredible. I did the same thing after a buddy fired up a cigar in my new truck. Same goes for my hunting clothes. If they smell like a roadkill possum and I don’t have time to wash ’em, I hang them in a closet with the Ozonics HR-200 and they emerge smelling clean and fresh. DOES IT WORK? So here’s what I know. The Ozonics machine works wonders as a scentkiller when used in enclosed spaces, but because ozone can be dangerous to breathe in high doses, don’t seal yourself in an unventilated room (or blind) with one running or point it at your face while in the tree. Ozonics’s Buddy Piland says that if you’re constantly smelling ozone from the machine, it’s not positioned correctly. “It’s all about recognizing where your scent stream is going and placing
the unit so its ozone mixes with it for as long as possible,” he says. Tougher to gauge is whether it works on a deer’s nose while hunting. Ozonics’s machines feature rechargeable batteries and are intended to be screwed into your tree above you at a 30-degree downward angle to shower your scent stream with heavier-than-air ozone molecules that kill or dilute your human scent as it drifts to animals downwind. Dr. James C. Kroll is called “Dr. Deer” because he’s a hunter who also has a Ph.D. in biology. He tested an Ozonics machine by placing a mannequin wearing a T-shirt laced with human body odor in a portable blind. He baited deer downwind of the blind with corn, set up a trail cam, and conducted the experiment with and without the Ozonics machine. He reported that many more deer fed on the corn when the Ozonics was on. New from Ozonics is the Kinetic backpack, which is designed to carry a running HR-300 unit while you’re stalking or walking to a stand. Does it work? Mike Carney, co-host of Bowhunter TV, is a whitetail fanatic who’s obsessed
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all I need: an opportunity to deliver a precise shot at a calm animal. What would you give to have a second chance at all the bucks that winded you over the last five years?” In sum, I get it if you’re a deer hunter who’s anti-technology, doesn’t have $300 for a unit, or doesn’t like carrying more stuff to your stand. But frankly, while I’m reluctant to admit that such gadgetry could fool a whitetail’s nose, much of the evidence I’ve seen suggests it can.
Justin Olk – Dream Point Outdoors
Scent control is a hot debate, but hunters are swearing by Ozonics, having seen animals directly downwind pause in curiosity rather than fear.
when it comes to scent management. Several years ago in a deer camp he raved about a then-new Ozonics machine. Carney has used them as much as anyone I know, so I called him. Carney mentioned a bull moose he killed last year using the Ozonics HR300. He said the bull suddenly turned and walked quartering toward him at 30 yards; he had obviously gotten Carney’s wind. But instead of wheeling, the moose paused, allowing Carney to lace a broadhead behind its shoulder. Carney, the ripe-smelling guide, and his once-skeptical cameraman all believe the bull wouldn’t have been tagged if it weren’t for the HR-300s on their Kinetic backpacks. Watch it on the Sportsman Channel or on MOTV and judge for yourself. “It’s not 100 percent, 100 percent of the time,” Carney says. “Nothing is. It has challenges in high humidity or heavy winds, but it’s the closest thing to a cloaking device I’ve ever seen.” While I haven’t had the definitive eureka moment many of my peers have, I’m slowly becoming a believer. For a simple test on whether the smell of ozone itself would spook deer, I placed my unit near a corn feeder. Trailcam pics revealed the same amount of deer, although a few of them sniffed the unit. “Reactions from animals differ; they are individuals,” Carney says. “At times they’ll stop and look—or slowly walk off after a long pause and an assessment of the situation. But I never get bucks snorting and dashing while I’ve had the Ozonics machine silently humming
overhead. Other times, it’s as if I’m scent invisible, with animals directly downwind feeding blissfully. It may not eradicate every scent molecule a hunter releases, but the ozone mingles enough with my scent stream to allow an opportunity to unfold. And that’s really
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WHEELS AFIELD MIKE SCHOBY
UTV
Unleashed Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS
IMAGES by
JOHN HAFNER
When it comes to UTVs, there’s a time and place for small and nimble, but it’s not when a few buddies and a couple of dogs want to chase pheasants; or when an elk camp needs to be hauled into the woods and quarters out; or when groups of hunters in search of antelope head across the prairie with bipod-equipped long-range rifles, high-
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powered optics, and large coolers. It is easy to see that in many hunting situations more is well, frankly, more. Polaris recognized hunters’ needs and met them with its 2017 Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS. The Crew model seats six hunters with dog kennels in back and has enough guts to tow a pretty large trailer full of extra gear.
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Wheels Afield
POLARIS RANGER CREW XP 1000 EPS Engine
999cc Four-Stroke Twin Cylinder
Transmission
Automatic/Shaft Drive
Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection
Suspension
Dual A-Arm
Brakes
Four-Wheel Disc
Fuel Capacity
10 gal.
Wheelbase
113 in.
Dry Weight
1,587 lbs.
Bed Payload
1,000 lbs.
Tow Capacity
2,000 lbs.
Capacity
6 people
MSRP
Starting at $16,000
The Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS is ready to hit the field straight off the lot. But with a few modifications, it becomes the ultimate hunting rig.
THE MACHINE The Ranger is available in multiple different configurations and displacements, but we chose the biggest model manufactured to date: the Polaris Ranger Crew XP 1000 EPS. Its 999cc four-stroke, twin cylinder puts out a whopping 80 horses
with three throttle control modes. Featuring electronic power steering, plus the option to switch between one wheel (turf), two-wheel (standard), and fourwheel (off-road) mode. Dual A-Arms provide 10 inches of travel front and rear
RACK IT UP I stumbled upon Quack Rack on a duck hunt in Texas, and while they are designed specifically for the waterfowler, the front rack, roof, roof rack, and bed rack system are ideal for anyone needing more storage —from big-game hunters to overlanders. Constructed of heavy-gauge powdercoated aluminum, all components will withstand a lifetime of Rocky Mountain hail or Louisiana duck marsh mud. The roof is strong enough to walk on while loading gear, and the rear rack (which easily drops into existing Lock & Ride holes) pays homage to the duck crowd with hooks for Texas decoy rigs and places for motion decoys. Other nice features include sealed LED lights preinstalled underneath the bed rack to help gather gear in the predawn gloom.
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and 11.3 inches of ground clearance— more than enough for any hunting situation. With a 1,000-pound bed capacity and 1,750-pound internal capacity, the Ranger XP 1000 brings more of what we were looking for in a base-model UTV.
FIND WHAT YOU’RE HUNTING FOR
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LET THERE BE LIGHT Since so much of a hunter’s time afield is before or after dark, enhanced lighting is a huge improvement to any vehicle. To illuminate dark trails, we chose the Polaris Pro Armor Dual Row 30-inch Light Bar. Installation was simple, and the enclosed wiring harness made the process easy, professional-looking, and, best of all, waterproof. It’s housed in a rugged 6063 aluminum body with integrated heat sink fins to help cool the unit after heavy usage. The high-intensity Cree LED light modules effectively lit the darkest scene out to 250 feet. WINDBURN PREVENTION When it comes to windscreens, I’m a bit torn. In the summer months, I personally like the wind in my face, but come late fall and winter, when hunting season kicks in, it can be downright frigid. Luckily, the Kolpin Full Tilt Windshield provides the best of both worlds. It installs easily to the vertical roll bars and allows for easy tilting for venting as well as complete removal. For more enclosure, an optional rear window fits into a factory channel on the back of the roll cage and installs or removes in minutes. PRO ARMOR AT TACK TIRES & BUCKLE WHEELS The wheels and tires that come from the factory on the Ranger are more than adequate for most needs, but who is satisfied with adequate when you could have badass? To up the cool factor, we installed the Pro Armor Attack Tire and Buckle Wheels for better looks over stock and for a slightly more aggressive tread pattern for the mud often encountered while hunting. Not needed, but truly appreciated.
WINCH A UTV without a winch is like a cowboy without a horse. Winches are great for all kinds of tasks—the least of which is getting unstuck. A necessity for lifting a snowplow and a nicety for pulling out a dead elk or removing a fallen tree from a trail, a winch is cheap insurance and used more often than one would expect. We selected the Cabela’s 3200 and Polaris mounting plate. Manufactured by Warn, the Cabela’s UTV winch is rated to 3,200 pounds (also available in a 2,200-pound model) and comes spooled with 50 feet of braided steel cable. The fully sealed motor and drive train are essential for low mount options where water and mud will shut down lesser units.
