Rolling Bones No Boundaries Jan-Feb. 2022 by Rolling Bones

Volume.2

EDition 1

JANUARY | FEBRUARY | 2022

INSIDE:

News about what’s happening at Rolling Bones Outdoors headquarters

FROM THE BONE CAVE

NO BOUNDARIES JAN - FEB 2022

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Brotherhood of Hunters First, best wishes to everyone for a great New Year! The end of one season is always the beginning of another, but let’s take a minute and look back. 2021 was crazy as I started the year by adding extra days to a desert sheep hunt. This turned into to a season long chase that left me behind the best results curve (lol)! Every hunter enters the field looking for something… some result… whether that’s the biggest scoring animal possible or maybe taking a deer from your own land to fill the freezer. Either way we share the space that we call the great outdoors and that makes us brothers. So if you are a trophy hunter or a meat hunter I understand you. And 2021 was a year of highs and lows. But looking back…. I wouldn’t change a thing! Here’s to 2022! Whether you spend your season in a deer stand on the edge of a hay field or on a south facing slope of a mountain, we are all outdoorsmen and that’s what I am most excited about in 2022. Yep, just being in the great outdoors is the first reward of our pursuit. Coyote hunting is my favorite (no big secret there to those who know me). Why? Because I can hunt all day and every stand gives me new hope, new promise and a new opportunity. I don’t like it… I love it! When I talk to whitetail fanatics, I know exactly how they feel when they explain their passion for sitting and waiting for that monster buck. Or an elk hunter, when they describe that September fever. Again, the common thread is we love being outdoors and engaged in that which drives us most… looking for that spark that lights the fire within us at that moment. You know the one. Where your heart skips a beat as you lay eyes on that buck you been watching on the trail cam or that elk that screams as it heads your way. Our company, Rolling Bones Outdoors, was built for this purpose. To bring you to that moment by building the best outdoor resources in the industry. We did this a little differently- by starting with the adventure vertical. We wanted to deliver a resource that had a depth of content that was not available in the marketplace. Something that Google couldn’t reliably deliver and other resources in the outdoor world weren’t focused on. This approach resulted in the first-ever hunt catalog of its type. One that truly compared one adventure of its type to another. To say it was a difficult task would be an understatement. However as I sit here and write this January 2022 kickoff article to all of you I can truly say - we did it. Whether you’re looking for a Polar Bear hunt (like my friend in Iowa) or a hog hunt for you and a couple buddies, we have you covered. With more than 400 outfitters and close to one-thousand adventures we have an expansive data base to meet your desires and expectations. Our hunt search software allows you to refine your search by species, budget, physical abilities, lodging preferences and more. So what does this mean for you? You can now go to one place and look for your next trip with the confidence you’re starting in the right place. When you put all this at an outdoorsman’s finger tips coupled with world class concierge service from our staff that is ready to take your call and greet you with a giant helping of “how may we serve you” you have Rolling Bones Outdoors. Let’s do this!! Let’s put covid, politics, ego and pride to the side and lets all become better outdoorsman. In 2022 we want to bring you more service, more access, more value and more education than we ever have. We can’t wait to meet you at all at the many outdoor shows coming up this winter. Please stop by and say hello. With more than 18,000 users, we want to serve you and are prepared to continue to deliver the great outdoors to GREAT OUTDOORSMAN like all of you! Happy Hunting & Happy Trails,

Brian Mehmen RBO Co-Founder and CEO Contact info:

info@rollingbonesoutfitters.com (605) 644-8000

NEW PRODUCT PARTNERSHIPS

SHOW SEASON IN FULL SWING

SHOOTING SCHOOLS 2022

Fjallraven and Peak Refuel

Sheep & Shot Show Kick it Off

Become a better marksman

We continue to explore and research companies that can add positive results to your outdoor experience. We are proud to announce two new relationships. Peak Refuel, whom we believe is one of the highest quality camp meals available today. And Fjallraven (who our founder has used for years) who is one of the leading outdoor gear companies in the market today.

Rolling Bones advisors have fanned out across the country during show season 2022. From Kentucky, Ohio to Iowa, Nevada, Utah and many more we hope you will stop by and say hello if you are attending. It’s a busy time of year moving people and displays from place to place but the rewards of meeting hunters and outdoorsmen face-to-face makes it more than worth it!

For hunters, it will dramatically improve your ability to make an accurate and humane extended range shot in the field. And that means a successful hunt and an excellent hunting adventure. That’s what our RBO shooting courses are designed to do. We have locations in South Dakota and Utah. Check for dates and availability on our website and click on courses. RollingBones.com

NO BOUNDARIES Jan - Feb 2022

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Did you know? Animals that are hunted in the wild today tend to be better sources of meat because they are able to eat a natural diet and roam free as they were intended to do. In some cases where hunting is closely regulated, hunting actually helps animal populations to thrive and grow.

Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed hawking (where prey is killed by trained hawks) as well as hunting. Taxes on hunting licenses and equipment pay for 60% of wildlife agencies’ expenses. Less hunting means less funding, which is a concern for many state-run wildlife and recreational departments. Only five percent of Americans participated in hunting during the past five years, meaning the sport has a lot of room to grow.

Samuel Colt, the man who created an empire selling hunting weapons, was said to have coined the phrase “new and improved.”

Hunters bought over 15.6 million hunting licenses in 2019, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national hunting license data. The F&WS collects this information annually from every state and U.S. territory.

The use of hunting dogs can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where greyhounds were used to track gazelles. “Coursing” is the use of hounds in hunting. Wolves were considered a type of vermin in early Europe. People were allowed to kill as many wolves as they could, whenever they could.

According to the federal government, more than 38 million Americans hunt and fish annually. More Americans hunt and fish than play golf and tennis combined.

Moose are Alaska’s most sought biggame animal. Alaska requires hunters to report all big game harvests. In 2017, 21,000 hunters had general moose tags, and their success rate was 23%. Meanwhile, 2,500 people hunted caribou with a general tag, and 44% were successful.

Texas sold the most hunting licenses in 2019, over 1 million; and Rhode Island sold the fewest, around 8,000. Those numbers represent individual hunters in each state, but many hunters buy licenses in several states. The numbers don’t include hunters who get free licenses, such as landowners, youths or seniors.

More than 44 million Americans enjoy fishing every year and the average angler spends more than $1,000 annually on the sport.

Hunting supports 680,000 jobs; from game wardens to waitresses, biologists to motel clerks.

President Theodore Roosevelt, himself an avid hunter, helped create the “conservation through wise use” principle and encouraged other hunters to donate to causes that would preserve the land they hunted on.

About 11,000 people bought Hawaiian hunting licenses last year. All the major islands have huntable big game, including axis deer, feral pigs ad mouflon sheep. Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife maintains detailed lists of species on each island.

A Collection of Wild Game Recipies from Mary Boatwright, RBO Applications Manager

Tender and Tasty Coot

A few weeks ago, I travelled to Colorado for a brief break from the office and had the opportunity to meet up with a duck hunting buddy of mine and take my dad and uncle up to Lake John in Walden, CO. Now, Lake John is typically a great place to go to for waterfowl hunting in Colorado. We found the perfect location to set up, beat everyone else to it, got the decoys out, hid the kayak from sight (didn’t have a dog), and settled in to wait for shooting light. Just before that, hundreds of “good shooters” were flying around the lake right in front of us. We were quite giddy and full of excitement from seeing this sight alone. We thought for sure it was going to be a hunt of epic proportions! But, as legal shooting light arrived......the flying stopped. A few minutes into legal shooting hours, some birds decided to swim into the decoys. We waited for the right moment, and then took our shots. To our surprise, what looked an awful lot like Scaup, were actually coot. I hopped in the kayak and collected our kill, and confirmed that they were indeed coot. However, being the good hunter that I am, and not liking to waste any meat if at all possible, I didn’t think twice about bringing them home and making something delicious and nutritious. Besides, as my uncle said, coots are notorious for eating the food supply of more sought after waterfowl, so in a way you are actually doing the Mallards a favor by shooting coots. So, this week we are going to put the kibosh on one of the most controversial waterfowl species out there and cook up some coot.

