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THE BUCK STOPS HERE
FALL 2011
SEASON I, ISSUE II
CATCH A LIL TAIL
without breaking the bank
HUNTING KIWI STYLE ACCESSIBLE
SPRING TURKEY HUNT View Our Extended Online E-dition
BONE COLLECTING
W/DALLAS & RHETT.
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truck of
Hunters everywhere
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By Chris Johnson
Don’t Overlook the Small Spots I grew up just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout this urban area lies a maze of small creeks and streams, some no bigger than a yard or two wide, that are largely ignored by fishermen as they head to ‘better’ places for bigger fish. I spent my summers during Junior and Senior High wading many of these small streams from dawn to dusk
them a little, but is really fun even if the fish misses it.
in an old pair of sneakers, carrying a hand full of lures and an ultra-light rod. I would wade every inch of those streams looking for Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Carp, Sunfish, and anything else that would bite. My favorite of these has always been the Smallmouth. They are quite acrobatic when hooked and hit top water lures with a vengeance.
top water lures have been small white buzz baits, prop baits, and walk-the-dog type baits. Below the surface, 3-4 inch un-weighted stick worms and finesse worms up to 5 inches can be wacky rigged with a size 1 to 1/0 octopus hook. Drift these baits through riffles and pools like you would natural bait with a few twitches here and there. Small soft jerk baits are also top fish catchers. Nose-hook these baits with the same hook used with the worms and fish with a twitch-twitch-
With my kids now 8 and 6, I have found my love for fishing these small streams all over again. If we find ourselves with an hour or two to spare, we have a nice stretch of the Wissahickon Creek about five minutes from our house. We have a few special holes that aren’t often fished because this section isn’t stocked with trout in the spring. At the beginning of the summer, bait was a necessity for the kids. They used night crawlers and small shiners to catch countless sunnies and small bass. Some of these un-fished spots have produced sunfish in the one pound range and bass of both species up to 17 inches. As the summer has worn on, they wanted to try the lures I have been using. They quickly became fans of top water lures. The sudden splash when a fish strikes ‘scares
Our normal arsenal includes ultra-light rods in the 5-6 foot range pared with small spinning reels spooled with 2-6 pound monofilament or fluorocarbon line. I like mono for top waters and fluoro for everything else. Our most consistent
pause retrieve. Small curly-tail grubs and crayfish imitators threaded on 1/16 to 1/8 ounce jigs are also great lures for these tiny waters. For all of the soft-plastic lures, our colors are usually in the watermelon and pumpkin family, with a few exceptions of chartreuse, white, and smoke. The next time you find yourself with nothing to do on a lazy summer afternoon, put on an old pair of sneakers, grab a rod and a handful of lures and head out to a small stream that you might otherwise ignore. You may be surprised what you catch.
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Cooking with Buck
My friends tell me that I make the best “Campfire Trout” in the world. I like to think that eating my trout is a big part of any fishing trip we go on. When we get into camp it’s already decided that I will be cooking the first night. It’s my job to clean and cook the trout so I have come up with many ways to bake trout over a campfire but all the ways of cooking have one thing in common (how you clean the trout). Though I have seen and heard of many ways to cook trout, the tried and tested method for this good ol’e boy is to butterfly the trout so that the meat stays as one piece, held together by the skin. When I take the extra time to remove the head and butterfly the trout I can de-bone it better and stuff it with a few goodies (onions, garlic, apple, and bell peppers). Trout is the kind of fish that will take all those stuffed flavors and absorb them into the meat, which makes for a great tasting fish. The ideal campfire trout is about 2-4 lbs size, Trout any bigger are often breeders and don’t taste as good. UT
E TRO
FIR CAMP
oved ead rem h h t i w s ent ied Ingredi eaned/butterfl l c , t 4 trou to taste pepper er, divided d n a t l Sa utt iced r) poons b pper, sl in flavo 4 tables green bell pe tional) t e e w s m nd op 1 mediu rlic, minced ( apples (nice a a y g ) d ed a e l lt and 1 clov NS (continu with sa per, or pink e p t s s i a r t c DIRECTIO o en pep ason t 2 honey foil. Se tter, gre re u cu m b se u f to n o i il n spoo f alum additional fo TIONS t on a piece o y with 1 table al 3. Use some et C m E a R to I sh t u D fi i of er he cav ach tro each packet little be as a handle Place e nd then stuff t esired. a . se u h 1 r s fo a l d s ro a fd toasting lways the coals. pepper, es and garlic i ets. (I a ing fish from k v o c m a c re i p l en s g h w apple ormin e foil, f se it up) h t, t o h d n i re e y th l in t tight re I clo fish packets he trou fire es befo t p r m l u l 4. Cover the ca s r o u a o R e y . f 2 als o good m smoldering co done, 7 to n it for is o sh fi e th l ti and cook un e heat ending on th ep d s, te u in 10 m and enjoy of the fire. l for a minute o co t le , re fi g from the hen removin w re ca e k ta our knees) 5. Now ock you to y n k l il w l el (the sm 32mg holesterol: 2 : C | n o g ti .4 a 3 2 rm : fo at In | Total F Nutritional Calories: 517 g in v er S er P Amount
Tell us how they came out: kitchen@racksandtails.com
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THE BLUE COLLAR SHOWCASE
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BLUE COLLAR KIDS
Little Tikes! Page 19
By Damian Stokes
With no open hunting seasons through the summer, I’m always looking for a good fishing spot. There’s a few close by where you are guaranteed action, but fishing literally every day of the week… they get a little old. And a fishing trip, well, that sounded just plain expensive.
We stayed right in Norfolk, home of the largest fishing pier in North America. Needless to say, we fished from it. You can rent your tackle and buy your bait on site (the squid works fantastic), and while we didn’t see any large fish getting taken, there was plenty of action.
Until my friend told me about a fishing charter in Virginia that was $35 per person for a four hour trip.