BED STORAGE One of the uneasiest feelings with any UTV is leaving it at a trailhead. Sure, you can take the keys with you, but there’s nowhere to secure gear. Until now. Finally, there is a safe and secure place to store valuable outdoor equipment: the Polaris Gear Vault. Crafted from rotomolded plastic, it features a single slideout locking drawer with dual dividers. The Gear Vault also incorporates top molding for rigidity as well as for additional accessories: a Northstar Cooler, Lock & Ride Kennels, or often-needed stuff such as a five-gallon bucket.
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GUN SLINGING Firearms mounts have come a long way since the early years of rubber-dipped U hooks. Between Kolpin products and factory Polaris items, we found enough variety to outfit a small army. In past builds, we have tested the Kolpin Stronghold Gun Boot XL and the Kolpin Rhino Grip Pro, both of which utilize the Lock & Ride attachment system: simply pop them in, pop them out, and adjust them in a multitude of positions. For insidethe-cab convenience, we installed the Polaris in-cab vertical gun mount. It’s adjustable for height and can accommodate two scoped rifles. Over many a rough trail, it proved to be secure and rattle-free as well as convenient.
OPEN COUNTRY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
5 DIY Hunts To Do Now Feeling spontaneous? Here’s a list of trips you can take at a moment’s notice.
D
o-it-yourself hunting is becoming harder each year. Access dwindles, human populations rise, and competition for good areas intensifies. As a result, obtaining tags for areas with good genetics, high game populations, and quality habitat has become daunting. Plus, at least here in the West, young, single, passionate outdoorsmen hunt harder, longer, and with greater sophistication than ever before. Trail cameras and shed hunting are great educators. Even so, adventure still awaits in the West, particularly for hunters willing to do their homework and travel out of the way in search of opportunities. Many of those adventures are out of the norm—unique, if you will. The good old days when eastern hunters could burn rubber down Interstate 70 and across the Colorado line; stop in at a gas station for ice, snacks, and a handful of over-the-counter (OTC) tags valid for elk, mule deer, and bear; and motor up into the Rockies for 10 days of prime rifle hunting are over. DIY adventure now takes form in the pursuit of unique opportunity, such as Merriam’s turkey on western Nebraska’s public land or roaring late-rut action during Utah’s spike-only elk meat hunt. For the trophy hunters among us, a few good opportunities still exist. Colorado’s early rut archery elk hunt offers actionpacked adventure, and Idaho’s spring black bear hunt produces some stomper bruins. Here’s a look at five great western OTC DIY opportunities.
Bait is legal (except for a few designated units) but must be a minimum of 200 feet from any water, roadway, or maintained trail. Plus, bait may not be put out until opening day except in select units that allow placement seven days prior to the opener. Do your research. Hunters intending to bait must obtain a $31.75 baiting permit from Idaho Fish & Game, available March 1 of each year. Evidence of gender must remain attached to the hide until check-in is completed. Mandatory check-in must be done within 10 days of harvest and is accomplished by presenting the skull and hide at an approved location. A list of locations is available on the state website. This Idaho spot-and-stalk public-land bear was taken by PH Managing Editor Kali Parmley in the Bitterroot Wilderness.
IDAHO SPRING BEAR NONRESIDENT TAG COST: $186 STATE HUNTING LICENSE: $154.75; $10 ACCESS DEPREDATION FEE AVAILABLE: OTC SEASON DATES: VARIES DEPENDING ON ZONE
As the snow retreats to Idaho’s mountain peaks, big bears emerge from their dens and begin browsing, feeding on tender young greens for a day or two to jump-start their digestive systems, and then aggressively search out food sources high in protein. Savvy hunters glass greening avalanche slopes for foraging bears and monitor strategically placed bait stations. In addition to the standard $186 tag, nonresidents can buy a reduced-price ($41.75) bear tag good for Unit 16 north of the Selway River and wilderness areas in Unit 21 and Unit 28.
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COLORADO ARCHERY ELK
to a particularly powerful cartridge; spike bulls don’t have the heavy bone and dense, tough muscle of old mature bulls, and most whitetail deer bullets work perfectly. Permits go on sale around mid-July, and they do sell out most years prior to opening day. Get yours early.
NONRESIDENT TAG COST: $641 HABITAT STAMP: $10 AVAILABLE: OTC LICENSE VALID: UNTIL END OF THE SEASON SEASON DATES: AUGUST 26–SEPTEMBER 24
Utah’s OTC spike elk hunt is a low-stress, low-cost way to bring home a supply of outstanding meat.
Probably the most iconic western hunt of all, Colorado’s archery elk season occurs during the September rut. Quaken aspen leaves turn brilliant gold, bachelors in bull groups split up and become rivals, and bugles ring against granite alpine slopes. Elk populations are high, public land is plentiful, and if you can hike, it’s still possible to get away from the droves of road hunters. Either-sex archery licenses are available OTC, and while many hunters hold out for a bull, arrowing a last-day cow can provide a freezer full of outstanding winter meat. Evidence of gender must remain attached to the carcass during transport. For the best rut action, look to the second half of September. Old-timers will tell you that as the aspen leaves wash to gold, the rut kicks into high gear. Pack light and spend full days afield, tramping the high country in search of bugling bulls. Call minimally and use oddball cow calls rather than popular mainstream models to lure bulls inside bow range. Extend your lethal range to 60 yards if possible; you’ll see far more bulls between 40 and 60 yards than inside 40. Crossbows are illegal during archery season. Handheld bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, with a maximum let-off of 80 percent. With the exception of lighted nocks, no bow-mounted electronics or scopes are allowed.
UTAH RIFLE SPIKE BULL NONRESIDENT TAG COST: $393 NONRESIDENT STATE LICENSE: $65 AVAILABLE: OTC LICENSE VALID: ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE
WYOMING ANTELOPE
SEASON DATES: NINE DAYS BEGINNING SECOND SATURDAY OF OCTOBER
NONRESIDENT TAG COST: $272 CONSERVATION STAMP: $12.50
It’s impossible to find a less-expensive bull elk hunt. Although you cannot shoot branch-antlered bulls, you’ll see lots of massive, mature herd bulls during your hunt and catch the last of Utah’s dramatic rut action as you search for a succulent young meat bull. Public land abounds in Utah, and access is simple. Set up a classic wall-tent camp beside a gravel two-track Forest Service access road, lace up your favorite hiking boots, and wander deep among aspen groves, scrub-oak-covered slopes, and dark timber country until you find elk. Settle in and glass, searching for spike bulls hanging a quarter-mile to a half-mile from the fringes of herds. Predictably, the farther you get from Utah’s densely populated Salt Lake Valley area, you’ll see fewer hunters and more elk. Pick up a set of regulations and be sure to avoid accidentally hunting a unit closed to spike bull hunting. You may have to shoot long, so take the time to work your favorite deer rifle out to a quarter-mile, learning its point of impact at extended distances. Don’t worry about stepping up
AVAILABLE: LICENSES LEFT OVER AFTER DRAW GO ON SALE OTC IN EARLY JULY LICENSE VALID: THROUGH SPECIFIED SEASON DATES SEASON DATES: MID FALL, VARIES DEPENDING ON HUNT AREA
Except for a couple of drastically hard-to-draw states known for trophy pronghorn, Wyoming is and always will be the destination for pronghorn antelope. Nonresident tags are initially given out via lottery, but many areas are under-prescribed every year and the leftover licenses are sold on a first come, first served bases. Access? Easy: Wyoming’s “Access Yes” program has opened a tremendous amount of private land to hunters. Online research using the state’s “Access Yes” website provides hunters with contact information for landowners needing help with population management, as well as detailed information on walk-in-only areas and state management areas. Also, many nonparticipating landowners are willing to let you hunt for a modest trespass fee.
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STOP CHECKING MULTIPLE TRAIL TR RAIL CAM CAMERAS MERA AS YOU CHECK ONE. YOU CHECKED THEM ALL.
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Open COu n try Public-land areas aren’t particularly hard to find. Use onXmaps on your smartphone to locate state school sections and BLM ground mixed among private ranches. Such land is frequently unhunted because nonresidents are unaware it exists and can offer a very nice buck now and then. Be sure of and respect private land boundaries. If you’ve got the pronghorn bug, apply in the Wyoming lottery for coveted trophy areas and build points. Meanwhile, purchase a leftover tag after the lottery and polish your pronghorn pursuit skills. Leftover licenses go on sale in July. Hunters must purchase, sign, and keep a conservation stamp in their possession while hunting. Evidence of gender must accompany the carcass while transporting after the harvest.