Here is what you will need: • • • • • • • •

2-10 Coot, breasted and legged Orange Juice 3 Cups of Water 1 Bay Leaf 1 Medium Onion, chopped 3-4 Small Red or Russet Potatoes 1/2 tablespoon Cumin 1/2 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning or Cavender’s Greek Seasoning

• • • • •

1 Tablespoon Chicken or Beef Powdered Bouillon (Knorr’s is what we use) 1 dash of worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon sugar or brown sugar (optional) Rice (enough for however many you are cooking for) 1 Instant Pot with Pressure Cooking Lid

The recipe is really simple, and I came up with it all on my own from combining a few different methods of cooking waterfowl from my own experiences. First, clean the birds, removing the breast meat and legs from each bird. Run the meat under cool water, while at the same time removing as much fat and silver membrane as you can. This is also a great time to check for any shot that might be hiding in the meat. Place all of the pieces of meat into a large bowl and submerge them in cold water, adding about a 5 second pour of salt from one of those large Morton iodized salt containers. Mix the salt around in the water using your hands until dissolved. Leave this bowl in the fridge, uncovered, for 2-3 days. After a few days of brining, you’re ready to cook. Remove the meat from the brining bowl and give it a quick rinse under cold water. Pat the meat dry using paper towels. Next, take your instant pot and set in to saute on high heat. Add your onions and coot meat to the instant pot and cook on each side for a few minutes. Switch the Instant Pot setting to pressure cook at a temp of 350*F on high pressure and set the timer to 45 minutes. Add in the remaining ingredients (except for the rice), gently stir the mixture to incorporate the ingredients, place the pressure cooking lid on, and step away to let the magic happen. Once the timed cooking is completed, and the pressure has released, you can remove the lid and serve the contents over a bead of rice and enjoy.

IT’S ALL IN THE ADVENTURE

NO BOUNDARIES Jan-Feb 2022

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A G.O.A.T. of a Goat

by BRYAN MATIN RBO Adventure Consultant

mountainside, following the unwounded ram. We followed him as they disappeared into a patch of timber, maybe 700 vertical feet below us.

As a British Columbia outfitter and guide for many years, scheduling a personal hunt each fall was always very im-

Competition for the Kill There was no way he could climb up the other side, so the guys took off after him, before it got completely dark. I stayed high and was able to watch the other ram cross the creek at the bottom and go up the other side. He kept looking back and was acting strange as if he was waiting for his buddy. But it seemed that something had scared him also. We knew the wounded ram had stopped on our side as he never crossed the bottom. The guys found his trail, but he had made an unusual turn and the guys ran out of daylight. Little did we know the ram was already dead and that a grizzly and her cubs had actually chased down the ram and killed him, maybe 100 yards from where Chad and Scott turned around. This explained why his trail had changed directions and why the guys were confused looking for him near dark. The bears had to have been hanging out on the slope below the rams, and the rams ran right past them. The next morning, I stayed up high and glassed; the guys called me on the radio after about 30 minutes, saying Chad’s ram was buried and partially eaten by grizzlies. The bears had left the carcass already since they had fed all night. I packed up my gear and headed down the mountain to join them. There was almost nothing salvageable except part of one hind leg.

portant to me. One of my most memorable hunts took place in early – mid Oct 2009 in Northern BC, Canada. This was the 2nd to last year I ran my northern BC Stone Sheep and Mixed Bag hunting business and for the last hunt of the season, I joined two of our head guides, Chad and Scott Miller for a sheep and goat hunt. I had taken a stone sheep on a solo hunt in 2008, near here. For Chad and I, this was our third trip together, trying to get him a ram. It was my first trip with his younger brother Scott. When you hunt stone sheep in October, instead of August or September, extreme weather often hinders your ability to travel/hike and glass. On Each of the last few years’ sheep hunts, we had only five to eight days instead of ten to hunt. This was due mainly to weather and plane delays and often we faced huge snow, extreme wind/cold weather each year. Chad and I could not get a lucky weather break it seemed. In October, temperatures are always cold, days are noticeably shorter and snow/fog can be quite common. The creeks, some rivers and many shallow lakes, which the floatplanes often use, are starting to slush or ice over. Float plane pilots are never too keen about dropping off backpack hunters for the last ten days of stone sheep and goat season, which ends Oct. 15th. The Quest Begins The Beaver float plane pilot, Mac Blackwell, dropped us at our chosen lake around Oct. 4th or 5th and we were greeted with pretty mild weather. There was no snow on the ground at the lake and temps were normal for October. We arrived in the afternoon, so we walked around looking for old trails and scouted our route for the morning. We found an old horse trail, which was in much need of some chainsaw work. As the snow got deeper on the north slope, we broke from the trail and climbed straight up the mountain, as this ended up being a better route. We took turns post-holing through 1.5 to 2 feet of snow for several hours before reaching a big lookout in the same drainage in which I had shot my 2008 ram. Unfortunately, the weather was starting to turn worse, so we set up our tents for a long night of snow and fog. The next day, as the weather broke in the late afternoon, there was not too much snow on the southwest slope below our camp. It didn’t take us long to find a group of two rams, with one being legal. I was carrying my 300 Borden, shooting 180 TTSX Barnes bullets while Chad and Scott were using Chad’s 300 Win with 200 gr. Barnes TSX bullets. The shot was quite far, and Chad didn’t have a turret on his scope, so he decided to use my gun. The rams were in some thick bush of an old burn and it was difficult to get a shot at them. Finally, Chad was able to take a 470-yard shot, but the bullet hit some brush near the ram. The shot broke the ram’s high femur. He was mortally wounded, but started running down the very steep

Perserverance and Cold After some photos, we split up. Scott and Chad stayed in this valley to hunt with Scott one more day and I headed up valley and cut into some new country I had never seen before. I hunted solo for about three days, but only found goats, younger rams and ewes. It was a long hike back to the lake and I covered many miles. Each night, I would hike at least an hour in the dark, before camping, so I could glass fresh country in the morning. I had enough moon light that I could tell where I was and luckily, I found good places to camp. As I hiked, the weather was getting colder and with only a 20-degree bag, I was nearly freezing at night. The guys had been back at the lake for at least two days by the time I returned. I had not seen any other rams, just goats and moose. Like me, they had also been very cold at night and decided to hunt out of the old cabin as it was warmer than our Hilleberg tents. Fortunately, I had brought along a second sleeping bag, so I could handle the cold temps when I slept in both. In addition, we had two Alpacka portable pack rafts for hunting the lake or crossing rivers. Our base camp lake was about 4-5 miles from a river which often has rams near it. With two, 20-degree sleeping bags (one down and one synthetic), a pack raft, lift jacket, carbon oars, 5-days’ worth of food, I again headed out solo, but this time my pack was more than 90 pounds; the brothers stayed at the lake, day hunting what they could reach. By now, the night temps we well below zero and sometimes as cold as 10-below, which for a backpack hunt, makes it terribly difficult to stay warm. Cont’d. on A5