The next day we registered for the fishing charter leaving from that pier. Having never fished these waters we ended up throwing back a lot of “small” Croaker – which is about the only fish you’ll catch in the bay. While we didn’t come out with near as many croakers as we’d caught, we did win the boat pool for Largest Croaker.
All it took was confirming that the charter still existed, and we were headed out the door. It’s a long trek from Great Valley, NY to Norfolk, Virginia, and it took about eight hours driving by night to avoid traffic
On our last day we decided to hit a morning charter out of Virginia Beach which was only $30 per person. We were far less picky with our choice of Croaker this time around. Keira caught two sand sharks. In fact, there were about seven or eight sharks caught on this outing, all ranging around a foot long. We filled a five gallon pail with Croaker, put them on ice, and headed home. Tip: Don’t drive north from Virginia in the daylight – our eight hour trip turned into twelve – Thank you, D.C. About the charters: There are four or five different charters that all fish the bay near the Chesapeake Tunnel. They generally drive out to a certain point, situate the boat, and drift a ways while you fish. When they’ve drifted far enough, they have you reel in and they reposition, repeating this process through the trip. All the charters I saw fished the same general area, which is why I am not touting one boat over another boat. They all offer the same excellent service in the same area.
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To break down our budgeted fishing trip, round trip we spent about $300 on gas (’06 Durango, V8 – you can do better!), $150 on the motel room (two nights), and about $225 on fishing. There were three of us that went, so that breaks down to around $225 per person, for a weekend getaway. The hotel wasn’t extravagant, but we weren’t there for the hotel. Our vehicle choice was a gas hog, and we live eight hours away – I’m sure you can work a smaller budget than that. Grab your spouse, grab your friends, and get away!
Motel Room Croaker
When you’re on a fishing trip and staying at a motel and all you can do is think about getting home and cooking up your catch – why wait? Almost every motel room is now equipped with a microwave!
You’ll Need: • Microwave safe container • A few Croaker (or other catch) Filleted • Butter • Your choice of Seasoning (We used Mrs. Dash Original or Seasoned Salt) Toss your fillets in the microwave safe container; add butter (your choice on how much – it adds some flavor and assists in cooking) and seasonings as required. For our small Croaker fillets we only needed about two and a half minutes, a larger fillet may take a bit longer.
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10 Essentials For Any Successful Fishing Trip Summer is coming to a close, but there is still time to get in a little casting. Fishing is a fantastic, manly pastime. It’s a great way to relax and catch up with old buds or quiet your mind after a rough week of work. But before you head out to the old fishing hole, you need to have a well stocked fishing tackle box. The contents of a man’s tackle box often comes down to personal preference. The contents will also change depending on the type of fish you’re angling to catch. But every fishing tackle box should have a few basic items. Racks & Tails caught up with renowned amateur fisherman Tyler Zordel and asked him what he keeps in his tackle box? 1) Extra Line: Whether it’s because you get a bite from the legendary monster fish that lurks in the depths of the old fishing hole or you just get your line caught on a log, it’s almost guaranteed that your fishing line will break or get tangled up during a fishing trip. Thus, it’s always good to have some extra line in your tackle box. 2) Extra Hooks: Stock your tackle box with a variety of fishing hooks so you’re ready for any sort of fish. I like to stick with the traditional J-hook, but many fishermen swear by the french hook. 3) Bobbers: or floaters as they’re sometimes called, help you know when you’re getting bites from a fish. When a fish bites, the bobber sinks. As soon as that happens, you know you’re ready to reel your catch in. 4) Sinkers: A hook and worm alone are too light to sink very deeply. You’ll need to attach a weight or “sinker” to your fishing rig in order to compensate for that. 5) Plastic Worms: While I’m a big fan of using live bait, it’s always good to have a package of plastic worms in your tackle box, especially if you’re bass fishing. Plastic worms come in a variety of colors and sizes. 6) A variety of Lures: The old hook and worm should be enough for most of your fishing needs. But sometimes you’ll want racksandtails.com
to bust out some of the more complex lures in order to up your game. There are literally hun-dreds of types of fishing lures to choose from: spinners and spoons, minnow imitations, and top water lures to name a few. Each type of lure is designed to behave a certain way in the water in order to attract fish. 7) Needle Nose Pliers (must have): Needle nose pliers are needed for taking the hooks out of the fish after you catch them. They’re also sometimes needed to take the hooks out of you or a friend. 8) Small First Aid Kit: Hopefully you won’t have any major medical emergencies while you’re fishing. But small injuries are likely to happen, like getting a hook caught in your thumb or falling down and getting scraped up. For these sorts of things, it’s good to have a small first aid kit on hand. 9) Sunscreen: When you’re fishing, you’re going to be out in the sun all day. In order to keep your face from looking like an old catcher’s mitt and to prevent skin cancer, slather on some sunscreen. 10) Line Cutter (Knife, Nail Clippers): Sometimes you’ll get a snag that you can’t get out of and your only option is to cut the line. While a pocket knife can get the job done, one trick my dad taught me is using nail clippers to cut your line. It’s quicker and more efficient than using a knife.
