Sportsman's News April 2017 Digital Edition

SPECIAL TURKEY HUNTING EDITION FREE

April 2017 | Volume 13 | Issue 4

Casting To The Flash Of Silver

Chad LaChance

Sharing Knowledge

Big brown bears are also always searching for a fresh salmon or two in the waters surrounding Becharof Rapids Camp.

Photo by Diane Bromenschenkel

Dave Canterbury

10 Cs of Survival Container

Turkey Products

We Plucked The Best Hunting Gear LEUPOLD’S NEW LONG RANGE PRECISION RIFLESCOPE. PAGE 6

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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Mike Deming President/Publisher 435-669-4624 mdeming@sportsmansnews.com

SENIOR EDITOR Kent Danjanovich 801-231-9838 kdanjanovich@sportsmansnews.com MANAGING EDITOR Dan Kidder 435-865-1680 dkidder@sportsmansnews.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Shane Chuning 435-592-6106 schuning@sportsmansnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER Sam Staudt sam@sportsmansnews.com

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Michael Deming

WHAT’S INSIDE

4 Becharof Rapids Camp Casting To The Flash Of Silver.

Leupold VX-3i LRP 6 Optimized for Long Range.

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Juneau Alaska Day Charter 8 Best Damn Charters.

Fishful Thinker: The Reward 12 Giving back and sharing knowledge.

Platinum Approved Outfitters 14 Choose A Sportsman's News Endorsed Guide For Your Next Trip.

Survival: 10 Cs of Survival 19 PartPathfinder 4: Containers

22 Pro's Tip: Shed Hunting What You Can Learn From Shed Hunting To Improve

S

pring has sprung and hopefully Mother Nature has given up her grip on most of the country. This means that its’ time to start hitting the outdoors and enjoying the longer days. Whether you’re a fisherman, hunter or just like being outside, these are truly some of the nicest days of the year and a great time to “take it outside”.

The April issue of Sportsman’s News has a lot of great information and we are happy you took the time to pick up this free issue. Each and every month, we provide you with information on some of the very best products available on the shelves of Sportsman’s Warehouse. We have put many of these products to the test and if they can handle the punishment we dish out, they are likely to be a very good investment for your outdoor arsenal.

Many of these great products get a testing which includes a full video product review. We take this process very seriously and many of these products have been in our hands for nearly a year.

During this timeframe, we film all the things we do with these products. If and when they get our stamp of approval, we produce a complete video product review where we will tell you all of the features and benefits of the product as well as the people who might really benefit from purchasing it. We also provide tips and tricks to get the most out of these products that you purchase. If it makes the cut, you will get to see a short synopsis of those videos in the pages of Sportsman’s News with a QR code link to the video. If the products don’t make the grade, we just won’t waste the ink in the paper or the time in production, producing the videos.

Make sure you become a subscriber of our YouTube channel at SPORTSMANSNEWSTV. You will be notified of every video product review we release as well as some exciting adventures.

Every month we do 4 to 8 different video product reviews. If there are products you would like to see us review, send us an email at info@sportsmansnews.com April is the height of the turkey season and this issue has several different articles on specifics of the sport. The main feature article has some of the essential products which make filling that first tag of the year a little easier.

The Pro’s Tips article is written by one of my good friends, Michael Duff, of Utah. He is truly one of the most hard-core shed hunters I’ve ever been around. He started doing it with his father at a very early age of life and he and his twin brother, Tommy, have been over nearly every mountain in southern Utah and northern Arizona in search of these treasures. He has put together a great article about the great activity which is a good read. Now that most of the western states have lifted the ban due to the harsh winter conditions, it’s time to start seeing what animals survived the winter and will be there to pursue this coming year.

The Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes has just completed its’ 2nd year. During this time, we have given away over a half a million dollars in some of the very best trips anyone can imagine. Desert bighorn sheep, Sonora Mexico mule deer, Alaskan Yukon moose, Kodiak brown bears, deer and elk all over the west, as well as over 50 guns. Membership is either $27 a month or $297 for the entire year. That will get you five tickets in all 36 grand prize drawings over the next year. We do a giveaway every 10 days and the center page of this issue will show you what will be given away over the next twelve months. We not only give away these great prizes, but we also give away lots of bonus prizes with each and every drawing. Those of you that sign up during the month of April will get a bonus gift of an Eastmans’ MRS research book worth $50.00 as well as all the other great benefits.

Your Hunting Success

22

Pro Member Sweepstakes 24 Over $300,000 In Giveaways. Drawing Every 10 Days.

24Using PacWest Outdoors: Turkey Trigger-nometry geometry to bag a bird.

Turkey Hunting Products 31We New plucked the best new turkey hunting products.

36 Video Product Review

Five new product reviews for your viewing pleasure.

40 Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge Big fish in big numbers.

Revolution E-Caller 43 Lucky Duck makes a bomb electronic caller.

44 Wild Game Recipe:Turkey Nuggets

46 Writing Contest: Kansas Whitetail 48 BaseKamp

43

A new way to compute your draw odds, and much more.

50 Business Directory On A Budget: Merriam's Country 52 Adventures Turkey Tour Bagging twice the birds with a little travel.

54 Pro Member Update: Papierski's Big Game Hunts CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dave Domin Karen Seaman Chad LaChance Dave Canterbury Michael Duff Gary Lewis

Art Merrill Sparky Sparkes Steve Mayer David Draper Jonathan Dahlstrom

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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outfits as well, with an assortment of spinners and pixies that will also get the job done, sometimes even better than with a fly. And notice that I say that I always have a “couple” of outfits with me! With the acrobatic skills of the high-flying silvers of Alaska, you better always have a spare on hand!

Our lodge of choice in this area of Alaska is Dave Mandich’s Becharof Rapids Camp.

It is nestled along the banks of the Egegik River, about two miles or so from its exit from Becharof Lake. It is a permanent structure camp, with a main cabin that houses all of your meals along with satellite TV and lounging area, a fish processing shed with freezers for your catch, five multi-bed cabins and two separate shower and toilet structures, one with a washer and dryer available for your use.

The standard length trip with Becharof Rapids Camp is 6-days and 5-nights, which includes the round-trip floatplane flight from King Salmon. All accommodations, meals and bedding is included. You may also inquire about special fly outs from the main camp that can be either day trips or multi-day tent camp adventures for an added cost. Most of the special trips are for non-salmon species such as rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and char, Dolly Varden and possibly even pike in some areas.

Getting back to the main focus of the showcase of the area, the wide, shallow, basically slow moving Egegik River. Because of its size, you could never really have to worry about a place to fish. Now with only two camps on the river that is not a problem anyway, but the fishing can be so good, many lodges from as far as 200 miles away will fly in for the day to bring their guests to fish for silvers. Floatplanes can be seen buzzing around the area, with pilots on the lookout for pods of fish making their run up the river to the lake and on most days, there are pods everywhere! Fish can be seen flying out of the water all day long and ‘rollers’ are always teasing you as they make their way through the many channels, offering a great opportunity for the alert fisherman or woman to make a cast just in front of them and usually after a couple of rotations of your reel or strips of your line, its GAME ON! On our first afternoon, our host helped us load our gear into the boat and we headed to one of his favorite hot spots. Rick Rosenberg, one of my Pro Staffers, joined me on this trip to help film for an upcoming episode of our SNTV series and he grabbed the camera as I quickly put together my fly rod and tied on a weighted pink bunny leach, with a purple flash trailer. On about the third cast my line stopped in the current and I strip-set the hook. A second later a silver ball of muscle streaked across the water and headed for the middle of the river. After a half dozen tail-walking explosions and at least that many more runs, I finally worked my first fish of the trip to Dave’s awaiting net, a fresh, 12 pound, sea lice clad Coho.

During the next three hours of non-stop action, we tried just about every possible technique you can imagine: big flies, little flies, spinners, pixies and Dave even baited up a rod with a ball of roe (salmon eggs) and let me tell you, it was like the fish were pooled up, just waiting in line for their chance when it hit the water. As soon as the weight hit the bottom and the roe started to float up, the tap, tap, tap began and your rod was hoisted up over your head as you set the hook on another silver. What a great afternoon of fishing and what a great start to our week at Becharof Rapids Camp.

After we all enjoyed a juicy steak and shrimp feast for dinner, we grabbed our rods and headed right out in front of the camp to try our luck at the pods of fish making their way up on the rising tide. Fish could be seen rolling and jumping across the wide, flat water and it seemed like every time I threw to a surfacing fish, it was immediately on my line. A line of about seven of us had assembled along the stretch of

Rick Rosenberg takes a breather after a great morning of silver salmon on the fly.

Casting To The Flash Of Silver

By Kent Danjanovich

F

ly fishermen are a funny sort. They come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. Some say that to be a true student of the art, softly presenting a dry fly to the surface of a pristine mountain lake or stream is the only true form. Others just evolve into enjoying the challenge of the cast, the presentation and the hook-set. I guess you could say that I am a little bit of a cross between both, with my start in the sport on western streams and lakes that has now prepared me for the adventures that I am able to experience around the world.

As many of you know, one of my favorite places to fish is Alaska. I can’t say that any one part has overtaken me more than another, but I have definitely started to favor a few spots that have me dreaming of returning for just one more cast. One of those places I found about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, a short floatplane flight from King Salmon in the Bristol Bay Region on the Egegik River.

This area of Alaska is included in the Aleutian Range, so of course there is a towering volcano always present in the distance on clear days, but much of the area consists of vast landscapes of tundra valleys and waterways that support wildlife and waterfowl galore.

The head waters of the Egegik River start at Becharof Lake, the second largest lake in Alaska, second only to Lake Iliamna, covering over 300,000 acres. The lake is home to one of the largest runs of salmon in the world, with over six million sockeye salmon alone returning each year. The Egegik experiences about 1.3 million of that run, plus kings, chum, pinks (mostly on the even years) and of course, big numbers of silvers.

Now even though I love to catch salmon on a fly rod, I also know that not everyone has the same passion. You will always find my rod case packed with a couple of spincast

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The author getting ready to release another nice silver salmon, one of fifty or so he was able to land on this day. water and at just about any time for the next two hours, at least one or two of us had a fish on. To say that our first day was a rousing success and that we were all a little bit tired from battling fish, may have been a little bit of an understatement.

Although the weather got a little tougher, the fish didn’t seem to care too much.

Mornings and evenings always seemed to produce the hottest actions, but even midday, before and after lunch, offered plenty of fish, if your body could continue to take it! Thirty, forty and fifty plus fish days are a regular occurrence on the Egegik with a fly rod. Even the novice can do well, as although at times casting length is important, if you are able to find a channel or a rock formation that offers a holding area for passing fish, all you have to do is swing your fly through the seam and hold on for dear life.

On the fourth evening of our stay, Dave loaded four of us in his boat and we headed down river about a half a mile to a large bay. He informed us that this was an area that the fish used as they made their way up river to the lake. We beached the boat and Dave climbed up the small hill along the edge of the beach to see if he could spot any pods of fish. As he did, he would point out the area for each fisherman to cast to and in most cases after a couple of quick strips, BAM. The next hour produced about a dozen chrome-bright silvers, probably only a couple of hours from entering out of the ocean. Another great way to end another perfect evening at Becharof Rapids Camp.

Even our last morning found us making a few last casts in one of our favorite stretches of the river. Since the new group wouldn’t be getting into King Salmon until about 11:30am, five of us “volunteered” to be the last ones to be flown out, so our guide, Chris Bukowski, ran us up river and dropped us off for a couple of hours of fishing. I landed fifteen fish myself before Chris came back to get us and I know that the other guys in the group landed at least that many and probably more. Pink and orange with plenty of flash was the ticket on this day, with purples and blacks hot when the skies were darkest. And I would say that I caught at least half of my fish on the trailer fly, so if you haven’t tried the tech-

Surf and turf as fresh as it gets – Alaskan Style! nique of using a weighted fly as your lead fly and then tying on a piece of leader about 18-inches long with a non-weighted smaller fly attached, you are probably missing out.

