Rolling Bones No Boundaries Sept-Oct 2022

Let the games begin!

Photo by Kelli Poole

CAVEBONETHEFROM

headquartersOutdoorsBonesRollingathappeningwhat’saboutNews

Fall is Here

Hope everyone is enjoying the cooler evenings and the beginning of this 2022 fall season. The antelope are wrapping up their rut and the elk are well into theirs. To me nothing says fall like screaming bulls, aspens changing colors in the high coun try, and those first frosts. Early in this season we have received amazing feedback from our hunters and adventure seekers. Ram’s harvested, bucks on the board, and bulls and the ground with lots of smiles - this is always the kickoff to hunting season we hope to see.

Remember to check your RBO membership dashboard as we are always updating it with last minute hunt specials and cancellations. Just go the website, RollingBones.com, click on Member Dashboard, log in, and then look in the box labeled Adventure Specials. To see them all, click on the red letters “View All” in the top right of the box.

This year has been no different than many others. Some amazing deals have come up. Sometimes the outfitters we work with have additional inventory and create incentives to fill those spots. They pass those incentives on to us, and we immediately post them on your dashboard for your consideration. Often we will send out email bulletins.

At other times an outfitter will have a cancellation hunt. These are exceptional opportunities. What happens is this. A hunter will book a hunt and pay half of the hunt cost up front as a non-refundable deposit. Then life happens and for whatever reason that hunter is no longer able to make that hunt. Instead of letting the opportunity go un-used, the outfitter will make that hunt available to the RBO membership and if you are able to pay the other half of the cost, and hunt on that date, then that adventure can be yours for half price! So, if you’re an adventure seeker who has some flexibility to your schedule this is the prime time of the year for you to capitalize on cancellation hunt opportunities.

I also want to give you a little tip or suggestion that has served me well in the 40 years that I’ve been hunting. Journal, journal, journal! Whether it is on your phone or in a dedicated field journal, take notes. This practice has helped me personally create my ongoing application strategy, build my next hunt plan, and create a clear focus on organizing my

Writingadventures.stuff

down is easier for some of us than it is for others. But remember, you’re not writing a novel, you’re mak ing notes. And if it is more convenient for you to dictate those notes into your phone using a notes app, do that. What you include is a personal preference but here are a few suggestions on what to include in your hunting journal:

• The date / Time of day (or duration of your hunt day)

• Number in your hunting party Routes in and out

• Weapon(s) used during the hunt

• Weather conditions such as temperature, cloud cover, wind direction and speed, and precipitation

• AnimalLocationsactivity and areas of activity (include rutting)

• Sounds and other wildlife activity

• Hunting pressure

• What you did right and what you did wrong

• Anything else that stands out

This is just a starting list, and it may be more than you need. The point is, when ever we hunt (or fish), we should always strive to be better, to improve. Nothing will help you move forward in a positive way than knowing where you’ve

When I get through the season, I can re-read the data and remind myself of the many ideas and thoughts I had written down – most of them I would have forgotten. But by recording them in my journal they come flying back and I feel I can make better decisions for the upcoming

In closing remember this as well - we have so many amazingly affordable big adventures that are overlooked each year. There are many places in the world to hunt that you may have thought were out of reach because they sounded too exotic or too far-fetched. But I would encourage you to take look at a few of these hunts, and, if nothing else, dream a bit. You’d be surprised that sometimes those dream hunts are closer to becoming real than you may have thought. Such as Alaska kodiak black tail deer, Spanish ibex, or Argentina Red Stag. These are just a few that always come to mind when people say they want a big adventure without breaking the bank! I guess what i am saying is let us HELP!! Our Hunter Expedition Layaway Plan (HELP) allows you to put in a down payment and then pay a smalla mount over several months until it’s time to hit the adventure trail.

We are built to “match the hunter to the hunt” or the “adventure seeker to the ad venture.” Give us a call or send us an email and let us help build your next adventure

Brian Mehmen

Founder - Rolling Bones Outdoors

For years you’ve heard us refer to our headquarters as the “Bone Cave” - wall-to-wall mounts each with a story behind it. Now, we’re inviting you to submit your photos for our Virtual Bone Cave. Provide us your name, species, location of kill, weapon, and other stats and we’ll include them in our publications. Then, each year we’ll select a few and frame them for our inhouse Hall of Fame and award prizes. submissions!

Sophie Peterson, our Ex. Dir. of Applications, a regular contributer to No Boundaries, has been published in Western Hunter. Her article, titled “The Originals,” about hunting with her dad, is in the July/August 2022 issue on pages“Back38-41.inMarch I was contacted by Western Hunter,” she said. “They want ed to publish a story of mine I sent for submission! The months felt like ages but magazines have hit the stands!” Hunter

A shout out to RBO member/ advi sor Larry Harlan. New Mexico archery antelope season started on August 4th and it didn’t take Larry long to harvest a very nice representative buck!

“I’m not good at sitting for long periods, so this was a spot and stalk, more like crawl and bawl!” Larry said.

“Was finally able to get in range of this buck and make a good first shot, with a better follow up shot.”

Good luck for elk season Larry.

plan!!BeSafe, Stay Healthy, and Happy Hunting,

Did you know?

The Chinese Ringnecked Pheasant, known for its colorful plumage and outstanding taste, was released in the United States in Oregon in 1881.

Because of their thick, insulating fur and immense size, moose must live in cold climates. In North America, moose are found in the northern parts of the U.S. from New England, through the northern Great Lakes and the Rocky Mountains. They also live throughout Alaska and Canada.