For More Tackle Box Tips Contact Tyler at: racks.gearhead @gmail.com
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Dallas Bone Collecting with Rhett andby Paul Potemski If you’ve listened to a country music station there is no doubt you have heard the music of Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson. The duo have teamed up writing chart topping hits for artists like Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins and Brooks & Dunn to name just a few. Their continued success in the music industry can be credited to their love of country music, their fans and their dedication to writing songs that have personal meaning and share the things that make life worth living. I was able sit down with Rhett and Dallas to discuss country music, their love of hunting and the new album. I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to do this interview for Racks & Tails. Paul (R&T Interviewer)- How did you first get involved in hunting? Dallas- “Growing up in Georgia my dad took my brother and me quail hunting, duck hunting and turkey hunting. You either hunted or you were a sissy. At the age of 12 I shot my first turkey and now that’s my thing.” Page 27
Rhett- “I grew up on a 500 acre farm in Georgia. When I was 10, I got a .410 for my birthday. My dad started me squirrel and dove hunting and then we hunted everything.” Paul- Have either of you had any negative feedback or caught heat from fans for hunting? Dallas- “I haven’t heard anything negative because of my hunting.” Rhett- “I haven’t had any backlash from being a hunter. I think I’ve actually turned more people on to hunting than turning them off. I educate people on ethical hunting and explain I let more animals pass by than I actually take shots at. When they understand we don’t go out and just kill things, they think differently about it.” Paul- What would you tell parents that might be on the fence when it comes to letting their kids hunt? Dallas- “I have two little brothers and I talk racksandtails.com
to my dad all the time about getting them involved in hunting. I promise you one thing, if I hadn’t hunted and fished so hard core, I would have gotten into a lot of trouble. Hunting and fishing teaches you life lessons and keeps you away from the alternatives out there. I recommend all parents at least introduce their children to hunting and fishing.”
Rhett-“In 2004 I went on a Yukon moose hunt with Michael Waddell. We spent 2 weeks with no cell phones, satellite phone, television or anything. It was the most challenging hunt I’ve ever been on. I shot a 61” moose and Michael shot a 55” moose. The scenery and the hunt were awesome. That hunt is being played on “Real Tree Road Trips”.
Rhett-“ I couldn’t agree more. My son hunts with me but my 17 year old daughter isn’t much into it. I took her turkey hunting this year and tried to make it fun for her. I let her drive my Bad Boy Buggy. That night she changed her facebook profile picture to a picture of her driving the Bad Boy. Next year she wants me to take her so she can drive the Bad Boy again.”
Paul- What would you consider to be your dream hunt?
Paul- What would you say is your most memorable hunt?
Rhett- “I’ve never killed an elk. I love the sound of a bugle. I hunted in Montana but wasn’t able to make it happen. I wouldn’t mind joining Troy Landry on “Swamp People” to go gator hunting too.”
Dallas- “This past Spring I was able to call in my younger brother’s first turkey. The smile on his face was worth all of my years of hunting. That’s what it’s all about.”
Dallas-“I’d like to hunt with the Duck Commanders. I’d love to sit in a blind all day with those guys and shoot some mallard ducks. Or, I wouldn’t mind to head to the swamp in Louisiana and “Chooting a gator!”
Paul- Where can your fans find you guys this summer?
Rhett- “I do about 40 shows a year. My tour dates are listed on my website.” Dallas- “I’m not on the road very much but we will be playing some shows with Luke Bryan in Georgia.” Paul- When you are out on the road, what food from home do miss most. Dallas- “I miss good fried quail with gravy on top.” Rhett- “Once you leave the south, you can’t find good sweet tea. I miss good ol’ sweet tea.”
sed the BrotherIn 2010, the two relea ael Waddell and hood Album for Mich This collection the Bone Collectors. for outdoorsmen of songs was written me of the songs by outdoorsmen. So ing from real life have special mean addy’s Gun” was experiences. “Grand le of quail hunting written about a coup received after his shot guns that Rhett ed away. All of grandfather had pass rmen can relate to us hunters and fishe le or a duck call a shot gun, fishing po with a suitcase that was passed down s tied to it. Other full of fond memorie the excitement of songs tell the story of frustration when “Opening Day” or the .” The songs were a turkey is “Hung Up hunters and fishwritten for die hard n’t send it with a ermen and “We did the language we dictionary” to explain make no bones use in the field. They album is all about about the fact this They weren’t worhunting and fishing. litically correct or ried about being po playing the songs. about radio stations n for us! You can This album was writte ne Collector Mufind the album on Bo listen to a few of sic.com, ITunes and . If you haven’t the songs on Youtube , do yourself a fapicked up the album be disappointed! vor a get it. You won’t Page 29
Youth In Action: We are always stressing the importance of getting youth involved in the outdoors. There are a lot of reasons for it, but maybe the most important is that it builds a strong character. One great example of our young people showing amazing character and strength happened this past July. Danny Park (15) and Alex Humphrey (14) were hitting one of their frequent fishing spots at Waverly Beach, Lake Erie (CANADA), when they spotted trouble on the water. A young boy, fishing with his father and grandmother, dropped his pole in the water. As many invincible young people do, the boy went in after the pole rather than lose it.
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INTRODUCING... VANESSA
OUR HOMEgrown HOTTIE
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Most people assume I’m a girlie girl or a princess but I’m a total tom boy and can get down and dirty with the best of them. I go hunting and fishing and have even done some Ranch work (which is some of the hardest work I’ve ever done). The scariest thing that happened to me was when I was hunting was getting lost. I was in unfamiliar territory of what seemed like miles and miles of the same terrain and I came across a Black bear about 25 yards ahead of me. I froze in terror and could feel the adrenaline heat up my body. I slowly and quietly as possible started walking back from the direction I came from and once I couldn’t see him anymore, I ran!!!! Luckily, shortly after, my dad came looking for me and took me back to camp. Favorite Activities: Running, Tanning, Shopping, Boating, Water skiing, Wakeboarding, Fishing, Four Wheeling, Mudding, Camping, Hiking, Shooting, Doing Promotions, Concerts, and Chilling on the couch at home watching movies!!! Favorite Animal: Tiger Favorite Color: Green Favorite Movie: Dumb and Dumber Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp Favorite Foods: Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Starbucks, Root beer Favorite Lounge around the house clothes: Boy shorts and spaghetti string tank top Biggest Fish I’ve ever caught: 24lb Mahi Mahi Most Attractive Traits in a Guy: A sense of humor and moral character Full Time Job: VIP Casino Host Other Projects: Tactical Girl, Former Hooters Girl, MMA Ring Card Girl, Maxim Hometown Hottie Favorite Vacation Spot: The Caribbean, love the beach and the water!!!! Page 31
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Vanessa S. Nickname: Ness or Nessa Born in Tulsa, OK Height: 5�10 Weight: 130
This month’s cover was made possible with the help of fishing guide and outdoorsman Jerry Parkhurst. Jerry has a lifetime of outdoor experience all over the world, so we asked him some questions.