We are happy to have Becharof Rapids Camp as one of our highly respected, Platinum Approved Outfitters, as Dave Mandich and his staff do a great job in every way. Remember, you are in the middle of the wilderness and that is definitely part of this wonderful experience. It is always amazing to me that you can experience such a great adventure, with so many luxuries of home at your fingertips. Oh – and did I mention we gorged ourselves on steaks, lobster, crab, shrimp, ribs, salmon and scrumptious desserts – oh my! Becharof Rapids Camp, visit them on the web at www.becharofrapidscamp.com or give them a call at 360-532-7594.

Part of our fishing group displaying another stringer of fat silvers after a great day of fishing.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Introducing the Leupold VX-3i LRP

By Dave Domin

T

he popularity of long range shooting has dramatically increased over the last few years. Firearm manufacturers are fueling this trend by developing and distributing high quality precision rifles at an affordable price. For the most part, riflescope manufacturers have not followed suit. Typically, scopes designed for long range shooting far exceed the price of the firearm, leaving many enthusiasts apprehensive about stepping into the long range shooting world. For this reason, Leupold has taken their 70 years of precision optics experience and developed the VX-3i LRP, Long Range Precision, line of riflescopes. These scopes are available in both front focal and rear focal plane configurations, making them ideal in competition or out on the hunt.

The VX-3i LRP is an extension of the popular VX-3i line that was introduced in 2016.

Both scope models are very similar internally. They begin with a one-piece, 30mm maintube crafted out of aircraft grade aluminum for unrivaled durability. Like the VX-3i, the LRP is built around Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System which balances all available light wavelengths, eliminates glare, and pushes resolution to the limit. Beginning with lead-free lenses, Leupold applies Twilight Max lens coatings. These coatings optimize the red and blue frequencies of light, those found at the very first and last moments of the day, while maintaining a high transmission of the light at the center of the spectrum, delivering exceptional contrast and low light performance. These lenses are then topped off with guard-iON coatings; a hydrophobic material designed to repel water, dirt, and fingerprints. The next step is the elimination

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

of glare. Although not often said, this step actually lowers overall light transmission by removing or absorbing stray light, only transmitting useful light to your eye, creating an improved sight picture. This is accomplished by first precision machining the VX-3i LRP’s interior and then by blackening the edges of key lenses within the scope.

Form and function is what differentiates the LRP from its hunting counterpart.

When the box is first opened, this becomes blatantly apparent. The power selector, with its bold and easy to read numbering, is equipped with a removable throw lever which makes magnification changes a breeze. If the shooter doesn’t want to use the throw lever, it can be easily removed and replaced with the included threaded plug.

With the throw lever removed the bold shape of the power selector will still allow a positive grasp, even with gloved hands.

Next will be the oversized elevation adjustment dial and capped windage adjustment. The elevation dial is etched in either ¼ MOA or .1 MIL increments, more about this benefit later. This easy to read dial is equipped with an adjustable zero stop and elevation travel indicator, which is marked in 5 MOA or 5 MIL increments.

So, getting lost in your dial rotations is a thing of the past. The covered windage dial is also marked in ¼ MOA or .1 MIL increments. For those that prefer to run with the windage dial exposed, Leupold includes a knurled thread protector to use in place of the cover.

As stated earlier, The VX-3i LRP comes with MIL and MOA adjustments. The same holds true for the reticles. MOA scopes are available with three reticle choices T-MOA, Impact 32 or Impact 29, while the MIL scopes are available with Leupold’s Tactical Milling Reticle (TMR), and the new CCH reticle. Available in 4.5-14x50mm, 6.5-20x50mm, and 8.5-25x50mm, all LRP’s feature side focus parallax adjustment.

Lastly, the VX-3i LRP is oxygen purged and then filled with Leupold’s second generation Argon/Kryton waterproofing, which more effectively resists thermal shock to ensure a 100% fog proof and waterproof seal. Built for a lifetime of performance, the LRP is backed by the Leupold Full Lifetime guarantee.

So there you have it. If you are interested in upping your game in long range precision shooting without breaking the bank, stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and ask to see the Leupold VX-3i LRP today.

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See what else sets the VX-3i LRP apart at Leupold.com.

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

7

Juneau Alaska Day Trip

By Karen Seaman Sportsman's Warehouse

A

s soon as we announced a new store in Juneau, Alaska, I knew this would be a grand opening I would attend and take advantage of a few vacations days for fishing. I have been fortunate to visit Alaska several times and with each trip, the fishing has been wonderful. This would be my first time in Juneau, and I had always heard the fishing was good. In researching charters and checking with friends, I found that most operations catered to week long trips with lodges. A few day-charters showed up with a Google search, but with very mixed reviews. Best Damn Charters had glowing reviews and after a few calls to my network of industry people, it showed that Duane Cummings (owner) was as good as it gets. Though several months out, I called Duane and I booked two days of fishing for myself, my husband and my son.

As the departure date approached, we checked the weather and determined it best to bring our rain gear and rubber boots. Though our flight was delayed out of Seattle and arrived at 1 am, we were excited and ready as we headed to the marina at 7:30 for our 8 am departure.

As we reached the dock, Duane, Nick, and a few more of the crew met us and with brief introductions, we headed off on the Endeavor with Nick as our captain and Joe our first mate. It was a little rough on the way out, but by the time we reached our spot, we had sunny skies and calm waters. Nick had a great game plan as to where he wanted to fish, having past success in the area.

After completing all necessary licensing paperwork, we soon had lines in the water. It was great that Nick helped us understand the average halibut is around 15 to 20 pounds since most photos you see on sites are well over 100 lbs., especially given one of our buyers last year landed a 466-pound halibut. With our herring on the hooks, the bites started to occur. However, the landing-to-bite ratio was not so high. Nick and Joe were very helpful with the technique on setting the hook and reeling in.

After a few more minutes, Jon hooked a halibut and got it aboard. The first one was about 15 lbs., though not huge, but as I have learned with hunting, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last, which for fishing translates to we are keeping it. This got us off the schneid and started the competition. In addition to halibut, Nick mentioned we may also catch rock fish and cod.

The Endeavor, one of the boats in the Best Damn Chrters' fleet, was our ride for a great day of fishing in Juneau, Alaska.

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

9

Jonathan and I now had our halibut to land and Jon was onto rock fish and cod.

Johathan was the next one to land his halibut. Finally, after missing about five, I finally hooked a halibut. Nick knew instantly by the bend in the rod it was a halibut. As I struggled to reel and make the transition to the rail, I was certain this was a huge halibut. My biceps burned as I reeled and reeled, but upon getting it into view, we found that it again was about 15 lbs. I came to the conclusion that if I hooked anything much larger, I would not be able to get it into the boat!

The day was absolutely beautiful, so we enjoyed the weather and great views as we then spent a little more time catching some rock fish.

With our halibut tags filled, we headed for some salmon trolling.

On the way, we saw numerous pods of orcas, some humpbacks, seals, and otters. We transitioned to downriggers and started to troll along a shelf. Before we started, Duane let us know that salmon fishing had been tough and the season thus far had not been good. After such a great day of halibut, we were not too concerned, but thought it was worth a try. As the day came to an end, we had a hit on the line, reeled it in and had another rock fish, so all was not lost.

On the way in, Nick showed us many points of interest and again more pods of orcas and though beautiful, they might have explained the lack of salmon in the Jonathan shows off his halibut on area. As we docked, Nick and day-one.

Joe cleaned our fish and dropped

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them off for processing and packing. We all three looked forward to the next day, with the chance to experience it all again, with anticipation of another successful day.

Friday morning started Day 2 of our fishing adventure, with the weather more as expected – cloudy skies and rougher seas.

We met Captain Duane and Taylor at the dock and we soon headed out on the Endurance.

Due to higher seas, we headed to an area more protected. Captain Duane had a good spot picked out for us, with hopefully a few larger halibut. We dropped our lines in about 190 feet of water and began Karen Seaman with her hefty halibut caught on to jig. Though bites the second day of the trip. were occurring, the hooking was still not 100 percent. Jon again was first to hook a halibut and again, since this was the first of the day, we kept it and continued to fish. Jonathan then became the codslayer and proceeded to reel in four nice ones.

I next hooked what I thought was going to be a nice halibut, but as I struggled to bring it up, we soon found it to be a "double ugly" or that is at least what Captain Duane called it and it certainly matched its name. We tossed it back and I was then able to catch a nice cod. Jon caught two more and then our focus drifted back to halibut. Captain Duane decided to relocate to another spot he had marked on his GPS. Soon our lines were back in the water and again the tap, tap, taps began. I put on a fresh herring and began to jig. All of the sudden the bites became stronger and I set the hook. This one was a halibut and I knew it was much larger than the one from the day before. As I began to reel and struggle, I called for assistance to make the transition to the rail as I kept reeling, making sure I kept tension on the fish and no slack line. What felt like 10 minutes, though really only about two, my halibut finally appeared and we got it in the boat and it measured about 38 inches. The hard work paid off. Two down and one to go for Jonathan. After about 10 minutes, Jonathan caught his halibut and it was off to trolling for more salmon. Again, the trolling was not too successful, but we certainly had fun trying.

As we reached the dock, we had three more halibut and seven cod to take to the processor.

Our fishing trip to Juneau was certainly successful, thanks to the Best Damn Charters and Captain Duane and Nick who knew the locations to take us to and be successful no matter the conditions. My next trip to Alaska will certainly be a stop in Juneau to our new Sportsman’s Warehouse store along, with a day of fishing Jonathan with one of the many cod with Captain Duane and he caught with Best Damn Charters in Best Damn Charters (www.

Juneau. bestdamncharters.com).

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Find Ruger: April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

11

The Reward

Chad LaChance

I

’m very lucky. Some might even say blessed. Some have said they’d trade their current life to do what I do for a living. I’m very cognizant of that point, and I never take it for granted. Getting to be a professional outdoorsman, even though it requires a ton more actual work than almost anybody outside the industry realizes, is truly something that should always be appreciated. But you know what?

When I sit down and reflect on where I am and consider where I’m going, it’s not all the fishing, hunting, and outdoor cooking that comes to the forefront of my thoughts. It’s not the giant lake trout I caught on film, the day we caught a bass every 2.6 minutes on average for five hours straight, or the monster mule deer buck I harvested last season. Those were unbelievable days no doubt and I was overwhelmed at the time, but when push comes to shove, those are not the most rewarding parts of my life afield.

You know what is? The sharing.

Let me take a step back. I’m the proprietor of Fishful Thinker LLC, founded in 2002. The company was built around this mantra: “Fishful Thinker is a state of mind, pure and simple. Not a person, place, or genre; rather a mindset that besets those who think fishy thoughts. It’s the relentless quest of knowledge coupled with application, the wave of success and failure, and the countless hours daydreaming of the next opportunity.

It’s anticipation, preparation, participation, and reflection; primal yet sophisticated. It’s youthful exuberance and ageless wisdom; a process without end where answers bring questions, and success leaves one yearning for the next challenge. It’s respect for the quarry, environment, and peers, the sharing of knowledge, and the understanding of an angler’s place in the grand scheme,

12 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

however humbling that may be. Fishful Thinker; it’s all in your head. “ Did you notice the “sharing of knowledge” part? Well, that’s where the reward lies.

Do you know what my favorite part of guiding anglers is? I bet you can now guess. Folks that get in my boat come to learn, and I love to share whatever knowledge I have gained over the years.

That my topic happens to be catching fish isn’t really the point. The point is that I find it rewarding to help someone learn what they want to learn. I’d probably be a terrible teacher of a required class, but I could surely teach an elective class and feel rewarded.

Coaching is an extension of teaching, right? Well, coaching high school bass anglers proved to be my most rewarding accomplishment of 2016. My team won the Bassmaster High School National Championship and that certainly helps, but just being there to help those kids achieve their goals was the real reward. The year prior my team tied for dead last in the same event, and while I was disappointed in my own coaching performance, it was still a very rewarding thing to be part of, so much so that our plan to qualify and return to the championship the next year was hatched on the 1000 mile drive home from our disappointing finish.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I think you might feel the same way if you give back by sharing your fishing or hunting knowledge with someone who can benefit from it. In my experience it doesn’t matter exactly who receives your help afield, only that you share this lifestyle that we outdoors people are lucky to live.