Female white-tailed deer don’t have antlers, but males begin growing them at just a few months old. Made of a combination of bone and kera tin (the same material that makes up human hair and fingernails), antlers are used to attract females and to spar against other males to assert dominance.

Unlike many other deer species, elk actually live longer in the wild than in captivity, lasting an average of 26.8 years in the wild and 24.7 years in captivity.

kept hidden for the first several days of their lives. After giving birth, female elk find a camouflaged area in thick brush or tall grass to hide their babies, who lay motionless until they are about 16 days old. Calves are also born with almost no scent to avoid attracting predators and have white spots that help camou flage them, breaking up their outline and mimicking spots of light.

Elk are the loudest members of the deer family. Male elk use their high-pitched roar, called bugling, to attract mates during their mating seasons. This loud bellowing sound is also used to ad vertise territories in the wintertime, and has a fundamental frequency of 2 kilohertz and higher (as a point of reference, a human child averages 0.3 kilohertz). Compared to its size, there is no vocal animal with the same abilities.

ElkAlzheimer’s. newbornsare

Estimates place the population of white-tailed deer in the United States at more than 11 million, and about a third live in the state of Texas. The white-tailed deer range has pushed farther up into Canada due to habitat loss, and there are believed to be half a million of them there already. Num bers in North America are stable and abundant, but in Mexico, Central America, and South America, most populations are declining.

Pre-heat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

Using a standard baking sheet, cut a piece of foil that is double the size of the sheet pan.  Cover the sheet pan with ½ of the foil so that the shiny side is down, and the dull side of the foil is up.

Pour the olive oil on the sheet pan foil and add your garlic, squeeze your lemons and mix ingredients.

Season both sides of your fish with salt and pepper and lay the fillets in the pan.  Make sure not to overlap the fillets.  Bake the fillets for 10 to 15 minutes depending on the size of your fillets.

Turn your broiler on high and crisp up the top of the walleye.  Remove your pan and add your diced tomatoes and capers.  The hot oil will cook the tomatoes and

Thetastes.taste

adult Alaskan moose can stand as tall as 7 feet (2.1 meters) at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,600

Mostpounds.wildwhite-tailed

deer live to about two or three years old, and most adults don’t make it past 10. On the other hand, deer held in captivity can live up to three times longer than their wild counterparts.

When in a dive (stoop) the powerful peregrine falcon reaches speeds up to 200 mph. A cheetah can regularly reach speeds up to 70 mph.

While wild pheasants only live for a year on average due to hunting and other predators, pheasants kept in captivity are surprisingly long-lived. 18 years is the average lifespan of a pheasant in captivity.

Male white-tail deer shed their antlers every year, a completely natural process caused by a drop in testosterone after the end of matingseason.Amale

Unlike other birds, pheasants don’t migrate to warmer places for the winter. With their preference for the ground and limited flying ability, they settle in their roosts and wait out the colder months. Despite their short lifespan, they’re capable of sur viving several days without eating, which can help them when food is scarce.

Lemon Garlic Walleye with capers & tomatoes

Walleye is a delicious freshwater fish that is a favorite of many anglers whether they enjoy their vicious fight in the water or not. Some of our waters here in South Dakota are famous for their walleye fishing from the cool, clear water in our large Missouri River reservoirs. Welleye is a great choice for people who are fond of eating fish and discovering more unique

of walleye comes from the low oil content of a flesh that is firm yet delicate and moist. It makes a perfect choice for someone who wants to try fish that has a unique taste that can be enhanced with different sea sonings. One of our favorite ways to prepare walleye is with lemon, garlic, capers and tomatoes.

Walleye is a golden source of omega-3 fatty acids. They can fight anxiety and depression, improve eye health, promote brain health and development in infants, reduce heart risks, enhance skin condition, fight inflammation, reduce fat in your liver and it also proved effective in fighting age-related diseases such as

A collection of tasty outdoor recipies from the Black Hills Butcher Block, RBO’s culinary partner.

My Very First Hunt...

Brighten Brooksby has a love for the outdoors and a passion to get into the hunting world. Her dad supports Brighten in her efforts, and wants to help her to get more involved in the sport. Brighten has taken the initiative to do her hunt ers’ safety all on her own at a young age so that she can not only start hunting now, but also start applying for tags and preference points to increase her opportunities in the fu ture. We took some time to go shooting prior to her hunt and she loved every minute of it.

- Brandon Neil RBO Sr. Advisor

During COVID I finished my Hunter Safety course on my own. I had wanted to go hunting for a while but had no idea what to do. I had some friends of mine who loved hunting, so I asked lots of questions and got started. After I finished my Hunter’s Safety, I was so excited to go out into the field and experience a new part of the outdoors. I put in for tags but had no success drawing one. So this past summer I filled out an (RBO) hunt plan and as a result found an opportunity to go Pronghorn hunt ing with a doe Pronghorn tag.

I got to go hunting with Brandon Neil and my dad. The morning of the hunt, we started hiking and glassing. We saw a few single bucks

then a large herd about 2 miles out. We also heard some coyotes as we were on our way to them and decided to make a quick coyote stand along the way. Brandon started blowing a distressed rabbit call and a buck Prong horn stood up and started walking towards us. He was wondering what that sound was and ended up coming within 25 yards of us. I was in awe of how beautiful these creatures are. I could hear him taking deep breaths and looking all big to try to scare us away. As we were admiring his beauty, a doe from the other direction began walking in. She made her way into about 100 yards and stopped for a perfect shot. I took my shot, was a little too excited,

by Brighten Brooksby RBO Adventure Contributor

jerked the trigger and missed! She ended up running out to 450 yards and once again pre sented a great broadside shot. This time I got myself under control and made the shot right through the heart. I was filled with even more excitement after I made the shot.