D N I BEH NES E C S THE
When did you start fly fishing? As a kid really, in Missouri in the 1950s, somehow I came into possession of a fly rod and it went from there. I fished for anything that would bite- bass, I didn’t even think about trout. Eventually, I met other fly fishermen and we learned from each other. How did you turn fishing into a business? After returning home from Vietnam I found I had a knack for business and could not stand the thought of working for anyone else. In the 1990s I started flyfishing store in Tulsa called The Gadget Company. The store led to a fly-fishing club that eventually became part of Spring Valley Anglers in Arkansas. What is more important in fly fishing, gear or practice?” Orvis is still made in Manchester, NH. Their entry level gear is very good and only costs a little more than some of the junk made overseas. As a teacher, I see both ends. Guys spend $2,000 on kit but don’t practice or save $25.00 by buying junk and no amount of practice will help, because the gear is the problem. What is the best thing about fly fishing? Spending enough time outdoors to forget about your troubles. What is the worst thing about fly fishing? Whether it is fishing or hunting, the logistics to get to places in Alaska can be a challenge, but there is no equal to it anywhere in my experience. If you want to book Jerry he can be reached through The Gadget Company, Spring Valley Anglers or at jppjpphap@aol.com or 918-625-2366.
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Hog Haven en
Heav
by Br ian Westmoreland
In June 2011, Tennessee State Legislation and Wildlife Agencies, implemented a statewide ban on hog hunting. These agencies removed hog hunting season completely and have labeled wild hogs a public nuisance. The agencies state that the hog hunting was an ineffective means to control the population. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) has now implemented a five pronged approach to the eradication of the wild hogs. The first of these 5 steps was to remove them from big game status; hogs are damaging the farmer’s land, crops, and livestock, and placed in a nuisance category. The second step is to eliminate hog hunting, for the average hunter. Special provisions have been made for land owners for them to control hog population on their land. There is also legal hunting in specific wildlife management areas. Sport hunting only allows incentive to create new and expanding populations, and was ineffective in controlling the wild hogs. Third is increased landowner control opportunities, this allows them and their families to freely take wild hogs by any means legal for taking big or small game. This also allows them to take hogs by traps without a permit, but no live hog can leave the trap. The land owners can file for an exemption to have up to 10 hunters assist them with the removal of the hogs. Fourth is to increase enforcement , TWRA is working with Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) , and other state and federal agencis, to tighten enforcement abilities related to illegal transportation and release of wild hogs. Lastly is to increase public awareness, to the hazards of having wild hogs so abundantly in our state. The TWRA is working with a variety of organizations to advise land owners or the $1.5 billion lost annually because of wild hog damage. e formation on th For additional in the in g regulations new hog huntin see please visit state of Tennes /feralhog.html. www.tn.gov/twra
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As a hunter I believe, that while the TWRA has their reasons for taking away our hog hunting season it is not conducive to getting rid of the hog population. This has also removed another food source for the hunters and the organizations that provide food for the hungry.
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Accessible Spring
Turkey Hunt
By: Greg Traynor
My name is Greg Traynor and I am a person with a disability. In 1999 I had a diving accident and broke my neck at C4/ C5, I am paralyzed from my chest down. I use an adapted gun brace and adapted crank trigger. I have limited arm movement but no hand or finger use. On Friday May 13th, I had the privilege to go turkey hunting with two real professional hunters. Guy Hostutler, president of Pioneer Quest Game Calls and Chris Gillin, CEO of Dreams Become Reality. Chris transferred me from my wheelchair into a mule
and loaded my power wheelchair onto the mule. Hunting blinds, cameras and my shotgun followed and we set off up the mountain. It didn’t take very long to get to the hunting area; Chris transferred me back into my power chair and set up my gun brace. They also set up two ground blinds, one for Chris and I and another for Guy and John. Several turkey decoys were deployed and Guy began calling. Now I am no stranger to turkey calling, I can do a little bit of it myself and have heard friends call in many turkeys over the years. But let me tell you, Guy is absolutely handsdown the best turkey caller I have ever heard in my life. As the sun came up and the fog began to lift, I watched two white tail deer cross the saddle about 100 yards away. It wasn’t very long before Chris spotted the first turkey coming to the decoys and Guy’s yelps. Chris was able to use the video camera to watch it approach, as it got closer and closer we looked for a beard, but it was a single hen. It actually approached the ground blind at a distance of 5 yards, I could count the feathers. If it would have been a gobbler, I could easily have taken this bird. The hen stayed with our decoys for several minutes before moving on. About an hour later a Jake made an appearance but I could not get a bead on him the way my shotgun was pointing. He actually stood around at 25 yards to my left but I could not maneuver my wheelchair for a clean shot. I have to say my heart was racing at this point. As the sun was getting higher in the sky the temperature in the ground blind was going up. Another Jake made his approach but hung up at 45 yards. Using the camera once again we could tell it was a young Jake. As he began to walk away I decided to take a shot. At this point I could only see his head. As my shotgun went off I was hoping for a quick, clean kill. But it was not to be this morning, it was a clean miss.