One of my favorite events every year is C.A.S.T for Kids (CastForKids.org).

Developmentally disabled kids are paired with volunteer boaters who take them out fishing for a few hours, and then we have lunch together. I don’t even fish yet it’s an unbelievable day on the water, far more so than if I went out and smoked a bunch of big bass with a buddy that same day. The kids are giddy to be outdoors, on the water, and they make sure you know about it in no uncertain terms. A guide client that beams after finally figuring out that jerkbait cadence I’ve been teaching him for the last hour and catches an average smallmouth brings out the same feeling in me. I could catch those home lake smallies one after the other and never achieve that personal reward.

And while it may not be the same inten-

sity as doing so in person, when a viewer or reader emails me to share their own success derived from something they learned from our content, well, there’s my reward. This life ain’t about the money.

As we head in to another summer on the water, I urge you to consider my personal story. Take a young kid to a neighborhood pond and help them catch a few bluegills. Join a fishing club and help teach new recruits your skills Perhaps you’re a life long fly guy; take

it upon yourself to introduce someone new. Put your feelers out for a high school or collegiate bass team to work with. It’s the fastest growing segment of fishing and even major companies like St Croix Rods are stepping up to propel the sport even more mainstream; get involved yourself. Whatever angle of sharing your lifestyle appeals to you, do it. I honestly think you, and the sport, will be better off for it.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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18 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

W

Part 4: Containers

hen we speak to the important items in a kit, I think the container seems to be one of the most misunderstood. Lots of folks understand the need for carrying water all the time, but most of the plastic bottles on the market are a single use item. Sure, you can use them to store other things in as well, but for the most part, that is still a single use, whether you are storing water or bits of gear or food. The key to a well-rounded kit is making certain that all items within the kit are as multifunctional as possible. When it comes to the 5 Cs, this is critical.

The container you choose to carry in your kit should ALWAYS be made of material that will withstand direct flame. Metal of some sort, with a single wall design, is the only logical choice. The type of metal we choose is a personal choice, but for me, I like stainless steel. Aluminum is lightweight for sure, but also easier to damage. Titanium is lightweight, but tends to warp if exposed to direct flame and high amounts of heat from a camp fire. Stainless transfers heat well, has a great durability factor, as well as being able to withstand high temperatures without detriment to function.

In my system, I teach folks to advance the level of kit depending on the planned trip; so, for a simple day hike, I would choose a 32 oz., stainless water bottle with a nesting cup. The nesting cup is important as it allows the creation of a chamber, which we will discuss in a moment. If I am going to be on more than a day hike, I may choose a folding skillet, with lid, to add versatility to my cooking abilities and then a pot beyond that of 2-quarts capacity. With this, I have a fairly complete cook system, even if I have a couple people along with me.

So, back to the importance of the first container in our kit. When I developed this system, I took into account all the things I may need to do with this one container

A good stainless steel container with a cover should be an essential part of your kit.

The bail on your pot isn't just for lifting it out of the fire. With a little ingenuity, you can make a back woods thermostat to adjust how close your pot rests from the fire, varying heat. as well as the difficulty in producing something like this from the landscape, along with the other 4 Cs in this system. With a metal water bottle and cup, I can disinfect a ground water resource by boiling, I can cook food and create medicinal if I am familiar with the natural resources around me. It becomes an irrigation system for first aid, a hot water bottle on a cold night, a cold pack for sprain or strain and I can utilize the chamber by covering the bottle with the cup to create charred material for the next fire, if needed. All of these things must be considered and the functionality of that single container is more vast than many realize.

Now let’s talk about the size for a moment and why I said 32 oz. in the beginning.

If I choose to disinfect my water by chemical means, either by tabs or chemicals like iodine, all these things are generally measured in one U.S. quart or 32 oz. So, if my bottle is 26, 38, 16, for example, how do I know I have done a proper job? If my bottle is 32 oz. to the top, I can be sure I have at least done what I can to make my water safe for consumption, if for some reason I cannot filter and/or boil. If you want to make charred material in your container to use with most methods of combustion that require a live ember, this is easily accomplished. Use any natural material you have on hand if needed, like a cotton T-shirt or a bandana.

If you understand natural resources, you can also use punky soft woods or plant pith to create a good char. Place about a 4-inch swatch of material or a few chunks of natural materials into the bottle. If you have some residual moisture in the container as you have just consumed the water etc., this will evaporate in the fire, so don’t worry. Now, place the cup on top of the bottle opening without the lid on the container. This will allow gases to escape, but will not allow oxygen in as the material is superheated by direct flame or hot coals. Place the container into the fire pit.

You may see some smoke emitting around the edges of the cup. Don’t worry about April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

19

A good quality skillet, like this one sold in the Pathfinder Shop, should have a folding handle to keep everything contained. Other items can be carried inside to protect them, and it can be used for a variety of uses, from making charred material, to making pine tar glue. It is also handy for making breakfast for you and your companions. that either. Give it 5-10 min and remove it from the fire, but do not open it. Just set it aside until it is cool enough to handle with bare hands. Once cool, you can open the container to inspect the char. It should be black. If it is not completely black, seal it up and put it back in the fire. You cannot overdo the char, you can only burn it if you allow oxygen to reach it while it is super-heated. Once you have a charred material, this can now be used with about any spark to create a live ember for fire making with a birds nest of combustible material.

A simple medicinal can be made using non-longleaf pine species to create pine needle tea. This is high in Vitamin C and will give you an immune system boost during times when you are lacking good sleep. Fill the container and boil the water, remove from the fire and add about one handful of chopped pine needles to the container, then cover with the cup and allow it too steep for about 15 minutes. Remove the cup and strain the liquid into the cup through a bandanna or cotton T-shirt and consume.

These are a few simple ways to use your metal container more efficiently and reasons why it is an important part of any kit.

About the Author - Dave has been published in Self Reliance Illustrated, New Pioneer, and American Frontiersman, Trappers World, and has appeared on the cover of Backwoodsman Magazine. Dave’s book BushCraft 101 is a two-time NY Times Best Seller. In addition to writing about survival, Dave is the Co-Owner and Supervising Instructor of The Pathfinder School in SE Ohio, the United States Premier School for Self Reliance. The Pathfinder School is listed as one of the top 12 Survival School in the U.S.

by USA TODAY. Dave holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Wilderness Ministry from Frontier Christian University is certified in Advanced Search and Rescue, Wilderness First Aid/ CPR, as an Expert Trapper by the Fur Takers of America, and holds Basic and Intermediate Certificates from the International School of Herbal Arts and Sciences.

20 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Keeping your dry victuals in metal tins, gives you multiple-use containers for a variety of uses. It keeps them contained without risk of them getting punctured like a plastic bag, takes less space, and once you have consumed the contents, the tins are useful containers.

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21

PRO'S TIP

What You Can Learn From Shed Hunting To Improve Your Hunting Success

By Michael Duff

I

was introduced to shed hunting at a very early age.

My brother and I would comb the hills looking for those brown treasures and back in those days, very few people were partaking in this activity. However, twenty years later, a lot has changed and now it is more than just a hobby. For many people, it is a way to make a living.

One thing is for sure, the knowledge you can gain about your herd by shed hunting is instrumental in your fall success.

If you are a hard-core trophy hunter, the primary reason to shed hunt is to see what animals have survived the hunting season, harsh winter, collisions with cars and those that have just plain survived. This will tell us a little bit about our

inventory for the upcoming season. This is very important in a unit where you can have a tag in your pocket each and every year. It gives you the ability to watch a buck or bull grow up and see how they develop each and every year with the different conditions Mother Nature throws your direction. It also allows you to check your field judging ability to within a couple of inches when you are lucky enough to find those antlers.

Spending time watching these animals right before they shed will allow you to learn something about their personalities and habits as well. When an animal gets to maturity and is on my hit list for the upcoming season, I usually have a couple sets of his sheds and know a great deal about him and his habits, which make him much more susceptible to harvest.

One very important lesson I have learned with multiple years of sheds, is that they often don’t look as large as they really are when they get very mature. A mature mule deer buck might tip the scales at three hundred pounds when he is 7- or 8-years-old, but his

22 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

PRO'S TIP 180” rack might look significantly smaller had you not held his 180” rack from the year before. This is even more common with elk.

Shed hunting is also a great resource for a unit where you seldom get a tag. Making a trip or two to the winter range of these units will give you a good idea where the deer will shed. With the elk shedding later, they have a tendency to move back up the snow line and will shed at much higher elevations, but it is very likely that they will be on those south facing slopes, above where you saw them when you checked them out on the winter range.

If you are an archery hunter and will be hunting early, I often find these sheds in areas where the bulls will be hunted in late August. Spending time picking up these sheds will give you a very good indication of the overall quality of animals available in the unit instead of taking someone’s word for it or reading it in a magazine. I would much rather do this before burning my valuable bonus points for a unit that has been overrun with oil and gas exploration or has been hit by winterkill. With many states, you can shed hunt a unit and have a good indication of quality before even putting in for the drawings. However, each state has different regulations on when you can and cannot shed hunt, as well as required licensing.

Shed hunting will also allow you to learn the road systems in a unit as well as do some hiking. The byproduct of all of this hiking and looking for sheds is that you will be getting into very good shape for the upcoming hunting season. It isn’t uncommon to cover 15 miles in a day looking for antlers. A backpack full of elk sheds can tip the scales at over 100 pounds. A haul like that will not only get you into great shape and provide you some quality knowledge of the animals and the unit, but will also yield you about $800 to $1,200 dollars. The prices for 2017 are ranging from $10.00 to $12.00 a pound for elk antlers and deer is $6.00 to $8.00 for fresh browns and about 25% less for hard whites.

Dollars like that will pay for a lot of fuel for your next shed hunting excursion.

Here are a few tips to make your shed hunting more productive. First of all, make sure you check your local state regulations on shed hunting, including when you can legally do it. Some states, like Utah, now require you to have an online training course prior to hitting the field and due to the hard winter, the opportunity is totally closed until April 1st this year. Other states don’t allow it until the winter has broken. The days are longer and provide less stress on the animals.

Once you know the laws, its’ time to take to the field. Try to watch the animals from a distance in their own natural habits. If left undisturbed, they will shed their antlers very close together, making it very easy to find matched sets. South facing slopes are always a good place to start glassing and then look for ridges that are very long and provide an easy mode of travel. These guys have just endured winter outside and like the simple life, just like you and I. These south facing slopes will usually hold good feed this time of year, but if not, find the feed and you will find the animals. Good water sources are required as well and even though the ground is moist and water is usually abundant, I find this is a great time to mark unique water sources on your GPS for future visits during the preseason.

Shed hunting is extremely fun for the entire family and will do a good job of getting you ready for the upcoming hunting season in more ways than one. It can also be very profitable.

So, grab your boots, a pack and hit the road. The deer have already dropped and the elk are in the tail-end of their dropping. This means there is a lot of brown gold laying out there just waiting to be picked up.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

23

Turkey Trigger-nometry

Put simple geometry to work and put a gobbler on the table.

T

By Gary Lewis

he one thing I almost always forget is something to sit on. There have been days when I have sat against the same tree for four hours. A camo cushion helps. But this gets to the hardest part of turkey hunting - where do you put the cushion?

On a turkey hunt, we should think in terms of the geometry: the lines, the arcs, the angles. The spheres, the cones, the triangles. We can apply the geometry, the mathematical study of shapes and space, but in hunting there are no formulas. Instead, we can put deceptions to work, proven producers that put birds in the plane of our sights each season.

A Good Ground Game

We know where birds roost and we know where they feed. To get from Point A to Point B, they travel the same routes until something pushes them into another pattern. This is where it pays to watch for sign - three-toed tracks, cylindrical droppings, feathers and wingtip drag lines.

Old logging roads, ridge top crossings and fence lines. Rivers, creeks and fire breaks. Keep these places in mind.

Plan to set a ground blind at a morning stand and another one at an afternoon ambush. Build the blind from native materials - drag and stack fallen trees and limbs - or bring a store-bought hide. The important thing to remember is the turkeys are using this trail and they will show up sooner or later. Plan to stay in one place for up to three hours.