NO BOUNDARIES Jan-Feb 2022z It’s especially tough on you feet. Day temps were bearable in the sun, but the shaded slopes were still very cold. A Most Interesting Incident In between our main lake and the river, I had to walk by several smaller/more shallow lakes. On this day, I saw one of the strangest things in my hunting career. A medium sized bull moose, maybe 47 inches, was standing along one of the lakes, tired and worn out from the rut. I sat down and watched him for maybe 20 minutes. Finally, he decided to swim the lake instead of walking around it. About 30 yards from shore and with the water maybe 10 feet deep, he started gasping and his head went under water. He turned around and headed back to shore, but another big gasp and he went underwater for the last time and drowned. My guess is that he had fought another moose, which had punctured through his chest cavity or diaphragm; his body filled up with water as he was swimming, and it sank him. I could see his lifeless body lying on the bottom of the lake, but it was too deep and cold to retrieve him. After this crazy display and upon reaching the river valley, I set up my camp then climbed a big mountain overlooking the valley to glass for sheep. I found elk, goats and a nice mule deer buck, but no rams this day. Time was Running Out The next day, I picked up my camp, hiked to the river, inflated the raft and made my way across it. Since this was my first time in the raft on moving water, I had a steep learning curve. My pack was big and heavy, and it made the raft top heavy. I had to put my feet under the pack and did my best not to roll the raft in the current and light rapids. These rafts are minimalists and weigh only about 7 lbs each, plus oars and life jacket. Once I crossed the river, I found a couple good places from which to glass. I spotted one stone ram, but he was only 5 or 6 years old and under full curl. I walked up-river some miles and found a few goats and some more elk, but no more rams. With only a few more days to hunt and the pilot being worried about the lakes freezing (I had called him with a sat phone), I decided to hunt the mountain where I saw the ram. I crossed the river just before dark and found a good spot, where I could make a big loop and hunt this area the next day. With two sleeping bags, full camp and the raft, I had too much gear to climb that steep mountain, so I just took my rifle, spotter/ tripod, extra clothes, food and a bunch of emergency items and headed out early in the morning with my mostly empty 8,500 cubic inch Mystery Ranch Gigantor Pack/Nice frame. Getting Creative Early in the day, I was able to relocate the ram I had seen the previous day but he was still alone and far from legal. I decided to climb to the top of the mountain, above him in search of more rams or a big goat, since this would likely be my last day of hunting. It was Oct. 12th, and the pilot was anxious to get us off the lake a few days earlier than originally scheduled. About three hours before dark I found a very large goat and after a stalk in heavy snow, I was about 450 yards from this 10-year old billy. I love goat hunting and decided to take him. I had to assemble a very creative rest as I was on a very steep and snow-covered hill and the goat was in mixed timber, but two shots from my 300 Borden anchored him in a safe spot, away from the cliffs. I was 2500-3000 feet above the valley floor and with darkness approaching, I life-sized skinned and quartered the goat. With a live weight of more than 300 lbs. and 9 7/8inch horns, this goat made for a very heavy pack. I didn’t fully debone the meat as I was in a hurry and I usually leave the

PAGE A.5 shoulder blade or the femur in the quarters to keep things cleaner. Most of the hike down the mountain was in the dark. It was a brutal trip with all the deadfalls, rocky cliffs, deep snow and a 100-plus pound pack, but I have had much worse. A life-sized, long-haired goat hide with head is 40 to 50 lbs., plus the 4 quarters and loins/backstraps are not light. This was the sixth goat I have shot and all but one have been solo hunts in Montana, Idaho or British Columbia. There is rarely a dull moment when hunting these amazingly tough and majestic animals. Upon reaching the valley floor, I was able to stash the goat at a lake, near where the moose had died, and a lake our float pilot could land on the next day. I then made it back to my tent probably 4 hours after dark and enjoyed a much-needed mountain house dinner and a good night’s sleep. It was very cold in my Hilleberg Soulo tent, but I was plenty warm from the long day of hiking and luckily, I had the two sleeping bags. On the morning of Oct. 13th, I called the pilot and gave him the GPS coordinates of the goat lake and told him I’d meet him there around noon. I picked up camp and hiked back to the goat. From here, he shuttled me back to the big lake with his Beaver, where the Miller brothers were waiting, They were quite cold and more than happy to end our hunt. Since I had left them a few days earlier, they had seen only moose and a few goats, but no more sheep. We all suffered from very cold feet during most of the hunt as 400 gr thinsulate boots were not warm enough. No one had frostbite or any long-term damage. Chad was disappointed to have lost his sheep cape and most of the meat, but his ram was way over full curl, and he was happy. Scott was just happy to hunt with his brother, as during the fall guiding season, getting personal hunting time for guides can be very difficult. Chad, Scott and their brother Blair Miller all own their own guide territories in BC and are some of the best in the business. This trip was the last trip where I was probably the most on top of my fitness and strength. I was 38-years old and for sure as tough as I have ever been in my hunting career. My three previous hunts were equally difficult but made with the company of great clients and friends, so I was very prepared for this hunt. Two of those hunts were backpack grizzly hunts and one was a backpack stone sheep hunt, so I was more than primed for this late season goat/sheep hunt we had just completed. We flew back to our hunting base camp, to find the river with a little bit of slush on the top, which means the smaller creeks upstream were freezing over and we needed to consider getting out. We had hoped for some warmer weather, but the cold snap never lifted. We had a couple clients still hunting moose, and we should have moved everyone out the next day, instead of the 16th as scheduled. By the morning of the 15th, the river was almost solid slush and there was no way to operate a jet boat or float plane. We had to call the game branch and get permission for a helicopter rescue. A local company out of Dease Lake had a big A-star chopper capable of flying over 1200 lbs. per trip. We took as much personal gear as possible, plus the meat/skins, in a total of 2 or 3 trips, but had to leave a lot of gear behind at the cabin, which we recovered in the summer of 2010; which was my last year guiding in this area and my 12th full season of outfitting in northern BC. I have many great memories from this chapter in my life. I ended my BC outfitting career in the same camp in which I had started back in 1991, when I was a freshman at college. It’s been 12 years since I shot my last goat and I hope to hunt another one in 2023 or 2025 before I lose my desire to suffer so much during these difficult yet rewarding trips.

NO BOUNDARIES JAN-FEB 2022

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FROM “HIT LIST” TO BUCKET LIST

Arrowing the Booner of a lifetime in Iowa by Bob Hennessey RBO Hunt Advisor I was honored to hear that Rolling Bones Outdoors wanted to hear about my 2021 archery whitetail deer hunt in northeast Iowa.

It was back in August of 2021 I put my trail cameras up, and I knew there were numerous big bucks in the area. By all appearances it looked like I had many “hit list bucks” but we all know that when the velvet is on the horns, they look much bigger. I rely heavily on these devices as I live about two hours from where I hunt so these cellular cameras help me tremendously with scouting. By the time October rolled around, there were two bucks on my “hit list” of which I knew I would be in pursuit. I only had a couple pictures of each buck in the area, but there are hundreds of acres on this farm so the upcoming season seemed filled with promise. Normally I do not start hunting until the last week of October and hunt hard for about 3-4 weeks. Fast forward to later in the fall. It was the evening of November 2nd and my brother and I were sitting around his kitchen table. We were putting a game plan together of the upcoming days for hunting; taking into account the wind, temperature, weather forecasts and other appropriate data. It was then that he told me about a new stand he put up recently, which included a camera at that location. After some small talk about this new stand location, he casually says, “Oh yeah I forgot to tell you about a couple photos I got.” As it turned out these photos were pictures of one of my “hit list bucks.” The buck was showing himself between 8:30 and 9:00am, and upon closer inspection it was evident that there were numerous rubs and scraps around this location.

the hill toward me. His body even hit my tree stand as he went by. I watched him finally go down in the field about 50 yards away. This all happened so fast I couldn’t believe it. My entire life I have been waiting to shoot a Boone and Crocket buck - and I finally did it.

As our planning wrapped up it became clear that this new stand was perfect for a south wind. And on the following morning, Nov. 3rd, as fate would have it, the wind was out of the south. Perfect! My brother was unable hunt this day because of work, but I could - and quite frankly, couldn’t wait to get out.

First things first. I called my wife and told her that I just shot the biggest buck of my life and possibly the biggest I will ever shoot. Then I made the call to my brother. He was happy for me but I could definitely detect in his voice what sounded like a “you are so lucky” tone. With my mind back in the field, I noticed that my buck had laid his head down and I knew then that he had expired. As I got down out of my stand, I turned on the video camera on documented the recovery on film. Walking up to him, I was in awe. Many times on the walk up you get a different perspective of the animal you have just harvested. Sometimes they get smaller – seldom do they seem larger. And I have shot numerous good bucks over the years but nothing like this. He was huge. I wanted to call so many people but couldn’t because now I was down on the bottoms and had no cellular service.