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NONRESIDENT PERMIT: $109 STATE HABITAT FEE: $25 AVAILABLE: OTC, AVAIL. LATE JANUARY LICENSE VALID: DATE OF PURCHASE THROUGH END OF SPECIFIED SEASON SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: MARCH 25–MAY 31 SHOTGUN: APRIL 15–MAY 31
Nebraska claims to be the best turkeyhunting destination in the country, virtue of generous bag limits, vast quantities of public land (nearly 800,000 acres), and high hunter success rates. Spring turkey permits are good for both the archery and shotgun seasons, and up to three per hunter may be purchased. Each is good for one bearded turkey. Friends of mine have made the pilgrimage to hunt Nebraska’s publicland gobblers many times, usually with 100 percent success. Each year the state publishes a Public Access Atlas detailing the many public areas that are open and ideal for hunting, fishing, and trapping. It’s available in hard copy and digital form. If a trip after big western Merriam’s turkeys is on your bucket list, pick up the Atlas, make a call to Nebraska’s turkey info hotline (402) 471-0641, and make it happen.
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SPEED (400 GR) 390 FPS I POWERSTROKE 13" I KINETIC ENERGY 135 FP I DRAW FORCE 10.0 LBS WIDTH AXLE-TO-AXLE 6" COCKED • 10.5" DE-COCKED I LENGTH 34.5" I PHYSICAL WEIGHT 6.9 LBS
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Stone Sheep This mountain dweller has one of the most limited ranges of any wild sheep in the world.
BEST
HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES The southern Yukon is excellent because there is almost no resident pressure, but rams there are on average not as dark and, at their best, not quite as large as the best British Columbia rams.
T
o me, the Stone sheep has two attributes. Both attributes are arguable—to each his or her own—but I believe the Stone sheep is the most beautiful of all the world’s wild sheep and lives in the most beautiful country on Earth. Those were my thoughts when I first hunted Stone sheep in 1973 and had no point of comparison, but since then, a lot of sheep hunting in a lot of mountain ranges has reinforced my opinion. The Stone sheep is found at the northern terminus of the Rocky Mountains and in adjacent smaller ranges, essentially the northern third of British Columbia and extending into Yukon. Their country isn’t as high or as dramatic as the southern Rockies or as harsh as the mountains of northern Yukon and Alaska. The mountains are gentler, green, and inviting in the early autumn months when Stone sheep are hunted. The slopes below the alpine basins and rocky tops are heavily timbered, and the valleys are well-watered with rushing streams and numerous lakes.
Jack O’Connor with a great Stone ram, taken in the early 1970s when he was in his early 70s. Because horseback access was possible and the mountains were fairly gentle, the Stone sheep were the last wild sheep O’Connor hunted.
As for appearance, the Stone sheep typically has golden horns that curl down and back up and, in the larger rams, tend to flare outward and often retain the sharp lamb tips. In the sheep world, I suppose one should rate them sort of medium in size.
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Its varying color makes the Stone sheep special. Some rams are very dark, some are gray, and still others are salt-and-pepper. In the Yukon, where they start to hybridize with pure-white Dall sheep, in any band there may be rams ranging from very light to very dark. Underparts are nearly white and the head and neck are usually lighter in color. Dark to light, a Stone ram is spectacularly beautiful. One might assume that the Stone is named for the rocks they live among. Good guess, but wrong. They were named in honor of naturalist Andrew J. Stone, who discovered them in 1897. Found in country that could only be accessed by a long packtrain journey, they were the most difficult North American sheep to obtain. After World War II, the floatplane changed this. Their habitat could be easily penetrated, populations were high, and there was virtually no resident hunting pressure. Until the mid-1970s, the Stone sheep was the most available, most accessible, and probably most affordable of the North American wild sheep. Regrettably, this has changed. With increased resident pressure from expanding human populations in southern British Columbia and falling sheep populations in about 1975 it became necessary to establish a quota system. Based on herd estimates, the nonresident sheep harvest is managed by allocation or quota. An outfitter whose business was based on 20 sheep hunters suddenly was limited to a dozen or less, causing prices to skyrocket. This trend continues. Although the Stone sheep is far from endangered, the population is not growing and resident pressure increasing. There is good news and bad news in this. The good news is that thanks to the quota system and British Columbia’s guide requirement for nonresidents, a Stone sheep hunt can be readily booked. The bad news is that, on average, the Stone sheep is the most expensive North American sheep hunt and probably the most expensive guided hunt on the continent. Although some outfitters prefer backpack hunts for Stone sheep, horseback hunts are the most common and a wonderful way to enjoy the northern mountains.
STONE SHEEP FACTS POPULATION Stone sheep are limited in numbers as well as range, with about 12,000 estimated in British Columbia and another 3,000 in Yukon.
MOST EXPENSIVE HUNTS SHOOTING AND SHOT PLACEMENT
Since the Stone sheep is named for a person, it is properly called Stone’s sheep, which is Boone and Crockett’s preferred designation. It is actually a subspecies of the Dall (or Dall’s) sheep (Ovis dallei stonei). Like all North American wild sheep, its ancestors crossed the land bridge from Siberia in the Pleistocene, so they are closely related to the snow sheep of Russia. Because color variations are extreme, early biologists tended to identify several races. Still recognized by some hunters’ organizations is the “Fannin sheep,” most typically with faces and necks nearly white, but with a dark saddle patch behind the shoulders. Today it is generally accepted that this lighter sheep begin a hybrid zone to the pure white Dall sheep. Boone and Crockett’s rule is simple: Since Stone sheep have produced the largest horns, Yukon sheep with dark hairs are Stone sheep. NATURAL HISTORY Wild sheep often gather in bands, with groups of ewes and lambs separated from bachelor groups for most of the year. Jack O’Connor, who generally hunted in late summer when the sexes are separate, wrote that if you see a herd of ewes and lambs on a mountain you probably won’t find rams nearby. In my experience, this is not always true, but it’s a general rule. Rams may be found solo or within bachelor groups running from just two, three, or a half-dozen to a dozen or more—although large groups are rare. Ewe herds can be much larger, but ewes also wander alone.
The Stone sheep is not a large animal, but a very large ram can weigh up to 200 pounds. Like all wild sheep, they are not especially tough (not as tough as any goat), but as with any animal that lives in or near rough and steep terrain, the wise move is to shoot to anchor it. The shoulder/heart shot is more likely to accomplish this than the behind-the-shoulder lung shot, but either is effective. The terrain is such that extreme-range shots are unlikely, but the Stone sheep is an animal that if an opportunity presents itself, you need to take it. Flat-shooting cartridges make sense, but extreme power isn’t a requirement. Fast .25s like the .25-06 are good minimal choices, the faster 6.5s are good, and Jack O’Connor’s .270 is probably just about perfect. Obviously, the fast 7mms and .30 calibers are more than adequate.
In October, usually after snowfall, the rams start to move toward the ewes, with the primary rutting season in late November and early December. Males fight for dominance in the classic head-butting ritual, and during this time— when almost no hunters are out—the sounds of horns clashing echo through the mountains. Lambs, usually single, are born in May or June, after a gestation period of about 170 days, and are quickly able to keep up with the band. Stone sheep will retreat into timber during storms and may be caught crossing valleys as they move between ranges, but they are primarily grazing animals, foraging for grass in alpine basins just above timberline, which is quite low in their habitat, maybe 5,500 feet. Glassing with good optics is the only sensible hunting technique. Ewes can live up to 20 years, but rams are considered old at about age 12—probably due to the stress of mating battles—although rams of 14 and even 15 are occasionally taken. Wild sheep live in dangerous country and can fall or be caught in avalanches, but predation by wolves and, to a lesser degree, grizzly bears is a major factor in population dynamics. N o v e m b e r
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Classic Stone sheep habitat in northern British Columbia.