Bank on a decoy or two to catch the birds’ attention. To draw the birds in range, I prefer to keep the decoys within ten yards of the blind.

When they come into view, they are likely to stop and cast a suspicious eye on the faux flock of fowl. Try to plan the setup so the gobbler sees the decoy at 30 yards or less. And be ready to shoot in case they don’t charge in.

That’s the way it worked when I took my friend, Russ Scott, on his first turkey hunt. We set the blind along a logging road and settled in with our backs to an intersection of two other roads.

With three decoys (one hen and two toms) arrayed in front of the blind, we thought the birds would charge in.

First came a hen that eyeballed our set, then peeled off hard. A half hour later, five gobblers trotted on a parallel line over the hill. When they This bird was on a ridge, headed south. A saw the decoys, strategy of running and arcing in on his trajectory, they stopped. If put the bird in front of the bead. you had scribed a circle at our position, they would have been on a 30-yard radius.

The lead bird took a tangent and the rest of them followed. Except for the bird at the back.

He took one more look and Scott punched him with Photo by Gary Lewis a load of No. 5s.

24 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

A Travelin’ Tom and a Mobile Missy

Photo by Gary Lewis

From time to time, a hunter can encounter a tom that gobbles back to calls, but seems to have an agenda. He is headed somewhere and nothing is going to turn him aside, even our most plaintive clucks and purrs. Maybe he knows Set up at the end of the line. One hour and where a willing hen is twenty minutes into the stalk, five gobblers waiting. Maybe he has trotted into view. a hen or two in tow.

That’s what happened to us on one late season hunt.

No matter what we tried, we could not get this turkey to commit. He would gobble to our hen talk, but he stayed on the ridge he was on. For an hour, we tracked his progress south and when we heard him gobble from a lava flow, we swooped in and tried one more time.

We were well in front of him and then we heard hen talk for the first time.

He gobbled and she scolded him. He gobbled again and she scolded again.

I was with friend and fellow scribe, Troy Rodakowski, on this hunt and he had set up well behind me. I saw the turkeys first. The gobbler and then his hen. And, if she had ears, you would have seen the smoke rolling out. She was that mad. But he could not resist Troy’s plaintive sounds. I picked him up over the plane of my Weatherby, centered the bead on his head, the eye the point of the circle and the radial that represented its neck and squeezed.

The big boss gobbler went down with a flop. The hen scuttled away with a backward glance and one more, “I told you so!”

This is a late-season ploy and the chance to get in front of a traveling tom might only happen once in several seasons of trying, but recognize the opportunity when it knocks.

Figure out the way the bird is headed, then try to get out in front of him by at least 200 yards. He is headed on a straight line and the hunter has to really

Cooking a Wild Turkey We like wild turkey way better than cage-raised domestic birds and I think it’s because wild birds live the way nature designed them. They thrive on a diet of weed seeds, bugs, snails and other edibles. Their meat is lean, contrasted with fatty factory farm birds, raised in cages and fed growth hormones and antibiotics to keep them alive.

Our first wild turkey we cooked a bit too long. It was a little dry. I remember Merrilee said, “Next time I’ll cook it in a bag to keep the moisture in.” Every one since has been delicious.

The thing to remember is, wild birds don’t carry any fat, while domestic birds are fatter and substantially bigger. Wild turkeys cook up quite a bit faster, because there is less meat and fat. When a wild turkey is cooked right, it can be every bit as tender as a domestic bird and way more flavorful.

My last bird was a jake, taken right before Christmas. I wrapped it with strips of bacon, laced it with Justy’s Jelly (Very Berry Jalapeno), tied it up with string and slow-smoked it inside my Camp Chef pellet grill.

If you haven’t tried wild turkey, it is not as easy to find as a Butterball in the grocery aisle, but the hunt makes a better story to tell around the table.

-Gary Lewis

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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28 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Photo by Gary Lewis

move to make the call set and then arc out and back to try again. On our lava ridge hunt, we arced in on the same bird three times before he strutted in like the playboy he was.

Simple Geometry

Picture three points on a line. At Point A, a group of gobblers lounges in the sun. At Point B, a lonely hen begins to cluck. Point C is where you want to be. A hundred yards, two hundred yards farther on. Make a few subtle hen sounds, then go quiet and wait.

When Jim Harris and I It helps to know where the fences are spotted these toms, they were a long, long way out. because turkeys sometimes hold up at Harris was carrying a caman obstacle like this. era, so the move was mine to make.

There was no way they would come to my calls across a half-mile of open pasture. We could not go to them because they were on the neighbor’s property. When I called, one strutted. And then a hen lit up, way up high on the ridge. The toms, all six of them, started to move. That gave me an idea.

Since this was the last day of the season, it stood to reason there was only one hen up there for six males. Six minus one equals five. Simple math.

If I got in line with her and called soft, chances were good that five males would still be without a female. They could just come right to me on a straight line. Simple geometry.

Lined up behind the hen, I went to work on the box call. I heard two more gobbles and then nothing. If they showed at all, I figured the bird in front would be the biggest of the five left.

There were no more turkey sounds.

It would have been easy to call it quits, to pack it in and try to find another bird or throw my tag away. But I remembered. Those birds had a long way to go and the temperature was already warm on its way to hot. I guessed they would not waste time gobbling.

I looked at the box call in my hand.

If there were turkeys on the way in, they had my location pinpointed. I wondered, how quiet could I make this call?

With a light touch, I stroked the paddle against the chalked edge, then put it away. A turkey’s hearing is tuned to hen talk and a plaintive, whispered “come hither” is all Running and gunning in a pine fora giddy gobbler needs to hear. est, Lewis and Troy Rodakowski encounOne hour and twenty tered a gobbler running a ridge line. On minutes after we started to the third arc, the duo tolled the gobbler in work this bunch, five gob- against the scoldings of his angry hen. blers trotted into view.

The grass was too tall to check beard length. I snapped the safety and fingered the trigger as soon as the first red-headed bird cleared a tangle of downed limbs.

Geometric theorems and postulates are great, but I like trigger-nometry best of all.

To order a signed copy of Gary Lewis’ Hunting Oregon, send $24.80 (includes S&H) to GLO, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 or visit www.GaryLewPhoto by Gary Lewis isOutdoors.com April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

29

30 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Turkey Products

By Art Merrill

M

ost new and almost-new-but-relatively-unknown turkey hunting goodies displayed at the January 2017 SHOT Show are improvements to existing goodies, but let’s get radical and start with a departure from the expected norm.

Bullpups for birds?

When the AR-15 first hit markets, few opined or even imagined it would one day find a place among hunters. But today it is the “modern sporting rifle” (MSR) and we use it on everything from small varmints to big game. Will we see the same happen with shotguns? As non-traditional today as the AR-15 was in the 1970s, the Model J12 bullpup shotgun from JARD, Inc. may herald the “modern sporting shotgun” of 2067.

When we consider how far we sometimes must hike to get to our stands – and hike back out with our turkeys - the portability of a bullpup configuration is appealing.

The 12ga J12 is a bit hefty at 8 ¼ pounds, but is less than 27” overall; the 18 1/8” barrel accepts Remington choke tubes and is chambered for 3” shot shells fed from Saiga magazines. The metal chassis is a clam shell break-open design, sporting a dark earth color; other visible parts are all matte black. Inside is a gas operating system with uberstrong rotating bolt locking and rod bolt guidance smoothing its cycling and the maker says the trigger is “exceptional.” A top Picatinney rail mounts optics or sights of your own choice.

Tight for turkey

It appears makers are moving away from mixing shot of different sizes within the same shot shell for turkeys, which is really a kind of hope-based practice of “if the left one don’t get you then the right one will.” Since we’re talking Winchester Long Beard, the trend to get extended ranges and tighter patterns for turkey hunters led Winchester Ammunition to develop Shot-Lok shot buffering, now incorporated in a new 20ga Long Beard XR offering. In the Long Beard XR 20ga ammo Winchester injects a liquid resin into the lead #5 or #6 shot in the hull; the resin hardens to protect the shot and upon firing shatters into near-dust. There’s less pellet deformation, aiding the 3-inch 20ga shot shell to gain extra yardage on-target.

Long Beard Jr.

Winchester’s new SXP Turkey shotgun joins their SXP Turkey Hunter and SXP Long Beard gobbler-specific line. Dress options include matte basic black, Mossy Oak or Break-Up Country. The 24” barrels are back-bored with vent ribs topped by fiber optic front and rear sights. Chamberings are 3” 20ga or 3 ½” 12ga and include Winchester’s Invector-Plus Extra-Full Turkey choke tubes to compliment the back boring. Chambers and bores are chrome plated and stocks are synthetic. Inflex Technology recoil pads direct recoil energy down and away from the shooter’s face.

With the SXP Turkey it appears we’re essentially getting Winchester’s Long Beard shotgun sans vertical pistol grip and Extra-Full Turkey extended choke tube, but the Turkey model offers an optional 20ga version.

The Turkey is also about a pound lighter than the Long Beard.

Basic black – or not

More traditional yet still technologically progressive, Benelli’s new for 2017 Super Black Eagle 3 is an all-black synthetic-and-steel shotgun befitting its name, but more appropriate to turkey hunting, the SBE 3 also comes dressed in a Realtree camo pattern. Mossy Oak and Gore Optifade Timber patterns are available later in 2017.

The Black Eagle’s heart is its Inertia Driven gas system that never needs adjustment, whether using stout 3 ½” magnum turkey rounds or 1 1/8oz, 3-dram dove loads. The 26- or 28-inch barrel comes with five choke tubes, two extended and three flush-mount and is topped with a single red fiber optic bead at the muzzle.

All the basic controls – trigger, safety, bolt release – are clustered within reach of the index finger, the ergonomic radius of the grip an aid in reaching them. In fact, much of the SBE 3 is about ergonomics. You can adjust length of pull (got youths?) with interchangeable butt pads, as well as ‘cast & drop’ with included shims. The forearm is remarkably slim, especially for a gas gun. We’re usually wearing gloves when turkey chasing, so Benelli designed the SBE 3 with an easy-twist 3-sided mag cap, enlarged bolt handle and release and a beveled loading port with two-piece carrier latch that helps avoid snagging gloved thumbs.

Comforts include a claimed 48 percent reduction in recoil thanks to those Comfort Tech 3 “gill slits” in the buttstock and reduced shock and vibration to the shooter’s face from the Combtech cheek rest. Combined with the adjustable LOP, these features alone make the SBE 3 a great choice for a youth or ladies’ semi-auto 12 gauge to fill multiple roles.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

31

Browning BXD Turkey

Browning also has designed a shot shell specifically for turkey, the BXD Turkey. The BXD works on the idea of preventing shot deformation to tighten patterns, doing so with nickel plated pellets and powdered shot buffering. The plastic wad differs from most others in being somewhat aerodynamic, which aids in tightening patterns by keeping the shot bunched up together longer before the rear end of the wad creates enough drag to fall away from the pellets.

BXD Turkey comes in 3” and 3 ½” 12ga and 3” 20ga; 12ga shot sizes are #4, #5 and #6, while the 20ga offering is #5 only.

See ‘em

One of the first surprises a new turkey hunter discovers is that shooting conditions in the shady haunts of big birds (especially in the Southeast) are often too dark for simple shotgun beads or iron sights. Some hunters have moved toward red dot sights, but anything with microcircuits invites Murphy to spoil a hunt at squeeze time.

The Oversight Shooting Technologies See All Nite battery-less tritium/optical/open sight mounts directly to a shotgun Picatinney or Weaver rail. The small, low profile, open unit has nothing on top to interfere with vision. It works by essentially using a tiny tritium panel to “project” the image of a black triangle (or the bottom half of a standard crosshair) onto a magnifying piece of curved glass. What you see is the black triangle against the bright green background; there is no parallax so you simply hold the point of the triangle on your target. Acquisition is fast enough for snap shooting and during the off season you can mount the See All Nite sight to any other rifle or pistol that has an upper rail.