I arrived very early in the morning hours. I wasn’t exactly sure where the stand was located, but eventually I had enough light to find it and immediately settled in. I saw a few different bucks after sunrise. About 8:45 am I was watching a doe and 140-inch buck out in the field. One thing that fascinates me about these hunting scenarios is the ability to quietly sit and watch deer when they don’t know of your presence. To me, It’s always riveting to watch and learn the mannerisms of the whitetail. For a hunter being in the outdoors has many rewards and being able to observe and learn is an added benefit. About five minutes later I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I slowly turned my head and saw what every whitetail hunter lives to see - nothing but antlers coming my way through the woods. I slowly drew my binoculars and took one look and immediately knew it was him. I stifled my breathing as the adrenaline began to surge and my heart picked up a beat. Quickly I began making calculations. If he kept coming on the path, I thought, he would give me a 15-yard shot. By now it seemed I could feel the entire stand shaking. Luckily, his attention was focused more on the buck and doe in the field than me. He was slowly working his way toward me. So far everything was working out perfectly as the scene unfolded below me. The buck and doe in the field were positioned so the sun was right in his eyes. By the way, I had a video camera on my bow but forgot to turn it on. Things seemed to be happening so quickly and I had a lot to process in the next few seconds.

“

Now the second part of the work begins – but it’s the part that you always hope to be doing. I had a couple of knives with me, so I field dressed the deer, skinned it out, quartered it and took all the meat I could. I make a point to always have a couple garbage bags with me just in case and I am glad I had them this time. Both of them. It took two trips to get him back to my vehicle.

Hunting is like taking the endless scenic route in life. It’s a beautiful journey and you never know what’s going to be around the next curve in the road.

”

I forgot to mention that my ol’ reliable hunting truck wouldn’t start when I made the trip from home northward to my hunting area. So, I had to take my brand-new Honda Pilot on this hunt. Needless to say it worked just fine for hauling this dream buck back home. What a way to break in a new hunting vehicle! A friend and I put a quick tape to him and we rough scored him between 175 and 180. The taxidermist also thought he would score in the high 170’s.

As I focused on the task at hand I took my eyes off his rack and got down to business. I drew. Holding now. Waiting. Just another second – maybe two. And then, as expected this buck came to a stop right in front of me. He was at 15 yards – broadside. Now.

Hunting is like taking the endless scenic route in life. It’s a beautiful journey and you never know what’s going to be around the next curve in the road, but you know it could be the most amazing memory you’ve ever made. And the best part is, the journey just keeps going, and going. I thank God for making the outdoors part of my life. He has blessed me with the ability to get out and do the things that I love. I pray that this continues for many, many years to come and for you as well.

I let the arrow fly and hit him right behind the shoulder. He gave a quick mule kick, came down

Application Deadline Reminders - Feb.-Mar. 2022 Save for your reference January 31, 2022 – Wyoming Application Deadline for Nonresident Elk Applications Nonresidents Only Draw Results will arrive in May. February 8, 2022 – Arizona Application Deadline for Resident and Nonresident Elk and Antelope Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Mid-March. February 10, 2022 – Oregon Application Deadline for Spring Black Bear Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Late February. February 10, 2022 – New Mexico Application Deadline for Black Bear Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Late February.

February 15, 2022 – Idaho Application Deadline for Spring Black Bear Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Late February. February 2022 – Utah Application Deadline for Black Bear Applications Deadline is typically in Late February. Official date not yet released. Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Early March. February 28, 2022 – Washington Application Deadline for Spring Black Bear Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available Mid-March. February 28, 2022 – Wyoming Application Deadline for Sheep, Moose, and Mountain Goat Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in May.

March 3, 2022 – Utah Application Deadline for Deer, Elk, and Once-In-ALifetime Applications Residents and Nonresidents Draw Results Available in Mid-May March 2022 – Utah Point Purchasing Deadline for All Species Typically, Deadline falls in Mid-March. Official date not yet released. Residents and Nonresidents March 2022 – Nevada Application Deadline for Guided Mule Deer Hunt Applications Residents and Nonresidents Official Deadline Date not yet released. Draw Results Available in Late March. March 2022 – New Mexico Application Deadline for Sheep, Elk, Deer, Antelope, and Exotics

NO BOUNDARIES Jan-FEB 2022

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Dog Days of Hunting Editor’s note: Jordan Nuss of RetopiaOutdoors.com is content contributor to No Boundaries. Retopia Outdoors is a Rolling Bones signature affiliate based in Iowa and Jordan is the agency advisor.

by Jordan Nuss

found myself in beautiful South Dakota on a recent August weekend, taking a long-awaited hunting trip with an old friend. I can’t tell you how much it meant to me to rekindle a friendship and have the tools to make both of our dream hunts come to life. We took the opportunity to explore some of the landscapes South Dakota offers. The badlands was at the top of that list. The exploration of that country was amazing and we even saw an array of wildlife while out and about. My friend and I could both agree that the West landscape of South Dakota is breathtaking. The morning we awoke to one of the most perfect hunting mornings anyone could ask for. High sun and little to no wind. The morning started with a briefing on things to watch out for and what to expect. We then packed the truck and followed the outfitter to the hunting location. We came up over a hill and for as far as we could see were prairie dog mounds. We looked at each other laughing knowing this is defiantly a hunt we will never forget and boy it was. We started out by setting up our shooting benches and just sat back watching dogs pop out all over. The morning started out a little rough. Coming from our home state of Iowa it was tough reading the ranges on the dogs compared to what we are used to. The smaller target was another challenging aspect, but once we started dialing in it was on! We shot a few from the benches but we thought we would try walking around and do more of a spot and stalk hunt. That was defiantly the ticket. We hunted that way for the rest of the day piling up dogs left and right and before we knew it we have been chasing them for a solid eight hours. We then packed up and made our track back home. The drive home was full of talking about the hunt we just went on, the misses, the two in one shot, and the number we got

in a row. We also talked about how the ones that passed on the hunt really missed out. It was one of the most fun hunts I have been on and was everything that Rolling Bones promised it would be. As I sit here today and reflect on that adventure, I think what an unbelievable opportunity I have been given to be able to do this as a “job”. I get to hunt/fish all over and help others do the same. Talking with them and turning there thought of “I have always wanted to but…” I am able to eliminate the “but” factor and turn it into “I get to go on the adventures I have always wanted to.” I do all the work for them, with their budget, and with the help of the Rolling Bones team I can get them exactly what they are looking for. So today I wanted to leave you with a quote from my friend and member. “A day of Prairie Dog hunting in White River, South Dakota. I wanted to make a quick trip out of state to do some hunting before Iowa’s archery and pheasant seasons opened. After not getting enough people to do a South Dakota pheasant hunt we decided on a prairie dog hunt and what an awesome time it was! Booking was easy and received an email from Rolling Bones with contact info to finalize some details and it was done! A 7-hour drive to what seemed to be the middle of nowhere South Dakota where I saw country I had never seen before and catching up with an old high school friend made the drive worth it. A quick night’s sleep and we were showed the prairie dog town we could shoot. We were given benches and were rundown about the rattlesnake rules which was a new experience for both of us. 8 hours of shooting later at what seemed to be endless prairie dogs we called it a day that was well spent! The process of booking was easy especially when you’re hunting partner on the trip is a Rolling Bones advisor! The trip was exactly as it was described on the sight! Worth the money and the drive without question! A happy hunter ” - Derek