LEAST EXPENSIVE HUNTS There are no inexpensive Stone sheep hunts, but prices vary tremendously. Stone sheep areas in Yukon are less expensive than British Columbia because the rams are lighter in color and the top end rams are not as large. Before British Columbia quotas started to shrink, Yukon outfitters in Stone sheep areas could barely give away hunts for the “Fannin sheep,” but today’s prices have risen considerably. Sleeper opportunities are in guide territories on the fringe of classic habitat, where outfitters may only get a couple of rams a year and cannot command as high a price as the “best” (or most famous) areas.
DID YOU KNOW? The largest North American wild sheep ever taken—and the only one exceeding 50 inches on both horns— was the world record Stone sheep taken by L.S. Chadwick in 1936. Chadwick and his guide went out for camp meat, and the ram was initially shot with a .404 Jeffery (plenty of gun!).
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MULE DEER? THROUGH THE fast-falling snow, we followed the fresh tracks to the edge of a steep ravine. Several mule deer rose from the bottom and pogoed up the far side. One looked like a giant, so I jumped off my horse, grabbed my rifle from the scabbard, and sat down in a wet drift. The bullet caught the buck just as he reached the crest, and he nosed into the soft snow. He wasn’t a giant, but he was a nice, clean four-by-four, with eyeguards. On that snowy morning in Montana 45 years ago, he was a giant to me. Since then I’ve taken quite a few mule deer, some bigger and some not so big. I’m convinced a really big mule deer is one of the most difficult prizes in North America. But things are not as bleak as you might have heard.
NO SHORTAGE OF MULE DEER HOW BIG IS BIG?
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Despite what we’ve been hearing for decades, mule deer are not in short supply. But then, we’re not hunting just any mule deer. We’re looking for a big buck. So let’s try to define him. If you’re like I was on that snowy Montana morning so long ago, I defined a big buck as being a typical four-by-four, with eyeguards. This is a normal configuration for a buck starting to mature. With decent diet and genetics, a four-by-four could be three years old, and if he survives, his antlers will probably grow in mass and length, but relatively few increase their tines. There are not enough four-by-fours for every hunter to find one every season, but they exist and are available everywhere muleys are found. The ultimate yardstick is the Boone and Crockett record-keeping system. B&C measures mule deer by the sum, in inches and fractions, of beam length, point length, and four circumferences on each antler, plus inside spread. For the actual record book score, differences from one antler to the other are also deducted. For inclusion into B&C’s all-time Records of North American Big Game, the minimums are 190 inches for typical bucks and 230 inches for non-typicals. These are lofty minimums; few hunters will see such mule deer in their lifetimes, and fewer still will take them. B&C also has a three-year award period with an associated book, and the minimums are lower: 180 inches typical, 215 inches non-typical.
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True non-typicals are rare, and I’ve never seen one that would approach 215 inches, but I’ve taken several typical bucks that exceed 180 inches. That is a much more attainable goal. Hunters also often talk about outside spread, with a 30-inch buck being the Holy Grail. This is fine, too, but beam and tine length and mass are generally more important than spread. A mule deer buck that approaches 180 points will probably be fairly mature, with long beams, good points, and likely decent mass. For all but the most selective die-hard hunters, a mule deer buck in the 170s is a big buck and an attainable goal. If you are one of those die-hard “B&C or bust” hunters, such bucks are out there, but be prepared to spend lots of time looking.
TOP SPOTS BY THE NUMBERS The Boone and Crockett Club is a dedicated conservation organization with record keeping just one of its many functions. Their credo is that their record book honors the animal as much as the hunter, and in these days when trophy hunting is under fire, they believe their records provide valuable historical data and population trends. If you’re looking for big mule deer, a sound tactic is to hunt where the big bucks are. Since 2000 the top six states and provinces in producing mule deer that were entered into B&C’s records are Colorado
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Arizona biologist Jim Hefelfinger chairs the Mule Deer Working Group of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA). “I get a call about once a month from a journalist wanting to do a story on ‘the decline of the mule deer,’” he said. “I tell them they’re about ten years too late!” Herds go up and herds go down, but a lot of mule deer herds in the West are increasing, and many are within sciencebased management goals. The West today has changed, with more development, both mineral and recreational; more urban sprawl; and more intrusion into critical winter ranges. There is not as much room for mule deer, and a lot more hunters are competing for the resource. However, a whole bunch of muleys are still out there. Total numbers are elusive but estimates say at least 3.5 million mule deer roam the American and Canadian West, plus a substantial population in northern Mexico. The five most populous mule deer states, by WAFWA 2016 estimates, are Colorado (436,000), Wyoming (364,000), Utah (348,650), Idaho (298,390), and Montana (297,231). In sheer numbers, California may have the largest herd of all—currently estimated between 450,000 and 550,000—but the majority of California’s deer are smaller subspecies, with the Rocky Mountain mule deer occupying only the northeast corner.
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Big Mule Deer Boddington’s desert mule deer from Sonora isn’t typical of the area. Though not especially wide, the antlers are heavy, and it’s a perfect four-by-four.
(397), Saskatchewan (157), Wyoming (110), Utah (97), Idaho (89), and New Mexico (86). These numbers comprise both typical and non-typical entries. So Colorado has the most mule deer and, by far, has produced the most record bucks in recent years. Colorado has also produced half the Top Ten typical mule deer but, interestingly, none of the Top Ten non-typicals. That doesn’t mean the gene pool is lacking. In 2014, Brett Ross, hunting on public land, took a non-typical officially scored at 292-7/8, now No. 34 in the all-time rankings. Saskatchewan has long produced big mule deer. Although it’s second as a recent record-producer, the population is small, an estimated 30,000 to 60,000. That’s great for Saskatchewan hunters, but it doesn’t do most of us much good because the province’s mule deer are for residents only. The other four top producers are traditional mule deer states, but New Mexico
is also interesting: 86 recent records, but its population is currently estimated at 80,000 to 100,000, much less than half the size of the herds of Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. In New Mexico it’s pretty easy to fine-tune the results because most of those record bucks came from northern New Mexico, where the deer are Rocky Mountain mule deer; the southern part of the state has desert mule deer, which are usually smaller.
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SECRET HOTSPOTS The thing about looking for a big buck is that you only need one, so while statistics and numbers are good, genetics and low hunting pressure are probably more important. Oklahoma has just 1,500 to 2,000 mule deer in three westernmost counties. The harvest in 2015 was 185 mule deer, but in the 2014–2015 season, Oklahoma recorded a new state record typical muley
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Big Mule Deer small-bodied, but the browse is high in protein and antler growth defies all logic. One must be careful; some areas have been overhunted, so it takes research. My own best buck from down there was a heavy-antlered and very typical fourBoddington’s best-ever mule deer, taken on his third hunt on the prairies of southern Alberta. With extra points on the right antler his deductions prevent him from scoring well, but he’s still an awesome mule deer.
scoring 191-7/8 . Like I said, you just need one. Just to the north, western Kansas is a sleeper hotspot, with a surprising population of 51,000 and some giant mule deer. My personal answer for a big mule deer was Alberta, not high on any statistics except for this one: Only 1,500 nonresident permits are allocated to outfitters. Alberta has done a very good job in recovering deer numbers, especially on the southern prairies, and the
genetics are extremely good. It took me three years to do it. On the first hunt a major blizzard darn near wiped us out. The second hunt was plagued by galeforce winds, although I took a nice old buck on the last day. But the third time was the charm. The weather was perfect, the deer were getting into the rut, and I took the best mule deer of my life. The desert of Sonora, Mexico, is a hotspot. These desert mule deer are
by-four that scored well. However, the typical muy grande from Mexico will be extremely wide but is often missing a point here or there. Far West Texas is an underrated mule deer destination. At a quarter-million the mule deer population is not small. These are also desert mule deer, and relatively few bucks grow extremely large. On the other hand, some of the Texas ranchers are getting as good at managing mule deer as they have been for whitetails. Buck to doe ratios are high, and antler size is increasing. This is probably not an area for a monster mule deer, but it’s a real sleeper for nice bucks.
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Biggguleeeeer LEFT: A nice desert mule deer from far West Texas. This area rarely produces giants, but there are a lot of mule deer and a high buck to doe ratio. It’s a great place to find good-looking bucks like this one. FAR RIGHT: Boddington and Jim Rough with what you might call a character buck. Although narrow with crab forks, he’s tall and heavy. He won’t score well at all, but he’s older and a great buck to take.