Camo King

Temperatures can fluctuate widely during spring and fall turkey hunts, so layering is the name of the game. King’s Camo XKG is specifically designed for up to five layers of lightweight, packable clothing in patterns appropriate to mountain, field, woodland and desert hunting (“Desert turkeys?” You didn’t know about turkey hunting in the Southwest?). Foundation base layers are thin, breathable, wicking, no-itch, odor control Merino wool; mid layers stretch with movement and outer layers are waterproof and windproof, yet breathable. Shirt and jacket backs have extended lengths, so they don’t ride up while sitting in the blind. Each article of clothing has more features specific to its use, too many to cover here, but consider just the XKG Ridge Pant: four-way stretch, articulated knee, diamond crotch, water resistant, snap-close cargo pocket and waist sizes start at 30”.

Picking pockets

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32 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Remember when your GPA in college was 4.0?

Me either, but 4.0 is a good thing, which is probably why ALPS OutdoorZ calls its new turkey hunting backpack the Super Elite 4.0. They might have called it the “22” to number its plethora of pockets, some of them specifically designed for slate calls, box calls, diaphragm calls and phone calls – the latter a cell phone pocket on the chest.

I’m not sure if they consider the blood-proof, breathable, hen-ish size game bag a pocket. The fold-away comfy seat cushion detaches with quick release buckles; it has no pockets. Both the M/L and XL/XXL chest sizes weigh in at three pounds.

If that’s too much of a good thing, the Long Spur Versatile Turkey Hunting Vest System may appeal to your minimalist nature. The pittance of pockets compared to the 4.0 will still hold a box call, two slate calls, a locator call and mouth calls in two thoughtful mesh pockets that permit the spit to dry out.

There’s also a shoulder strap mounted hard plastic box to hold three diaphragm calls and loops for non-rattle carry of five shot shells. Pattern for both ALPS’ is the new darling, Mossy Oak Obsession.

M A D E BY

D I G I TA L T H E R M A L I M AG I N G R E F L E X S I G H T

ROMEO® 4T

MILSPEC - ADVANCED - INTUITIVE ROMEO4T™ is the ultimate sight for accurate target acquisition. Redesigned for 2017 to be “ruggedized” to meet MILSPEC demands, the Romeo4T™ is the only sight you’ll need.

4 integrated reticle options, (MOTAC) motion activated Illumination control, battery and solar - dual power system.

sigsauer.com April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

33

Gnarly Flutes

Don’t want pockets? While no call can do it all, the Turkey Flute from Haydell’s Game Calls can do yelps, gobbles, cutts and clucks – or more correctly, YOU can do them after learning from the instructional DVD. And all you need is a shirt pocket.

Packable Decoy

Fakin’ it

Avian-X Lifesize Collapsible Decoys are similarly realistic, but are a bit more portable if you don’t want to hump a bulging ruck full of decoys along with all your other stuff.

Flextone’s very lifelike Thunder Series of decoys are lightweight, flexible, durable and affordable.

Together, they make a convincing flock in a variety of natural poses like Feeding Hen and Creeper.

Power Hen

You know it’s tough, trying to describe a turkey call’s sound. But, Zink Calls gives it an intriguing shot in describing its new Power Hen hybrid cherry & maple box call as producing, “a desirable high-pitched front end that grabs a gobbler’s attention, with a gradual slide into the gnarly backside rasp that drives him crazy.” Gnarly backside rasp? I wish I had written that!

Convection Style Smoking

IT SIMPLY COOKS

BETTER Take your outdoor cooking to the next level with a SmokePro Pellet Grill by Camp Chef. Designed with the home griller in mind, built-in features simplify the process of smoking so you can cook to perfection every time. SmokePro Pellet Grills are available with features ranging from innovative digital smoker controls to dual temperature sensors. Discover the real secret of award winning BBQ cooks, low and slow smoking.

www.CampChef.com | 800.650.2433

34 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Pellet Hopper Clean-out (Select models)

Grease Catch Pellet Auger

Ash Clean-out System (Patent pending)

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

35

Video Product Reviews

Deuter Competition Packs

D

euter has been making packs since 1898 and has a rich history of success in backpacks over the years. They pride themselves on being an outdoor specialist company with passion, tradition, and personal experience. For 2017 they are launching the Competition Packs, the 65+10 and the 55+10.

This tidy trekking backpack has a low weight in relation to its volume. The Competition 65 + 10 brings enough volume for longer trips with medium weight equipment.

Another very good argument in combination with the large volume: a short or medium back length.

The shoulder straps can be adjusted in height. The waist belt is closed by pulling forward: thus, you can tighten the waist belt very comfortably. Body-like, soft and cushion-stitched upholstery for a uniform balance between firm fit and ventilation.

The divisible main compartment has an arched zip front access, the floor compartment has its own zip access. Enough options for packing and unpacking or searching for equipment. The cover compartment is equipped with a zip compartment on the outside and inside.

Details

• Material loops on the front • Four compression straps • Trekking stick / ice tool holder • Zip pocket on a hip fin • Slots at the sides

Competition 55+10

• Empty Weight: 4 lb. 8 oz.

• Empty Dimensions: 22” x 11” x 3” • Full Dimensions: 28” x 11” x 12”

Competition 65+10

• Empty Weight: 4 lb. 13 oz.

• Empty Dimensions: 25” x 12” x 3” • Full Dimensions: 30.5” x 12” x 12” Some of the other key features that are worth noting; the very comfortable 60-pound load rating. Then throw in the fully adjustable Vari Quick torso adjustment and you have a pack that will fit a wide range of body sizes. The comfort and functionality of this pack is well thought out and would make for a great extended day pack. With enough room for extra clothes, sleeping bag, light weight portable stoves, etc to tide you over during those extended stays in the backcountry or some of the longer multiple day trail hikes.

The Competitions use 600D Polyester ( A.K.A – SuperPolytex ) for the main body and a 550D Cordura for the base.

This gives an extremely tough bottom to withstand the abuse while on those long hauls. The thick PU water resistant coating on the inside will keep your personal items dry under Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view most circumstances. All this will aid in the longevity of these t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s packs and keep them going strong for years to come.

YouTube Channel.

Camp Chef Pro 60X Two Burner Stove

T

he Camp Chef stove has been a ubiquitous companion at campsites for decades. Tailgaters, car campers, outdoor kitchens and deep woods guides, don’t consider their outdoor kitchen complete without a Camp Chef stove.

For 2017, Camp Chef introduces the all new Pro60X and Pro90X stoves to their line, with many new features and of course great quality as always.

The Pro 60X has the classic Camp Chef stove look, with a 14-inch by 32-inch heavy

36 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

duty cooking grate, strong enough to hold filled Dutch ovens. It has adjustable heat control dials for fine control of your fire and matchless auto-ignition.

The new features include two fold-out shelves that also protect the burners and cooking grate when stored or fold down to accommodate patio cover, as well as two heavy-duty steel folding carrying handles and locking fold-out legs with leg levelers.

Inside, two heavy-duty 30,000 BTU aluminum burners provide even heat and a total output of 60,000 BTUs. A folding rear wind screen tops off the cooking surface, protecting the flame from sudden gusts. A heavy steel handle is welded into the frame on the back for easy carrying of the stove, suitcase style. The stove measures 32” inches high when the legs are extended, so it stands at just the right height for outdoor cooking. It weighs 48 pounds, so it is hefty and solid, but still manageable by one person.

The Pro 60X is compatible with all of the Camp Chef 14-inch accessories, to expand the capabilities of your stove.

Use the Deluxe BBQ Grill Box to turn your stove into a propane grill for burgers, ribs and other barbecue goodies.

The Professional Flat Top Griddle provides a 14x16 inch cast iron cooking surface for the single burner and a 14x32-inch cooking surface for the 2-burner version, turning your stove into a griddle for pancakes, eggs, bacon and other foods that cook better in a skillet than a stove.

The Italia Artisan Pizza Oven lets you do brick oven pizza in your back yard and comes in both single and double burner versions. A carrying/storage bag protects your stove during storage and transport and a patio cover lets you leave it set-up year-round as part of your outdoor kitchen. They even offer a roller carry bag with handles and wheels for easy transport.

For outdoor cooking, nobody provides Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view more value and functionality than Camp the Sportsman's News Chef. Check out their full line of products at YouTube Channel.

Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Video Product Reviews

ALPS Mountaineering Hydro Trail 17

T

he new ALPS Mountaineering Hydro Trail 17 is quite comfortable and practical for those upcoming day trips hiking trails this spring and summer. I really like the suspended frame, as it sits away from you to help your back breath on strenuous outings. The side pouches accommodate standard water bottles well, without a lot of extra play. You will find that a lot of packs have quite a bit of play in this area and your water bottles just keep falling out, making it inconvenient for those that don’t like to use a hydration reservoir.

On moderate to easy hikes, I generally choose not to buckle my waist belt, however, it is the

perfect size so that it doesn't flop around from side to side. With a little more active use when hitting the trails for a run, you will find the need to fasten the waist belt. I found this transition easy to do while hiking and then picking up the pace for a trail run.

This handy little pack comes in at 1,038 cu. in. and the overall weight right at 2 lbs. 5oz. which is a perfect go-to, small pack that anyone would be pleased with. It’s one of those packs you would find handy even to keep in your vehicle, for those necessities you don’t want to be left without.

The Hydro Trail 17 hydration pack from ALPS Mountaineering allows you to stay hydrated, while keeping your essential gear with you.

The ALPS 3-liter hydration bladder comes complete with a bite valve for hands-free hydration. Padded breathable mesh shoulder straps keep your shoulders from getting fatigued, while the sternum strap keeps the pack close to you for easy carry. The front organizer pocket features side compression straps to give you the ability to customize the size and position of your load. The brushed polyester fabric is durable and quiet and comes with a full rain cover to keep your gear dry during those sudden summer down pours.

So, if you’re in the market for a new lightweight pack that gets the job done on those day outings, this is one to put on your list to checkout. Whether it is for leisure, strenuous hikes or trail runs in the backcountry, the Hydro Trail 17 will not disappoint.

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view It will definitely exceed your expectations. the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

Colt Ammunition

W

hen it comes to a reputation for quality firearms, Colt’s Firearms Company has a long legacy of making quality guns for generations. To continue that legacy for quality, Colt has collaborated with Doubletap Ammunition to create match and defensive ammunition for the most popular pistol and rifles that Colt makes.

The defensive line is available in .380 ACP, .38 Special, 9MM, .45 ACP, 10MM, and .223 Remington. The match ammo is available in 9MM, .38 Super, .45 ACP, 10MM, .223 Remington, and .308 Winchester.

“This collaboration of design is the best representation of the Colt brand. It has less recoil so it is quicker back on target, quicker for follow up shots, less noise, less muzzle blast; all while having proper penetration and good expansion,” said Doubletap President Mike McNett.

Doubletap is known across the firearms industry for making the highest quality defensive, hunting, and match ammo that performs when the shot counts. Working with Colt to design an ammo that performs in their firearms, whether older or newer, and gives optimal performance, was right in Doubletap’s ballpark.

The real benefit of the match ammo is that it performs very much like the defense ammo, providing similar recoil so that those practicing with their defensive gun have a lower cost, range-safe alternative. Additionally, the match loads are rated with power factors, listed on each box, that meet IDPA, ISPC, and USPSA competition requirements.

The defensive ammunition offers reliable expansion, at least 14 inches of penetration, and is some of the best performing and lowest cost defensive ammunition on the market, with all of the calibers coming in at less than $20 for 20 rounds.

In addition to working up the loads, Doubletap is making the components in their Cedar City, UT factory, so you have a quality American made, hand inspected product that you can trust to perform, whether in competition, or to defend your life.

Colt Defense Ammo

Colt Match Ammo

.380 ACP

9mm

Caliber

Weight

Velocity (FPS)/ Barrel Length

.38 Spl.

110 gr.

.45 ACP

230 gr.

9MM

10MM

.223 Rem.

90 gr.

124 gr.

180 gr.

62 gr.

Caliber

Weight

Velocity (FPS)/Barrel Length

1,100/2”

.38 Super

124 gr.