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Update: e I’ve received th
I had so much fun with Guy, Chris and John this morning. It did not matter that I did not take a bird; I enjoyed myself immensely and made two new friends in the hunting community. I had not turkey hunted since 1998 and it felt great being back in the woods trying to fool a mature Tom. My trophy was bagged the minute my van door opened. It was such a pleasure seeing these professional hunters operate and how they took time and care to make sure I had the best hunting experience possible. Thank you Guy and Chris so much, I really appreciate everything you did for two days preparing for my hunt and working so hard to get me a shot. I can’t wait to do it again! Next year I will have a wheelchair made for the great outdoors, the ActionTrack. I put the order in yesterday. This should make the ride to the ground blind a lot easier and a lot more fun. Good luck and enjoy the outdoors!
ActionTrack
and well designed ly e m e tr x e r It is ver, through o o g in o g f o capable of terrain the s e p ty t s o m around would like to l a u id iv d in average sely you were purpo s s le n U . e rs e trav ck, I wheelchair stu is th t e g to g tryin e very pleased b ld u o w u o y believe s. with its abilitie nnsylvania, e P rn te s e w th I live in sou . I of hunting land ty e ri a v a e v a t we h n now go almos a c I y a s y tl s e n s can ho to hunt thank e s o o h c I re anywhe ir. It crosses a h C k c ra T n o ti to the Ac rough mud, th s e o g , s m a small stre nes el or loose sto v ra g , s d e e w high g a track. without spinnin ment gets me ip u q e t h g ri e Having th here I have w d n li b d n u ro into the g ature to harvest a m y it n u rt o p p o y. the old Tom turke r o k c u b il ta d white of you disable ll a to k c lu Good at you can’t do h w t le ’t n o d , hunters you can. influence what
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Deerry Dia thern with Sou ri er Belle Sh
Hey ya’ll! Well my name is Sherri, but Southern Belle would suite me just the same. I was raised in a little Mississippi town and have been hitched for some 3 years to the love of my life (Shaun), with our growing family as a young mother, loving wife and huntress I have my hands full 24/7. I didn’t begin hunting until I was about eighteen, but I’d been interested when I was fifteen (just didn’t have anyone to take me till Shaun came into my life!) I absolutely love being a mom and I’m thankful and blessed to have such a healthy little man named Peyton. I always keep God in my life; he has blessed us so much. I also love spending time with my family, fishing, 4wheeler riding, photography, really anything outdoors. Even when I was little my dolls stayed on the shelf while I went outside to play with my brother! When I am stuck inside I keep a little diary, and I’d like to share it with ya’ll. Well, some of it anyway ; ) Deer Diary, Shaun and I were driving out to set up our new deer stand I had an old memory came to mind while we talked about going fishing soon. It was one of my first fishing trips it was me, my dad and brother. We were fishin’ at a pond not far from home and I remember turning to my dad asking “what do I do when I catch a fish?” and he said “I don’t know, you’ll have to figure that out on you own” can’t help but laugh as I look back at that missing those days. But I can’t wait to take my own son fishing who just turned 2. I think I may throw on my camo swimsuit, and pack up the truck to go fishin’ at the lake tomorrow...Will also plan to catch some sun rays! Who says you can’t lay out and fish at the same time? Deer Diary, I was fixing supper earlier and I realized that there is hardly any venison left in the freezer, which reminds me I should pick up some more cover scent. Opening day is coming up fast!
Deer Diary, I came across a website with a photo of a pink and purple camo 4wheeler, and also a pink and purple camo European skull mount... AWESOME!
Deer Diary, I was browsing online at some different camo sites and found camo lingerie! Hmm, I may have to surprise the hubby soon!
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BACKWOODS BRAWL Here at Racks & Tails we believe in the voice of the all outdoorsman. In every issue of Racks & Tails we will have this section dedicated to the hunter’s voice, bringing to the ring many great topics for some great head to head action here in the backwoods. Our topic in this issue is freshwater versus saltwater fishing. And the two fighters square off…
Saltwater Fisherman
Name: Joey Ramion Age: 43 Target species: Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit, Redfish, Snook Location: Georgia I love fishing and will take freshwater fishing over no fishing but it cannot compete with saltwater fishing. I’ve caught Muskie, Pike, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass and none of them can compare to a Bonefish, Tarpon, or Permit ripping off line on light tackle. A trip to fish the lakes of Canada is as picturesque as fishing the Keys but it ends with the view. The numbers of species you can catch saltwater fishing vastly outnumbers freshwater fishing. The size, strength, and fight of the average saltwater fish is far superior to that of a freshwater fish. Take it from me, if you really want to learn to love fishing head to the nearest coast and you will soon find you agree with me.
Freshwater Fisherman
Name: Danny Argus Age: 23 Target species: Northern Pike, Bass Location: Upstate New York I’ve had the opportunity to saltwater fish, and I have to say it was lackluster and skill-less. With Freshwater species you can target a specific type of fish simply by choosing where you cast, or what lake/pond you go to. It’s hard to get more of a charge than watching a big bass come up out of the water with your spinner in its mouth - until you watch a Northern grab hold of your buzzbait and start spooling your reel. Are there bigger fish in the ocean? Most certainly – but I like the sport that freshwater species make possible.
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WHAT’S IN YOUR
GO BAG?
With hunting season on the horizon, along with tuning up your marksmanship it is a good time to think about other concerns, notably safety and vehicle security.
We have a “go bag” in all of our vehicles that has a first-aid kit and basic survival kit. The medium sized backpack has a flashlight, multi-tool, water filter, nutrition bars, space blanket, fire starter, super glue, zip ties, para-cord, emergency water and QuikClot. Many items have dual use. For example, super glue can be used in place of stitches, if needed. The specific contents relate to your part of the country, but the idea is to be able to last long enough to get to help or to be able to help someone else in need. We live in tornado country, so one of these bags ends up in our safe room during bad weather.
down 10 miles from cell phone service, the go bag can help you with the walk out. However, your gear, guns and ammunition left behind are valuable to road vermin. Unfortunately, a broken 4X4 on an empty road is a neon sign to this scum. Packing one gun out is not a big deal. However, if you have multiple guns, it’s a good idea to disable them by removing the bolts. Another idea is to build a hide for your gear away from your vehicle. Leaving a functional weapon with ammunition creates the potential to arm a criminal. The other piece of the plan is to leave your route plan with a responsible party on both ends of your trip if possible. If you break down in blizzard or have an accident, (deer vs. truck) you may not be able to walk out. If someone has your route and knows you are overdue, help may come to you without prompting. Hope and its optimistic cousin Luck alone are not reliable survival methods. A little preparation can mean the difference between just missing a day afield and contending with serious consequences.