Becoming a better hunter... Improve your still hunting: 10 Tips

From Legendary Whitetails

Is a hunter really hunting if they sit 15 feet in the air and wait to ambush a deer? Most of us would probably say yes to that. But if that’s the only kind of hunting a hunter does, their deer hunting skill-set might be very narrow, and they’re missing out on one of the most rewarding styles of hunting one could ever try. Among all deer hunting methods, the one most neglected is the old-fashioned art of still-hunting. You can count on one hand the books that have been written about it since the start of the 20th century. One of them is old enough to have been Teddy Roosevelt’s favorite. Published in 1904, it’s called The Still-Hunter, by Theodore S. Van Dyke (1842-1923), a close associate of the great hunter-President. In light of Van Dyke’s volume numbering more than 400 pages, it’s fair to say you can’t learn to still-hunt from a brief newspaper article. You won’t be an expert at the end of this list either, but hopefully you’ll be encouraged to get out and try it. 1. Still-hunting is like learning to walk again. When you’re still-hunting you probably won’t do face-plants like you did when you were a toddler, but whenever you bump a deer you’ll feel like you have. Get back to taking baby steps. Abandon your normal gait—the way you’ve walked for 20, 30 or 40 years. Sometimes you’ll lift your foot and put it down almost in the same track. Learn to move through the woods like ooze. 2. Choose opportune times. Hugely important. Certain times lend themselves to still-hunting more than others. If it’s afternoon, expect to see deer preoccupied as they move to feeding areas. If a mild drizzle is soaking the forest floor, get excited because the woods will be very quiet. If it’s snowing lightly, get very excited. The woods will be quiet, and in the snow your fluorescent orange isn’t as noticeable to deer as it is in brown woods. 3. You need to focus. In a treestand, maybe you can afford to daydream because when a deer enters your field of view he is unlikely to notice you. In still-hunting, you must be much more alert. Imagine yourself entering a deer’s field of view with every step you take. That’s exactly backwards from what happens when you’re in a treestand taking no steps at all. You also need to be very aware of yourself, how you’re holding your rifle or bow, how your clothing fits, even what you touch. Don’t be distracted by more gear than you need—distractions rob you of focus. 4. Realize that deer may be moving, too. Deer will often move into your field of view, so continually scan the entire perimeter of the area visible to you. When you’re doing it right, you’ll spend more time being still than moving. Maybe that’s why they call it “still-hunting.” 5. Stop often. When you’re moving through the woods, stop often for a minute or two where visibility is good. Do not expect to use a tree for a shooting rest. No tree will be in the right position for a shot in any possible direction, and

making that your intention will risk too much motion. Learn to use a shooting stick that you can quickly and quietly employ from a standing position. And remember that deer activity often picks up at edges of various sorts, such as field edges, rights-of-way, or habitat transitions. Stop there, clear a place on the ground, and watch for 15 to 20 minutes before moving on. 6. Know what to do about the sounds you make. You will inevitably make sounds. You’ll step on a stick, your foot will suck muck, you’ll brush up against a tree limb, and you’ll cough or sneeze. When you make a noise, stop immediately. You may have caught the attention of a deer. Take a few minutes to scan 360-degrees around you. Look for parts of a deer—a leg, an eye, the twitch of an ear, the horizontal line of a deer’s back. Never let your footsteps fall into a cadence. Natural sounds in the woods are random. When your sounds or motions fall into a pattern, you will alert more deer. 7. Use your ears. If a squirrel begins to chatter or a blue jay screams, they’re probably reacting to a disturbance—very likely it’s you. Stand still until everything settles down or the critter moves away. You don’t need animals warning of your presence. 8. Keep your eyes up. While you’re moving is not the time to be looking at the ground. Decide while you’re standing still where your next two or three steps will land. The less time you spend looking at the ground, the more likely you’ll see a deer before he sees you. 9. Use topography to your advantage. If you’re near a streambed, use the sounds of the water to cover your sounds. If you’re on a bench, don’t skyline yourself along its edge. Rather, move in a zig-zag pattern and peek over the edge periodically. When you slowly approach the edge, use trees to block a view from below. You’ll be surprised how often you spot bedded deer. 10. Keep the wind in your face. This must be your first priority, but it’s way easier said than done. The good thing is that the wind doesn’t have to be hitting you head on. It can be as much as 90 degrees from your left or right, but if you can’t feel it on your face, deer will smell you and you’ve lost the game. There is no substitute for practice. It’s no wonder still-hunting is still neglected more than a hundred years later. But if you make an effort to learn how to still-hunt, this “most important branch of the whole art of hunting,” you’ll join a fraternity of some mighty good hunters.

NO BOUNDARIES Jan - Feb 2022

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Shooting Straight

Decisions, Decisions By

Brian Mehmen Co-Founder Rolling Bones Outdoors

Over the years I have been blessed to

hunt throughout the North American continent and even below the equator in Argentina. I have chased waterfowl, upland game birds, doves and numerous big game species. But no matter the hunt, whether it’s Stone Sheep in British Columbia or Pronghorn in South Dakota, I still ask the same question when considering what to hunt next... ...will I succeed?

preparing for success. Don’t feel bad. We all start with lots of questions, even the most experienced among us. We are blessed to live in a day and age where there are so many choices when it comes to hunting. Our own RBO Adventure catalog has hundreds of choices. And right now, many - if not most of us- are beginning to plan our next adventures. And deciding where to go and what to hunt means asking yourself some important questions: Will I find the game I’m looking for? Will they be in the numbers that I am expecting? Will there be surprise expenses I wasn’t planning on? Trying Something New Isn’t Always Natural Often times we just default to what we’ve done before. It’s easier that way and we don’t have to think about the unknowns. I certainly get that. In fact, I almost always order the same thing at my favorite restaurant instead of trying something new. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all. But there will probably come a time when you’re ready to take a step into the unknown and try something new. And for that, I have some advice to make your decisions a bit more solid and perhaps take some of the mystery out of trying a new hunting adventure.

Use the List Here is what I look at next. What lines up? I know moose is probably out with this budget for this year and the amount of time I have off is most likely not adequate for a moose hunt. Moose might have to wait till next year. Perhaps it fits with your second or third budget figure and you can begin planning now. But for this year, with moose out, I then move on to what’s left. In the above example big game is still on the table and a pheasant hunt is still there too. So how do I decide? Is there a hunt that has always interested me? Maybe I’ve never taken a mule deer and I really want to get one. Then that’s where I would focus. If you are a Rolling Bones member, the next step would be to call your hunting concierge representative to answer your questions. I normally don’t solicit our services in these blogs but, having a concierge rep really helps here. If you’re not a member, then there is always Google. Research what’s out there for mule deer. Use a checklist with these questions: What outfitter has a deer hunt that will fit your budget? Can you do it DIY? If so, where do I have my best odds? Where is the highest concentration of the quality of deer I would like to hunt? Once I have all this research then I put the plan in place. Start the Plan- When Lets say I come up with mule deer as this year’s hunt. Then I buckle down and start my planning. First thing is to choose my dates. Big game almost always provides the most flexibility due a longer season. So October would be the timeframe for this hunt. Remember days in the field always increase your odds of success and the later you push your hunt the worse the weather can be. This is especially true on western hunts, which means possible loss of hunting days.

Make A List The first thing I do is make a list of the species I’d like to hunt. Don’t hold back. Thing big and bold. But also include species that you’ve hunted before and know a lot about. Deer, Goose, Pheasant, Elk, Black Bear, Desert Sheep, Antelope etc.. Budget The second thing I do is make a budget. Sometimes it’s helpful to write down three dollar amounts. The first, the amount that you know you can afford, the second would be an amount above that where you’d have to save up a bit to afford. And the third would be a stretch goal. For example, take your second figure and double it. This might be a hunt you’d save up for over a 12-18 month period. Time The third thing I do is write down how much time I have in my schedule. This could be anything from an afternoon, to an upcoming 3-day weekend, or perhaps a 10-day vacation that you’ve got coming. Consider what is most realistic given your situation. Plan With Your Family I put all these thoughts on a single sheet of paper and then start planning with my family. This is very important and might be the hardest part. If you’re like me, you’d enjoy hunting practically anytime, anywhere. But truth is, we have to honor things that are more important than ourselves. For example, I have a freshman in high school and a freshman in college. My wife and I have a business outside of Rolling Bones that is also a huge part of our lives and takes full time attention (however- even with all this she still says go hunt!). So, when I write it down, here’s about what it looks like. Species Budget Time Off Elk $3,500 5 Days in September Mule Deer $2,300 6 Days in October Pheasants 500 3 Days in October Moose etc. etc.