Walking up to her and being able to see such a magnificent creature and getting to see in person was quite the experience. I was so thankful that I got to be able to hunt and have a blessed meal from God. I learned so much on this trip, I also had so much fun. When you have goals in life, do it. There are great rewards and experiences that come with it.

Editor’s note: Part of our mission at Rolling Bones is to encourage and promote our young people who are becoming welltrained, safe, responsible and ethical hunters. They are the next generation and a very precious resource. To that end we pres ent the RBO Youth Adventure Series, a collection of stories about young people and their hunting adventures.

8 PACKING TIPS FOR HUNTING SEASON

by Brian Mehmen | RBO Founder

Hunting season is here. For us at RBO it was antelope in Au gust and then coyotes, fox, bobcat, deer, elk, and moose. We are in an area that we can be hunting several different states or animals in a short period of time. It’s not uncommon for me to hunt deer in South Dakota on Saturday, Wyoming on Wednes

1.

Packed light is packed right

I personally am not a fan of having everything plus the kitchen sink in my pack. I am also not a fan of not having what I need. So it’s a balancing act. Most of our hunts are day hunts so we are not living out of our packs. We will talk today about having a pack ready to grab and go!

2.

Pick the right size pack

I am not big on having a huge pack for day trips. I want about 3200 to 3600 cubic inches. I look for something with belt pockets and external pockets. The packs on our web are all hand picked to meet this criteria. These easy access pockets are great for getting to things you may need quickly, wind bottle, flashlight, gloves, knife, etc. I also want a deep main pouch with a water bladder pocket. Adjustable shoulder straps are huge for me at 6’4” it has to adjust.

3.

THINK “HANDS AND HEAD

When choosing what to pack first, I start with hands and head. As funny as it sounds if my feet and hands are cold I am cold. I have two stocking caps and three pair of gloves and an extra pair of socks with me at all times. This allows me to layer up or layer down my head, feet and hands.

day and Montana Friday. Why I tell you this is because packing and repacking three times a week would be impractical. So we really need to be prepared and have what we need for a lot of different situations and a lot of the same. Here are some tips we use at RBO.

Make A List of Essentials

I have a shell, down jacket and rain gear. This allows me to get in a place and glass for hours no matter the weather. Flash light, two knives, wind bottle, extra batteries, small knife sharp ener, paracord, fire starter, ear plugs, calls, tags, pen, an extra box of bullets, camera, phone scope, spotting scope, tripod, binoculars, shooting sticks, dry bag, pack cover. I am now ready for day-to-day hunting in most any state out west and can stay out from sun up to sun down!

Think of your pack like a toolbox

The way I look at it, a pack should allow me to leave the truck and go all day if necessary. Or to move out for a mile or so, glass for a couple hours, come back to the truck and move on. My pack is my toolbox and I need all the tools in it at different times each day or at various times throughout the season.

5. Think of your pack like a hunting partner

A good pack is one you’re in and out of ev eryday and is your go to location. It should be one of your best hunting partners. Choose it wisely and lay it out with some thought and you will be surprised at how ready you will be to go hunting on a moment’s notice.

7.

6. Bring a tote and backup

There are a lot of ways to hunt and each day can be different. I have one pack that has my main hunting items in it. I also carry a plastic tote box in the back of my truck with all the duplicates, extras and reserve gear I might need. I do put a bigger pack in that tote, for the simple reason that I may have to pack out a critter. Most the time I can leave for a trip with a tote, a daypack and a medium duffle bag.

There’’s no substitute for being prepared

We are on the road and in many different states seeing all our camps and outfitters. We are blessed to travel and this has taught us a lot about having the right gear. Whether you’re hunting birds or bucks, I hope this helps you get a little more prepared for the year.

Brighten Brooksby and her first ever harvest, a nice Pronghorn doe taken at 450 yards.

Earning Three Bucks the Hard Way

by BRANDON NEIL RBO Senior Advisor

Hunting early season mule deer in Wyoming can be quite a challenge. When I say early season, I’m talking September after the velvet is gone and well before any rut activity has be gun. During this time of year you will run into warm, long days with very little deer movement during the mid-day hours. The deer seem to just dis appear for several hours and many are still very nocturnal. Mule deer are generally active throughout the day but there is some variation depending on the time of year and the amount of human activity in their range. In areas where there is little human disturbance mule deer may be active at any time of day. However in areas with heavy human activity mule deer are more likely to be active at dawn and dusk when people are less likely to be around.

This is the time of year that my dad, my uncle, and my self all drew a tag in some prime mule deer country of Wyoming. We made our preparations for the horse back hunt we were about to embark upon and made our way to the camp. The country we’d be hunting was deep and steep- BIG country and very beau tiful. Thick cover with some burns from a fire a few years before made for some great areas to glass. Elk were screaming all throughout the canyons.

As opening morning came, we were up very early at 3:30am. We need ed to be early to be able to get the mules saddled and prepped and allow for a 2-plus hour ride up the canyon to get to the area we wanted to hunt. As we began our ride in the pitch black, we let the mules’ eyes do the see ing for us to keep us on the trail. As the morning progressed and it began to be light enough, we soon discovered were right in the middle of a herd of elk. I was in the very back of the line with five other riders in front of me. As the elk herd spooked it ran right behind us. My mule suddenly spooked from out of nowhere, surprising me, and I ended up being thrown off into the deadfall below me. A little shaken up I collected myself and got back on my mule and we continued up the canyon.

