Sportsman's News March 2015 Digital Edition by Sportsman's News

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

Just Tell ‘Em I’m Gone Fishin’ By Colby Labrum Sportsman’s News Pro-Staff

hen planning a fishing trip to Alaska, many things must come into play in the decision making process. And when it comes right down to it, most of those decisions are pretty much dependent on each other. Timing of the trip depends on the species you are targeting. The area that you want to go to usually dictates both the timing and the species that you want to go after. If you want to river fish for salmon and trout, in most cases that means ocean fishing for halibut in the same trip is going to be out of the question. So unless you are able to plan multiple trips a year to fish for multiple species, your task of narrowing your choices down can be a tough one indeed. One area in Alaska that does offer anglers a chance to experience just about everything that this great state has to offer is the Kenai Peninsula. Now I’m not saying that you can cram everything into a seven day trip that even this area has to offer, but the variety that you are able to take in is definitely wider than any place that I have found in my many adventures throughout the ‘Last Frontier’. My favorite destination because of its variety factor is the Gone Fishin’ Lodge on the world famous Kenai River, about 150 miles southeast of Anchorage in the town of Soldotna, Alaska. Owners Ralph Crystal and Dick Bowen never let me down in planning great adventure after adventure every time we book a return trip. Their standard packages includes 7-nights’ accommodations and five days of guided fishing. And with their lodge perched above the banks of the fabulous Kenai River, when we are done with our regular guided trips during the week, we are literally just a few steps away from as much fishing on our own as we want to partake of throughout our stay. Now although there are over a dozen structured packages for you to choose from, in reality, you can design your trip to include only the things that ‘you’ want to do. And that is exactly what we do when we plan our trips each visit. Depending on the species we want to target, the month of our visit is first determined. If king salmon are part of

The author shows off one of the great Kenai silver salmon that are common to this part of Alaska. No one does a better job of getting you on the fish than Gone Fishin' Lodge. the equation, then June or July are the target months. If this is the case, then red salmon (sockeye) will also come into play during their first and second runs in the latter half of June and by the middle of July. I love their deep red filets and for those of you that have fished for them, you know what I mean when I say that pound for pound, reds are probably the hardest fighting of all of the salmon species on any type of tackle. And by the way, the Gone Fishin’ Lodge just happens to offer one of the very best stretches of river access right behind their lodge, available only to their guests and is definitely the place to be during the July run for sockeye! Now as far as halibut goes, I really haven’t been to the lodge and not had good success when fishing for halibut. Of course, here and there you may run into some bad weather and nobody has control over that (well, almost nobody) but from May through August, fishing in Cook Inlet with Gone Fishin’s charters always produce limit after limit. And now because of the regulations that have been put into place throughout Alaska, the Cook Inlet is one of the few places that charter trips are still able to retain two halibut, giving you the ability of keeping one of any size and one under 29 inches. Because of our love of halibut as table fare, we always plan two halibut trips during our stay, which again highlights that ‘variety factor’ that

is at our fingertips at the Gone Fishin’ Lodge. Along the lines of ocean trips, another great trip is to the beautiful town of Seward, about 90 miles to the northeast of Soldotna. Now this trip does require a little extra travel time, but in my estimation, is well worth the effort. You will be boarding your charter promptly at 7am and quickly heading out of Resurrection Bay for prime fishing waters. This trip is normally a multi-species trip for a combination

of salmon, halibut, lingcod, yelloweye, black bass and other rock fish (usually the combination of species will be determined before you depart). You can also choose to make it just a salmon trip, which will double your limit from three salmon to six. I love the multispecies option though, with my pick the salmon/lingcod/yelloweye combo that fills your day with plenty of action and a lot of variety. Another fun aspect is that you really never know what you may pull up from the bottom next as you jig your line along the rocky outcroppings of the oceans peaks. The next great day-trip that Ralph and Dick can set you up on is an upper Kenai River drift boat float trip. Now depending on the timing of your trip, this can be a combo sockeye/trout day in June and July or more of a specialized rainbow/ Dolly Varden trip during the month of August and up until the Lodge closes for the season. This trip can be done with either spin cast or fly equipment as both will offer you a very unique experience, one that most fishermen that travel with me never want to miss. Your float will begin near the headwaters of the upper Kenai River as it exits Kenai Lake and makes its way through some of the most gorgeous country you will ever see. For those of you that have not had a chance to try fly fishing much, this continued on page 5

Now, no trip to Alaska is complete without partaking of a floatplane ride and of course, the Gone Fishin' Lodge has some great options available.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WHAT'S INSIDE

2 From The Publisher 3 Words Fuel Your Obsession with 6 the Sportsman's News Pro Membership Gone Fishin' Lodge

8 New Product Showcase 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters Outdoors: Pork On The 14 PacWest Hoof News Pro 20 Sportsman's Membership Giveaways 26 Pro's Pick: Beretta Pico 28 Fishful Thinker: Spring Salvation 32 Business Directory 34 Pro's Tip: Map And Compass Digital Edition Content

40 42 Wild Game Recipe: Crispy Duck 43 Alpen Optics His and Hers Writing Contest 45 Outdoor Wheels Afield: Keep Warm in 46 Your Vehicle In Memorium: Chuck Buck

www.facebook.com/ sportsmansnews Become a Fan of Sportsman's News for Fan Only contests and post comments about Sportsman's News. Tell your friends.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Colby Labrum Gary Lewis Chad LaChance Steve Mayer Andy Lightbody Dave Wilson

Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

t’s finally here. The Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Program is finally here. If you don’t know what this is yet, please take a pause and read the cover article. I will guarantee that it is well worth your time. The idea of the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Program came about nearly two years ago and has taken this long to get it to the public. I’ve learned that being able to give stuff away isn’t as easy as one might think. Every state in the union has a different set of rules, beliefs, and laws to follow when you want to do something of this sort. Once that hurdle is handled, you get to work through the computer programming aspects of delivering your message to the consumer. I’m pretty sure I would have a better chance of speaking Mandarin Chinese (of which I know none) and getting my point across than I do getting the results I want from the tech squad with weekly conversations. However, we have made major progress in this department and will continue to make advances as we go forward. It has officially launched and by the end of this month, we will give away our very first trip with one of our best outfitters. You can see the full details of this trip as well as all the other giveaway items by looking at the center page spread in this issue of Sportsman’s News. There is also plenty of information on the sweepstakes page at

www.sportsmansnews.com. We have included some short videos of the trips we will be giving away so that you have a good idea of what you are getting if you win. I don’t want to rehash what I wrote for the cover article, but I do need to reaffirm that these are the very best trips we have been able to experience in our last ten years of doing business as Sportsman’s News. We feel very blessed and fortunate to have had the opportu-

nity to do these trips and for those of you who get to do the same, we are certain you will feel equally as blessed. I can’t wait to call some of you and inform you that you will be participating in a true trip of a lifetime. I do want all of those forum participants to know that even though we are launching this huge membership

program, we won’t forget about you guys. Although we might not have as many guns and gear items to give away through our old process, we will still make sure some good stuff gets cut out of the inventory for those of you who just don’t feel the desire to become a Pro Member. We value each and every one of you and many of our content ideas come from these long-time supporters of Sportsman’s News. We have over 17,000 forum members and want to see this part of our family grow as well as the Pro Membership, so please keep your feedback coming. Our team put out a great publication again this month. With the completion of the major industry shows like the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor, Trade Show (S.H.O.T.), Outdoor Retailer, and Archery Trade (ATA), we have gotten a good chance to see what is new for 2015. We have a new product roundup section in this issue that shows a bunch of the new products hitting the market. We could probably dedicate this entire issue to these items, but we picked some that caught our eye. The expanded version of this column will be available to digital subscribers only. There is no cost for this, so make sure you sign up at www.sportsmansnews.com to be able to see all the new products the Sportsman’s News team found exciting. If you are a Pro Member, you will get it automatically. You will also start to see a lot more articles dedicated to the digital only publication. We have a lot of “How To” articles as well as some “Destination on a Budget” articles coming up that you won’t want to miss. We want to thank everyone for making our last ten years here at Sportsman’s News a major success and look forward to our next ten years. Our Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Program is going to be a huge part of it. So, please share it with your friends and family.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

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March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

GONE FISHIN' continued from page 2

trip is a great chance to “get your feet wet”. Your guides will set you up with everything you need and will take the time needed with each fisherman to make sure you have a great day on the water. You will not only be fishing from the drift boat, but if the water conditions are right, you will also have the chance to wade the banks of the river, using your new found technique to expertly present your strike-indicator/bead setup to giant rainbow trout and Dolly Varden char that are gorging themselves on thousands of salmon eggs that are being released from spawning salmon moving up the river. Now, no trip to Alaska is complete without partaking of a floatplane ride and of course, the Gone Fishin’ Lodge has a couple of options available that you will not want to miss. Although they do have a few other possible destinations as well, their most popular spots are across Cook Inlet to Big River Lake and also the Kustatan River. Both are outstanding day trips and are usu-

ally dependent on weather and water conditions. A variety of techniques can be used during these trips and again, all of the equipment and bait will be supplied by your guides (except for you fly fishermen on this one). Another great feature of your trip to Big River Lake is the fact that you will be right in the middle of one of the very best bear viewing spots in Alaska. Much of the fishing is done at the mouth of a crystal clear stream running into the glacial waters of Big River Lake and sometimes as many as a dozen brown bears can be seen roaming the shore, trying their best to catch the same salmon that you are casting to. Now luckily, you are in a boat, out in the lake, so safety concerns are on your side, but believe me, it is quite a sight to see, one that I look forward to every time I make the trip with Ralph and his crew. As you board your flight back to the Lodge, if the weather conditions are just right and time permits, you just might also get a chance for an “up close and personal” flight through one of the nearby glaciers of the area before heading back across the inlet. Glaciers are truly

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Gone Fishin' Lodge Owners Ralph Crystal and Dick Bowen have now been taking care of their guests on the banks of the world famous Kenai River for 20 years. one of the marvels of God’s creations and if you ever have the chance to take a flight through them, do it! Well, there you have it – a full week of adventures courtesy of the Gone Fishin’ Lodge. I just don’t know of anywhere else in Alaska where you can experience a different and exciting adventure every

day of your trip and at the end of the week, have such an assortment of filets ready for your trip back home to your smiling family and friends. Don’t just take my word for it, why not check them out for yourself. Give them a call today at 877-462-5752 and visit them on the web at www.gonefishinlodge.com.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

FUEL YOUR OBSESSION! On March 1st, 2015 Sportsman’s News Introduces the Next Big Thing in the Hunting, Fishing and Gun Universe

By Michael Deming

n March 1st, 2015 Sportsman’s News introduces you to the next “Big Thing in the Hunting, Fishing and Gun Universe.” What we’ve put together for you will absolutely blow your mind! However, please don’t take my word for it. We hope you’ll take a look for yourself. Over the past 10 years Sportsman’s News has been working hard for you, our avid Outdoors Hunting and Fishing Community. You’ve shared with us your passion for Hunting, Fishing and Guns through the Sportman’s News Forum. The Sportsman’s News Forum is a community with over 17,000 members. Many of you have participated in our “Great Gun and Gear Giveaway” and have WON some amazing Guns and Gear. However, we know that your LOVE of Hunting and Fishing is not solely based on Guns and Gear. Your LOVE for the Great Outdoors, for Hunting and Fishing is based on doing. The need, the passion, the OBSESSION, to go and do what you LOVE! Here at Sportsman’s News we have hunted and fished with some of the best Outfitters on the planet and met a lot of wonderful people along the way. I often sit back and reflect on my life and what has happened over the past ten years. I truly feel blessed. We have gotten feedback from you, our avid readers and followers about how lucky we are to be able to do what we love and I absolutely agree with you! So, during the past two years I’ve been working hard to figure out a way that I can share this love of hunting, my passion, yes my OBSESSION with you! Good news - I have figured out a way for YOU to “Fuel Your Obsession” for Hunting, Fishing and Guns! It’s called

The first hunt giveaway, with Jeff Lester of Hunt Hard in New Mexico, will be given away on March 30, 2015. You must be a Pro Member by March 20, 2015 to qualify to win this hunt. the “Sportsman’s News Pro Membership.” When was the last time you were able to go on an incredible Hunting or Fishing Trip? I mean an actual Hunting or Fishing trip of a Lifetime. How many of you honest to goodness, hard-working souls have ever been able to afford to go on more than just a “Do It Yourself, Hunting or Fishing Trip, to your favorite location? The place

to share with you NEXT, will blow your mind because I want you to go on your Hunting and Fishing Trip of a lifetime, NOW! Yes, in 2015 and I have THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND reasons for you to do this NOW! I know money is tight, the economy has been tough for all of us. Especially, you the hard working men and women who keep this country moving forward, in spite of a

With more than $300,000 worth of trips and prizes, this is one of the largest hunting giveaways ever. where your Dad, Grandfather or Uncle first took you hunting and fishing. Where you connected, heart and soul, to your passion for this great adventure, to your OBSESSION for Hunting and Fishing? If this isn’t you, No Problem. STOP, right here and now. Don’t read any further. However, if this is you, then you know what I’m talking about. What I’m going

government that no longer seems to have our best interest at heart. However, forgive me, I’m not here to talk politics, I’m here to tell you, all of you, that you have blessed my life and allowed me to do what I love and now with the “Sportsman’s News Pro Membership, I can share it with YOU! “After working ten years as a professional hunter and fisherman I’ve learned that, MOST Outfitters Are NOT worth

their Salt and will take advantage of the working class man and woman.” As I mentioned, there are 300,000 reasons for you to become a Sportsman’s News Pro Member. So let me explain. You have given me the opportunity to Hunt and Fish full-time for the past 10 years. During this time, I have been able to discover and build relationships with the “Best of the Best” Outfitters in the business. These Outfitters have become Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved. You need to know, we don’t give this approval to Outfitter’s, they have to qualify for it. In fact, over the past ten years, I’ve learned from experience that most Outfitters are “Not Worth Their Salt!” Yes, that is correct. They don’t have your best interest at heart. So, even if you can scrape together the thousands of dollars to go on a trip of a lifetime the question is, who do you spend it with? Where do you go? Which Outfitters really have the Trophy Caliber Animals or just the experience you are looking to share? Trust me, I know you work too hard for your money and you don’t want to waste it. So now for a monthly membership fee of $27, you

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

will be entered for a chance to win three incredible Pro Membership Sweepstake Prizes each month. These are hunting and fishing trips of a lifetime, plus some amazing guns and gear as well. So what do you get for $27 a month? First, you’ll have five chances each month to win Hunting and Fishing Trips of a lifetime, plus Guns and Gear. Beginning on March 1st, 2015 and over the next 12 months, the “Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Fuel Your Obsession Sweepstakes” has a combined total of prizes to give-a-way that are valued at over $300,000, making this the largest outdoor sweepstakes ever offered. You no longer have to sit on the sidelines watching these adventures take place as a good number of you are going to be the focal point of our next ten years at Sportsman’s News. We have purchased some of the very best trips our Platinum Approved Outfitters have to offer. These are trips we reserved over a year ago to make sure we secured the best trips and the best dates for those lucky winners. We will kick off our very first sweepstakes drawing on March 30th. This is an awesome adventure with the Platinum Approved Outfitter “Hunt Hard”. The lucky winner of this “Trophy Bull Elk Hunt in New Mexico” will entitle you to a five day, fully guided elk hunt with owner, Jeff Lester, himself. He is known for his ability to “Hunt Hard” and deliver quality results. Drawing a trophy bull elk tag in New Mexico is a feat in itself, so we have provided a landowner voucher with this drawing to eliminate the possibility of not drawing a tag. This package is valued at over $11,000 and is a great

way to start “Fueling Your Obsession!” To be eligible for this drawing, you will need to be a Sportsman’s News Pro Member by March 20th and the drawing will be held on March 30th. Video of the drawing itself will be posted on the Sportsman’s News Pro Members website. The April 10th drawing will be a hunt with me, Michael Deming, Sportsman’s News President and long-time Platinum Approved Outfitter Papierski’s Big Game Hunts for a trophy antelope hunt in Northwest Colorado. We will be hunting a prestigious “Ranching for Wildlife” ranch which is known for producing Boone and Crocket antelope. Drawing a tag in this part of Colorado will take a nonresident over a dozen years of applying. John Papierski is one of the best Outfitter’s we have ever hunted with and one I personally look forward to each and every year. Since we want the lucky winner to be able to execute the long range shooting required for this area, we are going to equip them with a Savage long range rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor dialed in with a Nikon Monarch 7 riflescope setup, ready to go for the hunt. This total package is worth over $6,000.

This ten-day Dall sheep hunt with Alaska Statewide Guides is one of the premium giveaways and will be awarded August 30, 2015. Must be a Pro Member by August 20, 2015 to qualify. well as some hard to get ones in Sonora, Mexico. If New Zealand is on your list of destinations to visit, the trophy red stag and tahr hunt with Lindsey Frasier Safaris will definitely catch your eye. The lodge itself is worth the trip, but the foot hunt for trophy tahr will make it truly a trip-of-a-lifetime.

Reviews, Pro’s Picks and monthly feature articles in our Sportsman’s News publication. Top names like, Beretta, Sako, Tikka, Browning and Sitka Gear are just a few of the manufacturers we have lined up for the first year. These are the Guns and Gear that we trust to get the job done and make sure we don’t die doing it. So trust me, the Guns and Gear are the “Best of the Best” that money can buy.

Each and every See page 20 for a full list of prizes and drawing dates. month, the give-aBeing a Sportsways are some of Go to man’s News Pro the best you could Member will not imagine. We have for full details and rules and to join. only get you five fishing trips for chances in the hat two aboard luxury to win every one yachts in Alaska, The list of Quality Adventures as well of these great Trips, but it will also entitle Dall sheep hunts, brown bear hunts, Alaskan Yukon moose hunts, trophy as Fantastic Gear is very extensive and you to some great benefits each and every mule deer hunts in the United States as something we are very proud of and month. For example, every Pro Member happy to share with our precious Sports- will get the enhanced issue of the Sportsman’s News Pro Members. To see the man’s News Digital Edition delivered to entire 2015 Sweepstakes Calendar turn their in-box every month. It has all the to the inside spread of all the upcoming same gear reviews and trip evaluations Sportsman’s News papers or go to www. as in the printed version, but is expanded sportsmansnews.com and click on the with special tips and product information Sweepstakes List link. to make sure you are at the top of your game for the upcoming season and best As our membership grows, so will the of all, it will always be on your portable number of our trips we will be giving electronic device. So when you’re bored away. Our first years’ Trips and Gear out of your gourd and need to Fuel Your are as I’ve already stated, valued at over Obsession, it will always be right at your $300,000. fingertips.

Trophy antelope and a long range rifle package worth $6,000 will be our second Pro Member giveaway. Must be registered by March 30, 2015 to qualify for this great prize package.

www. SportsmansNews.com

In addition to these premium Platinum Approved Outfitters Trips, there are also Guns and Gear. These are Guns and Gear we have put to the test and proven to be the best. We have used and reviewed them as part of our weekly Video Product

Yes, there is more. As each of you know, the Sportsman’s News Television DVD series is put out eight times a year and until now could only be purchased continued on page 22

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

New Products Showcase By Sportsman's News Staff

ach year the Sportsmans News team travels to the various trade shows and picks out some of the hottest new products we feel our readers would be interested in learning about. Here are a few of the great new items coming to your local Sportsman's Warehouse store in 2015.

AVAILABLE AT

Bushnell Legend Binos Bushnell is adding three new series to its award-winning Legend line of binoculars. The Legend E, L, and M series provide a quality binocular in a price point to fit nearly every consumer. The Legend E Series reaches new levels of excellence and value with the all-weather assurance of Bushnell’s exclusive RainGuard HD coating. Built with a lightweight magnesium chassis and fully multi-coated optics for amazing light transmission. Available in 8x or 10x magnification with powerful light-gathering 42mm objective lenses, E Series binoculars also feature improved high-resistance twistup eyecups and fine-click adjustments built into the diopter. The Legend L Series binoculars are category leaders in image clarity and performance. Based on the award-winning Legend Ultra HD series, the L Series offers an improved user experience with a soft rubber housing, increased eyecup resistance, thumbhole cutouts, custom objective covers and a locking diopter. The L Series comes with ED Prime extralow dispersion fluorite glass that allows the visible colors of the spectrum to focus at virtually the same point. Available in 8x and 10x versions. Legend M Series binoculars from Bushnell take the Legend line to a whole new level with maximum brightness

and clarity. Constructed on a lightweight, openbridge magnesium chassis, these high-end 8x and 10x optics have 42mm objectives and provide 92 percent light transmission through the entire optical system using the very best dielectric prism coating. This coating reflects more than 99 percent of incoming light to allow for maximum light output at dusk and dawn. To push this technology to its highest level, Bushnell has paired it with ED Prime extra-low dispersion fluorite glass that brings out detail under low light, provides improved color resolution and contrast and practically eliminates chromatic aberration and color- fringing. Add in RainGuard HD, improved eyecup resistance and a locking diopter, and the Legend M sets a new standard for maximum brightness, clarity and performance in the field.

Sitka Gear Whitetail Fanatic System Sitka Gear, the industry leader in performance hunting gear has developed its most focused system ever for the hard-core rut hunter, by re-introducing the Fanatic Jacket and Bib and adding a Hoody and Lite Series to the Fanatic System. The Fanatic Lite Jacket has a durable high gauge face fabric and is bonded to an air-permeable honeycomb jacquard Micro-Fleece to allow breathability and remarkable noise reduction. A front storage pocket, rangefinder pocket with tieoff and safety harness pass-through port keep you and your necessities in place. The Fanatic Hoody, here Sitka took the chassis of a traditional hooded sweatshirt and used a body mapped grid and micro grid fleeces, to regulate your temperature while keeping scent to a minimum with Polygiene Odor Control Technology. The hood is cut for maximal peripheral vision, and from within it you can deploy the built-in facemask for enhanced concealment. The half-zip construction allows for a built in hand muff, which, together with the flip-over hand mitts in

the sleeves, works to keep your fingers warm and dexterous. The Fanatic Jacket and Bib are made of a Berber fleece face which silences the GORE WINDSTOPPER barrier, while body-mapped Primaloft Silver Insulation traps body heat where you need it. At the heart of the Fanatic Jacket is the diagonal-zip, which while sealing out the wind, allows for a zippered front muff to keep your digits toasty and agile, waiting to take that next shot. A magnetic closure rangefinder pocket, safety harness passthrough port, and internal gasketed cuffs round out this feature filled jacket. The Fanatic Bib allows for rubber boots to fit comfortably over the low-bulk hems, where a dedicated ankle pocket lets you rest your traditional bow hands-free. Rounding out the Fanatic System are the Fanatic Gloves, built from 4-way stretch-woven polyester; these gloves offer the balance of warmth and dexterity. The half-finger design on the forefinger and thumb free up your primary finger for release triggers and touchscreens. Alps Outdoorz Traverse X Pack Every hunter loves a good challenge. And so does ALPS OutdoorZ. When it was time to design and manufacture the continued on page 16

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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5/8/14 10:36 PM

SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS | March 2015

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March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Begin your Kenai adventure now By scanning our complimentary resources app!

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Phone:(250) 249-5424 Cell: (253) 306-1771

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If you want to catch BIG fish along with seeing breathtaking beauty every day then you need to visit Tree Tops Lodge. 5 STAR EVERYTHING!

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ruffossportsmanslodge.com

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

MANITOBA HUNTING & FISHING

CANADIAN HUNTING

Ranchland Outfitters offers First Class Waterfowl Hunts and Big Game hunts in Alberta, Canada. If you are looking for an Outfitter that cares about each hunt, look no further. Ranchland Outfitters is a First Class Waterfowl and Big Game Outfitter.

ALBERTA

www.ranchlandoutfitters.com 877-924-8440

CANADIAN HUNTING AND FISHING

Five Star Main Lodge Featuring Fully Guided American Plan Packages

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1-800-348-5824 1-800-348-5824 www.bigsandlakelodge.com www.bigsandlakelodge.com

MEXICO HUNTING

COLORADO FISHING

MONTANA FISHING

COLORADO HUNTING

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NEW ZEALAND HUNTING

• Colorado's Largest and most productive waterfowl Outfitter • Exclusive Leases on over 50 Farms on the Front Range of Colorado • World Class Guides and Equipment • Hunts are conducted in spacious in-the-ground pit blinds

303.659.8665

Canada’s Best Fishing Lodge Of The Year!

www.stillwateroutfitters.net

Stillwater Outfitters is Colorado's oldest and largest Waterfowl Outfitter. We have exclusive hunting leases on over 50 farms on the beautiful Front Range of Colorado. Our goal is to provide the trip of a lifetime without any drama. We also offer Turkey and Trophy Whitetail Deer hunting.

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING

COLUMBIA RIVER FISHING

South Dakota Pheasant Hunting at its Finest!

Contact Brett Waibel: info@badriverhunts.com

Day and all inclusive hunts available!

(605) 669-3440 BadRiverHunts.com

JOIN the PARTY!

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING Hunt the Grand Slam of the Dakotas World Class Pheasant Hunting Sharp-tail Grouse • Prairie Chicken Hungarian Partridge • Waterfowl

Tumbleweed Lodge

UTAH HUNTING & FISHING

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SOUTHWEST HUNTING

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TEXAS HUNTING

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UTAH HUNTING

Whitetail • Mule Deer • Turkey • Javelina

Est. 1986

Hunting Packages Include: • Meals • Game Handling • Lodging • Taxidermy Prep • Guides

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Private Fishing Charters All-Inclusive trips available

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P.O. Box 460, Port Aransas, TX 78373 • 800-460-1843

TEXAS HUNTING

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e have 24 years of outfitting and guide experience. We manage thousands of acr es of private hunting ground throughout the state of Utah. We offer quality fair-chase hunts for Trophy Mule Deer, Elk, Shiras Moose and Mountain Lion. We have guaran-

Jed and Jenni Wayment

PO Box 244, Henefer, Utah 84033

e-mail: jwayment@allwest.net • (435) 336-4146

teed tags on most of our ranches. We run professional, high-quality hunting camps with knowledgeable and experienced guides to pr ovide you with the hunt of a lifetime. “Make It Happen!” with J&J Outfitters. We look forwar d to hearing from you.

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SportsmansNews.com Logon to our website for a full list of endorsed outfitters with photos, descriptions, and details about each.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

California Dry Spell And Pork On The Hoof

Hunting wild boar in the burn By Gary Lewis

n a mountaintop, west of I-5, in California’s coast range we shook hands with Mike Gardner, of Hoss Hog Hunting. The 30-year-old

Gardner specializes in helping ranchers control populations of porkers in their proximity. Along, for his first hunt of his life, we had Mark Quinlan a.k.a. “Q,” from Bend, a 56-year-old cancer, coma and California survivor. He assured me he had been out to the COSSA Park and had practiced with a borrowed bolt-action and Nosler bullets. It has been a long dry spell for California, perhaps the longest drought in the state’s history and what is bad for a neighbor is bad for us. A well-known public figure recently made a speech about the subject then proceeded to play three rounds in three days on golf courses that consume an average of 1 million gallons of water a day. Drought can be studied through the examination of tree rings, sediments and other natural evidence and the current thinking is that California is in the midst of her worst drought in over four decades. There have been longer dry spells; the natural record shows a “mega-

Photo by Gary Lewis

Lewis took this feral hog with a Kimber .308 and a Nosler E-Tip. drought” started in the year 850 and lasted for 240 years, while another began in the 1140s and lasted for 180 years. Rain came early in February to Northern California, from a system that blanketed Mt. Shasta with snow and put three inches back in the reservoirs. Three inches might not be much, but it was enough to get crops started in the fields and green-up on the mountains. Seventeen miles from base camp, we

pulled into a ranch driveway, negotiated a rutted road between the house and the barn and wound through some bottomland to get a look at the reservoir – dangerously low for February. All around the edge we could see pig tracks and fresh rooting. It was our job to see that two of those California pigs went back continued on page 16 Photo by Gary Lewis

Come visit us at all the ISE Shows! Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show Portland Oregon Feb 4-8 Central Washington Sportsmen Show Yakima Washington Feb 20-22 mo

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(907) 335-2001 P.O. Box 2200, Kenai, Alaska 99611

Kenai, Alaska

www.salmoncatcherlodge.com Email: salmoncatcherlodge2001@gmail.com

These two wild hogs, a boar and a sow, showed up in camp after the tags were filled.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Power Bedding™ Integral Bedding Blocks for Outstanding Accuracy

Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ Trigger Offers a Crisp Release with an Adjustable Pull Weight

Flush Fit, Four-Round Rotary Magazine Provides Smooth, Reliable Feeding

Visible, Accessible and Easy-to ActuateTang Safety

Three-Lug, 70˚ Bolt Throw Provides Ample Scope Clearance

The 100% American-made, Ruger American Rifle™ is the latest engineering innovation from America’s leading firearms manufacturer. Offered in short- and long-action calibers, the Ruger American Rifle™ combines the rugged reliability of Ruger’s past with the award-winning ingenuity featured in so many of Ruger’s new products.

Larry Weishuhn, “Mr. Whitetail”

WWW.RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE

041312

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

PACWEST

draws choked with chemise, but we had to trust our guide’s intuition. The continued from page 14 only thing we were sure of was they to Oregon as pork chops. were headed to the reservoir to drink Into my rifle I bolted an environmen- some more of California’s precious tally friendly Nosler E-Tip, designed in water. Ten minutes of light left? Bend, Oregon, expressly for activities We were back in the oaks now, trotsuch as these in a place like California. ting to keep up with Gardner. He spotWe eased through stands of oaks, ted the first one and then there were swung our legs over barbed wire, more, streaming out of the chemise on checked for tracks at the edges of the the other side of the dry creek bed. A fields then parked our posteriors on a sow with piglets, a grizzled boar and prominence and watched the sun go a smaller one. We thought they would down in the West. run right into us, but then part of the I glanced at Q. He had his binocular group caught our scent and they began up, scanning the opposite hillside try- to stream downhill to the south. ing to separate a hog from the chemise “There.” The rifle was sighted three and the chapparal. inches high at 100 yards and I forgot “With the drought, you can’t figure to compensate for the slope. A bullet these pigs out,” Gardner whispered. kicked up dirt over the boar’s back. “When this field is green, when the We sprinted 50 yards to head them crops are up, you can’t keep the pigs off, saw the sow and piglets go through out of here. It seems like they are in the open at a dead run. The next one smaller groups now. Twos and threes through was a single with a long, Euinstead of the groups of 20 to 40 we’re ropean snout and bristly black hair, used to.” headed uphill at top speed. When my Twenty minutes of light left. That’s crosshairs found its snout, I squeezed when Gardner spotted them, a line of the trigger. black porkers on a hillside a thousand Moments later I walked up to my yards away. trophy and smelled a scent not unlike Gardner made a decision. “It’s a long maple syrup. way and we’re almost out of light, but “It’s all about what they’re eating. we’ve got to go after them.” These are some of the sweetest smellThey were high on the hill, moving ing pigs you will ever find,” Gardner fast when last we glimpsed them. They said. could have taken any one of a dozen “Okay, I get it now,” Q said. “I was imagining how the hunt Photo by Gary Lewis would go and now I see you might have to move fast, you might have to run, be ready to shoot.” He was ready. In the morning, after a two-mile hike in which we found no swine, we were almost back to the cabins and lunch when three pigs crossed the trail in front of us. Our new hunter finished his first hunt with the main ingredient for a barbeque. We celebrated with glasses of water brought in from out of state. We passed a golf course on the way home, but refrained from setting a tee time. We want to be part of the solution. On an evening hunt in Northern California, Mark Quinlan (left) and Mike Gardner scout out potential trails the hogs use to access croplands.

Gary’s latest book, Fishing Mount Hood Country, is available at www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com.

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 8

best packs on the market, ALPS didn’t take the challenge lightly. By using premium materials and components, extremely adjustable and comfortable suspension systems, and design features that support your hunting activities, you could say that ALPS has hit the bull’s-eye with this new Traverse Extreme Pack. The pack has been tested, used and abused, modified, and put back to the test again to bring consumers a pack that is reliable, durable, and practical. The Traverse X is a 2900 cubic inch internal frame pack with a stow-away meat shelf, fleece-lined side wing pockets for optics, and carry systems for a bow, rifle, and handgun.

FlameStower Electronic devices have become so commonplace, that it is not unheard of to take them to camp. The FlameStower allows you to recharge any device that uses USB technology for power. By sticking the heat blade directly into the flame of an isobutane stove or campfire, FlameStower will translate that heat into electrical energy, providing up to 2.5 watts of power through its USB charging

cable. Simply plug your device cable into the built-in USB port, turn up the heat, add water to the cooling chamber, and wait for the electricity to start flowing into your device. At only 2.25 inches wide, 7 inches long, and less than an inch thick when folded, the FlameStower weighs only 10 ounces, making it ideal for backpacking. Solar panels only work in the daytime, and are degraded when cloudy, battery packs run down, and not all devices let you just swap out the batteries. The FlameStower works with any kind of fire, so it can be used over the campfire, or any time you cook your food on the stove. For less than $90 you can have a limitless charger for your favorite electronic device that easily fits in a pack or pocket.

Stanley Mountain Vacuum Coffee System Coffee on the trail is a necessary luxury for many people and Stanley has made that necessity even easier. The Boiling Pot + French Press + Vacuum Bottle of the Mountain Vacuum Coffee System incorporates all of the items needed to make great tasting coffee and keep it hot for up to 24 hours. Featuring a stainless steel boiling pot with a collapsible heat resistant handle, water can be boilied over a stove or campfire. Open the vacuum bottle stopper to find a coffee grounds compartment and dump your grounds directly into the boiling pot. Use the French press basket to separate the grounds, and pour the contents into the 1.1 quart vacuum bottle. The bottle includes two nested cups that act as the stopper cover. All of this nests compactly inside the pot and features locking lugs to keep it all together. Overall, it weighs in at 2.4 pounds, so it is great for car camping or basecamp. And the double wall vacuum insulation not only will keep your coffee hot for 24 hours, it will keep beverages ice cold for up to 20 hours. For under $60, having coffee on the trail is a priceless proposition. continued on page 18

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 16

Eagle Nest Outfitters Ember 2 Underquilt Hammock sleeping is the most comfortable night’s sleep I have had on the trail. As with ground sleeping, proper insulation beneath is more important that a warm sleeping bag. When I set up my Eagle Nest Outfitters Jungle Nest hammock, I make sure to protect from cold air coming up from the ground by also slinging the Ember 2 Underquilt on my hammock line. The Ember 2 simply clips onto the same strap that supports my hammock, but provides an extra layer of insulation around the outside of the hammock. Rated for sleeping in warmer weather, between 40-50 degrees

Fahrenheit, the Ember 2 polyester fill wrapped in ripstop nylon with DWR coating and a taffeta lining provide additional insulation to keep me warm and snuggly all night long. At 25 ounces, it is lightweight and compressible enough to take up very little room or space in my pack. Unfolded it is more than 7 feet long, so it protects my head and my feet, and more than 4.5 feet wide, so it wraps all the way up the sides of my floating bed. Helle Sylvsteinen Camp Knife Featuring a 5.3-inch blade, made of Helle’s legendary Norwegian laminated steel, the Sylvsteinen Camp Knife is a perfect all around field knife for everything from butchering meat, prepping vegetables, or general bushcraft. The straightback, full-tang blade is hollow ground with an aggressive edge and is topped by an attractive curly birch and antler handle capped with a brass fingerless guard. The handle is beefy enough to provide positive control for even the most delicate work but also gives sufficient grip for gross actions such as carving tent stakes.

At right around 10 inches of overall length and weighing just under 6 ounces, the Sylvsteinen is small enough for detail work but large enough for heavy duty bushcraft. It comes in an attractive hand-stitched leather sheath. When a top-quality knife is needed, nothing compares to the craftsmanship of Helle of Norway.

become unsafe. Under these conditions, ShockStrap stretches, acting like a shock absorber and contracts with the load keeping it secure. For hauling your expensive machinery over long distances on bumpy roads, ShockStraps will not come loose and will not break. Heavy steel hooks stand up to extreme

force without losing shape or bending. Super aggressive cam teeth bite into the nylon webbing straps and hold tighter than other brands of tension straps. Aimpoint T-2 Micro Building upon the success of their popular T-1 Micro Red Dot, Aimpoint has ruggedized the chasis and added additional modifications to allow the inclusion of front and rear flip caps and anti-reflective devices, and to protect the zero turrets. The most important development in this new sight however, is enhanced optical performance. A newly designed front lens, incorporating an important breakthrough in reflective lens coatings, provides a noticeable increase in the clarity and performance properties of the Micro T-2. This ensures that no matter what angle or conditions the shot presents, the user is able to get on target quickly and accurately. The T-2 will work with most Aimpoint T-1 accessories, magnifiers, and mounts and will run for up to 5 years of continuous use on a single CR-2032 battery. ShockStraps ShockStraps are a unique shock-absorbing tie down that incorporates three of the most versatile tie down principals into one superior system. They are quick and easy like a motorcycle tie down, have the reliability of a ratchet system, and the versatility of a shock cord. A ShockStrap, when stretched, maintains tension on the webbing, locking it into the buckle. When road vibrations cause loads to shift and settle, other tie downs can loosen and

Spork Original The Spork Original has a full spoon, full fork, and a serrated edge that works like a knife. The spoon-fork-knife combo brings a bit of civilization to the wild and a bit of the wild to civilization. The Spork is perfect for your backpack, boat, picnic basket, lunchbox, purse or briefcase.

Spork Titanium Same great Spork design constructed from strong, yet light, titanium. Its high biocompatibility means that it is very non-toxic plus it is hypoallergenic, noncorrosive and non-magnetic. Great for your next outing, no matter where it is. continued on page 24

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

THE RUGER

LC380 ™

The Ruger® LC380™ is the perfect pairing of the award-winning LC9™ pistol and the popular .380 Auto cartridge.

It features a dovetailed, high visibility 3-dot sight system, 7-round magazine and finger grip extension floorplate, manual safety, loaded chamber indicator and light recoil spring for an easy-to-manipulate slide. The LC380™ is the same size as the LC9™, yet offers reduced recoil making it Ruger’s lightest recoiling personal protection centerfire pistol yet.

Finger Grip Extension Floorplate Can Be Added to the Magazine for Comfort and Grip, Included FREE

Same Size as the LC9™ but with a Lighter Recoil Spring for Easier Slide Manipulation

Includes internal lock, Manual Safety, Magazine Safety and Loaded Chamber Indicator, Which Provides Confirmation of a Loaded or Empty Chamber

WWW.RUGER.COM/LC380

Dovetailed, High-Visibility 3-Dot Sight System

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

PRO MEMBERSHIP continued from page 7

One lucky winner during 2015 will have a chance to co-host Sportsman's News Television on a hunt for red stag and tahr in the rugged and beautiful wilderness of New Zealand.

at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse. When you become a “Sportsman’s News Pro Member” you will receive all eight of these 4-hour DVD’s right to your mailbox. Plus, if you are one of the lucky monthly winners, not only will you get to see the pages of Sportsman’s News come alive you’ll get to live it and share it. That’s right, the Sportsman’s News Television Team will be there to capture the entire adventure for future episodes. The monthly winners will become a co-host of a SNTV episode. The next perk of becoming a Sportsman’s News Pro Member, is you’ll get a 5% discount on any Hunting and Fishing Trip that you book with one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters. We have worked things out so that each and every member will get a 5% discount on any trip they book with them. These Outfitters are the best in the business and getting a 5% discount makes being a Pro Member worth every penny. Plus we have partnered with HuntDraws.com to provide you with more benefits to your membership. If you hunt the West, you have become familiar with all the draw deadlines and how important it is to your hunting future to not miss a deadline. This added benefit to our members will allow them to pick four states that they would like to be notified about for the drawings. HuntDraws.com will notify them via email and or text on the opening of the application period, as well as about 7-days prior to the close of the application period and one last time, the day before the closing of the application period. This will

insure you don’t miss any of those important dates again and you can add additional states at a discounted price, exclusive to Sportsman’s News Pro Members. If you are looking to hunt or fish in a specific destination, being a Sportsman’s News Pro Member will entitle you to personal consultation from the specific member of the staff who has been with this Outfitter in the past. He or she will provide you with the best information as to where

and when to go to accomplish your goals and give you the very best experience. Cancellation trips from Outfitters is a great way to save a bunch of money and it happens each and every year due to unexpected events. These short notice opportunities are usually reserved for a very short client list due to their past status with the Outfitters. Since the Sportsman’s News has such a long standing relationship with our Platinum Approved Outfitters and is buying some of their very best trips each and every year, we are at the top of the list for these cancellation specials. Pro Members will be notified of these deeply discounted opportunities prior to anyone else ever getting a chance to purchase one of these great opportunities.

However, for those of you who don’t want to sacrifice the $27 per month or don’t have that ability right now to pay the monthly fee, we have structured a way for you to participate in the, Sportsman’s News “Fuel Your Obsession Sweepstakes” without a purchase. Unfortunately, you won’t get any of the great added benefits that come with being a Sportsman’s News Pro Member, but you could still have a chance at winning one of the sweepstakes prizes. For information on how to do this, visit the Sportsman’s News website at www. sportsmansnews.com for full details on how to participate as well as how to become a Sportsman’s News Pro Member or just scan the QR Code below and start, “Fueling Your Obsession!”

Additional Sportsman’s News Pro Membership benefits will be added on a regular basis, so make sure to check the website at www.sportsmansnews.com for an up-to-date list.

Our fourth giveaway for the Pro Membership program will be for a brown hear hunt with Renfro's Alaskan Adventures, drawn April 30, 2015. Must be registered by April 20, 2015 to qualify.

A Sportsman’s News Pro Membership will only cost you $27 dollars a month or $297 for the full year if you pay in full when you register. We feel that we have made the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership affordable for everyone to participate.

Scan this box with your smart phone to enter today!

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 18

Tetra USB Charger + Lantern + Flashlight The rechargeable and collapsible Tetra LED Lantern + USB Charger + Flashlight shifts easily between flashlight and lantern functions and features a USB-charger port perfect for charging a camera, mobile phone or GPS. The Tetra has a durable, water-resistant housing that helps ensure illumination and a reliable source of power in foul weather. The Tetra offers a long-lasting battery life that will run for up to 120 hours on low, has adjustable brightness up to 170 lumens and has 3-lighting modes that range from high to low to S.O.S. emergency strobe. Powered by a rechargeable 2.6AH Li-Ion battery, the

frosted globe of the Tetra slides up for a diffused white light in lantern mode and collapses down for flashlight mode with a super bright R4 XP-G2 CREE LED beam projection of 10-140 meters. Original Candle Lantern This is the classic, long-burning, collapsible Original Candle Lantern that has provided warm, natural light to millions of outdoor enthusiasts for decades. It is perfectly suited to backpacking, mountaineering, snow-camping and similar outdoor pursuits. Lightweight and compact, the Original Candle Lantern provides 9-hours of warm light from a single candle, surrounding it in the safest, most efficient lantern housing available anywhere. The lightweight aluminum or brass frame holds the glass chimney securely in place, creating a windproof environment for the flame.

And the unique, easy-slide chimney allows the glass to slide down into the lantern, making the candle easier than ever to light. The spring-powered candle tube pushes the candle up as it burns, keeping the flame burning at a constant height. A viewing slot on the side of the lantern allows the user to monitor the slow burning candle for remaining burn time.

Camp Chef SmokePro SE Pellet Grill Take your outdoor cooking to the next level with a SmokePro Pellet Grill by Camp Chef. The SmokePro SE Pellet Grill is built so you can discover the real tastes of award winning BBQ right from your own back patio. Simply select the desired cooking temperature and let the electronic controls maintain temperatures for you. Cooking temperatures range from 160°F up to 500°F, including low or high smoke settings. The builtin grease management system keeps things clean for the next barbecue. The SE offers great entry level value and pricing while still rivaling any other pellet grill on the market. Its features include: • Electronic auto-ignition • Internal temperature sensor gauge • Large 19.5” x 22” grilling area • Utility shelf • Recipe booklet ThermaCELL Heated Insoles ProFLEX ThermaCELL Heated Insoles are designed to go with you everywhere so you can stay one step ahead of the cold. Simply insert them into your boots or shoes to keep your feet consistently warm and comfortable for hours, whether you’re on the construction site, in a tree-stand, out for a day of ice fishing or while taking in your favorite cold weather sporting event. The ProFLEX are truly the extended solution to cold feet. These wireless, batterypowered insoles easily slip into your favorite footwear and with the ability of choosing between three heat settings,

being miserable because of cold feet will become a thing of the past. Rechargeable, removable batteries can easily be replaced with fresh ones for hours and hours of continued warmth. Check out this new and improved version at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Spudz Pro Spudz Pro is a credit-card-sized cleaning kit that includes a bottle of anti-fog solution that fits alongside the cloth inside the attached pouch. Spudz Pro clips to packs, straps, binoculars or zippers so you always have it with you when you need it.

BinoSlicker BinoSlicker is a lightweight, weatherproof binoculars cover that is designed to stay on while in use. It stuffs compactly inside its attached storage pouch and clips wherever you need it. It also has a microfiber cloth attached inside for quick cleaning. Nite Ize- Gear Tie Dockable Twist Tie Nite Ize is always coming up with new products and ways to improve existing products. The Gear Tie Dockable Twist Tie is not only one of the most creative products of its kind, but extremely vercontinued on page 30

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

Beretta Pico .380 Pistol

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

uilding upon the success of their Nano design, Beretta has gone even smaller with the introduction of their .380 pocket pistol, the Pico. Typically in a review, I start on the strengths and move to the weaknesses, but for this gun I am going to reverse the usual order of business to explain how some of the weaknesses actually work together to create strengths. This gun is very small, which makes it difficult for those with larger hands to properly grip and operate. Couple that with an especially stiff double recoil spring and minimal grip serrations and you have a gun that is difficult to cycle for those with weak hands and difficult to hold for those with large hands. Additionally, the gun had issues cycling anything but the stiffest +P ammunition we fed it. On the plus side, the gun is very small. It is ideal for slipping discretely into a pocket holster or in a Flashbang Holster beneath a bra as it practically disappears. At just over ¾ of an inch wide and only 5 ¼ inches long, it vanishes when concealed. The weight is minimal as well at only 11.5 ounces with an empty magazine. This makes this little guy easy to carry and conceal.

The Pico comes with two magazines, a flush fit that adds nothing to the 4-inch high grip and a finger extension version that adds about an inch of gripping surface. Both magazines hold six rounds. Because the Pico uses a tilt barrel, it helps minimize felt recoil over other small .380s with fixed barrels. It also means the slide doesn’t have to travel as far to the rear to eject

spent casings. With ammo under 850 FPS we saw several failure to eject malfunctions. This was an easy issue to fix once we took the gun apart. Inside, the recoil spring is actually comprised of two noncaptive springs, one inside the other. By removing the internal spring and replacing the guide rod and outer spring, we were able to easily feed and eject less powerful ammo. My suggestion is to remove the internal spring unless you plan to carry stiffer +P loads. Because the gun is designed like most Berettas, to be free from sharp edges and snag points, it is sleek in the hand and has a very smooth finish. This can make cycling the slide difficult, but is easier when the internal recoil spring is removed. The magazine release can be a bit tricky to figure out, as it resembles the trigger guard-mounted ambidextrous release found on many HK and Walther firearms. By pinching it with the support hand and sliding downward at the same time as you pull the magazine away, it quickly ejects the empty magazine. The gun shot amazingly well for such a little package. The sights on the gun are real sights, not a channel cut into the frame. These white dot sights give the shooter a quick sight picture and make target acquisition and follow-up shots faster. The trigger is one area that could use some serious work. The thin and narrow grip causes those with larger hands to have difficulty pulling the trigger the last quarter of an inch to fire. It runs at about 8-pounds up until that last quarter inch, then jumps to about 12.5-pounds. Normally, I am

okay with a hefty trigger pull on a defensive gun, but this trigger is a bit gritty at the end, though ultimately, the break is clean and crisp. As I mentioned previously, the gun is difficult for those with large hands to manipulate, but that actually works in favor of those with smaller hands. There are plenty of self-defense guns available for those with beefy mitts, but not many designed for the smaller hands out there. All of the controls and there aren’t many, are accessible for those with diminutive paws. The slide lock lever is slick and the magazine release is easily accessible. Other than those two controls, the Pico has no external safety, de-cocking lever or any other accruements to confuse or snag; a clean simple design. The true double-action mechanism requires no cocking to fire, so it is an ideal gun for practicing dry-fire. The semi-exposed internal hammer stays flat when not in use and only travels rearward when you pull the trigger. It is recessed within the frame, so no danger of accidently dropping it on the hammer and causing an unintended discharge. Overall, I was impressed with this gun, though it would not be an ideal fit for me or anyone who wears a medium or large glove. For those with smaller hands and thinner bodies, this gun is the answer they have been seeking to be able to carry a concealed firearm for self defense. The inclination is that this is a ladies gun, but there are plenty of men with small hands and many women who like the beefy feel of a larger framed weapon, so this gun will be enjoyed by users of both genders. If you are looking for a reliable, proven and quality firearm for self defense, then you can’t go wrong with the world’s oldest continuous gun manufacturer. Beretta has been making guns for 500 years and their fit, finish and overall feel is second to none. Check out the Beretta Pico at your Sportsman’s Warehouse gun counter and see if it is a good fit for your self defense needs.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

Spring Salvation

Chad LaChance

figure by this time of year, I’m lucky to be alive or at least lucky to be of sound mind and body. The arrival of March means I’ve survived the bulk of winter and the sheer bliss of being a prisoner of the weather. It means I’ve beaten the shack nasties for another year and can now find strength in the lengthening days of the approaching spring. And, if I haven’t freaked out and “shot six holes in my freezer” to quote Jimmy Buffet in talking about his own bout with cabin fever, than I’m doing just fine, thank you. For the record, I do go outside in the winter. I fish, I hunt, I walk D a n g e r, m y three year old Lab who would likely freak out, too if I didn’t force myself outside so he could burn off some steam. I do go out and, umm, enjoy the

beautiful Colorado winter, but only because I truly would either explode or fizzle away if I stayed indoors too long. Let’s just say that cold weather ain’t my thing and call it good. Sure, we still get some cold this time of year, but it is punctuated with periods of warmth, which helps - a lot. We still have some lingering snow in shady areas and even ice on many lakes; watching as its beaten back by daily warmth is very empowering. As soon as the calendar rolls to the third month annually, it triggers some sort of Pavlovian response in my brain to get serious about tackle. Somehow, even working on gear gets mentally tough by February, but it gets oh-so-easy in March when open water and boating are on the immediate horizon. A sense of urgency takes over and suddenly I feel like there is not enough time to get it all ready, but at least I’m in a better mood anyway. In the same way that pregnant women are known to “nest”, in early spring, I tinker with tackle. Assuming I was a good Boy Scout – err, angler - back in fall when I put all my open water tackle and gear away, it’s all ready for the spring tune up. Five months ago, I stripped old line, cleaned rods and

reels and took a thorough inventory of lures. Even better if I’ve used idle winter time to replace hooks and/or split rings, sort plastics, cleaned nets and waders, etc. If I didn’t complete those tasks, now is the time. If I did, then now I can re-spool line on specific set-ups. I can stack loaded Plano boxes by lure genre for easy access as I head out on spring flings and basically I can be certain I have what I need immediately at hand. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, even as I type it. But given that I am a multi species angler and guide, it’s a lot of tackle to tackle. When it comes to fishing, I’m also a perfectionist; the tackle needs to be just right, down to the finest details. We may be filming ice-out lake trout fishing one day, early spring bass fishing the next and then guiding for walleyes the day after that; the tackle required for each is different and there is no time to work on any of it between days without a fire drill. To add to the early spring busyness, I typically move into a new boat in March. Like many fishing industry professionals, I sell my boat every fall (Hey wait, perhaps being boatless is the cause of my winter blues?) and start again in continued on page 32

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown ®

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combines all the features and functionality of the 10/22® rifle with the ability to easily separate the barrel/forend and action/buttstock for convenient storage and transportation. The simple reassembly of the barrel and action yields a rock-solid return to zero for consistent, reliable performance. Packed in a rugged, ballistic nylon case (included), the Ruger® 10/22 Takedown™ makes it easy to keep America’s favorite rimfire rifle by your side.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 24

satile and just flat out cool. The Gear Tie has a rubber service that will securely grip your gear, while the flexible core allows you to wrap it around a variety of items from fishing rods, skateboard, tools or just about anything you can fit it around. The Gear Tie Dockable Twist Tie comes with a durable plastic mountable Dock that you can permanently screw into the wall. It works by taking the Gear Tie and securing it around your fishing rods or desired gear with one end, while

attaching the other end of the Gear Tie to the Dock, which has a V-Shaped opening that securely grips the flexible Gear Tie at any point you attach it. Use the Gear Tie separate to help you organize in ways you couldn’t before.

Yeti- Hopper 20 Yeti Coolers is one of the top known names in the cooler industry and when needing to keep ice for days, it’s easy to see why so many people choose Yeti. New for 2015, Yeti is coming out with the Hopper 20, a smaller version of the Hopper 30, which filled the demand for many consumers. Where the Hopper 20

stands out most is in its smaller design, making it ideal for a trip to the golf course or tailgating. The Yeti Hopper is as tough as nails, leak-proof and holds ice for days. Yeti is staying true to their slogan, “wildly stronger keeps ice longer”. It has 1.5” thick foam on the bottom and 1” thick on the sides. The Hopper 20 is made of a high tenacity 840 denier nylon with double TPU coating that is waterproof and is resistant to puncture, abrasion and UV-Rays. It’s similar materials and overall construction is used for high performance whitewater rafts. The heavy-duty EVA bottom makes for an abrasion resistance that is very stable and has no problem standing upright on its own. The overall size is 13 ¾ inches tall, 21 ½ inches long and 10 ½ inches wide. The 4.6 gallon capacity used with the recommended 2:1 ice-to-contents ratio will hold 12 cans, 49 creamsicles, a limit of rainbow trout or about 369 orange slices. Lightweight and easy to carry, the Yeti Hopper 20 is sure to be another favorite.

nology allows video with audio, still photos and a time-lapse modes, letting you program your camera to take photos over a predetermined period of time. The resolution is fully adjustable between 8.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 2.0 Megapixel. It has an 80 ft. range with a sub 1-second trigger to ensure you never miss that once in a lifetime photo. The blur reduction technology provides a crisp picture and the rapid-fire burst mode will give you up to nine pictures per triggering. One of my favorite features is the overall compact size, measuring approximately 4 ½ inches tall and a little over 3 ½ inches wide. It’s perfect for throwing in your pack and venturing into the backcountry for a scouting trip. They’re completely re-engineered to optimize energy efficiency, resulting in longer batter life, so you don’t have to worry about a dead camera.

Remington- Express XP Tactical Air Rifle Air guns have been around for decades and with recent advancements in technology, the latest air guns are more advanced and powerful than ever before. For many of us, our first introduction to shooting started with an air gun and provided a great way to learn safety and gain an overall respect for guns. Remington has developed a line of air guns that are perfect for learning the basics to hunting small vermin and squirrels. With multiple models to choose from, the Remington Express XP Tactical .177 Caliber Air Rifle with its sleek design and full length SPS style synthetic stock stands out. Powered by a spring piston with a break barrel action, this air rifle will deliver an alloy pellet 1,300 fps. The Express XP Tactical comes with many innovative features, including a sound GSM Outdoors- Stealth Cam RX36 suppressing muzzle device to reduce GSM Outdoors is a top company with noise, a 9x32 scope, a two stage precision some of the best products on the market. trigger, an auto-reset safety feature, plus a Stealth Cam is one of those products and 19-inch accuracy-tuned barrel to give you this year they have done it again with the unmatched precise shooting, shot after new RX36 Infrared Scouting Camera. For shot. If you’re looking at air guns this year, starters, RX36 by Stealth Cam has mul- then make sure you check out the full line tiple settings and features to ensure your from Remington. They have been buildcamera provides the ing guns for decades See Exclusive Extended Content at and know what it quality and versatilwww.sportsmansnews.com means to make a ity needed. It’s quick, in the Free Digital Edition of simple and easy to set Sportsman’s News Magazine quality product you up. The 3-in-1 techcan count on.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

REMINGTON® VERSA MAX.® ANY LOAD. ANYWHERE. EVERY TIME.

Any perceived advantage of an inertia-driven autoloader dies the instant you shoulder a VERSA MAX ®. Its new VersaPort ® gas system cycles every load, from light 2 ¾" to heavy 3 ½" magnums, with flawless consistency, dramatically less recoil and less maintenance than any other autoloader out there. For a devastating combination, choose Hypersonic Steel.® At 1,700 fps, it’s the world’s fastest, hardest-hitting steel.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

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spring so that all the systems, design and components are new and theoretically reliable and the whole rig will look sharp on TV and for guide clients. It’s an outwardly great system, until you have to go through the buy/move in/ set-up/sell/move out process yearly for a decade. Then you realize its work, like any other job. By the time I get really comfy in a new boat, it heads off to live with someone else who gets the benefit of all my set-up labor while I’m left to start over. Given that I’m borderline OCD with my tackle, I refuse to move into a new boat without everything going into said boat being ready for battle. Given that I’m borderline lazy with mid-winter tackle prep, March gets real busy to accomplish this and I wouldn’t change a thing. You know the great part about this whole annual process? It’s the life it breathes into my inner angler. You see, it doesn’t matter if you’re an industry professional that lives, eats and breathes fishing or a weekend worm dunker

that only fishes now and then when the weather is nice and you happen to have some free time. The opportunity and potential that a dawning spring season promises is pure magic. If there is even a hint of fisherman in you, at some point this month you’ll think about hitting your local waters. Subconsciously or otherwise, even the most casual anglers are programmed to be in a positive mood when things thaw out. Make the most of this productive energy. I guess that’s my point. Get your tackle together (using whatever “together” means to you), grab a friend and go fishing. Geez, go alone, even. It’s a very natural spring thing – a right – to get outside and soak up some sun, all the while taking in the new life occurring at a rapid rate in the riparian habitat you’ll be experiencing. Get a head start on the approaching warm weather, catch a few fish and go home a reenergized person. Therein lies the power of spring and nothing says spring like a good ol’ fishin’ trip. To paraphrase another Buffet original, “I’ve gotta stop wishin’, I’ve gotta go fishin’, I’m down to rock bottom again.” It’s a good thing March just got here!

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

Using A Map And Compass

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

etting lost sucks. At best, it means extra time spent wandering around trying to find your way back to camp or to your truck and at the worst, it can be the end of you. Trusting in just one single way to navigate in the outdoors is a recipe for disaster. Two is one and one is none. A GPS can make navigating much less difficult, but it is not a guarantee that you will be able to find your way. Batteries die, devices break, cliffs and valleys can obstruct the satellite signal or just not understanding the terrain can all mean that your GPS device is a useless weight you are lugging around and depending upon it as your sole means of navigation can be a costly mistake. As a backup, a map and a compass never run out of batteries, are not dependent on access to the sky and also, provided you have the correct type of map, can give you important details about the terrain you will be traversing. The purpose of this article will not be to teach you how to use a map and compass. There are volumes of books available on the subject. The purpose here is to provide guidance on what skills to learn and those resources to learn them. We will also discuss some common navigation terminology that you may need and bust a myth or two. First, get a good compass and a good map of the area in which you will be spending time. While the tiny button compass on your survival bracelet, zipper pull or the butt of your survival knife is better than no compass at all, it is not a substitute for a good base plate compass. Base plate or map base

Pro’s Tips

times just a little bit and sometimes by a lot. This is why it is important to update your maps on a regular basis. Any more than a compasses are designed to be used with few years old and it is time to get new maps and offer tools that will help you maps. Additionally, newer maps will navigate with your map. Two I recom- show the addition of changing features, mend for this purpose are the Brunton such as roads, radio towers, windmills OSS 70 M Eclipse or the Suunto MCA and campgrounds, which can be used D Compass. Each offers declination ad- as navigational landmarks. Your map will list the declination justments, distance scales for different types of maps and a mirror and lens for either on the map page, showing a line shooting a target. Don’t worry about the pointing straight towards the top with a terminology just yet, as we will discuss tangent coming off in a dotted line and the number of degrees of declination or them in a bit. While the old military style or len- in the map key, telling you how many satic compass is a good tool for field degrees to adjust. The DeLorme Atlas navigation, it lacks many of the tools and Gazetteer for Colorado explains available on map base compasses that that the western part of the state has a will make navigation easier. You need declination of +10 degrees, while the to have a rotating bezel and preferably eastern part of the state has a declinaa declination marker arrow, as well tion of +7 degrees. Having the ability to as easy to read cardinal points and set your declination on your compass degrees. You want a straight edge and and having a map to give you the cordistance scales, as well as the means rect declination is just one reason to to align your map and compass with have a map AND a compass together. The next skill is taking a bearing. A landmarks. A major concept to understand is dec- bearing is a direction towards somelination. Declination is the difference thing, measured in degrees. A circle between true map North and magnetic has 360 degrees and a straight line from North. This difference will vary de- the center of your compass to the target pending upon where on the planet you is the bearing, assuming that North are. It also changes over time, some- is 0 degrees. Thus, if you are standing facing due North and walking toward an object or landmark in a straight line, your bearing is 0 degrees. Due East is 90 degrees. Your course is the route you take to get to a location. So if you make a variety of turns, say to go around terrain that is impassable, then you need to record each A Map Base Compass such as the Brunton OSS 70 M Eclipse (left) or the Suunto MCA D turn you make and the Compass (middle) will serve you better for map and compass navigation than a military distance travelled. It is style lensatic compass (right). best to carry a pencil and

mark these turns on your map using the straightedge of your compass base plate. As for distance, it is vital that you know your stride length. Lay a tape measure on the ground and make natural steps to measure how far each stride of your walk is. I find that my stride on level ground is average; 4 paces for 10 feet. Knowing this, I can compute that with my stride, 100 paces equals 250 feet and 2,112 paces equals a mile. By counting my paces, I can estimate fairly accurately how much distance I am covering. Keep in mind that your pace will differ on uneven ground or while travelling uphill or downhill so you will need to adjust. All of this may sound very confusing, but with a little instruction and some practice, it will become second nature to you. Some good resources to look at are the Boy Scout Fieldbook and its section on orienteering and the Falcon Guides Basic Illustrated Map and Compass. Both of these books contain easily understandable guides for using a map and a compass to navigate. The Falcon Guide book, as well as a variety of compasses and maps are available at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse store. Additionally, your Sportsman's Warehouse store will have a great selection of DeLorme Atlas and Gazeteers for a variety of surrounding states, so it will be easy to update your maps. A compass by itself will tell you where North is, but it will not tell you what lies to the North. If you are familiar with your surroundings, it will be a good guide to get you to a general safety target, such as a road or a river that cuts your path in a perpendicular line. However, for true land navigation, you need a map to tell you how to get to your destination and what types of land features lie in between. A map without a compass is a best guess. You can see landmarks that lie all around you, but without a compass continued on page 36

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

MAP AND COMPASS continued from page 34

to orient your direction, can you be certain which mountain is to your right? Do you know for a fact that the stream in front of you is the one that leads toward camp or another one that runs at a right angle to camp? Moss doesn’t always grow on the North side of a tree. It grows on the side of the tree that gets the least amount of sunlight and in canyons or in the shade of mountains that

can be any direction. Only by pairing your map and compass together can you truly orient and navigate on the ground. By laying your map flat and placing your compass on top of it, you can determine which way is North and what lies ahead. Orient your map so that the top of the page matches North on your compass, then adjust for the declination. That way, you will be able to determine what kind of terrain lies between you and your target, shoot the target (determine the bearing to get you there) and plot a course on the map to take you around impassable terrain. Knowing the distance, by using the map scale, you can then set off in a particular direction confident that you will be able to follow the course using landmarks and counting your strides, as well as

avoiding obstacles you identified on the map. This will save you from having to backtrack or wander around trying to get around that canyon with 200 foot sheer walls you come across because you didn’t see it on the topographic lines on the map. The closer together the contour lines are on a map, the steeper the terrain. Using these guides, you can more quickly and confidently get to your destination without burning valuable daylight and even navigate at night if needed and with a bit of practice.

So rather than trusting your ability to get to a location and back to an electronic piece of gadgetry that can fail and leave you high and dry, always make sure you take along a backup in the form of a map and compass and spend some time learning to navigate like so many generations have done for thousands of years. Once you get the hang of it, you will feel more confident and actually have a bit of fun showing off your wizardry to others who haven’t yet learned the magic of land navigation with a map and compass.

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March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

2015 New Video Product Reviews

inReach Explorer

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

barometric altimeter and accelerometer sensors ensure accuracy and provide heading and bearing information, accurate he convenience and peace of mind elevation readings, speed and other useful of the DeLorme inReach satellite trip statistics. When paired with a mobile communicator just got even better device, inReach also owners get exclusive, with the addition of built-in navigation unlimited access to DeLorme’s topographic functionality, including a digital compass, maps and U.S. NOAA charts. route planning, waypoints and high-detail In an emergency, the Iridium-powered trip logging. inReach Explorer is the first satellite communicator will notify GEOS, personal satellite communicaa 24/7 monitoring service to tor to bring together the power send search and rescue to your of navigation with truly global exact location, anywhere on the SOS alerting, GPS tracking and planet. Because the Iridium nettwo-way text messaging in one work works anywhere, without rugged, waterproof device. blackout areas or fringe areas, The easy-to-use unit offers a you can be assured of a rescue basic map view, which displays no matter how remote. routes, waypoints, tracks and Scan this QR Code with The inReach Explorer also alyour smart phone to view messages geo-located onscreen t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s lows you to send text messages for backtracking or self-rescue. YouTube Channel. Video over the satellite network to The built-in digital compass, Available after March 1st. friends and family, letting them

know if you are delayed or need supplies. You can also send prewritten text messages with ease. Friends and family can see your posts and track your progress on social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, complete with your GPS coordinates. Because it syncs with your phone’s contacts via Bluetooth, you can easily send messages to anyone in your address book. The companion Explore web portal allows you to set up your tracking preferences, social media accounts, preset messages, review previous trips, and plan new ones. The inReach is rugged, shockproof, and waterproof for up to 30 minutes up to 1 meter, so you can take it into the wettest locations and not worry about it failing you when you need it. The rechargeable lithium polymer battery will last for about 100 hours of continuous operation, and can be recharged with

a portable power cell, a solar panel, or any USB charging device. DeLorme offers both contract-free monthly and annual subscription plans, which means you can select the level of service you need for the time period you need it. It is also easy to adjust your plan should your needs change. For ultimate peace of mind, be sure to take an inReach Explorer — the world’s only satellite communicator with built-in navigation — with you when you get off the beaten path.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

2015 New Video Product Reviews

Leupold VX-6 Riflescope with Wind-Plex

he gold ring of Leupold has al- to high end optics. The powerful 6:1 ways been a brand you can count zoom ratio and crystal clear image on and the VX-6 holds true with from edge to edge throughout the the same tradition. This top of the entire magnification range make the line scope is design, machined, and farthest targets appear right on top of assembled right here in the good ol’ you. The features and benefits of this United States of America. scope is nothing short of spectacular. The VX-6 comes in various differ- Leupold’s Quantum Optical System ent models ranging from the 1-6X24 with legendary Xtended Twilight lens all the way out to the 7-42X56. The coatings and DiamondCoat 2 combine majority of the scopes in this line come with edge blackened lead-free lenses with a 30mm tube which for astonishing clarity and makes them a light gathering light transmission. The exdream. Our test model is the treme fast-focus eyepiece new 3-18X44mm CDS-ZL ensures a generous eyebox, with a FireDot Wind-Plex. superior field of view, and This scope features unsuroptimal diopter adjustment passed light transmission, in the field. The Illuminated uncompromising mechanireticle VX-6 features either this QR Code with your cal performance and un- Scan traditional or super bright smart phone to view the beatable optical clarity, the Sportsman's News YouTube FireDot illumination. The Video Available VX-6 is undeniably as good Channel. 1-button low- profile design after March 8th. as it gets when it comes allows users to choose be-

tween 12 intensity settings. Proprietary motion sensor technology automatically deactivates illumination after five minutes of inactivity, yet re-activates as soon as any movement is detected. The new wind-plex reticle provides for 10 MOA adjustment holds within the reticle making it easy to quickly dope for an accurate shot. All Leupold VX-6 riflescopes are CDS capable and include one free Custom Ballistic Dial with purchase. The CDS models allow you to quickly dial your elevation to different sight-in ranges with a custom adjustment matched to your specific ballistics information. The CDS dials change out easily, allowing you flexibility with different loads, conditions and calibers. Every CDS dial features ¼-MOA click or 1 cm click (metric versions), finger adjustments

and no adjustment covers to lose, making the VX-2, VX-3, VX-6 and VX-R even more accurate. The CDS System Works by laser-inscribing your scope’s elevation dial to match your load, velocity and conditions. Your scope will be in perfect synch with the way your rifle and load shoots, even for hand loads. Each CDS dial is unique, taking all practical ballistic and environmental factors into account: Each scope is waterproof, shockproof, and backed by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee/ Leupold Golden Ring Electronics Warranty.

coatings result in superb contrast and brightness, just like their riflescopes. Nightforce has added a hydrophobic coating which immediately sheds water without leaving residue. It also repels fingerprints and smudges, keeping your images crisp and clean. Nightforce has recently added some accessories such as foam molded carrying cases, custom covers to keep your

optics looking new for years to come, and phone adapter accessories so you can take long range photos using your iPhones or other devices. The Sportsman’s News team has had the pleasure of truly beating one of these scopes up for over year. In head to head testing, there hasn’t been a better product on the market than the Nightforce TS-82.

Nightforce TS-82 Spotting Scope

ightforce is known for their Vivid and high contrast imrugged, high end rifle scopes. ages are the norm, even at They have been battlefield the highest magnifications. tested and consistently perform at a The TS-82 produces crisp, higher level than other optics. So it razor-sharp resolution with should be as no surprise that when no distortion from edge to they launched the TS-82 spotting edge. The internal prism scope, it would be one of the best spot- design provides maximum ters on the market. It was awarded the light transmission, as opField and Stream Best of the Best award posed to mirrors which abin 2014. sorb critical light rays. It is It weighs in at a hair over 4 pounds also easy on the eye, which and is 16.4” in length. The eyepiece greatly reduces fatigue and that it comes with is an astounding extends viewing time. The 20-70x, but has an optional APO fluorite glass wide angle 30-60x. Since the is very costly and launch of this product there is only found in have been both straight and the highest qualangled versions of this spotity optics. There ting scope, with the angled is no other glass model knocking off about a that provides truer and half an inch in length. The Scan this QR Code with your more brilliant color and aluminum body provides smart phone to view the this is obvious when you Sportsman's News YouTube ruggedness and thermal Channel. Video Available test this scope head to head stability. It has been thor- after March 15th. with other top European oughly shock tested and is models. The 82mm objective waterproof to live up to the Nightforce lens provides for exceptional low light name. The large center focus ring is performance. This is especially obviextremely precise and easy to adjust ous when you are at the 70X power even while wearing heavy duty gloves. range. The proprietary Nightforce

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

2015 New Video Product Reviews

Aimpoint PRO and Micro T-2

hen it comes to quick en- PRO gagement for self defense The Patrol or hunting, being able to R i f l e O p t i c shoot on target with both eyes open ( P R O ) w a s is imperative. No company offers the designed with level of performance for rapid target extensive input acquisition like Aimpoint. from profesFeaturing easy to see red dots, sionals in the amazing battery life, and incompa- field to deliver rable lens coatings are the hallmarks amazing acof Aimpoint optics. curacy, fast target acquisition, rugged Their rugged dependreliability, and a host of opability, outstanding custions to suit military and law tomer service, and proven enforcement. These same feare l i a b i l i t y a re t h e re a tures make the PRO a great sons I choose optics from choice for hunters as well. Aimpoint when the shot Special coating on the lenses counts. not only make them easy to Two great options for Scan this QR Code with your see with night vision, but also the hunter or defensive smart phone to view the enhance low light viewing, Sportsman's News YouTube shooter are the Patrol Rifle Channel. Video Available while staying smudge and Optic and the brand new, after March 22nd. dust free. Built-on flip up lens redesigned Micro T-2. covers protect your lens and a

see-through rear cover allows you to get on target quickly with the covers open or closed. An adjustable on/off/brightness dial provides rapid adjustments to the red dot brightness. On lower settings, the long battery life will allow you to leave the PRO on for up to three years of constant use. A hard coated 30mm tube provides a rugged housing that will withstand nearly every bit of abuse you can throw at it. A special base elevates the optic to cowitness with standard AR sight towers and can also be removed for use with shotguns or slick top AR configurations. A ratcheting attachment knob prevents over tightening and just the ideal amount of torque. Micro T-2 Tiny. This is the best way to describe the Micro line of red dots from Aimpoint. Lightweight and with a minimal footprint, the Micro sights allow your red dot to be mounted on any type of

gun from a pistol up to a shotgun. It takes up very little real estate and offers all the advantages of a premium red dot optic in a small package. The Aimpoint team took user feedback and have released an upgraded version called the T-2 for 2015. Featuring protection of the top elevation dial, a hard anodized case, and integrated mounting hardware, as well as flip up lens covers, the T-2 externals have been completely redesigned. The internals have also been significantly upgraded with too many features to list here. Check out the video at SportsmansNews.com or scan the QR code with this article to see the video showcasing all of the great features of the PRO and the new Micro T-2.

Vortex Optics Crossfire Binoculars

he new crossfire binoculars by ferent models to suit all Vortex are designed to give a types of glassing needs. great quality binocular at a great 8x42, 10x42, 10x50, and price. The entirely new optical system, 12x50’s to provide a bit housing and aesthetics push the new more magnification to Crossfire’s into a realm previously un- that western hunter. Field heard of at this price point. They may of view ranges from 273’ be the entry point in the Vortex lineup, at 1000 yards for the 12x50 but there is nothing entry level about models all the way down these binoculars to 393’ for the 8x42 modThe upgraded fully-multicoated els. lenses promote impressive clarity, resoThe Crossfire series relution and color fidelity. A wider field defines what binoculars in of view and enhanced depth of field their price bracket can be, ensure optimal subject acquisition, further solidifying Voreasier scanning of the environment and tex’s well-earned reputaoverall better views. tion for providing quality, High-Quality components, including value and innovation. As improved twist-up eyecups, with all Vortex a smooth center focus wheel products, it is and right-eye diopter delivbacked by their er durable, precise functionwell know VIP ality. Rubber armoring with warranty which clean, striking transitions will repair or reprotects the chassis and proplace your brovides a nonslip grip. O-ring ken optics if it this QR Code with your sealed and nitrogen purged Scan becomes damsmart phone to view the for a lifetime of waterproof Sportsman's News YouTube aged or defecand fogproof performance. Channel. Video Available tive regardless after March 29th. It comes in various difof cause.

SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS | March 2015

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In Memorium - Chuck Buck

Charles Theodore Buck 1936-2015

h e B u c k f a m i l y, t h e B u c k Knives company and millions of outdoors lovers have lost a very special man with the passing of Charles T. (Chuck) Buck, 78, February 6, 2015, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Born May 13, 1936, in San Diego California, to the late Alfred and Ida (Shapter) Buck, Chuck was a man of deep faith. Chairman of Buck Knives, Inc., Chuck personified the warm family tradition of the American knifemaking company he headed. He was the third generation, following his grandfather, Hoyt Buck, who made his first knife in 1902, and his father Al Buck. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1961, Chuck learned the ins and outs of the knife business and was there when Buck Knives, Inc. emerged. Within a few years, Chuck was named corporate vice president for manufacturing. In June of 1979, Chuck became president of Buck Knives at age 43. He was later inducted into the Blade Cutlery Hall of Fame in 1996. Chuck was an outstanding business leader and was influential in Buck Knives' considerable growth. The company, which started out in

a wooden lean-to, has now grown to a 128,000 square foot building, employing more than 300 people in Post Falls, Idaho. Chuck handed over the business to son, CJ in 1999 but remained active as Chairman of the Board. Chuck was widely known and respected by outdoor editors and writers, especially those who shared time with him at the annual meeting of the Outdoor Writers Association. They always made it a point to hear what he had to say about innovations in cutlery, and many also wanted to exchange thoughts on their mutual Christian faith. Chuck was such a friendly, gregarious gentleman that people meeting him for the first time went away feeling they had been friends for years. It really did not matter who they were, they were important to him. He loved to travel all over America, many times with his wife Lori, visiting with customers in stores to hear what knife users liked and what they wanted. As testament to his faith, Chuck included with every Buck knife a message from the Buck Family that speaks of the growth of Buck Knives and the determination to make God their Senior Partner. "If any of you are troubled or perplexed and looking for answers, may we invite you to look to Him, for God loves you," a thought Chuck added to the message, originally written by his father in 1974. The message is clear, and a testament to the foundation to which Buck Knives was built upon. Chuck took every opportunity to share the message and through the years had received numerous letters thanking him for spreading the word. One of his most cherished letters came from a woman who re-dedicated her life to Christ after reading the message. The woman was planning to commit suicide by cutting her wrists with a Buck knife. When she opened the box, the message fell out and as the woman read the passage, "For God loves you..." she felt warmth in all directions and

knew it was the Holy Spirit. In a mentor session, Chuck recalled this story and added, "If we don't ever get another letter, that one will be the one I count as most important." Chuck attended San Diego State College, Southern California College and Mesa College and was also served in the U.S. Navy. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Al and Ida; and brother, Frank. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lori; son, CJ (Heidi); d a u g h t e r, M a r a l e e ( J o e ) B u c k Houser; sister, Janice (Robert) Holt; grandchildren, Josh Buck, Sarah (Hans) Hauge, Rachel (Tony)Wagner, Andy Houser, Aaron Houser, Brittany Nelson, Reese Hyde; great grandson, Tandrup (Tan) Hauge; and numerous family and friends throughout the country. Chuck will be greatly missed by his family, friends, everyone at Buck Knives, and throughout the outdoor industry. A celebration of Chuck's life will was held Friday, Feb. 13 at Real Life Ministries, Post Falls, Idaho. A final memorial will be held May 13, 2015 in San Diego, CA.

Knives during my childhood. Our home was only a few miles from the Buck factory in Santee, California. I w i l l a l w a y s f o n d l y re m e m b e r Chuck's generosity and how he dressed as Santa Claus to pass out gifts to the children of his employees. Company picnics, parties, and other gatherings, he was always a very gregarious and jolly soul who took time to speak with each and every employee and their families. I had the pleasure of seeing him at last year's SHOT Show and we spoke of those old days, which he also recalled. He was always willing to share his strong Christian faith, not in an overbearing or preachy way, but with true love and awe of the God he proudly served. My very first knife was a Buck 110 with nickle bolsters and I carried it for many years. Today, I am reminded of the gospel message that was included inside the box for that knife. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to get to see the testimony of this man and the example of leadership he set. He will be missed by the outdoor community he loved.

EDITOR'S NOTE: my stepfather, Roy Helton, worked for Buck

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dan Kidder Managing Editor

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

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Presents Wild Game Recipes of Steve Mayer "The Wine Guy"

ears ago I routinely enjoyed Pressed Almond Duck at a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. The establishment is long since gone and the dish is seldom found on menus due to a complex and painstaking cooking process, so I decided to come up with something that would match the flavor, but really simplified and made with any type of waterfowl. This is truly a unique way to prepare your ducks or geese. Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients, the cooking process is easy and goes quickly. The sauce itself is stunning, and can be used with many other recipes as a condiment. These also make awesome burgers, just leave

Crispy Almond Duck out the cornstarch coating and grill them up.

Ingredients

• • • •

Orange Sauce

• •

• • •

•

• • • •

1 cup (12 ounces) orange marmalade or jam 3 tablespoons vinegar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• • •

1 1/2 pounds ground duck breast 1 pound ground pork 1 cup finely chopped onion

Recipe

•

1/3 cup finely chopped parsley 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 5 tablespoons bacon fat or vegetable oil for frying Corn starch for coating the patties prior to frying 1/2 cup chopped roasted almonds

Preparation Method

I recommend brining the skinless duck breasts overnight in a gallon zip lock with 1/8 cup of kosher salt mixed in 2 cups of water. Make the sauce first. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine

all the ingredients. Stirring frequently, bring the mixture to a light boil and remove from heat. Drain the duck and cut into one inch cubes. Chill them in the freezer for 15 minutes or so, and then grind them with coarse grind in a meat grinder. In a large bowl, combine the ground duck, ground pork, onion, and spices. Mix this gently by hand until well blended. Form the meat into square patties about the size of a hamburger, making sure there is a slight indent in the center. This will help the patties stay flat during cooking. These can be made in advance and wrapped and kept in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook them. In a large heavy fry pan add 3-4 tablespoons (depending on pan size) of bacon fat and heat to medium/high. Coat the patties with a light dusting of corn starch. Do not overc ro w d t h e p a n ! Yo u m a y have to cook them in two batches, adding the extra fat to the second batch. Cook the meat for 3-5 minutes until nicely browned, then flip and cook until it is cooked through but still slightly pink in the center. Remove to a rack when done and cover them with the chopped almonds. Pour the sauce over these crispy delights and serve with some fried rice and steamed vegetable. This goes beautifully with a bottle of Merlot or Syrah. For this and any wild game or fish wine pairings go check out my website at www.wildgamewine.com. Cheers!

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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His And Hers Binos from Alpen

Quality glass for yourself and your lady, doesn’t have to cost you a months’ salary!

will start the coffee, I think I’ll take a pass. After all, whatever happened to good, high-tech/quality binocs that were available to sportsmen at a reaBy Andy Lightbody sonable cost? I found exactly what I was looking ver the last few years, I have for, not only for myself, but for my continued to be marveled and better-half as well with offerings from awed as to how binoculars Alpen Optics. Alpen got its start back have changed and morphed from an in 1997 with the goal of providing always needed necessity for shooters “superior quality optical products at and hunters into heavy, gadget-laden affordable prices.” With that simple doohickeys. Instead of quality optics credo they’ve grown a full line of spotthat are lightweight, provide qual- ting scopes, rifle scopes, binoculars and ity glass/prism systems and stand accessories. up to the outdoor elements, we see a In the world of sporting optics, some proliferation of “add ons” that have companies have a little secret that they many of us simply shaking our heads would prefer that you not know about. in disbelief. Some actually don’t even make their Remember the old joke about the own optics and simply “rebrand” or group that got together to design a race put their name on generic glass that horse? After incorporating everyone’s is made for several optic companies. ideas and suggestions, they ended Sometimes, this lack of attention to up with a camel! Features on many product detail results in subpar prodbinoculars today now include laser ucts and inferior workmanship. In rangefinders, night vision options, plainer words, if you end up with a GPS, compass bearings, thermometers, problem - your fault or shoddy workmil-dot ranging reticles, hidden stor- manship - you may have a difficult time age compartments and even digital in getting them repaired or replaced. cameras! Break a piece of Alpen glass and it is Not only do all these accessory fea- backed with a No-Fault Lifetime Wartures add weight, they also add to the ranty. No receipt required, no questions cost of the binoculars. Until they come asked. out with a pair that has an early mornFor the ladies, one of the favorites ing hunting camp wakeup alarm and is the Alpen Pink Series of binoculars. While a lot of companies are producing “pinky” products, Alpen is much more involved with the fact that the color represents a lot more than a fashion statement. “Pink is the color most associated with breastcancer research,” says Vickie Gardner, vice president of Alpen Optics. “Our line of Alpen Pink is more than just a pink binocular. With more than 40,000 Americans dying each year of breast cancer (400,000 worldwide), The APEX models are lightweight (22 ounces) and Alpen Optics has creare offered in a choice of different magnification ated its Pink binoculars power options. For Him, the top choice was the to help focus on a cure, #695 in 10-power and a 42mm objective lens. while delivering the

best binocular for the best price in the marketplace”. With the sale of the Pink Series of binoculars, Alpen has donated more than $27,000 to date, to the City of Hope for breast cancer research and search for a cure. For the lady in our family, Kathy’s favorite is the Pink #393 that is a rugged 10x42 model. It has a 10-times/ power magnification feature and 42mm objective lenses for great light gathering capabilities. They’re completely waterproof and light in weight, tipping the scales at only 26 Affordable, lightweight and of course—Pink, the Alpen Optics #393 is a 10x42 binocular ounces. The binocs are center focus, set that is rubber armor coated with great have adjustable eye relief image optics. Like all Alpen Optic products, features (great if you wear they come with a lifetime, no-questionsglasses) and are adjustable for asked lifetime warranty. super-close focus (7-feet) out to infinity. At 1000 yards, the glasses proWhile ladies like the pink binocs, my vide a full 330 feet field-of-view (FOV). choice in Alpen glass goes to the more “Many binoculars that are supposed traditional green rubber armored Apex to be designed for women are just too Xtreme Performance (XP) series. A total wide for smaller faces,” says Kathy of nine different models are offered in Mattoon, avid outdoorswoman. “The their #600 series, with a choice of 8, Alpen binocs are built to be folded close 10 and 12 fixed magnification powers. or opened wide and really fit both of They even offer an 8-16 power zoom my eyes comfortably when in the field.” model for taking targets at long distance and bringing them in close. The model #695 is a 10x42 binocular that has most all of the same features as the PINK series, but is just slightly smaller and four ounces lighter (22 ounces). They are rubber armor coated and have a large and long extra-wide neck strap. It’s not a big deal, but the wide strap keeps the binocs from cutting into your neck and reflects the extra attention to detail that Alpen puts into its products. In the overall quality department for both his and her binoculars, both models have full multicoated lenses. This means continued on page 44 With the Alpen Optics binoculars, Vickie Gardner (VP) and the company, put their money where their mouth and marketing are. A portion of all pink sales is donated annually to the City of Hope for breast cancer research.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

Digital Edition Only Special Content ALPEN HIS AND HERS

Binocular prisms are in the tubes of the unit and are actually mirrors continued from page 43 that serve to reflect the incoming light that all the lenses have multiple-layer between the eyepiece lens and the coatings that are applied to all the sur- objective lens. A few of the Alpen binfaces and this again reflects the highest oculars use “porro prisms”, but all of the higher quality glass uses the “roof quality. prism” system. Roof prism binocs are more expensive, but offer much better light-gathering capabilities and clarity. Kathy and I have low-light hunted and spotted with both porro and roof prism designs and the clarity and Alpen binoculars are designed to be simple, rugged, quality of the affordable and provide high quality optics for hunting in image we were the field. Since 1997, they’ve been a favorite for everyone trying to spot who enjoys the out of doors.

was marginal with porro prisms, while exceptional with the roof prism designs. Both our binocs use the roof prisms and the Alpen BaK-4 glass. Without getting too technical, many “cheapy” binocs use what the industry calls BK-7 glass. While it is adequate in bargain binocs, the much higher quality BaK-4 Barium Crown glass provides much better optical clarity. Try a side-by-side comparison at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and the results will be The pink #393 are adjustable for superclose focus (7-feet) out to infinity. At obvious. As we said at the beginning, you 1,000 yards, they provide a full 330 foot can load up binoculars today with field-of-view. This makes them a great so many gadgets, widgets and choice for everyone from close-in bow accessories that it feels like they hunters to long range rifle shooters. should be mounted to wheels so that you can roll them into the field or you’re looking at in everything from you can keep it simple and remember ideal to low-light conditions and bluethe essentials of what good quality bird weather to the worst that Mother glass can do for you when camping, Nature can throw at you. For him and scenery-looking or hunting. The for her, Alpen offers the quality and bottom line is to “clearly see” what features you should demand.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Buffalo The Old Fashioned Way

By Dave Wilson

or many, when we think of Buffalo, our thoughts turn to places like Yellowstone National Park. The bison is a huge and majestic animal, with a long history in the United States. In the early to mid-1800’s buffalo herds were wide spread across many States, and existed in large numbers. I think they are beautiful and I have long admired the buffalo and dreamed of going on a buffalo hunt. Although they are sometimes thought of as rare, there are actually numerous public and private herds across the United States and Canada. Buffalo are massive! They may stand five to six feet at the shoulder, be up to ten feet long, and weigh up to a ton. For years, I had thought that if I were ever to go Buffalo (American Bison) hunting, I would want to honor the opportunity and the animal by hunting in a more traditional manner. Arizona has excellent big game hunting and “public land hunting” for buffalo. Most big game hunting in the State is conducted under a “Lottery System”, where the hunter applies for the annual desired hunts, based on locations, tags available, weapon choice, etc. An application fee is paid and a tag fee if drawn/selected, and for some species, a “bonus point” is awarded for non-selection. Bonus points serve to give additional lottery chances for individuals in future hunt drawings. In Arizona, buffalo tags are made available for yearlings, cows, and bulls, at two

The author with his trophy

It’s not about fashion, but the 1870’s style clothing, with my suspenders, seemed to complete the look! Although I was the only one with a tag, I had asked a friend to go along as a helper and photographer. On the day we drove to the hunting area (the day before the season opened) Part of the herd, with the bull mixed-in the group. the weather was nice and promisdifferent locations in the State, in limited ing for the hunt. The area was rolling numbers, with a limit of one buffalo a grassland with prairie grass and sage, at lifetime. The amount and types of tags an elevation of about 6000 feet, with few available varies from year to year. I had trees. As a result, the land offered great decided long ago that if I were only going visibility. It had rained a little earlier in to be able to hunt once, I would want to the day, but the forecast for opening day hunt a bull. Over the years, I had stock- was good, with a major storm forecast for piled thirty-four bonus points for buffalo, the second day of the hunt. As we were by not getting drawn. I expected this year setting up camp there was a big rainbow to be the same, when I was drawn for the in the sky to the East. We were able to one and only bull tag available for the spot a herd of buffalo through binoculars, Fall 2014, hunt. about two miles in the distance, which Initially, it was just a thought of, “if I happened to be right where the rainbow ever get drawn …” and now it was actu- met the horizon. What a great sight, seeally happening and the planning began. ing buffalo at the end of the rainbow. That is when my old fashioned ways Opening morning was beautiful, with began to take shape. I chose the 45-70 no wind. Hunting from a Ford, instead cartridge, which is still readily avail- of from horseback, we headed out under able in modern production. I chose the clear and sunny skies. It was fairly easRemington car- ily to locate the herd from a significant tridge shooting distance, close to where we had seen a 405 grain soft them the evening before. We were able point bullet. I to approach the herd and move to within had purchased shooting distance without disturbing a “Sharp’s style” them. The animals were just milling single shot rifle about and grazing. We moved into a several years ago favorable wind direction to further miniwith Creedmoor mize the disruption to the herd. There style sights (simi- were 50 to 60 buffalo in the herd, which lar to the famous consisted of calves, cows and bulls of all “Quigley” rifle). sizes. At just over 100 yards, the desigAlthough the rifle nated bull was easy to identify within the is accurate and group, standing about a foot taller than capable of very the surrounding cows, calves, and other long shots, my bulls. The obvious tan colored hump, old eyes are not! I and sheer size, made it easy to keep track also crafted some of the desired target. The animals were old style shoot- constantly moving around, but clustered ing/cross-sticks. together making a shot impossible. The

Sportsman’s News Outdoor Writing Contest Winner See pg. 4 for entry details.

bull seemed to move through the herd, but cows or calves were always in front or behind the bull. After what seemed like an hour, the bull was finally in the clear. I tried to take a steady aim behind the bulls broadside shoulder, and fired. At the shot the bull lurched. I thought it was a good shot and waited for the buffalo to drop. I re-loaded, but a second shot was not possible as the other animals once again surrounded the bull. As we waited, I became surprised by the herd dynamics. Cows and calves moved about to check on the bull while other, smaller, bulls almost immediately began challenging the “herd bull” for dominance. There was head butting and pushing. Dust began to rise from the dry dusty ground. Several times the bull appeared to go down, only to roll in the dirt and get back on his feet. After another long wait, the herd cow, the matriarch, decided it was time to move out. As she headed across the prairie, the other buffalo began to fall in behind in single file, and follow the matriarch. As the herd began to move and spread out, another shot opportunity opened up, but the distance to the animals was increasing. A couple of follow-up shots and the bull was finally down for good. It amazed me how the bull was able to absorb the bullet impact and weight, and remain standing. In hunting we frequently hear that once the animal is down, the real work begins. That statement really hits home with a mature bull buffalo. It was estimated the bull was 1700 to 1800 pounds, live weight. I was not even able to pick-up the head by myself, let alone maneuver the bull into a favorable position for field dressing. With the help of others, and several hours of work, we were able to get the bull “dressed”, skinned, and ready for transport to the meat processor, and the head ready for transport to the taxidermist. My once in a lifetime tag was filled, and the freezer would be soon, and the head will be proudly displayed to admire for years!

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015

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Ten Quick Tricks For Getting Warm In A Freezing Vehicle

Freezing temps are not only uncomfortable, but they really can be dangerous to you and your outdoor buddies and family.

utside of living in a few western or eastern sunshine states, most will agree that we’ve had some really cold winter temperatures. I keep asking Al Gore to send us some of that Global Warming, but my e-mails have thus far gone unanswered. When it’s cold outside, I mean subfreezing and sometimes down to -25 degrees, as it does here in the high mountains of Colorado, getting inspired to get your hunting or fishing

vehicle started and warmed up for an outdoor adventure is sometimes a daunting task. Asking my wife or my outdoor buddies to help with that, while I am feigning a limp or bad back, nearly always falls on deaf ears. Automotive lesson #101 is also a simple rule of physics. Mechanical parts (metal, plastic or composites) that have to move, twist, turn or rotate in extremely cold temperatures are rarely “happy campers.” Add in that your vehicle’s heater is not working properly or feels like it takes until summer to warm up and even the best planned winter journey can be a cold and miserable start from home to your final destination. Sometimes, it can even be life-threatening. Here are a few tips for taking the chill off your next sub-freezing expedition. 1. Start your vehicle a good 10-15 minutes before you plan on piling in or loading everyone up. Even if your heater is not working, firing up the engine and adding the heat under the hood with the heater/fan turned on will add a few degrees to the inside of the vehicle. 2. Check your radiator for anti-freeze fluids. Running just water in your radiator is a big mistake! Make sure that you are running the right mix of water to anti-freeze fluid so that they circulate properly. If you don’t, you can actually overheat your engine with the frozen water, especially if the temps are below zero.

Block heaters on your vehicle’s engine can be installed permanently or just when needed, thanks to a host of offerings that come with powerful magnets to attach to the oil pan, intake manifold or engine block.

3. Install a block heater on your engine. They range in costs from $50-$250 depending on your vehicle type and the quality and brand of the block heater purchased. The block heater plugs into a household outlet and warms the engine and vital fluids even when the temps turn “nasty cold.” In addition to helping the engine components work better and with less wear, it will help the engine heat up more quickly and actually assist in warming the passenger compartment.

When the outside weather and temperatures are sub-freezing or sub-zero, warming your vehicle for an outdoor adventure is critical, not only from a comfort standpoint, but from a safety standpoint as well. If the vehicle’s heater isn’t working, you can still get the passenger compartment warm and toasty. Several models are available, includ- east and in a place where the morning/ ing some that use powerful magnets rising sun gets a chance to let Mother to attach to the engine block, oil pan Nature help warm the vehicle a little. or intake manifold. They can be pulled off once the vehicle is warmed up 6. Invest in a 12-volt heater. Available and save a lot of money versus those at most all auto supply stores and even requiring permanent installation. truck stops, these inexpensive heat4. Use/install a remote starting system. Push the button to start the vehicle 10-15 minutes before venturing out in the cold. Many newer vehicle models come with this feature as standard equipment or as an option. Even older vehicles can be “retrofitted” with a remote start. 5. Park your vehicle in the garage. It may seem obvious, but if your sportsman’s vehicle is usually delegated to being parked out in the elements, think about moving it inside the night before your trip. Inside garages, even if not heated are often a few degrees higher in temperature than those in the parking lot or great outdoors. If nothing else, you won’t have to deal with blustery “wind chill,” spend time scraping ice/snow or digging it out before you leave. If a garage isn’t an option, park your vehicle facing the

Stretchy car seat heater covers are great for the driver and passenger and can be fitted to nearly any vehicle with bucket-style seats. For rear seated passengers, try a car heater blanket or two.

March 2015 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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A couple of 12-volt heated blankets are a great way to warm up passengers in both the front and rear seating areas. Plug them in once the vehicle is running and in advance of loading everyone up. Don’t use them when the vehicle is turned off, or they will drain your battery quickly! such as coffee, tea or hot chocolate can also aid in the process of taking away the chill from the inside out. Also, eating spicy foods before heading to your vehicle is another way to toast-up. In the winter, there are advantages to being a “pepper belly!” A 12-volt vehicle heater that plugs into your cigarette lighter or “auxiliary power supply port” can be one way to quickly warm up the inside of your frigid vehicle. They are inexpensive and available at most major sporting goods stores. ers will plug into your old cigarette lighter (now termed auxiliary 12-volt outlet) and can make the passenger area toasty warm before you have to get out in the cold. It’s best to use these heaters once your engine has started. Many will work even without starting the engine, but make sure you don’t drain your battery! 7. Power inverter and space heater. While not ideal, a power inverter system (built-into the vehicle or a truckstop accessory) can take the 12 volt DC power from your vehicle’s battery and convert it to 110 volt AC power. In plainer words, you can start your engine, turn on the inverter and plug in a regular household space heater. Just be very, very careful to make sure it does not overheat/melt anything on the floorboard or other parts of the vehicle. Propane heaters like you might use in a work shed, duck blind or ice hut should NOT be used. There

The bottom line with cold and frigid temps and trying to get your vehicle warm is that it is not only uncomfort-

able, but can be hazardous to your health and anyone else in the vehicle as well. Hypothermia can set in within minutes and a 3-degree F drop in body temperature can cause severe/uncontrollable shaking and disorientation. If it continues, it can kill you! Once it starts, it can take hours to recover and totally mess up whatever outdoor adventure plans you may have had. Stay warm, my friends!

is a real and too much danger of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning! 8. Vehicle seat warmers. Seat warmers are cheap and nearly universal in fitting most bucket seats. If you have passengers in the rear bench-type seats, you can also get seat blankets. A 12-volt splitter or two may look a little goofy with wires running around the inside area, but for the sake of warmth, that is soon forgotten! If all else fails, huddle and cuddle with some blankets from the house. 9. Chemical hand/body warmers. Not real high-tech, but they actually can help out in a pinch by putting them under your arms, down between your legs, in your boots and across the back of your neck. Keep a handful of them stored in your glove box. 10. Warming up your “insides.” A big mug or thermos full of hot drinks

It’s not the most high-tech solution, but it works! Hand and foot warmers are cheap, readily available and a pile of them can be stored in your glove compartment or storage area for use when needed.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2015