Gather Your Gear and Prepare After my dates are scheduled I get a quality gear list and put the things I need in my pack. For some suggestions, see an earlier blog we did on this subject. Once I have an idea of my gear list, I then head for the practice range and start shooting. I want to be prepared out to 400 yards. If I have never come out west and I want to get ready but don’t have a range that I can shoot out to 400 yards you can shoot smaller targets at a lesser distance and it will deliver almost the same results. I might have a five-inch picture of a deer at 100 yards and hold my cross hairs on the vitals. I’ll practice shooting from different positions and always have my zoom at random settings. This allows me to practice adjusting my scope, acquiring the target, picking a small spot and squeezing the trigger. Next I physically start preparing for my hunt. Mule deer hunting for the most part, unless your doing a high mountain hunt, requires you to walk 3 to 5 miles a day. You’ll move up and down in various terrain with a 25-pound pack on your back. Finally I study my targeted species. Translation: I read as much as I can on the target animal, its environment, the area in which I will be hunting and I watch all the video I can and review. These are a few things that I hope will help. We’re Here to Help As always we are here to help if you ever have any questions. I grew up in Iowa moved out west from Wisconsin. I may have been just like you with all these questions that kept me from getting out west to hunt. Then one day I jumped in blind and made all the mistakes one guy could make. It is our goal to take the mystery out of hunting different species in different states and deliver the dream hunt you’ve always had in the back of your mind.

NO BOUNDARIES SEC. B

Jan | FEB | 2022

ADVENTURES

PAGES 2-4

Alaska Kotzebue “Arctic” Grizzly Hunt

GEAR NEW PRODUCTS

PAGeS 5-7

RBO ADVENTURES

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Discover just who is...

KING OF THE MOUNTAIN

Scan the QR Code to go directly to our extensive and in-depth online Adventure Catalog.

ALASKA KOTZEBUE GRIZZLY HUNT Adventure and challenge rolled into one

Hunts are conducted in the Kotzebue area are for “Arctic” grizzly. These hunts are conducted north of the Arctic Circle in the fall season. The bear in this region have a wide color

variation, with light blonde being the predominant color. Bear in this area typically range from 7’ to a little over 9’2”. These are spot and stalk, fair chase hunts. Days will be spent glassing mountain sides for bear feeding on blueberries, roaming the tundra, feeding on a recent moose or caribou carcass, or feeding on late run salmon in rivers. This is a great hunt to “combo” with for Caribou! Fall hunts are spent primarily glassing mountain slopes for bear feeding on berries, or working small streams as the bear feed on salmon. Tags for this hunt are available “over the counter.” With the British Columbia Grizzly Bear Hunting being closed, this is a perfect opportunity for Hunters looking to get in on some amazing hunting to jump on board and get out there hunting in either of our Grizzly areas. In the 2018 Season, the largest Grizzly to come out was greeen scored at 27 12/16” - which will definitely be one of the top Grizzly Bears of all time! Our Grizzly Hunts are offered in two different Hunt areas - one is open and the other is held within an Exclusive Federal Preserve Concession area. The Open area can be combined with a Caribou hunt while our Exclusive Right area only hold 12 permits and is limited to space availability. With British Columbia Grizzly Bear Hunting being closed, our EXCLUSIVE Federal Preserve Concession is a GREAT way to get out and hunt one of our Grizzlies who stand side to side with any Grizzly in the world! Mobile spike camps consist of 6-man dome tents. There will be 2 clients per tent with outfitter provided cots. Hunter will need to bring sleeping bags. Menu & Food: Backpack Food Outfitter will provide a mix of freeze dried backpacking food and some fresh foods. Snacks in the form of salami, granola bars, and trail mix will also be served. Physical Conditions: Moderate Hiking - Hunter should be prepared for moderate hiking on this hunt. On average 2-4 miles a day will be required. Terrain is often uneven and hard to navigate.

Hunt Catalog: RB19118-02 Average Classification: 7’-9’ Shot Opportunity: 90% Weapon: Rifle, Archery Tag Availability: Over the Counter RBO Members: $18,500 (Save $2,100)

wyoming backcountry horseback mule deer Hunt Catalog: RB17577-02 Average Classification: 140 - 170 Shot Opportunity: 85% Weapon: Rifle Tag Availability: Draw Available Dates: Thru Nov. 3, 2023 RBO Member Price: $5,000 (Save $900)

his is a great adventure to hunt the iconic Wyoming mule deer off of horseback! This is a 2:1 fully guided 5-day hunt. This hunt will be based out of a motel in town near Cody, Wyoming. Hunter will eat breakfast early in the morning at the motel and plan to be out hunting by daylight. The hunting is done on horseback along with some hiking. Hunter will hunt along the base of the mountains and the large creek drainages and canyons running back in the mountains. This is the winter range for deer. The deer you will be hunting are the heavy horned mountain bucks. Anyone who puts out an effort and turns down the smaller bucks will go home with a buck from 24 inches wide into the low 30’s class. Most of them have at least 4 points on each side. This hunt requires the hunter to draw their tag. 2 points are needed to draw in the regular draw. In the special draw you will draw 100% with no points. Lodging: Outfitter will supply a motel for the hunt. There will be 2 hunters in each room. Menu and food: Catered meals will be served. Cook will be hired prepare home-cooked meals. Outfitter will use horseback for primary mode of transportation, but depending on the amount of snow, hunter should be prepared for 1-2 miles of hiking. More physically fit will provide better shot opportunity. Hunter should be prepared jfor 300-yard shots.

www.RollingBones.com

(605) 644-8000

info@rollingbonesoutfitters.com

RBO NO BOUNDARIES JAN - FEB 2022

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Aventure on the fly

SLOUGH CREEK FLY FISHING PACK TRIP

Hunt Catalog: RB6683-01 Average Classification: Trout 14” - 18” Success Opportunity: 90% Weapon: Fly rod / Dry flies Tag Availability: Over the Counter RBO Members: $1,980 (Save $220) • • •

Available dates: through August 5, 2023 Private Party groups can be arranged National Park Entrance Fee: roughly $35 Nonresident 10 day fishing license roughly $73.50 (License, AIS prevention pass, and conservation stamp) Nonresident Youth under 12 - Free Nonresident Youth 12-15: roughly $66

eady for a four-day fly fishing adventure through beautiful Yellowstone National Park? This pack trip is the perfect adventure for both avid and recreational fisherman alike. Enjoy a fully catered and fully guided trip through some of the park’s most sought after dry-fly fishing areas. Native Cutthroat averaging 14-18 inches can be expected. Maximum people allowed on trip is 8, with option to have a private pack trip for additional cost. Some riding experience preferred, must weigh 250 or less to ride. Personal equipment welcomed, and available for rent as well. Option to additional days. Day one will include a ride into camp, followed by an early supper and an evening full of top notch fly fishing for native cutthroat. Days 2-3 will be an adventure through the high country, seeking after quality fishing locations with a sack lunch, followed by a return to camp and beautiful dinner around the fire at camp. Day 4 will consist of a delicious breakfast followed by a morning of fishing, and then a ride back to the trailhead. All meals are homemade, and all non-alcoholic drinks are provided.

RBO Members: Hunt Layaway Play

PICK A HUNT | PICK A DATE | PICK A PAYMENT • Down payment required • Contact us for details (605) 644-8000

Saskatchewan spring black bear

Alberta Whitetail HUNT

Hunt Catalog: RB16314-01 Average Classification: 5 - 7 Shot Opportunity: 95% Weapon: Rifle, Archery, Shotgun, Cross Bos, Muzzleloader Tag Availability: Over the Counter Available Dates: Thru June 13, 2023 RBO Member Price: $4,250 (Save $550)

Hunt Catalog: RB15751-01 Average Classification: 150 - 155 Shot Opportunity: 90% Weapon: Rifle, Archery Tag Availability: Landowner Voucher Available Dates: Thru Nov. 30, 2023 RBO Member Price: $5,250 (Save $2,250)

Saskatchewan is home to monster black bears! Bears over 600 pounds are not the norm but aren’t uncommon. The area in which this outfitter operates boasts a high ratio of off color bears ranging from blonde to chocolate. These hunts are conducted from tree stands overtop of feeding stations. ATV’s are used as the principal means of transporting hunters to their stands. Hunter may choose to hunt from ground blinds and outfitter is pleased to provide them as well. Outfitter can also accommodate archery hunters. The bear hunts take place in May and the first part of June each year. These hunts will be afternoon hunts. Breakfast provided in the morning and evening. Hunter will get into the stands around 2 in the afternoon and sit until dark. This is a 5 day hunt. This lodge has 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, log beds and furniture throughout, WI-FI and everything you need to make your stay a pleasurable one.

A great opportunity to hunt big bodied Alberta whitetail! This hunt can be arranged during archery or rifle season. Archery season runs September 1-October 31. Rifle season operates through the month of November. This is a 7-day hunt. All hunting will be operated out of a hunting stand, tree stand, or ground blind. Little to no spot and stalk, but possibility, if conditions are right. Outfitter will provide all stands and will mobilize the hunter as he checks game cameras and sees movement. This hunt will be on a mixture between Forest Service and 10,000 acres of private land. Habitat is primarily big timber, edge cuts, and farm fields. Hunter will stay in a clean and comfortable lodge with WIFI and cell service. All meals will be provided. *PRICE IS FOR AN ARCHERY HUNT. There is a trophy fee if a buck is taken during the archery hunt. Trophy fee is $2000.00. Rifle rut hunt is an additional $1500.00.

@rollingbonesoutfitters

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rollingbonesoutfitters

RBO NO BOUNDARIES Jan - FEB 2022

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Nebraska / Wyoming Goose Hunt

Hunt Catalog: RB18787-01 Average Classification: 1 - 12 Shot Opportunity: 95% Weapon: Shotgun Tag Availability: Over the Counter Available Dates: Through Feb. 11, 2024 RBO Member Price: $1,100 (Save $200)

great hunt in Wyoming or Nebraska for waterfowl hunters! This is a fully guided 3 day hunt on the border of Nebraska and Wyoming with lots of birds and high success. Hunters will have expert guide service and access to several hundred acres of leased private land. Canada geese are plentiful and duck species targeted are mallards, widgeon, and an occasional pintail or wood duck. Hunts will set up in agricultural fields, and rivers and ponds. This outfitter has several leases in a 60 miles radius between Wyoming and Nebraska. Outfitter will provide custom pit blinds with heaters so comfort is provided. Outfitter has world class dogs that will retrieve birds. This is a bucket list hunt for anyone who loves to shoot and fill their limits on waterfowl! These are hunts are client provided lodging. There are plenty of hotel options in the area. Hunter may choose to stay at the lodge for an additional fee. This hunt will be client provided meals. If staying the lodge, there will be a full kitchen available with a grill. Hunter will need to bring their own groceries to cook. No hiking required for this hunt. Outfitter will drop a pin on where hunters can meet in the morning.

Argentina dove hunt

Hunt Catalog: RB18687-01 Average Classification: 1 - 1000 Shot Opportunity: 99% Weapon: Shotgun Tag Availability: Over the Counter Available Dates: Now - Dec. 31, 2023 RBO Member Price: $2,310 (Save $290)

órdoba is considered the dove shooting capital of the world. The 100 square mile radius (60 km) around the lodge is annually inhabited by more than 30 million doves. The lodge has around 25 shooting ﬁelds which are at a short drive through the region’s rich farmland. The overwhelming amount of birds flying restlessly all day long ensures great opportunities for non-stop shooting suitable for all skill levels. Beginners have an unparalleled chance for improving their shooting skills aiming at low flying doves, while more experienced shooters find higher and faster targets quite a challenge. An average hunter may expect to shoot between 2 to 4 cases a day, and there is No Bag Limit! In the ﬁeld you will be assigned a bird-boy who will provide you with shot shells and refreshments, direct you to your shooting blind and help you load your gun. They are equipped with radios for easy fast communication and can solve problems rapidly. You will be constantly visited by your field guide who will assist you with any need, even give you some tips on shooting if required. Wake up call is generally around 7:30am, and the shooting begins after a hearty breakfast. You will shoot until noon when you will be treated to an incredible lunch at the lodge, tasting some of Argentina’s wonderful beef and superb wines. Afternoon shoot begins at around 2:30 and continues until almost dark. With the shooting fields at walking distance from the lodge, dove shooting will never be the same. You will shoot more and travel less. Hunter will stay in a beautiful 5-star Lodge with modern amenities. Hunter will be served 5-star catered meals. All alcoholic beverages are included on this hunt.

TEXAS FREE RANGE TROPHY ELK Hunt Catalog: RB4716-08 Average Classification: 320 - 340 Shot Opportunity: 95% Weapon: Rifle, Archery Tag Availability: Over the Counter Available Dates: Now - Nov. 15, 2023 RBO Member Price: $12,500 (Tags-licenses not incl.)

his is for a free range 1:1 fully guided 4 day hunt. This hunt allows access on 4 different ranches encompassing 50,000 acres. These ranches have a high density of big bulls and are considered an exotic species in Texas so there is no season. Outfitter prefers to book during the rut in the early months of fall. This hunt requires a 5 day hunting license not included in the price of the hunt. Hunter will stay in a nice lodge with meals provided. This hunt requires moderate hiking with 3-4 miles of hiking a day in often hot and dry conditions. Outfitter will supply use of ATVs and Side x Sides for field transportation when possible. Price shown is for a bull up to 350” Boone & Crockett. Largest bull taken on the ranch was 407” in 2019. Bulls larger than 350” will be an additional trophy fee. Average rifle shot is 300 yards, average archery shot is 50 yards. Hunter will be staying in a nice and clean ranch house for this hunt. Bunk-style rooms. Private rooms are available for an additional cost. Hot and home-cooked meals are provided. Homestyle cooking featuring meat and potatoes type fare. Hunter will fly into Midland, Texas. Hunter can either rent a car and drive to the ranch, or Outfitter will pick up/drop off for an additional cost. Options to add a cow elk to the hunt. Options to add an aoudad to the hunt.

www.RollingBones.com

(605) 644-8000

info@rollingbonesoutfitters.com

RBO NO BOUNDARIES Jan - Feb 2022

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AR Open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week

ROLLING BONES OUTDOORS ONLINE PRODUCT CATALOG RollingBones.com/Gear

INTRODUCING We in the Rolling Bones Outdoors product department continue to explore and research companies that can add positive results to your outdoor experience. We are proud to announce two new relationships. Peak Refuel, whom we believe is one of the highest quality camp meals available today. And Fjallraven, who our founder has used for years. They are one of the

leading outdoor gear companies in the market today. As always, we look forward to delivering you quality products that will make your next adventure the best one yet! Happy Trails,

Lynley Mehmen

PEAK REFUEL BASECAMP 2.0

FJALLRAVEN KEB TROUSERS

Includes: 1- Five-gallon bucket with hinged lid 2- Beef Pasta Marinara 2- Breakfast Skillet 2- Chicken Alfredo Pasta 2- Homestyle Chicken & Rice 2- Beef Stroganoff 2- Strawberry Granola

Award-winning trekking trousers in stretch fabric, now updated for even better performance, fit and durability. We have also added an attachment zone for suspenders.

MSRP: $150 | RBO Members: $139

MSRP: $225 | RBO Members: $219

ALPS BINO HARNESS X

The Bino Harness X is the perfect companion for your optics. Designed to keep the pocket close to your chest and reduce the amount of movement you’ll feel in your optics.

ALPS Upland Game Vest XXL

The Upland Game Vest X is the perfect accessory for upland game hunting. The shoulder straps are ultra thin for maximum shooting comfort, and two front shell pockets hold an entire box of shells each.

Field Optics Micro Light-ULP

The Sheep hunter, backpackers dream tripod system. Light, packable and durable enough for any situation. Extremely light carbon fiber tripod with the smallest and strongest compact pan head.

NEW FOR 2022!