We rode for another half mile or so and came to a large open ing. As we were riding along, I looked up the steep hill to my left and saw two bucks at about 500 yards looking down at us. It was still too dark to see them very well, but we could see that they were pretty big bucks.

I dismounted my mule, grabbed my rifle, and attempt ed to get on them. I was getting ready to make a shot, but only if I could determine if at least one of them was a shooter. Just as I was getting on them, they began to walk over the ridge. Sure enough, they were BOTH shooters. One was a 180”+ buck, and the other would break the 200” mark easily! Unfortunately, I could not get a shot off in time and they disappeared over the ridge. We made an attempt to get to the top of that ridge and see if we could All in the Ups and Downs

spot them again. No luck. The pines were thick and the muleys were long gone. We hunted the remainder of the day but lady luck seemed to have departed. We did not turn up any other decent bucks.Thenext day we re grouped, adjusted our strategy, and headed up another canyon. It was a very warm day and the deer did not seemed to be moving. We saw elk all around us, of course, since we weren’t hunting those. As the day pro gressed my dad and I were riding at the top of a ridge with him behind me. As we were riding along, something spooked his mule, and like me the day before, he was thrown off on the steep side of the hill. I heard the thud and was pan icked by the sound. I quickly turned around to find my dad catching his breath, bleeding from his head, and holding his ribs.He said he was ok, but I could see he was in quite a bit of pain. We attempted to get him back in the saddle, but it was just too painful to ride. We instead walked back to the bot tom to flatter ground. We got him back to camp so he could rest up and try to recover. We found out later when we got home that he had cracked three ribs! We didn’t know this at the time, and he wanted to stay and keep hunting, so we did.

The next morning, we got up, and dad decided to stay at camp and my uncle and I would hunt together while dad rested. We once again started up the canyon for day three and this time went super high. As we got to the area we planned to hunt, we started to see some good bucks. We be gan to hike around and do some glassing but saw no shooters.

As time passed, we were reminded of just how unpredict able conditions can be in September at high elevation. Some harsh weather soon moved in over the ridge and we went from summer to winter in what seemed like an instant. We were in the midst of a whiteout blizzard.

Story continued on

“After all, we are the visiting team when we enter the arena of the great outdoors, and we don’t always get to call the shots”

Earning Three Bucks the Hard Way

It continued to snow hard for a few hours and got very cold. We started a fire to keep warm and waited for the weather to break which it eventually did.

As things began to clear up, I decided to walk up to a nearby ridge and do some glassing. As I did, I noticed a big deer with a couple of other bucks more than a mile away. They were feeding and moving in our direction. Finally good fortune was beginning to smile uponOurus.positioning was perfect. We were above them and we could see well. Closely watching them, we were trying to decide our next move. As they got closer it became apparent that two of them were shooters.

We began to make our move, clos ing the distance to within 650 yards. The deer were not yet aware of our presence and we were both able to get set up for a potential shot. I locked onto the deer I had targeted.

Okay. Relax. Exhale. Squeeze. The boom echoed off the rock walls as I delivered a round from my 6.5 PRC. Almost as if it were slow motion I traced the shot arc all the way to the target. HIT!

The buck ran down to a clump of trees and laid down. At this distance, the other deer were oblivious to the shot and proceeded to lay down right next to him.

The muleys were now right at about 600 yards. BOOM! My uncle, with his 7mm Rem mag, sent a perfect shot through his buck which had laid down. Just like that, we had two great deer down within 25 yards of each other!

As we made our way down to recover our deer some thing began to seem a bit strange. As we got closer, we were shocked to find that my uncle’s deer had somehow gotten up and ran off! We couldn’t see how this was possible as we

saw him lying motionless after the shot (and we have video footage to prove it). We tried to track it until dark, but no luck. But we weren’t going to give up.

The next morning we set out to find the buck and hope fully bring the story to an end. Fortunately, we were able to find the deer. Amazed that it was still alive, we finished the harvest. You have to hand it to them, these muleys are tough! We felt blessed to have been able to find him and bring closure to the experience.

With two great deer down, my dad still needed to fill his tag. Cracked ribs and all, he was able to hike out and move up a canyon that was close by. After all we’d been through, spooking the two early trophies, the two of us getting bucked off, a snow storm, and a buck with more lives than Felix the Cat, we end ed with more good fortune. My dad was able to find a great buck from the trail, less than 100 yards away. He made a perfect shot. He’s one tough man!

What a blessing this hunt turned out to be, with all three of us harvesting stately mature bucks and having an experi

When we hunt out west there’s a reason it’s called an ad venture. It’s unpredictable and surprising. This requires us to be prepared, resourceful, patient, and determined. After all, we are the visiting team when we enter the arena of the great outdoors, and we don’t always get to call the shots.

But it’s the ups and downs that we experienced over the course of several days that added the lasting color to the trip and it’s what allows western hunting to be etched perma nently in our memory. To experience great things, you must put yourself in great places, and that’s what we were fortu nate to do on this awesome Rolling Bones adventure!