The first aid kit is only good if you know what to do with it. Most American Red Cross offices offer a 6 hour first aid course for around $100.00. Similar classes are offered at local colleges or other sources for less or even free. Even CPR has changed in the last few years, so it’s a good idea to take a refresher course even if you got a first aid merit badge. Other considerations for vehicles are a fire extinguishers, tow straps tool kits and jumper cables. It is also a good time to determine to what extent your vehicle and/or homeowners insurance covers your guns and hunting gear. If your vehicle is broken into or stolen outright, not all insurance policies are created equal. Last but not least, have a plan or two for what you may need to do in a given scenario. If you break Page 45
“ g n i t n Hu
. . . e l y t S ” i w i “K
By: Pete Breidahl, NZ
When I first moved to New Zealand from my home in Australia, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew there were 4 million people, 40 million sheep and a lake called “Taupo” on two small islands to the east of Australia. I soon broke free from the countries biggest city “Auckland” and began living the good life with a girl born and raised by Lake Taupo. We’ve since married, had three kids and now together own and run Broadvale Hunting, a guided hunting and fishing service. In 1999 I found myself living in a coastal fishing village; I wanted to get back into hunting “in my new homeland” so I began to make a few inquires regarding the legal side of things. I was pleasantly surprised as to how sensible and very relaxed New Zealand’s laws were compared to Australia. There are over 400,000 licensed firearms owners in the country and visitors to New Zealand are able to cheaply and quickly procure a “tourist licence” at any of the international airports police stations. These last for a year and cost next to nothing! Although there are some restrictions on military style semi automatics and pistols; purchasing, owning and transporting of firearms is a breeze. National parks and conservation areas cover a huge percentage of the country and gaining access to hunt here is remarkably easy. More often than not there will be a park officer that has a good knowledge of where game will be encountered. Most of these guys hunt themselves and will often point out a spot where game numbers need to be reduced as part of the parks management plan. When you have chosen your hunting block, you’re issued a permit and away you go. The permits are free although there is sometimes a small fee for the use of the many huts situated throughout New Zealand’s parks. Aotearoa was settled around 200 years ago by Europeans, at the time there were only five species of mammals here. There were two indigenous bats as well as pigs, dogs and rats introduced by the Maori. The Maori people first settled New Zealand around 1000AD and named it Aotearoa “the land of the long white cloud” due to its appearance when viewed form far out at sea. With Page 47
game species including Quail and Pheasant. Although most pheasant shoots are conducted on private land or in game preserves, there are still plenty of wild ones in the pine forests and most rural areas. Peacocks, Pigeons and Turkeys are also very common and are usually regarded as pests in New Zealand. We just grab them off fence posts at night while they sleep; shoot them with .22’s or shotguns as they are not regarded as game animals. Here they end up straight in the pot and most farmers happily allow you access for a turkey shoot. The fishing here is just as spectacular. Inshore sport fishing is incredibly popular here with some hard fighting fish such as Snapper and Kingies found almost anywhere around the country. Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna and many other game species lurk just off shore well within reach of trailer boat fishermen. Almost every crystal clear lake and river holds rainbow or brown trout and there is good salmon fishing in several South Island Rivers during the fall. We have it all here, stunning scenery, amazing hunting and fishing, friendly people and further more New Zealand is an affordable holiday destination for almost anyone.
no predators and no competition, the deer released by the new inhabitants soon spread throughout both islands. Red deer are by far the most common and can be found from one end of the country to the other in almost every environment from the coastal forests and farms through to the high mountain ranges. Fallow deer also took well and are established on both islands, there are several herds of Sambar deer and wild bulls on the North Island as well as a herd of Sika deer inhabiting the central north island Plateau. The South Island holds Wapiti, white tail deer in isolated pockets as well as the only population of Himalayan Thar that can be legally hunted. Chamois are also found in large areas of the South Island and feral goats, pigs and wild rams can be found on both islands often in huge numbers. Unlike many places, there are no deer ticks or diseases associated with game animals in New Zealand. Almost all introduced game animals here are considered pests and most can be hunted year round. Great hunting can be found almost anywhere in New Zealand, but a world class trophy can require a lot of work. Most quality heads are found on private land or in remote areas requiring a long walk or flight in. The wing shooters are well catered for here as well. Canadian geese are considered a pest and can be encountered in flocks numbering in the thousands. Swan, numerous species of ducks and waterfowl may also be hunted seasonally along with upland racksandtails.com
Affectionately known to us as “God’s own” Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud is truly a paradise for any sportsman or woman. To see more of our adventures in New Zealand check out Broadvale hunting on youtube.