LEARN MORE • • • •

Dimensions: 6.5” H x 5.5” W x 2.25” D Weight: 11 oz. Fabric: Coyote Brown, VeilTM Cervidae or VeilTM Wideland Comes in two sizes

MSRP $55 | RBO Member price $52

@rollingbonesoutfitters

• • • • •

Weight: 2 lbs. 9 oz. Waistbelt range: 36” – 60” X-Large Weight: 2 lbs. 12 oz. Waistbelt range: 40” – 65”

MSRP: $160 | RBO Members: $151

youtube.com/rollingbonesoutfitters

• • • • •

51.9” tall 2.6 lbs. System Folded length 12.2” 26 lb. load capacity 23mm leg tube

MSRP: $319 | RBO Members: $289

rollingbonesoutfitters

RBO NO BOUNDARIES JAN-FEB 2022

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LEUPOLD BX-5 SANTIAM 12x50MM 10x is the sweet spot. Enough field of view for tight areas while providing enough magnification for wide-open spaces.

KENETREK 13” NORTHERN Three layers of Thinsulate, removable liner with 3mm wool felt, and our rubber bottom with more Thinsulate. Keeps you warm!

KENETREK 13” COWBOY We built these boots with three things in mind; safety, functionality, and comfort. IN STOCK TODAY

MSRP: $1,200 | RBO Members: $1,095

MSRP: $340 | RBO Members: $323

MSRP: $330 | RBO Members: $313

BIG FRIG badlands cooler 20 Qt. Capacity • • • • • •

Available in sand, white, desert camo, and red/white. Sand is shown.

Holds 20 lbs. Ice Cutting Board Divider And Basket 5+ Days Cold 20 qt Capacity Integrated Ruler 5 Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty

Specifications Exterior - L: 19.5” x W: 13” x H: 14.25” Interior: - L: 14.25” x W: 9.75” x H: 7.5” Weight: - 19.2 lbs MSRP: $200 | RBO Members $185 Are you ready to reel in that next big catch? The Badlands 20 qt Cooler is the go-to for weekend adventures. Whether it’s your next fishing trip or an overnight getaway in the wilderness, the Badlands 20 qt cooler is the ultimate outdoors companion. The Badlands 20 qt Cooler offers the same great features included in the larger Badlands Series Coolers in a sleek and portable package. This Cooler is loaded with an integrated fishing ruler, stainless steel lock plates, integrated bottle openers, as well a the cutting board divider and dry basket.

NEW!!

Convert your favorite rifle into a long-range precision firearm.

Dial & Dump System

RBO pERSONAL RIFLE- DIAL & DUMP CUSTOMIZATION PACKAGE

Rifle Catalog #: RBRBPCUST-01 Special member price: $650 | Non-member $800 This is your opportunity to take your favorite rifle and turn it into an extended range hunting system. How it works- you send us your rifle with your current mounts and two boxes of ammo (that you hunt with). We will take your rifle and go to work! This will include us mounting and leveling your scope, installation of a scope level, collecting your data, creating a turret with bullet drop compensation to match your bullets, sighting it in for zero. We also have to install a cheek piece on your rifle to aid you in the proper cheek weld. We then box your rifle system and return it to your FFL of choice and you’re ready to go range, dial and dump on your next adventure.

OPTIONS TO UPGRADE YOUR SCOPE WITH LEUPOLD OPTICS VX6HD From $2,199.00 VX5HD From $1,199

KINGS XKG DOWN TRANSITION JACKET Built with 800 fill waterproof down, this jacket has the best warmth to weight ratio of anything in the XKG lineup. This jacket easily fits over any mid-layer piece and can be worn under any of our shell pieces for when conditions are at their toughest. Traditional down has its shortcomings when it gets wet – it loses all its lofting and insulating power and takes forever to dry. That’s why we’ve chosen a new waterproof treated down technology to overcome these faults and deliver a jacket that pushes the expectation of packable down. Available in Charcoal / Dark Olive & Olive Sizing Small to 3XL MSRP $330 | RBO Members $296

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Cheek Piece We do the work to calibrate your rifle to your ammo with our shooting system. This customization system has been proven at Rolling Bones Outdoors with nearly a half-century of extended range shooting and hunting experience. Our goal is to provide and deliver you a better down range experience.

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RBO NO BOUNDARIES JAN - FEB 2022

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FJALLRAVEN KEB JACKET

PEAK REFUEL SWEET PORK & RICE

When it’s time to settle in by the fire, savor it sweeter with Peak Refuel’s Sweet Pork and Rice. With a kick of chili peppers, dive into this medley of tender pulled pork, A long-time favorite on rocks, snow and all kinds of terrain, the award-winning Keb Jacket is white rice, black beans, veggies, and a now updated for even better performance - now with a refined fit, better durability and new dash of cilantro and spices. Oh, and did we details that are easier to repair. Made in durable G-1000 Eco and stretch fabric. mention our pork is made of, well, pork? MSRP: $13 | RBO Members: $11 MSRP: $290 | RBO Members: $290

Open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week

ROLLING BONES OUTDOORS ONLINE PRODUCT CATALOG https://rads.rollingbonesoutfitters.com/products/

Rolling Bones Shooting courses

Shooting Academy I

Level 1 Corporate

Shooting Academy II

Level 2 Corporate

Spend a weekend with the Rolling Bones Crew and use fundamental shooting skills for the rest of your lives! Our mission is to provide you with the knowledge, confidence, and motivation to dramatically improve your marksmanship.

As a corporate event, we will customize your gear with a provided logo. This course goes on rain or shine so bring clothing appropriate for any range of conditions we might encounter. The course will be held in the classroom and on the field at an extended range shooting facility.

This weekend is ideal for anyone looking to take their shooting to the next level. We pack this weekend full of information, adventure, and fun! If you are trying to get your shooting to the next level or just looking to prepare for that hunt of a lifetime, this is for you.

Learn proper firearm safety techniques, ballistics, MOA, and how to compensate for the variables of atmospherics, terrain and wind. Included is RBO Precision Shooting Course Manual, and range time with an experienced instructor with a low pupil student ratio.

Shooting Course | South Dakota $1,250 | Member Price: $1,000

Shooting Course | Utah $12,500 | Member Price: $10,000

Shooting Course | Montana $2,150 | Member Price: $1,850

Shooting Course | South Dakota $12,500 | Member Price: $10,000

Rolling Bones MEMBERSHIPS

Gain access to our ever growing adventure catalog, exclusive membership discounts on gear, personalized hunt plans, and our application service.

SILVER

GOLD

Platinum

The Silver Membership gives you a taste of how great our memberships really are. Are you looking to hunt just one state? Do you want great discounts on amazing gear? The Silver Membership is a great way to experience some of the great benefits Rolling Bones Outdoors has to offer.

The Gold Membership takes your hunting experience to the next level with a personal Adventure Specialist, hunting dashboard, and unlimited hunting plans.

Experience the ultimate curated hunting experience with our Platinum Membership. Benefit from unlimited hunt plans with best matches, unlimited state applications, guaranteed application completion, and so much more.

• One state application service (unlimited species within state) • Bi-weekly Outdoor-Insights newsletter • Bi-monthly No Boundaries broadsheet • Unlimited hunt plans • Membership discounts on hunts, products, rifles, & courses • Unlimited direct concierge service

• All benefits from Silver Membership plus • Personal Adventure Specialist Support • RBO magazine subscription with print & digital issues • Personalized hunting dashboard • Customized application dates & deadlines reminder service • Unlimited state & species application service for entire family • Unlimited concierge support • Unlimited hunt plans identifying best matches for your vetted adventures

• All benefits from Silver and Gold plus • Direct access to expert Platinum level concierge through Platinum dashboard • Current state/species analysis plan • State draw application guaranteed completion date • Accumulate points for platinum level loyalty hunt program

$50.00 / YEAR

$150.00 / YEAR

$500.00 / YEAR

BECOME A SILVER MEMBER

BECOME A GOLD MEMBER

BECOME A PLATINUM MEMBER

www.RollingBones.com

(605) 644-8000

info@rollingbonesoutfitters.com

Rolling Bones OUTDOORS 810 N. Main Street #304 Spearfish, SD 57783

Photos by: Kelli Poole / RBO Executive Director of Applications and Adventures

Standard Mail

US POSTAGE PAID Rapid City, SD Permit 202

PARTING SHOTS