September 30 - Montana

Bonus Points Only

Bonus Points for Limited Sheep, Moose, Goat, Elk, Deer, & Antelope

October 11

SpringArizonaBison, Javelina, Spring Turkey

Bonus points with max point draw

Draw Results : Early November

October 31 - Wyoming

Points (sheep,Onlymoose, elk, deer, antelope)

Preference points

November 1 - Texas

Desert Sheep Public Draw Bonus point system

Draw Results : Early November

November 1 - Arizona

2023 Non-Resident Archery Tags Available (OTC Archery Deer)

First-come, first-serve quota available online and at Dept offices TBD

December 1 - Idaho

2023 Non-Resident Tags Available (Limited Quota and Capped Tags for Deer and First-come,Elk) first-served quota available on line at 10:00am MST on Dec 1, 2022

December 15 - Alaska

All Species (Fall 2023 & Spring 2024 Hunts)

No point system

Draw results : February 18

December 31 - Montana

Preference Points Only General Elk & Deer Combo Licenses

January 4 - South Dakota

Preference Points Only

Brandon Neil (far left) with his father and uncle following their Wyoming hunt.

by Sophie Peterson RBO Applications Manager

The air that once cradled my frozen skin in welcomed warmth now feels arid- like dust settling into the cracks of my palms. I find my self missing the dampness of spring, and the dewiness of the grass that soaked my pant legs during those early mornings chasing trout in the stream. Now it’s hard to breath, the dusty air like cotton in my lungs.

I reflect on how desperately I craved these summer months when hunting the season be fore. The snow was up to my knees, and even higher in some drifts. The air then pierced my lungs, using the moisture in my body against me like daggers in my chest as I huffed and puffed up a mountain in pursuit of a late sea son mule deer. Icicles clung to my lashes and all I remember thinking was: “this season will pass. Summer will come.”

Beyond the Field

I hold every season in great reverence; each one offers something different from the last yet gives me the same opportunities to experienceraw, real connection to the world outside- un scathed, unspoiled, and all accepting.”

Now here I am, in the quite literal heat of summer, wishing for the return of waterlogged fabrics against my shins and more moderate temps. But as is the case every season, this too shall pass. Just as the winter melt ed to spring, and the spring evaporated into summer, my favorite time of year is yet to come.

I hold every season in great reverence; each one offers something dif ferent from the last yet gives me the same opportunities to experience raw, real connection to the world outside- unscathed, unspoiled, and all

However,accepting.the

autumn season holds a special place in my heart. The air outside is no longer suffocating, nor is it piercing. There is the same coolness of spring, yet it is more calming. Rather than that re freshing feeling of excitement for the year ahead, and the urgency to get

by BRANDON NEIL RBO Senior Advisor A-Z

outside and get moving, fall air is subtle - a gentle lull of rustling leaves and velvet turned Dampnessbone.

has also returned, though not quite the same as before. Instead of collecting on newborn grass in dewy droplets, it frosts every blade in mist, freezing in a cast as the season progresses. The trout in the stream are thick with a seasons’ filling of fly hatches and the currents exercise. What was a spring spawn of rainbows flashing beneath the river’s surface is now replaced by the hearty spotting of a golden brown.

New opportunities brought on by the spring, and set into motion by the summer, now become tangible action. Velvet concepts shed to hardened certainty, and canyons echo with the whistling bugles of beckoning bulls. Forest trails weep brown and gold; hallowed out beds of deer gone by leave me to wonder: “what awaits?”

Fall means there are iridescent flames burning bird trails through the cut corn fields, cackling in midday congregation. There’s gold in the rivers, in the woods, and shining through the limbs of autumn trees overhead. But for now, I take the season for what it is and keep those golden days in the forefront of my mind. IN MY PACK

When you’re out in the elements, the heat, the cold, the wind, rain, sleet, and snow, having the right gear is absolutely crucial! I’ve hunted for over 30 years now and have been fortunate enough to hunt for 5080+ days per year the last 10 years. Through this experience, I’ve been able to try all kinds of combinations ofWhatgear. I currently use and what is super effective is what I’ll share here. Whether I’m hunting Alaska in August, the warm/ hot desert of Utah, Coyotes in the fall/ winter, High country elk or mule deer, I have the system that works for it all because of the layering system I choose to use.

Starting with boots, I typically wear Kenetrek Mountain Guide or Desert Guide depending on the tempera tures. I do have a pair of insulated 400g Kenetrek Mountain extreme boots for colder hunts where I may be sitting more such as doing coyote stands. For socks I typically wear swiftwick thin socks with some meri no wool socks over the top. If I’m in Alaska I’ll wear a pair of waterproof socks and have a set of Iggy’s over waders that I can quickly slip on over my boots, cross streams and rivers, then take them back off & stock them away quickly. For Gaiters I prefer Kings Camo XKG waders and they are pretty much bulletproof.

For my legs I typically don’t like to wear thermal underwear but if it is cold enough I’ll wear a pair of Mari no wool long underwear. For pants I use either Kings XKG Preacher pants, or what I’ve really liked lately are the Fjallraven Vidda Pro ventilated pant. For raingear on the legs, I currently use XKG Paramount rain pants.

For upper body, I always start with a T Shirt then layer from there. I’ll typically also have a thinner base layer long sleeve hoodie (preferably merino wool) then have other layers on hand. Kings camo covert hoodie is

nice and warm or the XKG Pinnacle jacket is nice if not quite as cold, Then I’ll wear the XKG Boulder Softshell jacket as an outer layer. I use a XKG paramount rain jacket that I can put over the top of everything.

I also have the Kings camo XKG down transition jacket and pants for the times when the temperature grows extra cold. I can slip my down jacket underneath my outer layer OR throw it over the top if I’m just glassing on a cold windy ridge or mountaintop.Formyhead, I wear a ballcap, then always have a beanie with me as well. For my hands I rarely wear very heavy gloves. Usually, I use the Kings Camo Midweight gloves and I keep handwarmers with me if my hands start to get cold.

For a backpack I use a Mystery Ranch Metcalf which is super adjust able, it’s tough, and comfortable for me to wear on multiple day backpack as well as single day hunts. This is a pack that lasts year after year with little maintenance.

We here at Rolling Bones Outdoors do our best to share with you what we have found works best for the condi tions in which we hunt. Feel free to reach out to us for any questions you may have about anything related to your hunting and outdoor adventures and we will do all we can to give you the best Service, Application, Value, and BrandonHappyEducation!Hunting!Neil

What is Concierge service?

by BRIAN MEHMEN RBO Founder

If you’re like me you’ve done more than a little bit of traveling in your career. And when I’m in an unfamil iar city, I need answers. That’s why I’ve come to appreciate hotels that provide knowledgeable concierge service. Good information and the right answers save you time, money andThat’sconfusion.whywhen we founded Rolling Bones Outfitters, I wanted to create the hunting industry’s best concierge service. Our goal is to give our members information, answers and services to deliver their dream hunting adventure. That saves you time, money and confusion.

From the feedback we receive, it has far and away become the most popular and valuable aspect of our membership program. It’s an unlimited concierge service that you receive while plan ning and booking your hunting adventures.

Here’s how it works

When you sign up to become a Rolling Bones member the first thing you want to plan is your next adven ture. Our concierge representatives then get to work. We start by helping you develop a hunt plan with the basic information of the specie(s), location, weapon, budget, and time frame for your hunt.

We listen to you and answer your questions. Are there over-the-counter tags available? Or, how many years will it take to draw the tag I’m look ingForfor?example, you may want a 320”+ bull elk for the wall and have a Col orado unit you would like to hunt, but it may take 4-5 years to draw the tag. Your concierge rep may know of a general unit in Utah with that class of animal that you can draw in your firstPerhapsyear. you may want a 200” mule deer that takes 10 or more years to draw a rifle tag. But it may only take 2 years to draw the archery or muz zle loader tag in a different unit with better buck-to-doe ratios. This is an option that our concierge reps are able to make you aware of.

Whether it’s a fully guided Alaskan hunt or an annual DIY hunt with your family or buddies, we have the resources to help you plan the “hunt of a lifetime” every year.

Other important information is the type of experience you are looking for on your hunt. Do you want back country, horseback trip with tent camp accommodations, or 5-star lodging with gourmet meals, open bar and spa opportunities when traveling with spouse and family. We have a list of signature outfitters and camps that we partner with to cus tomize your trip as well.

Here’s one recent great example

A son, dad, and one of dad’s bud dies from North Dakota wanted to hunt elk. We chose Colorado because of the OTC tags. In our conversations with them our concierge rep found there were some physical limita tions of the two older hunters. So they wanted a hunt with lodge-style accommodations that had meals included. They chose an area with a large elk population to provide shot opportunities without a physically de manding hunt. The camp that best fit their needs did have availability, but was not within their budget. No prob lem. The solution was to customize this hunt to 3 days instead of 4. The group had an incredible experience filling 2 of their 3 tags while creating a lifetime of memories and the desire to book again.

If we don’t have a camp with the hunt you are looking for, we will find one to meet your needs. That may be a landowner voucher, discounted hunt, cancellation hunt or one of our signature hunts, but you have the concierge service as a resource for your next adventure!

We provide access, experience, knowledge and service to take the unknown’s out of booking your hunt. The concierge service truly allows us to “Match the Hunter to the Hunt.”

Take advantage of our concierge service right now by becoming a member if you haven’t already.

Scan the QR code.

“

Guzzlers: Helping solve a wildlife drinking problem

In late August the Mule Deer Foundation, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, spent three days cleaning and performing main tenance around several wildlife water guzzlers located in the central Black Hills of western South Dakota. RBO’s Kelli Poole, Ex. Dir. Of Adventures and Bookings, took part in the work and paused to take a few photos in the process.

Volunteers spent time checking the wildlife watering stations to make sure they were performing optimally. They also repaired and reinforced fencing with cabling to prevent elk from knocking them over.

Newer guzzler systems usually consists of two parts: The collection lid and the storage tank below. When it rains, the water is collected by the lid and gravity feeds it down into the reservoir tank. Animals are able to access the water through an opening that is built into the lid. The lid covers most of the water reservoir to reduce evaporation.

A guzzler is only as effective as the size of the water collection area. The larger the square footage of the collection area, the more potential you have to gather and divert rain into the guzzler reservoir. For every inch of rain, each square foot of surface area will collect .62 gallons. Therefore 150 ft. will collect about 93 gallons. If your area receives 10 inches of rain per year, it will collect 930 gallons.

The guzzlers have been shown to have a positive effect on wildlife pop ulations. This has been especially true in areas of the western United States that have seen prolonged periods of drought. Since a guzzler is primarily used by animals in the summertime, it’s important to have enough storage capacity available in the critical dry months. As nearby creeks and ponds dry up, animal visits to the guzzler will certainly increase. Several species of wildlife benefit from the guzzlers including elk, deer, turkey, small mammals and birds.

For those of you not familiar we affectionately call our Rolling Bones headquarters studio the “Bone Cave.” This dates back several years to when we had rented office space in a backlot at the city’s industrial park. It was a bit hard to find unless you knew where to look, kind of like the Bat Cave from the Batman franchise. That, combined with the fact that the office and studio were filled with trophies, horns and rugs, gave birth to the name “Bone Cave.”

We’ve mentioned it hundreds of times on our TV show, podcasts, advisor calls and other membership touchpoints since then. And today we get requests every week from our friends who stop in Spearfish and ask for a tour. We are currently building out newest Bone Cave and studio and in the process came up with a new

idea.Rolling

Bones is creating a virtual Bone Cave. This will be made up of photos and informa tion that you give us permission to publish. We are creating a Bone Cave page on our web site and will save space in each edition of No Boundaries for the latest entires.

Please include a good photo of you with your harvest. Include your name, the year, month (day op tional) taken, scoring (optional), the species (be specific, if need be, such as desert sheep, snow sheep, etc.), and the state or country. If you have any further info, such as weapon, caliber, lure (fishing), or unique circumstances (i.e. 750 yard shot), send that along as well.

Submit your Bone Cave trophy pics to hello@ rbohome.com. We’ll be grouping entries ac cording to year and at year’s end we will induct a few into our Bone Cave Hall of Fame Class for that specific year. For everyone who sub mits we’ll send you a small gift. Hall of Fame inductees get a very special additional gift.

Use #BoneCave2022 if posting on social me dia for this year’s class.

Photos by Kelli Poole RBO Ex.

The Rolling Bones family was saddened by the loss of one of our beloved RBO advisors, Dave Cooley who passed away suddenly in early September. Dave had just harvested a beautiful ram and took the photo at left just moments before he passed. We’ll have a tribute to Dave in our next edition. I know you join me in expressing condolences to Dave’s wife and family. - Brian M.

Start your international hunting career here.

A great opportunity to hunt Becite Ibex in Spain! This is a 3-day / 3-night fully guided hunt. The outfitter will provide meals and lodging in a nice local hotel. Each hunter will have 2-3 guides. The hunt price is for a small management ibex with an option to upgrade to trophy quality animals for an additional cost. Only three permits are available for a management hunt. Hunters need to be able to hike in the mountains. Field transportation is with a Toyota 4x4. See the options for a non-hunter, Becite Ibex size/age upgrade, and to add additional species de pending on the time of year booked. Option to add a sightseeing city tour for the beginning or end of your trip. There are four species of Spanish Ibex; the becite is the “best value” and most commonly hunted of the four. Spanish Ibex are generally less difficult to hunt than the Ibex of Central Asia. The price of the Ibex increases a lot with the size of the animal. These animals are free range and the outfitter’s areas are very well managed for size and age of animals.

Accommodations for this hunt will be a beautiful local hotel. Outfitter will cover the cost for hunter to stay. WIFI, cell service, and private rooms are all provided.

All meals will be included in this hunt. Hot breakfast will be served at the hotel, lunch is pro vided as a picnic in the field and dinner will be served at the hotel after a long day of hunting.

Physically, the hunter will need to be prepared for moderate hiking. An average day may re quire up to 6 hours of hiking in some rocky and steep terrain.

Final destination city when flying is Madrid, Spain. Outfitter will pick up hunter at the airport and the camp is approximately 3.5 hour East drive from Madrid.

An excellent opportunity to hunt mountain lion in the Wasatch Range of Utah! This veteran-owned outfitter is passionate about all things hunting on the Wasatch front. Licenses are over-the-counter. These hunts are conducted in the Wasatch Mountains and Cashe area. These hunts are 1:1 fully guided 5-day hunts. It is best for hunters to be flexible with weather conditions. Out fitter prefers if hunters can be available on call (72 hours notice) with snow conditions so fresh tracks can be cut. Hunters will required to provide their own meals and lodging unless selected for outfitter provided for an additional cost. Non-hunters are allowed to accompany for a small fee.

Cougar Hunts with Hounds is a very physical hunt. Most Hunters aver age 4-8 miles hiking after cutting track. Hunt is conducted by driving snow packed roads until track is cut, then hounds are released and hunter and guide start hiking behind dogs until cat is in tree. No females and no kittens are to be shot. Only Mature Toms are allowed. Hunt Days can be split up on a 2 day now - 3 day later type hunt to accommodate optimal weather condi tions.There are plenty of hotels and restaurants in the area. If preferred, hunter can select for meals and lodging to be outfitter provided for an additional charge.

A rare opportunity to hunt Aou dad Sheep in West Texas! Hunter will hunt on a large 55,000 acre ranch in a game rich environment. Outfitter estimates the population of aoudad on the ranch to be around 300-400 ani mals. Be ready to hike and glass to find bands of rams. All meals and lodging are included in this 3-day hunt. Hunt may be extended with an extra day if needed. Hunter may also add addition al animals (hogs and javelina) for an additional cost if desired. Option for a non-hunter.Hunterwill stay in a clean and com fortable lodge. Outfitter provides a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. Hunter will be served great food. Home-style cooking - meat and potatoes.

• Dec.

This is a great adventure for anyone wanting to experience hunting in Alaska! Black-tail deer season on Kodiak runs from Oct through the end of December. This outfitter offers a combination hunt that takes advantage of the primitive weapons season for black-tail deer, and combines it with a brown bear hunt on a trophy fee basis in the fall. This hunt has proved to be very successful. This is a fully guided 5-day hunt for 2 bucks and 2 foxes. Arrangements can be made for smaller parties than 4, but must contact for prices andYouavailability.willberewarded for hard days of hunting with spike camp and rustic cabin accommodations. Cabins are 2 people per unit and have electricity and propane heat. Bedding is included.

Menu consists of home-style cooking, such as meat and potatoes. Special accommodations can be ar ranged if notified. Packed lunches are provided during the hunt.

As far as physical conditioning, hunter should be prepare for 3-4 miles of hiking per day in pursuit of big bucks. Outfitter can make accommodations for those who are not in the best physical condition.

Hunter will fly into Anchorage and then to Kodiak. Hunter will be responsible for a float plane charter to the camp. Outfitter will organize the charter. Field transportation provided. Access some country with a boat and on foot. KODIAK SITKA DEER moment... Sitka Blacktail Deer,

NEW MEXICO COW ELK HUNT

Hunt

Available Dates: Nov. 15, 2022 - Dec. 15, 2023

RBO $2,850 (Save $350)

With a guaranteed tag on private land this is an exceptional opportu nity to hunt Rocky Mountain Elk in New Mexico! This is the hunt you want if you’re looking to fill the freezer. This adventure is fully guided with all meals and lodging provided on site. This ranch is roughly 18,000 acres. This hunt is 3 days but additional days can be added for a daily rate. Hunts may not exceed 7 days. These 2:1 hunts will take place late November - early December. Hunter must be prepared for moderate hiking, although this outfitter can accommodate for those less physi cally able. Non-hunters are welcome for a fee.

Hunter will stay in a clean and comfortable cabin for this hunt. Bedding will be provided. Several cabins on the property. WIFI available at the cabins. Cell service is hit or miss.

Hunter will get homestyle cooked meals for this hunt. Meals will be served family style in a mainFinallodge.flight destination is Alamosa, Colorado.

Hunt Catalog:

Average Classification: Opportunity: 2023

RBO Member Price: $1,600

A great opportunity to hunt big whitetail in Ohio. This is a DIY hunt for 3 days on private land. Option for a 5 day hunt for an additional fee. Hunters will be responsible for their own meals and lodging. Maximum group of 4 in a group. Outfitter only allows for 1-4 hunters per week and allows for one week of rest between each hunt. If hunter’s would like to add a day during their hunt it may be arranged for $500/day. Outfitter will have stands set up and can arrange for ground blinds if requested in advance. There is a 140” minimum for bucks. Hunter’s can expect a chance at a 140”-160” buck. Opportunity at larger. Non-hunters are able to join with no additional cost. Opportunities for youth hunters to kill a doe.Hunting

license not included in the hunt price. Hunting license is roughly $175.00 and deer tag is roughly $25.00. *Room for 20 hunters in 2022/2023 season.

Hunters will be responsible to provide their own lodging for this hunt. The town is only a 15 minute drive to the hunting property. There are plenty of affordable hotels in the area. Nearest town is Jackson, Ohio.

ALBERTA MULE DEER/ MOOSE/ WHITETAIL COMBO

Species: Canada Moose + Hunt Catalog: RB19703-04

Average Classification: 30 - 40

Shot Opportunity: 85%

Weapon: Rifle

Tag Availability: Over the Counter

Available Dates: Nov. 9, 2022 - Dec. 01, 2023

RBO $8,500 (Save $1,000)

Perfect, if you’re looking for variety, a challenge, and adven ture all rolled into one. This hunt provides the opportunity to pursue Alberta moose, Whitetail and/or Mule deer during the deer rut in Alberta! This is a 10-day fully guided 1:1 hunt. Hunt er should be prepared for a moose meat hunt as most moose average 30”-45” B&C.

This hunt will be during the rut for both deer species. Both whitetail and mule deer are great representatives of the species with often trophy mule deer taken. All meals and lodging are provided for this hunt. This hunt is late season, so the physical demand is much lower than most moose hunts. The hunt area is in the foothills of the Peace River area of Alberta. Hunter will fly into Peace River where the outfitter will provide airport pick up/drop off concierge service. Option for a non-hunter for an additional charge.

Hunter will stay in a clean and comfortable cabin. All meals will be provided for this hunt. Hunter can expect home-style cooking-meat and potato type meals.

This hunt is located in the Alberta foothills. It does not de mand a lot of hiking. Deer will be found in the low lands during the rut. Moose can also be found in fields. Hunter can expect 1-2 miles of hiking per day in pursuit of animals. Hunt will be conducted by truck and glassing. Hunter can fly into Peace River, Alberta

ARIZONA JAVELINA HUNTS

Tags and Licenses not included in the price of the hunt. You will need to draw a tag but it nearly 100% success. Tag cost for out of state is $115 dollars. Never applied for an AZ tag… We will help you apply for the tag. Archery seasons: Dec 13th-31st OTC & Jan 1st -24th for draw tags Muzzle Loader Seasons: Feb 8th- 18th draw tag Rifle season : Feb 22- March 1st draw tag Draw application period typically Sept 1st - Oct 10th. Camp chef will cook breakfast, prepare a sack lunch and cook a hearty meal for dinner. Home-style cooking-meat and potatoes and Mexican style. - Feb.

They love chasing the “Stink Pigs!” Arizona offers over the counter archery Javelina opportunities in December and Janu ary and these are easy to draw hunts January through March. If you have never done a spot and stalk hunt this is a perfect way to ease into this type of hunting. Be prepared to glass, hike and have a lot of action. You will hunt Javelina from super mountain ous terrain to rolling desert flats offering an experience suited for just about anyone. Not interested in a spot and stalk hunt? Don’t worry, outfitter can accommodate those looking to just relax and take in the solitude of being in the wild and set you up in a blind. They have 100% shot opportunity on these hunts often within 20 yards or less, providing an unforgettable experience that will have you looking at next year’s calendar. These hunts are 3-day 1-on-1 and fully outfitted. Hunter will stay in a nice camping trailer or bunkhouse.

Rifle

Special member price:

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

Unlimited hunting concierge service - it’s done for you. for platinum level loyalty hunt program. your FFL of choice and you’re ready to go range, dial and dump on your next adventure.

Experience the ultimate curated hunting species in one state - unlimited states own on-line hunter’s dashboard to keep track of points, plans and activity.

The Gold Membership Silver Membership

All states - all species - all silver and gold services.

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