Tips and Tactics: I am using some new technology to clean my brass, an Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine. It uses high frequency pulsating water to create millions of tiny air bubbles which remove the carbon build up from the brass, both inside and out; however, I was not impressed with the appearance of the brass. Even though it was completely void of any carbon residue the brass still looked like it did when I picked it up off the ground at the range. I decided to try a solution of Stainless Steel and Copper Cleaner (1 tbsp to 2 pints water). One cycle through the ultrasonic cleaner and my brass looked like new! Wade Willems, Sr. Gear Tester, Alberta, Canada
If your favorite lure isn’t working the way it usually does, try switching up colors. Sometimes your color makes all the difference in getting the strike you’re looking for. Fud, Killbuck, NY Here’s a bowhunting tech tip that I use for choosing a broadhead with a quality cutting surface. I call it the “cut volume test.” Fill up an empty one gallon milk jug with water colored with your choice of food coloring. Use a good contrasting food color so you can visualize the liquid, and make sure you cap the jug off to create a vacuum similar to the vital cavity of an animal. Set the jug up in front of a proper archery backstop and mark off your shooting distance. Fire your broadhead tipped arrow through the plastic water jug and then judge the volume and speed of the colored water as it exits the simulated wound holes. The faster the water drains, the better the puncture and cutting surface of your particular broadhead. Judge your broadhead accuracy at the same time by placing a small round sticker on the jug for a solid aiming point. James Searl, Gear Tester Sometimes artificial lures just don’t work. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes fish bite great on things you’d have never thought to use. The sunny’s bite great on corn – which works great for the kids. I’ve even seen marshmallows work. Andy Brown, Bradford, PA
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Health Tip: Sunscreen
Skin cancer. As an avid outdoorsmen and Certified Athletic Trainer I deal with this very real danger on almost a daily basis. It is also a very real risk for hunters that spend day light hours tracking down prey. The risk of skin cancer has been steadily on the rise since the 1970s and it is only getting worse. There are three types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma with melanoma being the most prevalent. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun has been found to cause the most cases of melanoma. Since staying out of the sun is not an option for avoiding skin cancer, prevention is essential. During hours of prolonged sun exposure, sunscreens, covering the body with clothing and seeking shaded area are the best ways of practicing prevention. Sunscreen should be applied at least 15 minutes prior to going outside and should be re-applied every two hours. A water and sweat proof sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher is works best for physical outdoor activities.
Statistics -
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime Adults over age 40, especially men, have the highest annual exposure to UV radiation One person dies of melanoma every hour (every 62 minutes)
Risk Factors -
light, fair skin family and personal history of skin cancer history of repeated sunburns prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between the hours of 11am and 4pm reflecting surfaces such as water and snow high altitudes
Ryan is an avid outdoorsman and Certified Athletic Trainer working with high school athletics in Carbondale, CO. When he is not found patrolling the sidelines of the latest sporting event, he can be found hiking, climbing, and skiing the mountains of the Roaring Fork Valley. Ryan studied Athletic Training at the University of Montana, graduating in 2005. Page 51
We at Racks & Tails Magazine are proud of those who’ve chosen to answer the call to something greater than self and wear the uniform of our nation’s armed forces! We’d like to salute our local, active military heroes but we need your help. If you have a loved one serving you’d like to salute here for all of us to adopt, email the following: 1. A picture(s) of your loved one in uniform and outdoors (fishing, camping, hunting, etc.) 2. Your loved one’s name, branch of service, rank, hometown and where they’re stationed 3. A brief bio or message you’d like to have posted on our web site or in the next issue. Email the above to: racks.hero@gmail.com
ES G A K C A RE P TEE @ A C L I A M DOP A R U O TO
SPC Brandon Greene
D Troop, 4-4 CAV, FOB Pasab AFMT, 4th Platoon APO AE 09370
Born in PA, Brandon moved to Upstate new York when he was little, went to Ellicottville Central School, Jamestown Community College then SUNY Fredonia before starting his military career as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle systems maintainer. “I’m currently at a combat outpost with my maintenance team (AFMT) in the Zhari district in Afghanistan with Alpha troop, 4-4 CAV to the south of fFOB Pasab (formerly FOB Wilson).” Hobbies include music, reading, working on cars and of course firearms. Plans after the military include hopefully working for the TSA (gotta love federal retirement plans).
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GOOSE CALLS • DUCK CALLS • ACCESSORIES
FACES IN THE FIELD C O U P L E S
E D I T I O N
Jackie (Jax) Fitzpatrick Gales Creek (OR)
Stay at home mom of three girls loves being outdoors and spending time with her family and friends. When hunting season rolls around, you’ll most likely find her spending more time honing her archery skills or settin’ up trail cams. Her favorite hunts are blacktails, elk, and especially black bear since that is the one season she shares with her rifle hunting husband.
Brian Fitzpatrick Gales Creek (OR)
Directional drill operator for Apex Directional Drilling, Brian spends most of his spare time outdoors. Besides spending time with his family; his passion is classic cars and loves restoring his 1967 Mustang. His wife and her family introduced him to rifle hunting and he loves it! He looks forward to taking his first black bear with his 270 along side his wife.
Sherri Copeland Wesson (MS)
Stay at home mom. Married to Shaun for three years with a two-year-old son who is getting warmed up to start hunting by practicing with deer and turkey calls. She loves hunting deer and fishing. She’s only been hunting for three years and has got a doe so far but she is eager to get a buck this season and she promises to take plenty of photos when she does!
Shaun Copeland Wesson (MS)
Employed by Railroad Controls Ltd. Has been hunting all his life and would white-tail hunt year round if he could! He loves fishing too preferably big mouth bass. He and Sherri can’t wait to take their son hunting and fishing, he loves seeing deer and wildlife! racksandtails.com
you Want more racks and tails? Check out our extended ONLINE edition at www.racksandtails.com for more articles, behind the scene pics, & more..
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DAY 1…….. We sneak up to our spot, set up the hen and jake
intimidator decoys from Country Men Innovations, and we wait. It’s amazing how wide awake you can be minutes before that open day bell rings. It feels like an eternity waiting for that first gobble, and when he finally sounds off, all the hair on the back of my neck is standing at attention. As light just starts to hit the field, a hen makes her way over to the decoys. She comes right over and feeds all around our decoy and I am happy to have some live bait.
What Makes a Hunt Successful ???