1,360/5”

875/5”

10MM

180 gr.

1,150/5”

975/5”

1,200/5” 1,200/5”

2,950/16”

.45 ACP

.223 Rem. .308 Win.

124 gr.

230 gr.

62 gr.

155 gr.

1,150/5” 760/5”

2,950/16” 2,775/16”

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

37

Video Product Reviews

Leupold LTO-Tracker

F

inding downed game or positively identifying a noise in the night have both gotten easier with the introduction of the Leupold LTO-Tracker.

Using state-of-the-art thermal technology, the LTO-Tracker can spot a heat signature behind dense brush, differentiating it from the ambient air temperature and displaying it on the LCD screen.

With six different selectable color filters, the LTO-Tracker is useable in a variety of environments and temperatures; and can even be used in broad daylight, because it registers heat instead of bouncing infrared light, like most night vision devices.

The LTO-Tracker has a variable 6X digital zoom that can be accessed quickly by simply pressing a button. A user actuated reticle can be used for pinpointing your target.

The handheld unit is compact and weighs just 7.4 ounces and is just 5.6 inches long and easily fits in a shirt pocket.

The LTO-Tracker is waterproof, so it can be used in the elements. It has a detection range of 600 yards and a 21-degree field of view. It will register temperatures from -40 up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit and can operate in temperatures between -4- to 140-degrees Fahrenheit. The 1.22” diameter round 30 Hz FastFrame LCD screen provides excellent optical clarity with 240x204 resolution, which is excellent for a thermal imager.

It will run for up to 10 hours continuously on the included single lithium CR123 battery and shuts off after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. Three easy access buttons provide power and user interface to cycle between features and color filters.

The display will show the subject in red, green, white hot, black hot or hi-white or hi-black with multicolor thermal highlights.

The LTO-Tracker is machined from aircraft aluminum for a durable outer housing and is covered by Leupold’s 5-year electronic warranty. It is designed, machined and assembled in the United States.

Whether you are trying to find a wounded animal, tracking a fugitive, checking out that noise outside at night or scouting hogs or coyotes at night where it is legal to do so, the LTO-Tracker gives you a decided edge in finding heat-producing mammals in the dark or thick brush. It can also pick up a blood trail, helping you track and recover an animal.

From sniping your buddy in a nighttime game of paintball, to improving situational awareness around your domain, the LTO-Tracker has a multitude of uses. In areas where it is legal to use for hunting, the LTO-Tracker can improve your ability to harvest and track your prey. Check Scan this QR Code with it out at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse gift bar. your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

38 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Take it hiking. Take it hunting. Take it on the water. Montana™ 650t features a bold 4-inch color touchscreen display with dual orientation capabilities. Preloaded 100K TOPO maps come standard, plus support for multiple mapping options like BirdsEye Satellite Imagery and BlueChart® g2 (each sold separately). Montana packs a 3-axis tilt-compensated compass, barometric altimeter, and a 5-megapixel camera to boot. Buy the power mount and City Navigator® and it’ll give you spoken turn-by-turn driving directions. It’s big. It’s versatile.

It’s tough. It earned the name Montana – the ultimate in touchscreen toughness.

www.garmin.com NASDAQ GRMN ©2012 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

Sportsman’s Warehouse: America’s Premier Hunting, Fishing & Camping Outfitter www.sportsmanswarehouse.com

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

39

Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

W

hen the conversation topic is Alaska, usually two words come to mind – hunting and fishing and then it basically just comes down to the situation of which one you are looking to do. And when you really think about it, even most of the hunting trips to Alaska include some sort of fishing, in most cases. So, as far as I am concerned, let’s talk about fishing!

With so many species of fish available throughout the largest of our fifty states, Alaska, for most, is the ultimate destination when searching to fulfill ones’ wildest fishing dreams. Are you after the biggest fish you may ever catch? Well, your dream will probably come true. Are you looking for an adventure that provides

40 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

literally non-stop action on just about every technique you can think of? Again, it will probably happen. Alaska is truly the place where you can experience a lifetime of fishing adventures bottled into a week or ten days of excitement. The hardest decision you are going to have to make is what part of the state and what adventures are at the top of your list.

For the vast majority of people that I talk to, of course, the words salmon and halibut are the first things that come out of their mouths. Now the order that they come out of their mouths may vary, but those are always the two species that are the focal point of almost every conversation. And along with the words salmon and halibut, the word “BIG” is usually a focal point of the conversation as well.

Now, there are places in Alaska that produce big numbers of fish and some that produce just big fish. Again, it is up to you, the adventurer, as to which line of this wording you are looking to focus on. Now I’m not saying that you may not still catch the biggest fish of your life on a piece of water in Alaska that is more known for numbers than big fish, but you are more apt to catch a monster in areas known for producing them. That’s just the way it is!

Let’s get back to the salmon vs halibut discussion. Salmon is wonderful table fare and is a very popular item in many restaurants around the world, but when you talk to most people when the subject of fishing in Alaska comes up, the first thing they say is, “Bring me back some halibut”!

Well, that is easy for the person that is not going on the trip to request, but in most cases, they have no idea just what the traveler has to take into consideration, when deciding on a destination. Not all areas of Alaska offer both salmon and halibut, making your choice of lodges a little tricky at times. So, plenty of time and research comes into play when choosing the right trip for the right reasons.

Another thing that has to be considered is how well you, the traveler, can handle being on the open seas if halibut is what you are after. Now, some areas of Alaska

are more protected from the open waters than others, but the ocean is still the ocean and some people just can’t handle it and believe me, there is nothing sadder than seeing someone miserable (misery comes in many degrees) all day long on the boat while everyone else is having a great time.

But, when you are searching for that perfect destination, one that will not only quench you thirst for multiple species, but also for a little calmer waters in most cases, there are definitely places that can fit the bill.

One such area of Alaska that offers all of the above is the Gustavus area, at the gates of Glacier Bay National Park, about 80 miles west of Juneau. This area of Alaska is not only breathtaking, but its waters are home to some of the best sport fishing in the state. And if you are looking to have a chance at a truly “barn door” type halibut, it is the place to be.

When we venture to this part of Alaska, our lodge of choice is Kent Huff’s Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge. Kent has been in the business for a long time and knows the waters of the area like the back of his hand. He chose this area because of its resources for producing big halibut. The North Pass of Icy Strait is referred to as “Halibut Highway” and is where a lot of the big flat-fish migrate as they make their way into the Inside Passage and the Glacier Bay area to feed on piles of herring, candlefish, pink salmon and pollock. Another nice thing about this area is that the charter fleet of boats is quite small in comparison to most areas, so there ends up being more big fish available for fewer numbers of fishermen.

Many of the largest halibut ever landed have been unloaded at the dock in Gustavus, with many more in the 300- to 500-pound class measured and released boat side. The ten-year average shows the average sized halibut kept in the Gustavus area is three times larger than those kept in most other top producing areas in Alaska.

On our last two trips with Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge, we have brought in four fish over 65 inches, with the largest measuring just slightly under 80 inches, with an estimated weight of 280 pounds! This area of Alaska has a slot limit of one fish over 80 inches or one under 44 inches per day, with the forty inch fish really the targets for the fish box anyway because of their superior table fare, but there is nothing quite like battling a true monster of the depths while surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape in the world, believe me!

By the end of May, the halibut will be starting to make their way into the area in good numbers. Also, king salmon start to show as well. As June turns to July, silver and pink salmon start to flood the area and as August and September roll around, the rivers and streams of the area also become an option for some fantastic fishing opportunities. And all the while, the halibut fishing just keeps getting better and better, along with opportunities for lingcod, yelloweye and sea bass if you are willing to take a little longer boat ride.

Back at the lodge, a warm bed and great food awaits as Kent and his staff always makes sure you never go hungry. A game room, complete with large screen TV, pool table and a popcorn machine is the focal point of night life after a great day on the water.

By the end of your trip, all of your fish has been processed, packaged, frozen and boxed for your trip home and really all that is left for you is deciding when to book your return trip to Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge.

Yes, the Gustavus area of Alaska has a lot to offer and you won’t go wrong when booking your next trip with Kent Huff and his crew. They do a great job and it doesn’t hurt that they are sitting in the middle of one of the best fishing holes in the world!

Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge, visit them on the web at www.glacierbayfishing.com and give them a call at 801-376-6513.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

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42 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS 圀圀圀⸀匀倀伀刀吀匀䴀䄀一匀圀䄀刀䔀䠀伀唀匀䔀⸀䌀伀䴀

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PRO'S PICK

The Revolution E-Caller by Lucky Duck

By Sparky Sparkes

P

redators, snow geese, crows and more is what you can expect to deceive with Lucky Duck’s E-Caller, “The REVOLUTION”. I have spent several days in the field putting this product to the test. This call, with its highquality sounds and amazing extras like built-in video camera and full rotation capabilities, make this one of the top calls on the market.

I started off calling in predators. On my very first set, a few howls from The Revolution and a pair of coyotes came right in from less than 300 yards away. I was able to put a nice dog on the ground. A pretty good result for the first time out. On my second set I used a variety of howls and locators and was happy at the quality and clarity of the sounds, even at high volumes. The Revolution goes from 1 to 32 in volume control. It also has a gain setting of 1-3, allowing you to change the gain for different sounds to avoid any distortion. It is hard to find a good call these days that sounds great and doesn’t distort at high volumes.

On the second day, I went out to use the call and once again on the first set, was able to call in three dogs. With the use of a decoy, the first yote came to within 20 yards before meeting his end. Being the expert marksman I am, I missed the second one at about 150 yards, not once, but twice. They don’t call me sure-shot for nothing. On this set, I was in heavy timber, with only small shooting lanes.

I called non-stop for about a full 30 minutes, mixing it up between coyote calls, birds in distress, raccoon in distress and crazy rabbit calls. The constant calling and continuing to mix up sounds was too much for the trio of coyotes.

The Revolution comes with 100 preloaded animal sounds, found in 17 folders for quick reference. The display on the remote control is very easy to read and the buttons are easy to work. As an avid predator hunter, I have a vast array of personal calls I like to use. Adding them to The Revolution was as simple as removing the SD card from the call, popping it into my computer and then adding the folders to the SD card. My folders showed up on the remote display and played with no issues. Up to 2,000 calls can be used. The Revolution will play; .LD, .MP3, .wav and .wma files, giving you many options to add more sounds.

The manual states the call will work up to at least 100 yards. I tested the call personally out to 300 yards with line of site and the call performed with no issues. I was impressed with the sounds from 300 yards away and that the remote was able to work as promised.

My next test was to head to Idaho and try The Revolution against snow geese. Not being an expert snow goose hunter or caller, I relied on my waterfowl hunting guru buddy, Richard Skuppin, to give me the low down on the sound quality and the use of the call. After hearing the five snow

goose calls that come standard on The Revolution, he stated they all sounded realistic and would work. As you can see by the pictures, The Revolution once again did its job in helping me be a successful hunter.

One of the most unique features about The Revolution is its ability to make a full 360-degree rotation, all from the remote. The magnetic tri-pod legs that you place on the bottom of the call, allow it to spin based on the way you would want the call to point. This feature is not only great for predators, but was very useful for snow goose hunting. By allowing the call to rotate in a constant circle, it gave the snows above the appearance that sounds were coming from every different direction. This is also a great feature when hunting predators. Once you place the call, say at 50 yards from your location, you can always jump up and turn the call a different direction. With a push of a button, you can rotate the call the direction you desire.

Another cool feature of The Revolution is the built-in HD video camera mounted inside the housing, at the front of the call, above the speaker. From the remote, you can snap pictures or take HD video all with the push of a button. This feature allows you to capture a predator coming to call/decoy or take pictures of your location to remember your setup. Just simply remove the SD card when you get back and pull the pictures and video off. I was able to take pictures and video and review both on my computer after each and every hunt.

I have to say that after putting this call to the test, I would recommend “The Revolution” by Lucky Duck. It has all the standard features of most e-callers: aux port, favorite buttons, built-in removable decoy, remote, rechargeable battery for caller (not remote), standard AA batteries, exterior speaker port and more.