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So you want a big mule deer. How much time are you willing to spend? How much money are you willing to spend? You need to do your research, but there are millions of acres of public land throughout the West. The best areas for big bucks are known (and not hard to ferret out) and will usually be by limited draw. It may take several years to score a good tag, but it’s worth it. Most states with tags by drawing will have some great units and many so-so units, so your plan depends a lot on whether you just want to go mule deer hunting and take your chances or swing for the fences in a good unit. It isn’t difficult to get a Utah mule deer tag, but it will take some time if you want a public land tag in the famous Paunsaugunt Plateau area. Likewise, in some of Colorado’s better-known units, such as the Purgatory, or Arizona’s Kaibab or Arizona Strip. Nevada is another sleeper. Nevada tags are difficult to draw; the herd is just 94,000 (about the same size as Arizona’s), and the Department of Wildlife manages the whole state for quality. In 2015, 20,000 Nevada deer hunters enjoyed 47 percent overall success. But here’s a more striking statistic: The buck harvest was 7,500, and 38 percent of those bucks had four points or more on one side. One thing is certain about applying for tags. If you don’t apply, you will not draw. Do your homework. The information is out there and accessible at your fingertips. Focus on one area with the understanding it will probably take time, or spread things out and apply in good areas in numerous states. Especially if you take the latter approach, I strongly recommend enrolling in a tag-drawing service. I’ve been with United States Outfitters (huntuso.com) for 25 years. They were the first, but today there are several application services, including Worldwide Trophy Adventures ( formerly Cabela’s T.A.G.S.).
The other approach is to spend money. This is obvious if you’re going the outfitted hunt route, and in some areas, such as Alberta and Sonora, it’s the only option. This is generally also true in Texas, unless you know a landowner. Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico have private land tags. And there is exceptional mule deer hunting on several Indian Reservations in the West and Southwest. The trophies can be outstanding, but prices have skyrocketed for special places that offer special opportunity.
PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE... The secret to drawing tags is to be persistent and consistent—which is why I recommend tag-application services. You might beat the odds, but in great areas you’ll probably need to apply for several years and build up some preference points. Be patient and stay flexible: be ready to drop everything and go when you draw the tag you’ve been waiting for. Patience applies in spades if, with tag in hand, you plan a DIY hunt. Obviously, you’ll do as much homework and research as you can and, hopefully, some pre-season scouting. Mule deer hunting is highly weather-dependent in most places, so allocate as much time as you possibly can. If it’s a short season, use it all. If it’s a long season, use it all if you can, but if you can’t, do your research and try to pinpoint the best time. Then allocate as much time as possible within that window. If you’ve sprung for an outfitted hunt or a great tag, you’ll need to apply patience there as well. You may not see the buck you’re looking for, but wait for him. You won’t get your money’s worth if you settle for less, and the last day is as good as the first. Don’t be unreasonable in your expectations and follow your guide’s suggestion. If you’ve done your homework well, the buck you’re looking for is there somewhere. There’s a fourth way patience applies, and this is universal. Hunt hard, hunt long, and do a lot more hunting with your optics than you do with your legs. The secret to taking a big mule deer is to find him. Use vantage points and take the country apart piece by piece. Glass up your buck—and then go get him.
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PRIME GETTING YOUR GAME FROM FIELD TO FREEZER JUSTIN KARNOPP
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at the moment of impact. The shot—no matter how much time and effort was exhausted to get there—was the easy part. Now it’s time to dig in because the prize is at stake. The real trophy of a hunt is a substantial amount of the highest-quality protein that cannot be purchased in any store. The only way to ensure the meat arrives on your table in prime quality is to don the white apron and butcher it yourself. There are many great butcher shops around the country, but during hunting season the volume of work turns them into production-line factories. A commercial meat processor doesn’t have the time to devote more energy to your hardearned animal. In truth, you never know what you’re getting back from the butcher shop. This is especially true when it comes to ground products. Hunters spend weeks scouting, hanging stands, checking trail cameras, prepping gear, and preparing for the hunt. Why, then, do many hunters not continue that effort and give meat, the only measurable reward (outside of antler inches), its due diligence? Lack of time is a lie or, at the very least, an excuse, in the context of the hours hunters devote to punching the tag. We pride ourselves on remaining in touch with nature in a modern world full of distractions and chaos—from cell phones to tablets to Kardashians. The only way to do so, in the most fundamental of human endeavors, is the hunt, engaging the entire process from field to freezer to table. There’s an intimidation factor, but the truth is, butchering your own deer is much simpler and faster than most hunters realize.
THE SAME SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
MANY HUNTERS FEEL
WHEN THAT THEY LOOK AT A HARD-EARNED RACK ON THE WALL ALSO COMES WHEN A PACKAGE OF PROPERLY ATTENDED PROTEIN IS PLUCKED FROM THE FREEZER...
RESULTING MEAL
... AND THE IS PLACED ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE — WITH A FINE GLASS OF WINE AS AN APPROPRIATE ACCOMPANIMENT.
BEFORE YOU BUTCHER As you field dress the animal, remove the heart, liver, and whatever other organs float your boat. Ambient air temperature dictates the process when it comes to meat care, but in a perfect world, fall temperatures will allow for a few days of hanging, preferably skin on. We’ve all heard many theories on how long to hang wild game, but in general, five days at 40 degrees or lower seems to be about right for tender, delicious flesh. One of my friends hangs his meat for a month, and though some of his game does taste really good, it’s a risky proposition and you can lose a lot of product. Wild meat has very little fat, and if need be, you can butcher it the day of the kill and be just fine. A gambrel and simple pulley system in the garage is ideal and one individual can hang a deer alone.
Outside temperature will dictate how quickly you need to get your meat to a freezer. If it’s between 32 and 40 degrees, let the animal hang for a few days to become more tender.
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If you have the resources, hang your deer by the back legs with a gambrel and pulley system to aid in the skinning process.
The first cuts you should take after skinning the animal are the backstraps, otherwise known as the loins. These are the two long pieces of meat that lay on either side of the vertebrae. Take your time removing them, keeping the knife close to the bone, as they are highly regarded as the best cuts on the animal and rightfully so. Once they’re removed, you can slice them into steaks one to two inches thick. Better yet, leave them whole or cut them crosswise into thirds. Left as thick chunks of meat, the backstraps cook up better than thin steaks, which can dry out quickly under the high heat of a grill. Beneath the backstraps, hanging on the inside of the abdomen, are the tenderloins. The best practice is to remove the tenderloins in the field because they dry out very quickly and develop a thick, inedible skin when exposed to air. Treat them kindly as they are usually very tender. In fact, the muscle is so soft they can often be removed from the body cavity without the use of a knife. Treat them kindly on the grill or in the pan, too, with just a quick sear.
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WHAT YOU NEED 1 FILLET KNIFE : Try to find one with a stiff blade that is just flexible enough to bend around bones. The Reel-Flex line from Outdoor Edge has a comfortable handle and sharp edge. $r3;routdooredge.com
The individual muscle groups will provide you with a map of sorts to help guide where to separate each cut.
2 BONING KNIFE : For working around joints. A stiff, small boning knife works great for removing quarters from deer and handles most meat-cutting jobs with ease. Dexter Sani-Safe is the choice of pros for a reason. $r3–$r8;rdexter1818.com
REAR QUARTERS
3 CUTTING TABLE : I had one of these made that is the right height for me. Bending over will kill your back and make the entire process miserable. 4 GRINDER: Don’t skimp. If price is a problem, go in with a buddy or two and buy a good, commercial-grade meat grinder from Cabela’s. It will last a lifetime. $349+;rcabelas.com 5 VACUUM SEALER: For big jobs, invest in a quality sealer that will seal many bags in a row without overloading the heat bar. The Weston Pro-1100 is a good mix of value and performance. $3rr;rwestonsupply.com 6 RECIPROCATING SAW : For cutting off the legs, ribs, or skull. This is a great gift for a new homeowner, too. An invaluable power tool that all of us need.
While everyone focuses on the antlers, the real trophy is pounds and pounds of fresh, organic meat for the table.
7 SHARPENER: If you’re good with the sharpening steel, great. I’m not and rely on the automated models that utilize sanded bands, such as the Combo model from WorkSharp. $6r;rworksharptools.com
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Next remove the rear quarters by working around the ball joint and pelvis with a boning knife. It’s not difficult, providing you have a sharp knife and some basic knowledge of a deer’s anatomy. Use the tip of the knife to cut between the ball and hip socket and the whole quarter will start to fall away from the rest of the pelvis. Lay a rear quarter on your butcher table with the outside facing you and you’ll see an easy map of muscles to guide you. Using a fillet knife, follow the bone and cut the top sirloin from the top of the pelvic bone and back of the loin. The sirloin comes off as a football-shaped mass. In my opinion, this cut is the best grilling meat on the entire animal, and I slice it and label it as such. In the interior of the leg you’ll find top round, bottom round, and eye of round. These cuts can be separated via blunt dissection by pressing your fingers through the fascia holding the muscles together. Much like the round steaks you may be familiar with, these cuts are extremely versatile. The top and bottom rounds can be turned into steaks for grilling or frying or left as whole roasts. The eye of round is excellent grilled whole or, for charcuterie fans, is the best cut on the animal for bresaola. The sinewy meat on the rear lower leg can be removed and ground into summer sausage or brats or cut the shank into sections of one to two inches and braise them until the meat falls from the bone.
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PAPER OR PLASTIC Use a vacuum sealer for all of your prime cuts, backstraps, tenderloins, top sirloin, and rounds. Properly vacuum-sealed meat will easily last a year, and the meat will be free of freezer burn. It is also very easy to label and identify the individual cuts. I vacuum seal brats and summer sausage too, and they’ll last for a couple years.
Enlisting the help of a good friend makes the job easier. His reward should be a few choice cuts to take home.
For ground meat, burgers, and sausage, wrap individual pounds in plastic wrap and butcher paper. Industrial rolls of Cling Wrap can be purchased at membership wholesale stores and elsewhere. Tear off all the pieces of butcher paper that you will need beforehand. I generally make these about two feet long. With the point of the paper rectangle facing you, lay the plastic-wrapped meat down, make a few wraps, being sure to release any air in the wrapping, then fold the corners in and wrap up to the other point of the square. Seal with masking tape, label it, and enter the date with a permanent marker. Properly done, this will keep your ground meat for at least a year.
The front shoulders are easy to manage and can be removed by pulling the leg outward and slicing the scapula off the body beneath the animal’s armpit. There are no joints to work around, as with the rear leg, so this can be done in one cut. There are a couple of good-sized chunks of meat on the scapula, and these can be roasted or make good steaks. These muscles do a lot of work, making them a bit tough, so I use them for roasts, burgers, and stews. They’re also ideal jerky material. The mock tender, or teres major muscle, underneath the shoulder is a prime cut that shouldn’t be ignored. Like the rear shanks, the forelegs can be turned into an Italian delicacy known as osso bucco.
OTHER CUTS Once the primary cuts of meat are removed from both legs, take the fillet knife and shave all the excess meat off down to the bone. I put this in the grind pile for burgers or sausages (either loose or linked, such as bratwurst and kielbasa). The meat around the neck makes great ground or stew meat. In my household, we use more ground burger and breakfast/Italian sausage than stew meat, so this usually ends up in the grinder. Along the ribcage the flank can be easily removed, this also goes into the grinder pile. Deer ribs are a curious dilemma. I know guys who smoke them as one would pork, but mine have always turned out dry. A reciprocating saw will cut them from the vertebrae in one intact piece. I slice the meat out between each rib and put it in the grinder pile. If you want to get more inventive, have at it.
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TOP
10
TROPHY
WHITETAIL STATES JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
WHERE TO GO FOR F R THE BEST CHANCE CE AT A BOONE & CROCKETT BUCK
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MANY OF THE STATES in our glorious nation provide great hunting, but only a few have the whitetail genetics to regularly produce typical giants scoring 170 inches, or nontypical behemoths that measure 195 inches or more—the minimums to make Boone & Crockett’s all-time record book. The Top 10 trophy whitetail states featured here are the best of the best in terms of B&C entries over the past ten years. Several of these states always have and always will be in the Top 10; others have earned their current position via careful game management, favorable climatic conditions, and other beneficial factors.
ever, across the U.S., giant whitetails are still mysterious and unpredictable. No one knows where the next record may appear, but these 10 states are where I’d place my bet for a trophy buck. Boone & Crockett
While these rankings reflect what the best-available information indicates, trail cameras, aggressive management, shedantler hunting, and other trends now provide hunters with more information and a clearer picture of habitat conditions and deer quality than ever before. How-
WISCONSIN
01
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 551 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 208 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 206 1/8 (JAMES JORDAN; 1914) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 253 (ELMER F. GOTZ; 1973) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 16–JAN. 8 RIFLE: NOV. 18–26 MUZZLELOADER: NOV. 26–DEC. 6 OTC OR DRAW: OTC NONRESIDENT LICENSE COST: $160, GOOD FOR ONE BUCK AND ONE ANTLERLESS DEER CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES
Wisconsin offers giant-bodied northern bucks and arguably the best big-antlergrowing genetics in the world. The state is overwhelmingly in first place as a record buck producer—in the past decade three times as many B&C qualifiers have been registered as in the No. 10 state on this list. As in all great big-buck areas, prime land is pretty much sewn up and access is difficult to obtain. However, Wisconsin
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does have a substantial amount of public land. Smart, aggressive hunters willing to do their research can find big bucks on state and federal ground. It’s a two-buck state, too. Firearm licenses are good for both rifle and muzzleloader seasons and include one buck and one antlerless permit. Archery licenses also include one buck and one antlerless permit. Each nonresident license costs $160. |
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James Jordan and his Wisconsin Typical State Record buck that measured 206 1/8. This deer is just one of many that help make Wisconsin first in B&C buck states.
New this year: Hunters may print carcass tags and need not attach the tag to the carcass unless they temporarily leave it. Deer may be quartered (up to five pieces) but may not be boned out in the field, and the head must remain attached to one of the five parts. Deer must be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
OHIO
02
B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 201 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 201 1/8 (BRADLEY S. JERMAN; 2004) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 328 2/8 (FOUND; 1940) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 30–FEB. 4 GUN: NOV. 27– DEC. 3; DEC. 16 & 17 MUZZLELOADER: JAN. 6 –JAN. 9 OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $125 PLUS $24 EITHER-SEX DEER PERMIT CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES
With almost 500 new B&C entries in the past decade, Ohio handily scored second place in the top trophy whitetail states. And while the state’s monstrous 328 2/8 top buck was found in 1940, Bradley S. Jerman shot his 201 1/8 typical in 2004, indicating that Ohio’s deer herd health and genetics continue to thrive.
KENTUCKY
03
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 312 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 138 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 204 2/8 (ROBERT W. SMITH; 2000) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 271 7/8 (FOUND; 2004) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 2–JAN. 15 GUN: LATE NOVEMBER MUZZLELOADER: OCT. 21–22; DEC. 9–17 VARIATIONS IN SOME REGIONS OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $140 PLUS $120 STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES, DURING GUN SEASON & BY RESIDENT HUNTERS OF 65 YEARS OR OLDER DURING ARCHERY SEASON
Boone & Crockett
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 271
As in many Midwestern states, archery season begins well ahead of the rut and lasts several months—through the frigid days of January and into February. However, gun seasons are brief and post-rut, and only one buck per year may be harvested. Only shotguns loaded with slugs and rifles chambered for straight-wall cartridges may legally be used to hunt deer. Capacity is limited to a maximum of three rounds, and that includes one in the chamber. On the plus side, it’s legal to use a leashed dog to track and recover wounded game. To keep out of trouble, be sure to tag your deer exactly where it fell and get it checked in no later than 11:30 p.m. on the same day it’s harvested.
I’m unaware of any state more beautiful to hunt. Rolling hills covered with crimson and vibrant yellow fall leaves, abandoned farmsteads haunted by nocturnal mature bucks, and healthy hard-rutting deer populations make the Bluegrass State one of my favorite whitetail destinations. And that’s entirely aside from its well-deserved score as the No. 3 Trophy Whitetail State. Kentucky is a one-buck state, but unlimited antlerless deer may be taken in Zone 1 regions. Interestingly, the state has approved certain types of air guns for use on deer. Specifically, those of .35-caliber or larger and using an external air tank and expanding projectiles are now legal. It is now legal to detach the head from the carcass prior to check-in, but proof of gender must remain attached to the carcass. Fill in a “harvest log” immediately and telecheck your deer before midnight the day of harvest.
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ILLINOIS
04
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 213 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 206 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 204 4/8 (MELVIN J. JOHNSON; 1965) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 304 3/8 (JERRY D. BRYANT; 2001) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: OCT. 1–JAN. 15 EXCEPT DURING GUN SEASON GUN: THREE DAYS IN LATE NOV., FOUR DAYS IN EARLY DEC. MUZZLELOADER: THREE DAYS IN EARLY DEC.
I’ve hunted Illinois more than any other big-buck destination, and the historic monster-buck destination state leaves me conflicted. There are too many people, the politics (and thus gun/hunting laws) bite, and quite candidly, historic spots, such as Pike County, have been drastically overhunted for decades. That said; it’s still a superb spot to seek a giant whitetail, as its No. 4 spot attests. Massive, high-scoring bucks are taken every fall during the gun and muzzleloader seasons, but the long archery
OTC OR DRAW: BOTH, DEPENDING ON REGION, SEASON, AND METHOD LICENSE COST: $57.75 PLUS $300–$410 DEER PERMIT CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES, FROM THE SECOND MONDAY FOLLOWING THANKSGIVING THROUGH JAN. 15; OR DISABLED PERSONS WITH A PERMIT; OR IF YOU ARE 62 YEARS OR OLDER DURING ARCHERY SEASONS.
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season provides the flexibility to hunt during the peak of the rut and during the frigid late-season cold that drives big, nocturnal bucks to search for nutrition during daylight hours. Centerfire rifles are illegal during the gun hunt; many savvy Illinois gun-hunt veterans in pursuit of a trophy buck opt to hunt with far-reaching muzzleloaders or long-barreled, scope-sighted revolvers. Both can offer 200-yard accuracy— a significant step up from most slugshooting shotguns.
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IOWA
John Ford
05
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 216 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 197 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 202 (DAVID BRENIGAR; 1969) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 307 5/8 (TONY W. LOVSTUEN; 2003) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 1–DEC. 1 & DEC. 18–JAN. 10 SHOTGUN: DEC. 2–6 & DEC. 9–17 MUZZLELOADER: OCT. 14–22 & DEC. 18–JAN. 10 OTC OR DRAW: DRAW LICENSE COST: $123 LICENSE/HABITAT FEE COMBO PLUS $426 BUCK TAG (INCLUDES ANTLERLESS TAG) CROSSBOW LEGAL: DISABLED HUNTERS ONLY
The Hawkeye State is legendary both for its giant whitetails and the difficulty of obtaining a permit to hunt them. Tags
are allocated via lottery. Unsuccessful hunters are awarded a preference point that enhances the likelihood of drawing a tag the next year. Leftover buck tags— and there often are a few—are available on a first-come, first-served basis until they sell out. On the plus side, buck tags also include a bonus anterless permit. Only bowhunters have the opportunity to hunt the rut. All firearm and muzzleloader seasons occur before or after November. That said, if you can stand the cold, Iowa’s late-season muzzle-
loader hunt can offer a crack at a monster buck forced by frigid temperatures to abandon his usual caution and feed during daylight hours. Slug-shooting shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns with barrels four inches or longer, and rifles firing straight-wall handgun cartridges of .357 caliber or larger are legal. Hunters 16 and under may not use handguns. Crossbows are legal only for disabled hunters. Successful hunters must report kills online, by phone, or at a license vendor
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Indiana is a state that generally flies under the radar as a hot deer destination. However, in 2012, Timothy J. Beck shot this 303 7/8 Non-Typical State Record buck.
Boone & Crockett
by midnight the day after harvesting or before processing or delivering to a meat locker, whichever comes first. A confirmation number will be provided and must be written on the Harvest Report Tag and attached to the leg of the animal. Iowa has about 300,000 acres of public land as well as an access program for participating private land parcels, resulting in better-than-average opportunities for hunters without access to private land.
INDIANA
06
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 239 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 132 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 195 5/8 (DAVE ROBERTS; 1985) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 303 7/8 (TIMOTHY J. BECK; 2012) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: OCT. 1–JAN. 7 GUN: NOV. 18–DEC. 3 MUZZLELOADER: DEC. 9–24 OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $295 DEER LICENSE BUNDLE CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES
A state that often flies beneath the bigbuck radar, No. 6 Indiana churns out giant archery bucks. While the peak of the rut occurs during the archery-only season, the first portion of the rifle/shotgun season catches the last few days of the primary rut and the bulk of the second estrus. Patient, savvy hunters with access to good habitat have an excellent chance of tagging a great whitetail buck. Focus in and around western Indiana’s Parke County—which produced more B&C bucks in both the typical and non-typical categories than any other Indiana county over the past 10 years—for best big-buck genetics. Centerfire rifles are legal for use in certain areas. Some of those regions allow straight-wall pistol-caliber cartridges only, and others allow common highpower hunting cartridges of .243 caliber and larger. Research and know regional laws prior to hunting. Indiana offers hunters more than 55,000 acres of public land. Competition can be fierce, but big bucks are still taken from public areas each year. Hunters must report harvest within 48 hours after the kill via phone, Internet, or at a check station or license retailer.
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KANSAS
07
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 179 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 178 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 199 2/8 (FOUND; 1999) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 295 (FOUND; 2012) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 11–DEC. 31 GUN: NOV. 29 –DEC. 10 MUZZLELOADER: SEPT. 9 –24 OTC OR DRAW: NONRESIDENTS MUST DRAW LICENSE COST: $97.50 PLUS $442 WHITETAIL DEER PERMIT
whitetail buck to date during the December rifle season. Hunters aspiring to Kansas must obtain a permit through a lottery, and good areas can take a few years to draw. Put in, build points, and do your homework in the meantime to pave the path to hunt-worthy property access. Alternatively, research top-rated outfitters and put down a deposit against the year you get lucky and draw. Buck permits are valid for the chosen unit and
CROSSBOW LEGAL: DISABLED HUNTERS ONLY
Kansas first came on my big-whitetail radar many, many moons ago when a fellow hunter in a Kentucky camp mentioned stalking through brutal heat and humidity to kill 200-plus whitetail bucks during the Kansas muzzleloader hunt. I’ve never mustered the courage to follow suit, but I did take my best
one specified adjacent unit. For best genetics, focus on units in the eastcentral part of the state. Baiting is legal only on private land, and Kansas is a one-buck state. All centerfire rifles (except full-auto) are legal for deer, as are all shotgun gauges. Nonresident hunters possessing a valid, unused muzzleloader or archery buck tag may hunt during the firearm season in specified units, but they must hunt with the tool specified on their permit.
TOP 20 U.S. WHITETAILS OF THE PAST 10 YEARS TOP 10 TYPICALS SCORE
HARVEST LOCATION
YEAR
HUNTER
1
198 6/8
White County (IL)
2006
Joseph B. Girten
2
198 2/8
Saunders County (NE)
2010
Kevin S. Petrzilka
3
198 1/8
Greene County (IL)
2006
Charles Q. Revis
4
195 2/8
Drew County (AR)
2015
Jacob M. Ayecock
5
194 3/8
Clinton County (OH)
2016
Steven N. Davis
6
194 1/8
McPherson County (SD)
2014
Michael S. Mettler
7
193 1/8
Winona County (MN)
2012
Michael L. Burgdorf
8
192 6/8
Taylor County (IA)
2009
Terry L. Lundquist
9
192 5/8
Pushmataha County (OK)
2007
Jason L. Boyett
10
192 3/8
Buchanan County (IA)
2012
Cole M. Horkheimer
TOP 10 NON-TYPICALS
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312
Sumner County (TN)
2016
Stephen L. Tucker
2
303 7/8
Hunting County (IN)
2012
Timothy J. Beck
3
295 3/8
Adams County (OH)
2006
Jonathan R. Schmucker
4
293 3/8
Dallas County (IA)
2012
Tim A. Forret
5
284
Richardson County (NE)
2009
Wesley A. O’Brien
6
282 2/8
Fayette County (IA)
2016
Deric J. Sieck
7
278 2/8
Harrison County (IA)
2012
Ryan M. Stolz
8
275 5/8
Jackson County (IA)
2008
Kyle M. Simmons
9
272 2/8
Morris County (KS)
2006
Gerald E. Rightmyer
10
267 3/8
Stark County (OH)
2016
David G. Kopp
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MISSOURI
08
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 180 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 161 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 205 (LARRY W. GIBSON; 1971) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 333 7/8 (FOUND; 1981) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 15–NOV. 10 & NOV. 22–JAN. 15 GUN: NOV. 11–21 MUZZLELOADER/HANDGUN ALTERNATIVE SEASON: DEC. 23–JAN. 02 OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $225 ($8.50 FOR YOUTHS 6–15, INCLUDING NONRESIDENTS) CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES
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My favorite thing about the state’s approach to deer hunting? Youth—both resident and nonresident—ages 6 to 15 may purchase a resident any-deer permit for the firearm season at half price. Yep, that’s $8.50 for a legitimate chance at a stomper buck. All centerfire rifles and all shotgun gauges are legal for deer, although capacity is limited to 11 rounds, including a cartridge in the chamber. Muzzleloaders must be .40 caliber or larger but may have multiple barrels or be cap-and-ball revolving firearms. Airguns of .40 caliber and larger are also legal, as long as they are charged from an external high-compression power source. Baiting and buckshot are illegal. Missouri is a two-buck state, but one of the two must be taken with archery gear. For the most part, an archery permit is a better deal than the general firearms permit. Rather than offering just a single buck tag, it includes an antlerless tag, two either-sex turkey tags, and small game. There is no minimum draw weight for handheld bows, and crossbows are legal, along with illuminated and magnified sights and optics. Antler point restrictions (minimum of four points on at least one side) apply in many counties, particularly in the northern half of the state. Deer harvested during opening weekend in certain CWD Management Zones must be taken to a designated CWD sampling station.