Another party crasher paid the cover, and is now watching what is going on in the field. With no long beards in sight, he is calling and closing the distance to the decoys. As he enters my gun range, I can feel my heart beating all the way down to my toes. 40 yds, 30 yds, 20 yds, 15 yds and then the booming gobble of the long beard bounces through the woods. The young jake realizes his time with the ladies has come to an end. With my finger on the safety, I have a choice to make. Do I take this young Jake who read the script and is already dead, but he just doesn’t know it? Or, do I wait for that long beard we are after and put to bed the night before?
It’s pitch dark outside and I finally fall asleep from the excitement of opening day just around the corner. All my gear is neatly laid out and even stacked in the order I put them on - base Under Armor, socks, bibs, WMH shirt, and jacket. The calls are tuned, the gun is sighted in, scouting has put the birds to bed, and the tp is in the emergency pocket (just in At this point, is the hunt a success? We were able to sneak into case…..). their back yard, decoy them, call them in, and get them to within 15 yds of the end of my gun. We are in the woods with friends Like a crack of thunder, the alarm clock sounds off blaring and enjoying a beautiful day in the woods. The old long beard Charlie Daniels…. never showed, and I left with my tag still on my back. Success? The devil bowed his head because he knew that he’d been beat. He laid that golden fiddle on the ground at Johnny’s feet. Johnny said: “Devil just come on back if you ever want to try again. “I told you once, you son of a gun, I’m the best that’s ever been.”
I could have shut if off right away, but you have to let it get to that last line. Just like that, I am up and heading for the kitchen. As we finish off our eggs and bacon, the plan is set. Drive down to the lower part of the farm, cut through the pines, and set up in the tree line 80 yards down from where we put 2 big long beards to bed. It’s what you wait for, that anticipation of success; it’s what gets us jumping out of bed at 4 A.M. racksandtails.com
DAY 2…….. Second verse, same as the first, clothes laid out,
breakfast, then to the woods. We decide to hit a different field where we scouted another long beard. As the woods come to life and the sun starts to hit the back of the decoy, a hen pitches down 10 yds to our right. As we have our tag team of real and fake hens in the field for the second day, the old tom appears out of nowhere 150 yards out. As we fight against mother-nature and try to get the long beard to come to us, we watch our live decoy work her way out to that beautiful fan strutting away. Then we got to witness the “Birds and the Bees” happen right out in front of us. When I showed my son the video, he asked why they were wrestling. This hunt also ended with a tag on my back, but I was able to witness something I had never seen before.
DAY 3……..cancelled due to family obligations. I am sure All of a sudden, I didn’t feel so bad passing on that Jake.
Although I ate my tag sandwich and was heading home with an empty cooler, to me, that hunt was a success. I was able to call As we sat with our new friends reflecting on our hunt, I could not that turkey to within 15 yards of me and he never knew I was help but think maybe I made a mistake and should have pulled there. Now, that turkey might be the phase 1 for a new hunter. the trigger on that jake. One of our new friends, who (by his own That, along with my new friends in North Carolina made my admission) had more hunting behind him than in front of him, hunt a success! shared his decades of experience. He said a hunter goes through 4 phases in their hunting lifetime. most of you reading this can relate.
PHASE 1 –
PHASE 2 -
PHASE 3 -
PHASE 4 -
All you want to do is shoot something. It doesn’t matter if it is a doe, hen, spike, etc…… You just want to get on the board. Now that you have been successful, you want to shoot something respectable, decent 6 pt, What phase hunter are you? drake wood duck, 2 year old gobbler….. The biggest and the best. Now you are a lot Hunt Safe! more selective, it has to be a bigger buck then Chris you ever shot. You won’t be happy unless you take a limit, 10 inch beard, etc……. Pass it down. It doesn’t matter if you carry that tag all season. It makes you feel better to With Chris Carr see your kids or grand kids get their first. All you want to do is be part of that experience of a new hunter. You can catch the videos at: www.workingmanshunter.com
ON POINT Page 57
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What's Our Status?
Cheryl J., CFO/Accounting: Is conducting a budget meeting, while drinking her morning cup of “venti chai tea latte” from Starbucks Tanner G., Junior Editor: Is reviewing youth articles while getting ready for football practice, is listening to his new “Signed Copy of Bone Collectors” from Country Greats Rhett & Dallas Damian S., Managing Editor: Is sorting through the dozens of articles people send us, while refusing to share his homemade “BeefJerky.” Jackie F., Head Gear Tester: Is opening up tons of product we receive from outdoor companies who want us to review their gear; while video chatting with her kids. Landon B., Location Scout/Photographer: Is reviewing hundreds of photos sent in from our 30,000+ subscribers, while pounding a Mountain Dew. William M., Sr. Publisher: On the phone w/ Darton Archery; thanking them for all their continued support, while eating a Big Mac.
RACTOIDS:
Beer in the fridge: Natural Ice Tobacco product we’re trying to quit: Copenhagen Beverages we’re drinking (pre-press): Mountain Dew Beverages we’re drinkin (post-press): Mojito’s Best line we’ve heard: “Winner winner, Chicken Dinner” (in Vegas with Buck.) To Become a Certified Gear Tester Contact: buck@racksandtails.com Times we’ve called Buck while he was sleeping: 2 Times we’ve called Buck while he was on location: 53 1 SHOT = DONT WASTE YOUR 3 SHOTS = SOLID PERFORMANCE Times Buck has called one of us while we were sleeping: 24 TIME OR MONEY 4 SHOTS = ABOVE AVERAGE Odds one of the staff will use the term MILF this month: 1 in 5 2 SHOTS = POOR PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE Times Adam has been called a “graphic god”: 2 Times Brandon designed a page that got pulled: 5 5 SHOTS = A MUST BUY Spelling mistakes in this issue: ??? (you‘ll tell us) racksandtails.com
Average Cost of a new house $12,700.00 Average Cost of a new car $2,600.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 31 cents 23 inch Television $219.95 First-Class Stamp 4 cents Gallon of milk 49 cents Loaf of Bread 20 cents Dozen Eggs 57 cents
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