Lucky Duck has gone above and beyond with its special features like the ability to rotate the installed HD video camera that allows me to give this call my highest recommendation. It provides the tools for the average hunter as well as experts to become more successful in the field. Stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse today and pick one up.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

43

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

Wild Turkey Nuggets

I

f you were successful during spring turkey season and returned home with some a big ‘ol tom, here is a great way to prepare it. Wild turkey meat is really lean and tends to dry out when cooked. Brining the bird is crucial to keeping it juicy. The quick frying of bite-sized nuggets seals in the flavor and keeps them moist. This works well with domestic turkey also. Give this one a try even if you didn’t get to hunt the big bird this spring.

Gobble Gobble

Ingredients Brine

Recipe

• 4 cups water

• Cajun seasoning

• ¼ cup kosher salt

• 3 eggs

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• Panko bread crumbs

• 1 Whole Turkey Breast

• Vegetable oil

Preparation Method

Put the salt, brown sugar and water into a large zip lock, then seal and shake until fully dissolved. Split the turkey breast down the middle into two halves and place them into the brine bag. Let this chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Remove the breasts from the brine and separate the meat from the breast bone.

44 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Slice the meat into pieces, ½” thick. Then cut these into “nuggets” of about 1”- 2” square. Season the pieces generously with the Cajun seasoning. They are now ready to bread.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until well blended and season with some of the Cajun spice. Fill another medium bowl about half-full with the Panko bread crumbs. Dip the turkey chunks into the egg and then press them into the Panko crumbs until well coated on all sides. Lay these on a plate or paper towel until ready to fry.

Heat the oil in a large skillet or fryer over medium-high heat, until the oil reaches 350 degrees F. Fry the nuggets until golden brown, about four minutes per side, flipping them once. You will have to fry the nuggets in several batches.

Do not put too many in the pan at once, as it lowers the temperature of the oil and they won’t get the crispy golden crust you are looking for. Remove them to a metal rack to drain and they will stay nice and crunchy.

A perfect accompaniment for the fried turkey is sweet potato fries. You can cut and fry them yourself from scratch or there are some excellent frozen options available in the grocery stores. I also recommend a dipping sauce of some ranch dressing with a bit of sriracha sauce blended in.

This tasty treat is a natural to pair with beer. I like a tropical, fruit forward, hoppy American IPA as my first choice. A robust, nutty porter really pulls together with the sweet potatoes and is quite satisfying, also. As for wine, a chilled dry Rose’ is a great choice in a lighter wine. A west coast Pinot Noir would be my choice for a red to round out a great meal of turkey nuggets.

Cheers!

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

45

OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST

Kansas Whitetail

By Jonathan Dahlstrom

M

y brother and I had put in for the draw in ‘08 and didn’t get the tags, so, we had an extra point sitting on the books, which I had been told we needed at least one to get drawn. However, in ‘09, they changed some of the rules and it turned out that everyone who applied drew their tag.

After 17 hrs. on the road, it was a cold snowy Saturday evening of November 19th when we arrived in El Dorado, Kansas, which was to be our home for the next two weeks. I had given my friend that lives in the area a call and lined things up for him to show us properties and give us a feel for the area.

We spent the next eight days hunting from ground blinds and stands, depending on the weather and wind direction. The weather switched from fog, snow, ice and highs in the 20’s to a heat wave of nearly 70 degree highs within a couple of days and it really slowed the number of deer that we were seeing.

Toward the end of the week, the temps began to drop back down a bit and the deer started to get active again.

A couple days after a Thanksgiving meal of truck stop burritos and chicken strips, I was hunting on Saturday morning, the 28th of November from a Game Tamer stand, which is like sitting on a chair in the middle of a platform that swivels 360 degrees. I was overlooking a small food plot on the backside of a milo field, where a drainage canal flowed.

It was about 8 am when I heard a noise behind me and I slowly rotated around to see a nice buck approaching the edge of the canal behind me. I was startled and caught off guard, since there were no shooting lanes cut for that direction and I couldn’t figure out how I was going to sneak an arrow through the overhanging branches between me and the buck.

I decided my only option was to stand and stretch as much as I could over the top of some limbs, so I got into position and I made my move. The buck caught me moving as I stood and drew, which caused him to freeze in position, giving me a perfect opportunity to let my arrow fly.

The shot hit a little bit back, as the buck spun upon hearing the release of my bow, so, I made sure to give him some time before I went looking. I waited for three hours to be sure the buck had plenty of time to expire be-

46 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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

cause I did not want to repeat the events of my previous trip.

By the time I decided to climb down out of the tree, my brother had showed up to help me trail the deer. We crossed the drainage canal and began to look for blood, which was great since we immediately found a good trail. As we blood-trailed the deer, he led us straight into the thickest milo I had ever seen. We were trailing through 4 - 5 ft. tall mature milo and the blood trail seemed to keep getting more and more sporadic and then out of nowhere, within 10 feet of me, the buck jumped up and started leaping through the field. I drew on him, but I couldn’t get another arrow off because I only had very quick glimpses of the buck every time he leaped.

Eventually, he stopped and hunkered down in the milo. I put a stalk on the last

location I saw him and got to within 15 yards, but still couldn’t see him to get another arrow off. He then jumped up again and headed toward the edge of the field and some bordering CRP land.

We managed to find the trail and followed it another hundred yards to the edge of the field. We found he had turned along the edge and we then figured the buck was heading for a hedge row to get some cover. We lost the blood trail on the edge of the milo several times and had to keep doubling back to where we last had the sign. After doing this a few times, I finally noticed that the reason we kept losing the trail was because the buck had headed directly into the CRP and as I looked in the direction of the trail, I saw the buck bedded and hunkered in the tall grass, only about 20 feet away from me, watching me walk back and forth searching for his trail.

I drew back and crept to where I had a good shooting lane and put another arrow into him to finalize the deal with the first ever whitetail I had been able to put in my freezer. After evaluating the situation, my arrow from the first shot had only clipped part of the lung and partially exited near the hind quarter.

This is an experience I will always remember and I feel very lucky to forever have this memory of a successful Kansas whitetail hunt. My brother and I were also able to fill a couple doe tags on our trip in addition to my buck and we brought home a freezer full of the best deer meat I have ever eaten. It was certainly a change from the mule deer we are so used to eating!

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

47

BaseKamp App is a Simple Solution to Draw Odds Free Benefit for Pro members

By Mike Deming

F

rom January to June every year, I’m scouring through state released statistics on hunt success, bonus/preference point requirements and draw odds for all the western states to determine where I would like to hunt in the coming year. I often hear from people not as familiar with this process, “You need a Masters degree to figure out how to go about applying and where to apply in all these states”. However, this process is essential if you would like to have a few premium tags in your pocket each and every year, especially if you don’t have a huge pocketbook to purchase governor types of tags. This entire process seems very simple to me, but I’ve got over 30 years of experience in doing this.

For the average person, the new app, BaseKamp website at www.basekampsite.com has simplified this process for everyone. Eric Christensen is one of the founders of this great app and he has years of hard-core hunting experience. He built this app with the average hunter in mind. Eric says, “we want this to be the simplest process you can ever imagine." After utilizing this app for the past few months, I can honestly say that it is exactly that. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming are online or will be by the time the deadline to apply arrives.

Utilizing the app is as simple as moving a slider across the top to match the number of bonus/preference points you currently have and you can scroll down through the pages of units and see your chances of drawing that specific tag you have been looking at for all species. It is extremely user friendly for all users and not just the computer savvy. You can get the app at Google Play Store or the App Store for Apple Devices for just $4.99 per year.

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49

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

51

Merriam’s Country Turkey Tour

Adventures On A Budget

A

spring road trip has become a bucket-list item for turkey hunters, especially those looking for bragging rights that come with a completed Grand Slam. The popular destination for the Merriam’s subspecies has long been South Dakota’s Black Hills, but those same dark ridges and their burgeoning turkey populations, extend into Nebraska as well. With a little planning and just a few extra dollars for more out-of-state (and over-thecounter) tags, hunters can chase whitetipped gobblers in two different states over the course of a long weekend.

Nebraska

Everyone has their favorite place to hunt turkeys and mine is Nebraska.

Sure, it’s my home state, but even nonnatives are discovering the Cornhusker State is the go-to place to complete a Grand Slam with a cream-tipped Merriam’s. The state is actually home to Rio’s and Eastern sub-species as well, not to mention a huge population of hybrids. Hunt some places along the central Platte River and you’ll never know what’s going to come in. It’s a true gobbler grab bag.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has also made turkey hunting zones obsolete, opening up the entire state to turkey hunters. In past years, if you wanted to hunt the eastern part of the state, you had to apply and hope for a permit. Now permits are unlimited for both archery and shotgun seasons and residents and non-residents can buy them over the counter. Hunters are allowed two turkey permits of any type – shotgun or archery or in combination – offering the opportunity for one bearded bird on each permit.

While 98% of the land in Nebraska is privately owned, there’s still plenty of opportunities to chase birds on public land. There are as many as 300 state and federal public lands totaling approximately 800,000 acres available to hunters in Nebraska. With a healthy turkey population that borders on a nuisance in some areas, Nebraska’s landowners typically offer a warm welcome to hunters and, increasingly, are more than happy to let responsible hunters help what’s quickly becoming a turkey population explosion.

By David Draper

Nebraska’s true, non-hybridized Merriam’s are almost exclusively found in the extreme northwest corner of the state. If you’re going to hunt here, bring you hiking books and forget any notion that Nebraska is flat. The Pine Ridge region is studded with buttes just as steep, if not as tall, as any found in the nearby Black Hills of South Dakota. On the plus side, it also has 200,000 acres of public land, much of it prime turkey habitat. A historic outpost from the frontier era, Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, has officer’s cabins and soldier’s barracks for rent to hunters.

A large forest fire in 2012 concentrated the area’s birds on to the Pine Ridge’s unburned areas. While parts of the Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area did get scorched, some of the surrounding state and federal lands went untouched. Expect some increased hunter pressure during the first few weeks of the season, but by mid-May the woods here are silent, save for lonely toms’ gobbles thundering through the pines.

Nebraska’s Archery Turkey Season opens March 25, with shotgun season opening three weeks later, on April 15. Both seasons run until the end of May. Resident turkey tags cost $30. Non-residents are $109. All hunters must also have a Nebraska Habitat Stamp ($25) to hunt in the state.

More information on turkey hunting in Nebraska, including on-line permit sales, can be found at www.outdoornebraska.org.

South Dakota

Just a hop across the border from Nebraska’s Pine Ridge are the Black Hills of South Dakota. The season here opens April 8 and runs to May 21 and there are an unlimited number of turkey tags available, but they can only be purchased on-line or via mail until the end of the season, so plan ahead. Cost is $25 for residents and $100 for out-of-state hunters. The Black Hills hunting unit covers approximately 2.3 million acres, more than half of which is public land with a 40% success rate for spring turkey hunters. South Dakota’s Prairie Turkey Season, which abuts the eastern edge of the Black Hills, also runs through May 21, but tags are limited in number and if you didn’t draw one, don’t plan on any leftovers being available (though if there are, you can purchase them on-line after April 1). Hunting opportunities can also be found on one of the state’s many tribal reservations.

If you’re hunting the Hills and want a little help from a local, head west out of

52 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Adventures On A Budget Rapid City on I-90 and take a left just a couple miles before you hit the Wyoming border. Here you’ll find school teacher Bob Spiers, who also operates Crow Creek Wildlife (605-642‑2523), a full-service hunting outfit. Spiers will give you an initiation into chasing turkeys in the Black Hills. And I do mean chasing. While Merriam’s can be easy to call, they’re the track stars of the turkey woods, covering miles and miles each day, much of it over rugged, vertical terrain and deep canyons.

To be successful in the Black Hills and in Nebraska’s Pine Ridge for that matter, plan to put on some miles yourself. Both areas can get heavy pressure from turkey hunters looking to tag one of the area’s many Merriam’s. Park your truck in a likely looking spot, then get to walking. The farther you get from the trailhead or into the wilderness proper, the better your chances are of encountering a bird that hasn’t heard a bunch of calling. Opening day is particularly busy and hunters later in the season are often more successful.