MINNESOTA
09
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 210 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 111 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 202 (JOHN A. BREEN; 1918) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 268 5/8 (MITCHELL A. VAKOCH; 1974) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: SEPT. 16–DEC. 31 GUN: NOV. 4 –19 (ZONE 100A) NOV. 4 –12 (ZONES 200A AND 300A) NOV. 18–26 (ZONE 300B) MUZZLELOADER: NOV. 25–DEC. 10 OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $160 PLUS $5 WALKIN-ACCESS PROGRAM SURCHARGE CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES, IF DISABLED OR OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE
If you want to hunt big-bodied northern bucks during the peak of the rut, Minnesota is your pick. Focus on the southeastern corner of the state—right across the border from Wisconsin’s legendary Buffalo County—for best genetics. Approximately half of the state allows the use of all legal firearms for hunting, with certain appropriate caliber/bore size sanctions. The southern half, however, allows only slug-shooting shotguns during the firearm season. Harvest registration is mandatory and may be accomplished online, via phone, or at walk-in registration stations. CWD sample submission is mandatory in certain counties during the first two days of the firearm season. Minnesota has a few rather interesting regulations. Blaze Pink may be substituted for Blaze Orange. My favorite: Minnesota residents with a 100-percent armed-service-related disability may obtain a free small-game license and the deer permit of their choice each year.
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TEXAS
10
B&C TYPICAL ENTRIES: 163 B&C NON-TYPICAL ENTRIES: 87 TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 196 4/8 (THOMAS D. FRIEDKIN; 1963) NON-TYPICAL STATE RECORD: 284 3/8 (UNKNOWN HUNTER; 1892) SEASON DATES: ARCHERY: OCT. 1–NOV. 4 GUN: NOV. 5–JAN. 1 (NORTH ZONE), NOV. 5–JAN. 15 (SOUTH ZONE) MUZZLELOADER: JAN. 2–15 OTC OR DRAW: OTC LICENSE COST: $315 PLUS $7 ARCHERY ENDORSEMENT IF BOWHUNTING CROSSBOW LEGAL: YES, EXCEPT IN COLLIN, DALLAS, GRAYSON, AND ROCKWALL COUNTIES
How To: Fix Your Fatigue and Get More Energy Dr. Gundry reveals the top 3 common foods that you would have never guessed were the cause of your fatigue.
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In terms of numbers, Texas may produce more whitetail deer harvests annually than any other. However, aside from a relatively small region in the southwest portion of the state, most of the bucks taken wear antlers of rather modest size. That small region produces more giant bucks each year than the rest of the state combined. Interestingly, while Texas barely scraped into the list of the Top 10 trophy whitetail states, three of the state’s counties made it into the Top 10 of the trophy whitetail-producing counties in the country. For pure fun, Texas is hard to beat. It’s a three-buck state (aside from certain restricted counties), so savvy hunters can shoot a couple of cull bucks while waiting for a monster to appear. Antler restrictions apply in some counties, dictating only one buck with an inside spread greater than 13 inches may be taken, and other buck(s) must have at least one unbranched antler. Any legal centerfire rifle or appropriate handgun may be used on whitetail deer, with the exception of full-auto firearms. Texas has no magazine capacity restrictions. Before transporting, deer must be tagged and proof of gender (head, skinned or unskinned), must accompany the carcass.
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WHERE TO GO
Petersen’s Hunting is read by over 3.5 million avid outdoor enthusiasts every month, many of whom are looking to book a hunt during the upcoming season. An ad in “WHERE TO GO” is the best possible way to let our readers know where you are and what you have to offer. To place your order call Mark Thiffault at 800-200-7885. Email: Mark.Thiffault@IMOutdoors.com or Write: Where to Go section, Petersen’s Hunting, 33172 Via La Pluma, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Visa, Mastercard and Amex accepted.
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REARVIEW
JIM ZUMBO
Tiny Bucks,
Big Memories IT WAS a perfect, well-executed deer drive. I sat on a rock at the base of a long ridge while my buddies walked the ridgetop toward me. The buck appeared suddenly and never saw me raise my rifle. He went down at the shot. It was a moment of triumph and jubilation. It was my first whitetail ever. The buck’s size didn’t diminish my excitement. He wore two points on each side with an outside spread of maybe 10 inches. When I got home I called my buddies with the good news. Today, many folks would be embarrassed to show off a little buck. In fact, he would be illegal in many states and hunting units because he didn’t meet minimum antler requirements.
THIS ISN’T A CONDEMNATION OF HUNTING VALUES.
Deer hunting and attitudes have undergone an enormous transition since my first whitetail. Nowadays, trophies are most often based on inches, spreads, and antler points. Far cry from the old days when a spike buck was cause for bragging rights and driving up and down Broadway a million times with the small buck prominently visible in the open trunk of a ’56 Ford. This isn’t a condemnation of hunting values. It’s reality. Most of us have our sights set on a big whitetail or a muley buck or a bull elk. It’s human nature. I’m always on the lookout for a serious mount for the wall, but I succumb easily to the sight of all those steaks, loins, and burger about to escape over the hill. Because of the infatuation over trophy animals, some hunters lose sight of the hunting pursuit. I know of a 15-year-old boy who was disappointed because his bull elk was a 5x6 instead of a 6x6. And the guy who was visibly upset because his pronghorn antelope’s horns were just shy of 16 inches. In my mind, I believe an integral part of hunting is lost when the hunt is gauged only by the size of the horns or antlers. Hunting involves much more—seeing the new morning born, smelling decaying oak leaves, listening to the suspicious sounds of an unseen squirrel scampering along the forest floor, or bonding with a new companion or loved one. In an attempt to produce as many trophy bucks as possible, we now cull deer and shoot “management” bucks: deer whose DNA is not biologically valuable to the desirable genes in the herd. In many deer leases and hunting lodges, the big-
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IT’S REALITY.
ger the antlers, the higher the fee. Some outfitters charge a substantial penalty fee if you shoot a buck that doesn’t meet the minimum antler requirement. All this was unheard of a few decades ago. Outdoor TV shows often depict a very young hunter shooting a huge buck. I understand and share the excitement of that child, as well as that of his or her mentors, but I wonder where that youngster goes from there? Will a smaller buck later on cause disappointment? When the hunts are over and the trophies are on the wall, most of us proudly point to the biggest and brag a bit to visitors, but down deep, the real feelings are from those mounts that engender the most profound reflections. Like the smallish muley buck I shot in the very bottom of Idaho’s Salmon River Canyon that took my buddy and me a whole day to drag to the top. Or the 4x4 bull elk I shot on public land in the Colorado mountains teeming with hunters. I think what it comes down to is that it’s not the size of the trophy but the size of the memory that’s most important. But I must confess that an above-average mount hanging on the wall is a mighty pretty sight. 2 0 1 7
be prepared wherever the hunt takes you
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