Early season also brings weather woes. In April and even in May, the Hills can get hit with late spring snowstorms that are often heavy with moisture. Don’t be surprised if you wake up to a blanket of wet snow. Don’t worry. This birds will still gobble during a blizzard, but it’s the high winds, that are also often howling through the pines, that are the real challenge hunting here. On extremely windy days, it’s best to find a scratched up place in the pine needles that shows signs of heavy feeding or likely strut zones and wait out a bird. A hunter aimlessly wandering around on a windy day is more likely to bump birds, so set up, call sporadically with a high-pitched box call and there’s a good chance you’ll bring a lonely tom sneaking into your lap.

Click over to www.sdgfp.info to find out more about South Dakota turkey hunting.

Fixed Blade Broadheads

Are just that – heads with blades, replaceable or permanent, that are affixed to a shaft or ferrule that attaches to your arrow. These blades don’t move upon shot or impact, but cut a through the turkey with remarkable efficiency, typically resulting in a complete pass through. These are what are considered traditional broadheads and all the turkey hunter had to choose from for years. They have their place in turkey hunting and can be deadly effective with correct shot placement.

One type of fixed blade is the Gobbler Guillotine, a large head consisting of two razor-sharp blades forming an oversized X. Like the name implies, the Guillotine is designed for a shot at the head or neck of a turkey. These heads and several on the market like them, have a growing, loyal following. Like the blunt, they greatly reduce wounding loss.

Expandable Broadheads

Also known as mechanicals, these broadheads open upon impact with the turkey.

Their advantage is the wide cutting diameter, up to 2” with some models, that cut a wide swath through the turkey’s body, increasing the chance of hitting vitals and leaving a strong blood trail. Expandables also reduce the chance of a complete pass through because much of their energy is expended opening the blades. It can be argued that this is preferable for turkey hunting as the arrow helps anchor the bird.

As you can tell, I am a little partial to the use of archery equipment when chasing one of my favorite species each spring. It is a fun and challenging alternative and I find that it helps my accuracy level immensely! Have fun this spring. Who knows, maybe we’ll cross paths chasing a big gobbler.

Broadheads for Turkeys

I’ve heard the turkey’s vitals described as a racquet ball suspended inside a basketball. That’s a pretty accurate description and it doesn’t give the archer much of a target. Selecting the right broadhead is one of the most important steps in archery turkey hunting. With a myriad of choices, from expandable to fixed blades to blunts, it’s understandable that the uninitiated might get confused when picking the right blade or blunt, to hunt with.

Blunts v. Blades

You won’t find many in the woods, but those hunters who hunt turkeys with blunts are some of the most passionate about their equipment. They claim, where legal, blunts are the best, most ethical, arrow tip to hunt turkeys with. Studies by the Nebraska Game &Parks Commission and the University of Nebraska found that turkeys hit in the body with blunts show little to no life-threatening wounds. Combine that with the deadly effectiveness of blunts on turkeys hit in the head and neck region and you have little to no chance of wounding a turkey. Either you hit the head and he’s dead or he flies off unscathed, if not a little wiser. The key here is to hit a target that’s often moving like a tennis ball on a spring. Not easy, but effective.

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

53

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

Papierski's Big Game Hunts Tom Sawyer with his 1st Day Colorado bull elk.

C

olorado is known for their vast quantities of big game, liberal season, and the ability to purchase over the counter tags. However, the Northwest portion of the state is a bit different. It is still home to vast quantities of game, and big ones, which make it home to some of the most sought after units for big game in the west. Most of these units provide a once-in-a-lifetime tag opportunity. Elk tags could take a non-resident twenty-five years to draw and if you aren’t there already, you can just consider it a dream. Antelope will likely take nearly twenty years if you want to pursue them with a rifle, and mule deer will likely take you a dozen. The other challenge is that huge expanses of private land dot the landscape, making it a challenge to hunt because most of those tracts of land are part of the Ranching for Wildlife programs and are managed by outfitters. Nonresidents aren’t eligible to apply for these Ranching for Wildlife tags, but they can be purchased.

John Papierski, who owns and operates Papierski’s Big Game Hunts, is one of these operations. He currently operates nearly 20,000 acres of private land and runs season dates from August into December. This property is east of the high value elk areas of unit 2/10/201, but it is in the heart of some of the best mule deer and antelope country you could imagine. It’s not uncommon to see over fifty mule deer bucks during a day of hunting and hundreds of antelope bucks. The rolling sage brush hills as well as oak brush mountains aren’t void of elk, they just lack those 350-plus bulls people wait 25 years to hunt. The elk are abundant and on a late season hunt with normal winter conditions, it isn’t uncommon to see hundreds of elk each and every day.

The Sportsman’s News Pro Member Sweepstakes purchased a late-season elk hunt for our giveaway and Tom Sawyer of California was the lucky winner. Kory Davis, who is a Pro Member exercised his 5 percent member discount and purchased a late season mule deer hunt for himself and his father Neil. We decided to all meet up at John’s place in November for a great hunt and to film the experience.

We arrived in Craig, Colorado on the 20th of November and were greeted by unseasonably warm sixty-degree temperatures. However, John and his staff were upbeat and excited for what was in store. There is a reason that Papierski’s Big Game Hunts has been one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters for a dozen years. He is a great hunter, has world class property to hunt on, gives his all, and doesn’t over charge.

We gave everyone an opportunity to shoot their rifles and make sure the air travel and quality baggage handlers didn’t knock them off of zero. The plan would be to get up early, have some coffee and pastries, and then head out to hunt for the morning and be back to the lodge before lunch.

Tom Sawyer was excited to have an opportunity to fill his freezer with some tasty elk meat and said that he would be happy to shoot the first elk he had an opportunity to harvest. John said that the higher than normal temperatures had put the migration out of the high country into a major stall and instead of seeing

54 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

By Michael Deming hundreds of elk a day, we would be lucky to see a couple dozen a day. So, we had been fortunate that Tom wasn’t a trophy hunter. Tom had only been able to fill a couple of elk tags in his life, so in his eyes, any elk was a good elk. Shane Chuning would be the Sportsman’s News cameraman for Tom’s hunt, and I would tag along with good friends Kory and Neil Davis with John Papierski as our trusty guide for mule deer. The deer were in full rut and even though the higher than normal temps were shutting them down early in the day, they were going strong in the mornings and evenings.

At grey light, we were all pulling out of the lodge in pursuit of our trophies.

The lodge is only minutes from the hunt area and before it was even legal to shoot, we had mature bucks in our spotters. However, we were looking for something in the 170-200 inch range. In this area of the country, you have to overlook a lot of 150-170 class bucks to get into that next caliber deer. As the sun crested the horizon to the east, my phone came through with a text from Shane saying that Mr. Sawyer had already filled his tag with a very unique bull. They had seen a small group of three bulls which were headed to a great pinch point to cut them off. His guide, Jackie, knows the dirt well and had the team in position prior to the elk getting there and a great shot from Tom had his tag filled before he started. We all met up and rehashed the story and the excitement of the quick hunt for Mr. Sawyer.

By the end of the first day, we had made a couple of unsuccessful stalks on some shooter bucks and had seen over fifty bucks. One specific buck had given us the slip and we decided that this would be a great place to start on day two.

At first light, we were sitting in position where we had last seen the big mature buck. At mile two, John picked up the buck walking on the neighboring property. However, he was headed our direction and only needed to go about four hundred yards to be on our dirt. We drove the truck about a half mile closer just in time to see the big buck jump our fence and disappear into a ravine. It was definitely “Go Time”.

Kory and Neil got out of the truck and followed behind John for several hundred yards. They cautiously looked over the edge to where the buck was last spotThe author, Michael Deming, with an ted, but he was nowhere to be 87 4/8” B&C antelope buck taken with seen. John picked the tall sageJohn Papeirski a few years back. brush apart and after twenty

April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

55

PRO MEMBER UPDATE minutes of scouring, he finally found that old white face hiding behind some five-foot tall sage. We weren’t sure if the buck had seen us, but he was sure being cautious. We backed out and worked around the hill to get some more cover. It took about thirty minutes before we had a good perch from which to view the buck. A small piece of antler and a piece of an old white face was all that was visible. We were just under 400 yards away and well within the capabilities of Neil. I had guided him to a good bull elk several years earlier and he made a world class running shot on a good bull at a very similar distance. So, all we needed to do was get this old bruiser to stand up.

After four hours of waiting, we were sure that this old warrior knew we were there and waiting for him. The buck had great shade and was getting harder to see all the time, but we were in full sun and getting baked with these sixty-five degree temps. John figured that this buck might just lay there the full day and run out the light, so he made a plan to leave Kory and I on lookout while he and Neil snuck to the other side of the draw for what they hoped would be a clear shot at the bedded buck.

An hour later, John and Neil were set up on shooting sticks and ready to shoot.

The buck exploded out of his bed before I ever heard the shot. He disappeared into the draw before we could ever get off a shot. We weren’t even sure if the buck was hit, but we never saw him come out of the draw.

We met up at the bottom of the draw and found our quarry, an old Roman-nose mule deer that had beaten hunters for years. Based on the size of the deer and his teeth, we figured that he was seven plus years old and a true warrior. After a good photo session and hauling the buck to the truck, we were ready for some much needed food.

With two of the three tags already filled, we had numerous guides to help spot for us, which made Kory a very lucky hunter. By the time we had gotten the deer hung up and had some food, the guides had several possible shooter bucks spotted.

One look at the first candidate was all we need to send Kory into overdrive. He was a big mature buck north of that 180-inch mark and just what he had come for.

Kory Davis and his dad Neil Davis with Neil's old warrior buck. the country road in front of us. He was pushing a dozen does and on our property, but we had nearly hit him with the truck. This spooked the buck as well as Kory and both were bubbling over with excitement. By the time we got over the fence and in a position to shoot, the big buck was pushing 300 yards and moving.

Adrenaline, no oxygen, and a lot of excitement made Kory’s shots all miss their mark before the big buck topped the hill.

Kory was beating himself up pretty bad at this time and was ready to throw in the towel. We had calmed him down when we ran into Jackie and Shane with a great buck in their spotter. He was rut crazed and had several does with him.

John drove the truck through the fields right at the buck and his girlfriends. They never paid us any attention and before long, we were within five hundred yards.

We parked the truck and closed the gap the last couple hundred yards on foot.

Kory decided that my Browning X-Bolt Long Range Hunter in .26 Nosler might give him better luck and I gladly obliged. He set up in the prone position at 325 yards and with one solid shot, the big 4X3 with a kicker was down. You could see the relief on Kory’s face as the buck collapsed in his tracks.

In the end, it was three days of hunting for three Sportsman’s News Pro Members, and with three filled tags. Pretty routine day at the office for our Pro Member winners as well as the clients of Papierski’s Big Game Hunts. We will give away a combination Trophy Mule Deer/Elk Hunt with John on April 30th, 2017, so don’t miss your chance to win this great hunt. Become a member at www. promembershipsweepstakes.com or book a hunt for yourself with Papierski’s Big Game Hunts at (970)629-2266.

Sneaky old buck plays hide-n'-seek for the better part of the day before Neil made the final stalk.

Once again, this buck was on a neighboring property in some tall sage. However, a hundred yards south was our fence line and some nice green shoots of winter wheat just coming on strong. We figured that the buck and his fifteen does would be in the wheat when they got up from their nap.

Sure enough, John had called it right once again. All the does were feeding and the buck was checking them for opportunities when we cleared the horizon for a shot. Although, the big buck was in full rut mode, he hadn’t thrown caution to the wind and he busted us as we topped the hill. He quickly pushed the does towards the fence and off our property. Kory was able to get off a desperation shot, but it sailed high as the buck made it over the fence. A bit frustrating, but with the number of deer in this area, there are lots of opportunities.

The next morning had us headed to the same spot in hopes of getting another crack at our big buck, but we hadn’t made it that far when a big bruiser ran across

56 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Pro Member Kory Davis admires a hard earned buck on which he finally connected.

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April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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58 April 2017 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS