Sportsman's News March 2014 Digital Edition

SportsmansNews.com

March 2014

Volume 10 Issue 3

ABC Islands of Alaska with Alaska Raven Guides

Taking the entire family to Alaska with Alaska Raven Guides is not just a great way to catch a lot of fish, but truly the best way to see Alaska and what it has to offer.

By Michael Deming

W

hen looking to take a trip to Alaska to fish, a little research on destinations, outfitters and types of fishing can quickly turn into a daunting task. The state itself is the largest in the union, with thousands of miles of coast line and thousands of rivers and streams. All the different varieties of pacific salmon, rock fish, cod and halibut combined with the different styles of fishing available can leave a person in a daze of confusion when trying to figure out where to go and what to do. continued on page 6 I’ve been traveling to Alaska for over twenty years, making multiple

Pheasants Aplenty

Cannonball Company

PAGE 2

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

North Dakota’s Cannonball Company

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

T

he Dakota’s have made a reputation for themselves for providing some of the best pheasant hunting opportunities in the country.

Millions of birds populate the acres and acres of crops, grasslands and wetlands that provide needed habitat to sustain their continued growth.

As hunters know, the best hunting experiences don’t just come along by chance. There needs to be both short term and long term vision to make things work not only for today, but for years to come.

Well, back in 1991 the Cannonball Company was formed, with the intension of offering a great pheasant hunting opportunity for the thousands and thousands of hunters from across the country. They developed a concept to bring landowners together to try and capitalize on the fact that they had plenty of land and plenty of birds, so why not work together to capitalize on both. And, the move would greatly help to solve the problems many farmers were having with hunters that disrespected their property, displayed unsportsmanlike behavior and many times didn’t even have the decency to ask for permission of any kind.

The idea was far reaching in its possibilities - landowners would be able to benefit financially and help

supplement their farming incomes, the town of Regent and its surrounding area would benefit from the droves of hunters that would come back year after year and of course the state as a whole would benefit through licensing fees and taxes that would also fall into place.

Well, it was a bold move, but it proved to be a very good one. The Cannonball Company has now become one of the largest hunting operation in the country and its repeat customer base tells you that they have been on the right track for nearly 25 years since its inception.

The Cannonball Company truly exemplifies a statement made by Robert Kennedy, “Some people dream dreams and say why, other people dream dreams and say why not?”

Nearly 70 landowners now are part of the success of the Cannonball Company, with over 40,000 acres available in about a 30 mile radius of Regent, North Dakota located 100 miles southwest of Bismarck. They offer access to their land through a management program that pays them for the birds shot on their property. So it is to their advantage to make sure that the habitat is available for pheasants to flourish on their property and also to incorporate farming practices that will help to keep the population sustainable for years to come.

I had a chance to visit their opera-

Nineteen brightly colored ringneck pheasants were laid out along the ground as everyone gathered around for some photos and stories about great shots and of course the ones that got away.

The Cannonball Company was formed in 1991, with the intension of offering a great pheasant hunting opportunity for the thousands and thousands of hunters from across the country. tion this past October and was very impressed with what they had to offer. I am kind of a do-it-yourself guy at heart and when you think about it, what the Cannonball Company has created caters just about perfectly to that line of thinking. Get me into birds and everything else will fall into play just fine. Well, this train of thought fits their bill perfectly.

Because of other commitments in Bismarck, we decided to use accommodations there and drive each morning to meet our guide, Randy Hansen, at the Cannonball Company headquarters in Regent. The package that we were on included lodging, three days of guided hunting with use of their dogs or ours and the standard North Dakota limit of three birds per day (Their deluxe package includes all ammunition, breakfast, a box lunch and dinner as well as bird cleaning and freezing).

Our first morning found us meeting with Nicole Haase, Cannonball’s office manager as she filled us in on our itinerary and helped us to fill out release forms and secure our hunting licenses. As we were working on our registration, three other groups of hunters were meeting up with their guides and preparing to depart for the areas that they were scheduled to hunt on this morning. As soon as we were ready, Randy filled us in on his plans for us and we then headed out

to our vehicles and then off to the field.

The piece of land that we would be hunting on our first day was about 15 minutes from town. It was a low lying parcel of land that included corn, grain stubble, a creek bottom and CRP. Because of the big snow storm that hit the Dakota’s early in October, much of the corn in the area was still standing, which would make our hunt a little tougher, but not a deal breaker. Randy gave us a quick tutorial on what he expected out of each of us for safety purposes and then filled us in on the plan that hopefully would best help us succeed in our quest to down a few wild North Dakota ringnecks.

Our group of eight hunters would split up in three groups: Two hunters would act as blockers at the end of the creek bottom, three more would spread out along the left side of the wash to keep birds from escaping in that direction as they flushed and the remaining three, along with Randy would slowly push through the creek bottom and along the edge of the corn field to the right. Hopefully this plan would give all of us some opportunities, while keeping the birds that were flushed between us or heading into the corn where we would again formulate a plan to push small sections in basically the same manner.

continued on page 14

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WHAT'S INSIDE

2 Cannonball Company 3 Words From The Publisher Contest: Idaho Sheep 5 Writer's Disaster 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters 16 Fishful Thinker : Plan of Action 18 Long Range Shooting Basics 20 Video Product Reviews 24 A Camp of Patriots 28 New Products for 2014 34 Business Directory Outdoors: Klamath 36 PacWest Birding 37 Pro's Tip: Shed Hunting 38 Pro's Pick: Garmin Alpha Game Recipe: Turkey 40 Wild Enchiladas 41 Wheels Afield: Chevy Silverado Contest: My Journey As 42 Writing an Elk Hunter

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Kirk Chad LaChance Shane Adair Robert Vera Gary Lewis Steve Mayer Andy Lightbody Caden Hyde

Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

T

he industry trade show season is coming to a close. We have visited the Archery Trade Show (ATA) in Nashville, the Shooting Hunting Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT) in Las Vegas and the Outdoor Retailer (OR) show in Salt Lake City. Each one of these shows is for industry personnel only and gives the manufactures the opportunity to show off the new products they are bringing to market this year as well as changes to reliable current products. Taking the entire Sportsman’s News team to each and every one of these shows allows us to see and meet with most manufactures and get our hands on these products.

I asked the team members to put together a few of the select items that caught their eye during the shows and would be of interest to our readers for the upcoming year. We have put this together for our main article in this issue of the Sportsman’s News.

If we missed some products that you feel should have been talked about, please let us know and we will consider them for future issues of Sportsman’s News in our product review sections.

We are still waiting on final approval for our guns and gear giveaway program. We wanted to be able to announce this during the March issue, but it just isn’t going to happen.

It seems that all the manufactures are still in the middle of budgets, planning and dealer shows. So, we will have to put this off for one more month. You can check back on the website at www.sportsmansnews. com on a regular basis and we will

be announcing this as we get confirmation.

Some of our regular readers will be disappointed that we didn’t get this announced and for that I’m ext re m e l y s o r r y, but we will be working hard to finalize all the great gear and guns for giveaway in 2014.

Right now is the time when most people are booking guided hunting and fishing trips for the year. They will take the time to visit the outfitters at the area trade shows like the SCI, ISE, Western Expo and many others within their area. I want to remind everyone about our Platinum Approved Outfitter Program when you are visiting these outfitters. We have been in business for over 10 years and have visited numerous outfitters over this period of time. We endorse a good number of them, but there is a fair share we have visited, which we would never want to visit again. I can honestly say there are more bad outfitters out there than good. Once you have spent hard earned dollars on an outfitter and have a bad experience, you will know what I’m talking about. We hope none of you ever have to experience this, but unfortunately it will happen to some. We find very few of the best

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outfitters out there attending trade shows. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but I will tell you that we scrutinize the outfitters we look at doing business with from trade shows very hard. We do have some of our Platinum Approved Outfitters who attend shows to fill the small gaps in their schedules, but the majority of them have such a good referral and return client base, it isn’t necessary. You can visit our website at www.sportsmansnews.com and look under the outfitters tab for a list of approved outfitters. These guys are the best of the best and will provide you a good trip when you book with them. If you are considering a trip with an outfitter not on our list, feel free to give us a call or send us an email and we will provide you with what we know about this outfitter.

This isn’t anything we charge for, but a free service to the customers of Sportsman’s Warehouse. If you know of a great outfitter you think should be on our list, please notify us as well.

We are always looking for the best of the best out there and a good referral from you is a great place to start.

As always, we appreciate you taking the time to pick up and read Sportsman’s News. If you are just passing through and don’t have a local Sportsman’s Warehouse in your area to pick one up next month, you can register for a free digital edition online. We will deliver this to your in box the first week of every month. It has everything the printed version does, plus additional digital only content so sign-up and enjoy!

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

SPORTSMAN'S NEWS 2322 W. Industry Way Cedar City, UT 84721

ADVERTISING Mike Deming National Advertising Manager 435-669-4624 mdeming@sportsmansnews.com

PB

SENIOR EDITOR Kent Danjanovich 801-231-9838 kdanjanovich@sportsmansnews.com SALES ASSOCIATE Collin Dalley 435-862-7441 cdalley@sportsmansnews.com MANAGING EDITOR Dan Kidder 435-865-1680 dkidder@sportsmansnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com

Subscribers should contact Managing Editor for changes of address.

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March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Idaho Sheep Hunting Disaster

By Ronald Kirk

I

n 2008 I was fortunate enough to draw a coveted tag for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in the very rugged Salmon River Wilderness area of Central Idaho. I was camped in the remote, friendly little community of Dixie, Idaho. Dixie is a cluster of about 100 log cabins nestled between three wilderness areas. One of them is the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The other two are the Gospel Hump Wilderness, and the Selway/ Bitteroot Wilderness. These wilderness areas plus the huge Nez Perce National Forest offers millions of acres of prime hunting land. My Bighorn Sheep season also coincided with a rifle bull elk, black bear, cougar, and general deer season.

So I had a pocket full of big game tags and three weeks to pursue them.

My brother Jerry was my hunting partner. He had an elk tag and a deer tag, but he was a big help in spending hours behind his high power binoculars searching for sheep with me. The bighorn sheep were generally located on the very steep and rugged breaks of the Salmon River above the outfitter camp at Mackay Bar, plus they are scattered out all along the Salmon River hillsides from Montana to the confluence of the Snake River in Hells Canyon. A rugged jeep road from Dixie to Mackay Bar was my access to the sheep. I would drive

to the breaks of the Salmon River daily and glass for sheep, elk and deer. I spotted some ewes, lambs and young rams on a few hunting trips, but finding the larger rams was turning futile.

I would occasionally meet one of the other sheep tag holders and exchange information. A total of six tags were issued in 2008 for this hunting unit.

While bighorn sheep hunting I met a fellow sheep hunter named Dave camped a few miles from my camp. We exchanged information every couple of days on the movements and locations of the bighorn sheep we had spotted.

One morning Dave was hunting on a particularly steep rugged section of hillside above the Salmon River. As he was side hilling around he stepped on a loose rock and it rolled out from under his feet sending him rolling and tumbling down the steep hillside. He was very lucky to get himself stopped right above a 100 foot cliff. He was perched precariously on a narrow ledge directly above the 100 foot drop off. His rifle and day pack wasn’t so lucky. They slid and tumbled over the cliff smashing into the rocks below totally destroying his coveted hunting rifle. Dave was in severe pain with several scratches and deep bruises all over his body and head.

The worse injury however, was his right ankle. It was severely sprained or broken and totally unusable. The ledge he was on was too dangerous to spend the

night on. He needed to get help before night fall. Dave yelled for help for hours until his voice finally gave out.

Finally Dave spotted me hunting across a deep side canyon about 300 yards away but couldn’t get my attention to help him. It was getting late afternoon and Dave knew he desperately needed to get my attention or he would be spending a frosty cold night on the ledge in the deep Idaho back country. The thought of cougars prowling around on the hillside in the dark smelling his blood terrified him.

Dave was frantic trying to think of a way to catch my attention. Finally he remembered the shiny metal lid of his chewing tobacco can! He took the lid and turned it to pick up the bright rays of the afternoon sun. Then he reflected the sun rays my direction. When the reflection hit my eyes I immediately turned that direction to see what had caused the reflection.

Through my binoculars I saw Dave lying on his back waving at me. I sensed that something was wrong with him, so I carefully picked my way across the gully and steep hillside to Dave.

Using sticks and strips from my tee shirt for splints I was able to stabilize Dave’s ankle. I cut a stout forked limb for Dave to use as a crutch. I radioed my brother Jerry for some help. With a lot of help and support from me and Jerry we slowly worked our way out of the canyon to my 4 wheel drive pickup.

We then drove Dave to the nearest hospital over 100 miles away. There was no cell phone reception for several miles. If Dave hadn’t signaled me with his chewing tobacco can lid he likely would’ve died of hypothermia that night. I never saw Dave again and I never did catch his last name. I hope his ankle healed up okay!

After 14 days of hard hunting my brother Jerry called me on our Garmin Rhino GPS/walkie talkies. He had been spotting for sheep and deer

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

on the other side of a huge ridge from me. Another sheep hunter named Bill Tozer stopped to talk to Jerry and told him that he had spotted three rams feeding into a deep canyon not far from Jerry. Bill was going after the rams.

Jerry suggested that I come over the ridge and get set up in case the rams got away from Bill. I was able to lock in on my brother’s signal with the Garmin Rhino and head his direction. I was getting into position above the canyon with the rams when I heard Bill’s rifle shot below me. The shot sounded like a hit to me. Shortly I spotted the three rams running down the canyon from where I heard the rifle shot and noticed that the lead ram was hit hard. He was a beautiful ¾ curl ram with two radio collars around his neck. He ran about 400 yards before toppling over. I walked down to the dead ram and helped Bill locate him. The other two rams were confused and milled around about 400 yards below the dead lead ram. I shot and dropped one of the other rams. It was smaller having only a 2/3 curl on him. But after hunting hard for 14 days in steep rugged terrain I was ready to put my tag on any legal ram and go home. Bill was in his late 70’s so my brother and I helped Bill pack out his ram as well as mine. Bill was grateful for all the help and bought us a nice celebration dinner in the nearest town café late that evening. What a great way to end a very memorable Idaho Wilderness Sheep hunt!

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

ABC ISLANDS continued from cover

trips a year. This is usually what a person has to do to satisfy their desire of different types of fishing. However, my family and friends trip with Scott McLeod and Alaska Raven Guides aboard his fishing vessel, “Western Profit” proved to be a one stop shop for all types of fishing. This operation would allow us to target all the ocean types of fishing we desired and also allow us to visit the interior of Alaska’s Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof Island’s river systems.

Scott’s base of operation is out of Sitka, Alaska on the west coast of Baranof Island, but the 65’ Profit is your home for the week when visiting this destination. The benefits of a boat based operation is the ability to get away from the concentration of lodges and day charters leaving from the major tourist areas. It also allows you to enjoy all the comforts of home while on the water, making it a great choice for a family trip.

The boat has three comfortable state rooms which will sleep up to seven guests along with one lavatory. It is equipped with a full galley with 360 degree views of all Alaska has to offer.

It has multiple freezers and complete fish processing ability on board to take care of your daily catch and send you home with plenty of fresh table fare.

It also holds all of the salt water fishing tackle that you will need during your stay.

I chose this area of Alaska for this late June trip for one specific reason: We wanted to catch a lot of big king salmon out of the ocean and Sitka

is known for high densities of fish in the area. The schools of needlefish, sardines and herring which concentrate off the coast of Sitka draw all the species of pacific salmon here in large numbers each and every year.

My twelvey e a r - o l d daughter, Sierra would be joining me on this trip and of course she has the attention span of a gnat, so I wanted to

Sportsman’s News cameraman John Wooge shows off his experience isn’t just behind the camera when he lands this monster king after a twenty minute battle.

erra said her arms hurt and there wasn’t even a mention of her phone, so I knew it was truly the beginning of a g re a t t r i p .

We f i n i s h e d the day with a great meal of fresh seafood in a tranquil bay.

The second and third days were a lot like the first, but with much bigger fish hitting the deck. The ladies all landed good fish and John put one on board

We were all enjoying this Alaska style amusement park and everything within five miles knew it.

make sure she had a lot of excitement to keep her engaged. The great fishing is always a good distraction from the electronics world she lives in. My pops, his girlfriend and my cameraman John Wooge and his wife Lisa rounded out the group.

Within an hour of leaving the port on day one, we were all hooked up on salmon. The fish we were landing were ranging from 15 to 20 pounds and would make for great table fare. I was re l u c t a n t t o release these silver bullets, but Scott assured us that we would have plenty of fish and we should try keeping the larger ones to fill our daily limit of one.

By the end of the first day, we had landed The boat provides a great atmosphere for first timers in so many kings Alaska to enjoy all it has to offer. Sierra Deming and dad that I had quit Mike Deming with her first Pacific Salmon ever. counting. Si-

passage are extremely calm waters, abundant wildlife, beautiful views and some of the best stream fishing known to man, away from the crowds.

We started off our interior passage trip by setting out crab and shrimp traps in hopes of getting a great seafood feast in the next few days. Scott anchored the Profit and we pulled the skiff off the top deck. Next stop, a small glacial stream loaded with hungry Arctic char and Dolly Varden.

Growing up in Colorado with stream fishing as my primary weekend activity, I look forward to this style of fishing more than anything else for entertainment value. This small stream didn’t disappoint either. I strung up my Reddington five weight and tied on a large silver streamer to simulate a salmon fry. The beautiful deep blue water out of the glacier camouflaged the fish extremely well and even though I couldn’t see a fish, the second cast yielded a vicious strike. The Dolly Varden on the end of my line wanted no part of getting near me and stripped line with veracity. He was an aerobatic master and put on an impressive show for all of us to see.

He finally gave in and allowed me to capture a quality photo before returning him back to the stream. Pops and John were fishing with spinning tackle and out fishing me at least two to one.

Even though we saw plenty of bear tracks on the sand bars, I’m sure the bears were a long way away because of all the screaming and hollering going on in the valley. We were all enjoying this Alaska style amusement park and

that was approaching the fifty pound mark. We were even forced to release some very large fish since our limit had been met. In one day, we landed all species of pacific salmon, but the primary catch was coho and kings which made for extremely full freezers and fish boxes to take home.

With our limits of kings onboard, Scott said it was time to go and seek some adventure and he would know continued on page 8 since he has lived in this area his entire life and t h e re a re n ’ t many places he hasn’t been. He also spends the spring and fall guiding bear and deer hunters on these islands out of the boat, so it’s safe to say he knows the area like the back of his Dave Holm (Pops) was like a kid in a candy store fishing hand.

The benefits the streams of Alaska. Nearly every cast was rewarded of the inner with one to five pound Dolly Varden.

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

ABC ISLANDS

but Scott said by August, it’s a different story. continued from page 6 We visited a different bay and stream everything within five miles knew it. each and every day. We had all of them There appeared to be and endless sup- to ourselves and seldom saw another ply of aggressive dollies in every hole boat in the distance. The ladies toured ranging from one to five pounds. We several of the bays on one of the availwere a little early in the year to have able sea kayaks while the rest of us these streams teaming with salmon, fished.

Each day we would use the hydraulic winch onboard to pull our shrimp and crab pots from the bottom. We hauled in an abundant amount of dungeness crab and shrimp which we decided to eat on a regular basis while we were there. There is truly nothing better than catching and then eating Sierra learned that shrimp don’t come from the frozen fresh seafood you, food department of Walmart. Fresh seafood is a daily yourself caught. occurrence on the “Western Profit”.

Front Row L-R, Lisa Wooge, Sierra Deming, Quenna Allary, and Mike Deming, Back Row-John Wooge and Dave Holm with a morning’s catch of Kings and Silver’s.

The entire trip was six days of you are doing one of the fishing adjammed packed excitement and ventures or experiencing his brown world class fishing while enjoying or black bear hunts. The bear hunts family and friends and the beauty of are a great way to experience the fun Alaska. The benefits of this operation of bear hunting while still having and leasing the entire boat allows the ability to come back to the boat you to enjoy this experience with and get warm and dry every night. just the people you want to go with Those fall bear hunters can have the and at eighteen thousand dollars ability of enjoying the best fishing for the entire week, it is relatively in the area as well while they target inexpensive. The boat will hold up a big bruin. This hunting/fishing to seven guests, but six is the ideal combo adventure will be an upcomnumber. State fishing regulations ing giveaway through Sportsman’s allow for a maximum of six lines in News, so make sure you subscribe the water which makes the cost of to the digital edition on our home page to be notified of details when the trip $3,000 per person.

Alaska Raven Guides is one of our this happens.

Alaska Raven Guides, visit them on newest Platinum Approved Outfitthe web at www.alaskaravenguides. ters and you can bank on a great com or by calling 907-747-6405. trip with Scott and his team whether

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

The Sportsman's News Platinum Approved Outfitter is an outfitter that has excelled in every aspect of their business. They put people and customers before profit. They do what it takes to make sure that they will be in business for the long haul and ensure that they have repeat customers. They practice good game management, which will ensure a top quality trip with them every time you

book. These are outfitters you would be proud to refer to a friend.

We know this because we are proud to endorse each one of these outfitters based upon our staff members personally visiting each one of these operations. These outfitters have proven to us that they have what it takes to be "Sportsman's News Platinum Approved."

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

CANNONBALL

left at that point as blockers and the rest of us were then poOnce we were all in position, Randy sitioned about evstarted down the middle of the cover ery 50 yards along in the creek bottom with his lab and it the western side. didn’t take long to see his plan start That left three of us to unfold. Birds started to flush out along with Randy as they moved forward as the wing and his lab to sweep blockers on both sides made some through the far end great shots and scurried to pick up of the wash and then their downed birds. Not one bird es- swing around and caped over the open fields to our left start pushing a small and when we reached the end of the section of corn as the push, eight beautiful roosters of the other hunters joined probably 50 that were jumped laid our line. before us. Not bad for our first push.

Again the plan Now for those of you that have not worked perfectly as hunted pheasants in this way, it is the birds began to pop most effective form of hunting when up in front of us as the area and cover is so immense. Es- w e p u s h e d t h e m pecially as the season moves forward, towards our blockit doesn’t take them long to wise up ers. Of course there and start to run as soon as they see, were plenty that out hear or sense that you are after them. smarted us and es- Ken Jorgensen from Ruger and Terry Harzinski of the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and VisiThis type of hunting does though caped untouched, tors Bureau show off the new Ruger Red Label O/U as well as a couple of colorful roosters. require strict safety practices and con- but another half dozBut the most intriguing part of this stantly knowing where your hunting en birds were the results of our labors. eryone gathered around for some phowhole experience for me was that tos and stories about great shots and of partners are and what shots are going After a push through some CRP to to be permissible for the safety of ev- the south of the corn field, we found course the ones that got away. After a even with the big numbers of birds eryone involved. ourselves back at the trucks, breaking quick stop at the bird cleaning station, that we saw during our hunt, literAs we regrouped, Randy led us on a out the bottled water and snacks as we all headed back to town to clean ally hundreds and hundreds per little jaunt out and around the corner we admired our harvest. Nineteen up a little and then head out to one of day, all of the birds are wild. Yes of the corn field. When we reached brightly colored ringneck pheasants the great restaurants near our hotel, I said wild! North Dakota doesn’t the southern edge, two hunter were were laid out along the ground as ev- the Ramkota Inn in Bismarck. There supplement their pheasant populais nothing like a tion. This again shows the great job great day in the that the farmers and outfitters are field to give you doing in making sure that the habiplenty of things tat needed to keep the populations to talk about over in good shape are maintained and a great meal at the that crop rotations and designated nesting and brooding areas along end of the day.

Our next two day with shelter belts are always at the of hunting didn’t forefront.

We are happy to welcome the Candisappoint either as another two doz- nonball Company into our Platinum en pheasants and Approved Outfitters family and we even a half dozen hope that you give them a call when sharp tailed grouse planning your next great outdoor made their way to adventure. They can tailor a hunt our game vests. for any size group or accommodate The Cannonball any special needs you may have. No Company’s hard group of hunters is too small or too work and vision large. If there is one thing the Canhad come through nonball Company is noted for, it’s with flying colors the flexibility and desire to provide and it was easy to a pheasant hunt just right for you. see why they have Give them a call today to talk about been so success- everything they have to offer. The ful over the years Cannonball Company - visit them and why they have on the web at www.cannonballNeal Boucher, Dave Achtenberg, Brad Heidel and Terry Harzinski are all smiles after a sucnearly a 95 percent company.com or give them a call at cessful morning with the Cannonball Company.

800-920-4910. return client rate. continued from page 2

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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16

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Plan Of Action

I

Chad LaChance

used to hate February. It’s a cold, dark month stuck in the middle of winter with little opportunity for hunting or open water fishing in my area. Sure ice is an option and we can always chase predators, but by and large February is a between-seasons time with few redeeming qualities save the fact that it’s the shortest month.

Now I love February. What changed, you ask? My imagination!

No, I’m not crazy. What I really mean is that over the last couple of years, we here at the Fishful Thinker TV World Headquarters have begun using this frosty month to line out all of our travel for the looming open water season. Now is when the next season of FTTV takes shape as we lay out a plan to capture 13 TV shows worth of fishing footage and all the travel and destinations that job entails. The best part of all this planning is that it gets our (meaning mine and camera guy Tim Farnsworth’s) heads spinning with anticipation. And that, friends is invaluable during yet another February snow storm.

The process really starts during casual conversations around the holidays. By then I’ve reviewed suggestions, considered topic, and looked back at what worked and what didn’t during our last filming season.

Our brainstorming starts to get more solid in January; we’ve then talked about places we’d like to go versus where we need to go and of course where we can afford to go and still meet season budgets. By the time we

get to February, actual dates and logistics are on the table for discussion.

This is when it gets fun, because in our minds’ eye, we can see what the fishing will look like. We can imagine the destinations and we can visualize successful filming. The mind is an oh-so-powerful tool!

Planning fishing and filming trips this far in advance is something we used to resist, instead relying on fresh tips and hot bites that we happened to have time to go film. What we began to realize is that we were often a day or two late or that we just didn’t visit enough places to make good TV. Logistics on longer trips were often last minute hodge-podges and even worse, we didn’t always have the tackle we’d need on hand leading to last minute scrambles or improvisional angling.

Now we take an “if you plan it, they will come” approach. Sure planning waayyy out might have you locked in to whatever conditions you happen to hit, but by and large, the advanced notice and available planning time allows us to be better prepared for the location at hand. More often than not, it works out just fine.

The best part of our newish strategy – and the part I think you too will find fun – is that we now have all kinds of time for anticipation. Anticipating warm fishing trips is borderline therapeutic in February!

But just how do we ensure that all this advanced planning is not just for mental health, but that it leads to successful fishing trips? Well, we study.

We research known seasonal bites, consider known seasonal patterns and look at historical conditions.

Lastly, we make sure that our boat/ tackle/gear are appropriate for what we expect to encounter. Of course there is always the possibility of surprise conditions; for those instances we rely on good old fashioned fishin’ skills and angling ingenuity and we developed plenty of that during our lack or planning days.

If we’re taking a boat (either the big bad Ranger or the hotrod 12’ Crawdad) we make sure that any available “chip” or mapping info is installed in the Lowrance GPS/sonar unit(s). If no info can be commercially obtained on chips, then I’ll spend a bunch of

time on Google Earth zooming in and grabbing waypoints. I’ll mark our launches and areas that look good to me, and I’ll consort with any local experts I can find that point me to areas I may overlook. I look at major structural features with an eye on the seasonal fish patterns we’d expect, as well as anything I may need for getting around the body of water. All of this is put on an SD card and loaded into either the Lowrance HDS Touch units in the big boat or the Mark 4 unit in the little boat. When we get where we’re going, I fire up the GPS and we’re fully prepared to fish.

For the record, our Toyota Tundra’s navigation system – or Dash Lady as we call her – handles the “to and from” duties.

When it comes to the tackle itself, we’ve spent a bunch of time perfecting our systems for each lure genera.

I know what rod, reel and line type I’ll need for each style of bait and our lure selections are always multispecies. I gravitate to lures and soft plastics that have proven their worth on more than one species, which allows us to carry fewer items overall.

We do, however, carry a bunch of spare line and leader material. Our St. Croix rod selection always covers any realistic range we may encounter and it’s based on the rods’ power ratings. Even walking a pond bank or stream, I carry multiple rods for versatility. Our selection process goes thusly; choose the lure based on the conditions, then choose the line for said lure/conditions, then choose the rod for said line/lure combo, then choose the reel based on those. The fact that we have a system makes us efficient at our presentations and presentations, at least for an artificial fly and lure caster, are the whole shootin’ match.

In a nutshell, that’s how I escape February’s harsh reality and ironically the time spent here ends up being some of our most valuable and enjoyable. Notice I said “some of” our most enjoyable? That’s because the enjoyment really flows when a solid plan works out, the weather and fish Gods cooperate and we “cut” at the end of successful filming day. To quote an 80’s era TV action star; “I love it when a plan comes together”.

PB

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Long Range Shooting Basics

By Shane Adair

I

n last month’s issue we discussed rifle choice. Equally as important as the rifle, is your choice of optics. It’s hard to swallow for most people, but often you will pay more for your optics than some of your rifles. Once you grasp this concept and its importance, you won’t cringe when you purchase a scope for your next rifle.

There are a few things to consider when evaluating this situation: What will the weapons primary application be used for? Is hunting your only need or are you trying to spend a ton of time on the bench pounding long range at steel targets? Luckily, most manufactures have found a way to incorporate both of these options into their scopes.

We all know that hunting and shooting is a life-long lesson in progression, so don’t limit your hunting and shooting progression by purchasing the wrong optic. The optic you purchase can immediately limit you and in more ways than one. I believe that most shooters and hunters need a minimum of a 14x (power) variable scope. There are so many now that are not too big, long and heavy. Just because it’s a high power doesn’t mean that you will be hunting with it at that power. However, to really know what your rifle can do in the field, you must first know what it can do on the bench. You need that higher power to really help you tighten your groups.

Quit shooting at the big black circles and use a target that is no larger than 1-inch when shooting out to 200 yards.

You need to aim small to hit small. Small targets will greatly tighten up your groups. I will buy the largest white pa-

pered target at the store then flip it over and place multiple orange dots on the back of it. This allows me to aim small, shoot multiple groups and see where my shots have hit without going down range. With a .22 caliber bullet hole I can see my shots out to 200 yards with a 14 power scope. This is a great tip which will help you out immediately.

Many times at the range, I have had people say, “Hey you just put your target on backwards”. I just laugh and then watch them huff and puff as they walk up and down the range looking at and changing their targets. As they walk up they usually see my shots long before their own and the light bulb turns on. They can see its benefits, but are usually too proud to make a change in front of me.

The higher magnification will allow you to hold your crosshairs tight and small. I usually shoot at a 3-inch dot at 800 yards. You need to try it. A good glass will really magnify the target. I will have my clients shoot at an 18-inch square steel target. They will often tell me they felt like it was a huge sheet of plywood painted white. They are amazed as we go and check the targets and see how small they really are.

Even if your hunting conditions will not allow you to shoot out past 200 yards, do yourself and the animals a favor and optimize you and your weapons ability. Here is an example. I love to shoot muzzleloaders and most states vary in the laws with optics or open sights. Whether I shoot a one power scope for Utah or iron sights in Colorado, I will always first mount a higher power scope on that weapon to see what load it shoots the best. It allows me to

quickly find that out. Ammo and time are way too valuable to waste. Once you have found what works best and have built some mental and physical confidence in both, then practice with the sights or scope your state allows.

The same principle applies with your rifle at longer distances.

Sight your rifles in at 100 yards. However, to truly know what your rifle is doing, you must shoot it at 200 yards.

Some ranges won’t have that option, so try to make an effort to find a way for that to happen. Two and a half inches high at 100 yards is not good enough.

Your bullets have not yet taken their true path. Shoot and zero-in at 200 yards, then back down to 100 yards and make reference on your targets. So, when 100 yards is your sight-in limit, either at ranges or in hunting camp,

you can have a better reference point to check. We will go into greater depth of this in later articles.

Now, back to how to choose the right scope. Most long range shooters prefer a higher magnification scope. I shoot with both types of scopes depending on the application. A 14 power scope will allow you to shoot pretty darn good on both paper and animals out to 800 yards. Although I prefer higher powered scopes; if this is a rifle that I need to keep the weight down on, then I will stay at 14x. A few ounces for a larger scope isn’t usually a deal breaker. Once size is determined, then clarity and mechanics is next. Optics have come so far with clarity and eye relief it’s hard

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continued on page 22

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

2014 New Video Product Reviews

Swarovski CL Pocket 10X25 Binos

T

he name Swarovski is synonymous with high quality top end optics.

The new CL Pocket is no exception.

These compact bino’s will fit in the palm of your hand thanks to the new folding bridge design. They are small on the outside, but big on the inside.

CL Pocket binoculars will accompany you wherever you go and whatever you do, they are the perfect companion,

offering unique optical quality of the TECHNICAL INFORMATION highest order, all in a handy design. Enjoy Model CL Pocket 10x25 B Magnification 10x high-contrast, sharp, true-color images Objective Lens Diameter (mm) 25 that you’ll never forget.

Exit Pupil (mm) 2.5 Exit Pupil Distance (mm) 17 For optimum viewing Field of View (ft @ 100 yds) 294 comfort, the exit pupil Field of view (degrees) 5.6º was shifted back – with Field of view for eyeglass wearers 5.6º Field of view, apparent degrees 53º the benefit of permitting Shortest focusing distance (ft) 8.2 even eyeglass wearers Dioptric Adjustment +/- 5 dpt a 100% field of view.

Diopter correction at ∞ 8 dpt Interpupillary distance (in) 1.9 – 2.9 Correct adjustment Light Transmission 88% of pupil distance Twilight Factor based on DIN 58388 15.8 Scan this QR Code with 20 and the twist-in eye- your smart phone to view Optical Elements -13° F - +131° F cups is important for t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s Functional Temperature Storage Temperature -22° F - +158° F Channel. Video this function. When YouTube Submersion Tightness (ft) 13.1 Available after March 29th.

Length approx. (in) 4.3 closed, the CL Pocket Width (closed) approx. (in) 2.5 is a compact pair of Height (in) 1.8 binoculars; opened up, it is a full-sized Weight (oz) 12.3 pair of binoculars that does not allow The CL Pocket features an ergonom- Available in black, green or tan, the CL for any compromises, offering a large field of view, total eyeglass wearer ic, rugged construction thanks to its Companion binoculars come complete capability, optimized edge-to-edge aluminium housing, offering optimum with a water repellent field bag and caroperation and unique viewing comfort. rying strap. clarity, and high light transmission.

Viper HS-T Riflescopes

PB

T

his new Viper HS-T scope by with increased Vortex blends many of the best eye relief gets features from their popular shooters on tarViper HS and Viper PST riflescopes. get quickly and The new Viper HS-T (Hunting Shoot- easily. Incredibly ing Tactical) delivers shooting ver- precise, repeatsatility for hunters as well as tactical able and durable enthusiasts. The Viper HS-T boasts a tactical windage hashmark-based second-focal-plane a n d e l e v a t i o n reticle perfect for accurate holds at turrets built speextended ranges. Incredibly precise, cifically for dialrepeatable and durable target-style ing, along with windage and elevation turrets built i t s h a s h m a r k specifically for dialing, along with a based reticle, top off this highly versahashmark-based MOA or tile riflescope’s long-range MRAD reticle, tops off this performance features. highly versatile riflescope’s All scopes are equipped long-range performance with extra-low dispersion features.

(XD) glass which increases It is built on an ultraresolution and color fidelity. strong 30mm one-piece The XR fully multi-coated machined aluminum tube lenses are proprietary coatto deliver increased wind- Scan this QR Code with ings which increase light age and elevation travel your smart phone to view transmission throughout. he Sportsman's News and optimal adjustment. tYouTube Channel. Video External lenses are coated An advanced optical system Available after March 22nd. with Armor Tek which is an highlighted with a 4x zoom ultra-hard, scratch-resistant range provides magnificacoating which protects the tion versatility. A forgiving eye box lenses from scratches, oil, and dirt.

Each unit is waterproof and fogproof due to the O-ring seals and argon purging which provides reliable performance in all environments and broad range of temperatures. The side focus adjustment is located on riflescope’s left side and is easily accessible from the shooting position. It provides optimal image focus throughout the magnification range and parallax removal. The fast focus eyepiece allows for quick and easy reticle focus.

The Viper HS-T comes in both 4-16X44 power and 6-24X50 which will be available very soon. Our test model was the 4-16X44 model and

right at 13.7” long and weighs in at 20.8 ounces and is ideal for nearly any hunting or tactical scenario out to about 800 yards. The 6-24X50 is slightly longer at 15.5”and weighs 22.6 ounces and is tailored a little more to the extreme long range shooter. The second focal plane is an ideal setup for this long range scope because it keeps your sub-tensions very fine for those longer range shots.

As with all the Vortex products, the V.I.P. Warranty is second to none. No warranty cards to fill out, no receipts to hang onto. It is a fully transferable unlimited lifetime warranty.

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

21

2014 New Video Product Reviews DoubleTap Ammunition Big Bore Pistol Loads

I

f you are headed into the woods with your trusty sidearm, having a big bore, hard hitting, deep penetrating, reliable cartridge in the chamber will give you extra peace of mind should you come toe to toe with a towering grumpy grizzly bear or an ill-tempered cougar.

The folks at DoubleTap Ammunition offer a wide range of pistol loads in their tactical and hunting lines that will add some extra punch to that hand cannon and penetrate even the toughest hides to protect you and your loved ones from the wildest nature has to offer.

Each round is loaded in small batches, usually by hand, and is visually inspected by a human being before leaving the Doubletap Ammunition factory, located in Utah.

Calibers: 38 Special+P

DoubleTap Ammunition offers a wide variety of ammo, but the rounds featured here are either a quality Barnes lead-free bullet or one of DoubleTap Ammunition’s proprietary lead alloy mixtures cast right on their own machines to achieve an exacting 21 Brinell hardness, ensuring deep penetration and optimal terminal ballistics without fragmenting.

Handgun loads are available from .38 Special +P up to .500 Smith and Wesson, including a .500 SW Equalizer round, which has a 300 grain jacketed hollow point bullet followed by a 180 grain hardcast ball for two projectiles with a single shot totaling a 480 grain payload.

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357 Mag 110gr TACXP

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

LONG RANGE BASICS continued from page 18

to make a bad choice. Just remember as you get older, you will have trouble seeing the very thin crosshairs and for this reason, I prefer a medium thickness crosshair. Function and budget are the next hurdles. And again remember, spending a ton doesn’t mean that you made the best choice.

Two major factors must be considered when shooting long distance; long distance defined as anything over 300 yards depending on caliber. In the faster calibers, 400 yards would be considered “Long Distance”. You need one of two tools, either a reticle with hold over bars or circles or a scope with an elevation adjustment turret. Kentucky windage with hold over guessing won’t cut it.

Once most understand how to use the turret system, they love it and can be very simple. I prefer it. The hold over bars and circles are good, but are less adaptable out past 500 yards, especially when your loads and bullets change.

They take more time and ammo to perfect. However, once perfected shooters

can have great success with them.

With the right turret, people can shoot like a pro really fast and seem to have quicker results. I like to take a turret and adapt it to my bullet and load with ballistic charts and some real shooting data. This can be achieved without too much pain or money. I’ve never seen ballistic charts work perfect, but it may get you very close. The longer ranges will take some fine tuning.

If you are on the fence with the decision of which style you want, then you are in luck. You have the ability to choose a scope that will do both. Then you can adapt to the style that becomes more familiar to you. Some quality manufactures have done a great job of this. So how much can one expect to pay for a scope that will work? Most will usually fall into the $700.00 - $1,400.00 price range and for the serious shooters needing more options, they will spend closer to the $2,000.00 range. It can be money well spent. When you see how the optic will benefit you and your shooting ability, it won’t be such a hard pill to swallow. It only becomes painful when you want the same quality of op-

tic on all your weapons. A great optic can help an $800.00 rifle shoot great and is a must to achieve the results you hope for when using a custom rifle.

I know this is a lot of info to digest before you spend your h a rd e a r n e d money, so Ill beak it down once more.

Magnification, don’t limit yourself. I prefer at least 14 power Consider your needs. I promise this will evolve and change once you realize how an optic can help you.

Budget. Spend what you can afford.

Function. Look into the different systems and talk with some different people that have had success. This will often make your decision for you. You can excel at either depending on who

you go to for info. If your shooting partner likes the turret system it will probably work well for you. A support system of people doing the same thing will really help.

If all of this is too much to take on, then pay for some help. You can usually get it done for less than you can do it yourself for with the ammo used, if your time is an issue. If the journey is what you, desire then have a blast.

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

THE RUGER

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

A Camp of Patriots

By Robert Vera

T

he morning stillness is interrupted by a thump and then water slashing as a 1200 pound moose thunders out of the lake directly in front of the lodge. The young bull was staking out his territory; he startled the whitetails that were sprinkled around the lake eating sweet grass on the open field. This is grizzly bear country, northwest Montana and the ranch provides a safe haven

for deer, moose and other animals in the area. The 16 acre lake, bucolic fields, several historic barns, a greenhouse and two modern 5,000 square foot log homes are all part of the newly proposed Camp Patriot Ranch. The 158 acre ranch will become the first-of-its-kind facility to host wounded and disabled veterans of all generations. This newly proposed facility will host up to 400 veterans and volunteers annually. Established in 2006 Camp Patriot, a non-profit organization, offers wounded and disabled veterans outdoor recreational therapy programs. In the past, the organization has led groups of wounded veterans to the summit of Mt. Rainier; they have hiked the Grand Canyon, hosted dog sled adventures, fishing trips in Montana and Alaska and hunted elk, pig, deer and black bear with veterans who are blind or miss-

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ing limbs. This proposed ranch is the culmination of eight years of hard work and tireless fundraising efforts. At a cost of two million dollars, the ranch comes fully furnished with all the facilities and equipment required to launch operations from day one. “We have raised $1.6 million and are in the final push to bring in the last $400,000 to make this ranch retreat a reality”, offers Micah Clark, Executive Director of Camp Patriot.

The federal government has elaborate and costly battle plans to fight wars, however caring for the men and women who become wounded and disabled as a result of wars is often and afterthought.

Evidence of this ill planning comes in the form of epidemics of veteran homelessness, unemployment and suicide. The suicide rate in the veteran’s community claims more than 20 lives each day. The rate has actually increased over the past year from 18 to over 20 deaths per day, meanwhile the government’s response is to add more funding for the same types of treatment programs. “It seems that when it comes to treating emotional wounds, the government is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Someone once called this practice the definition of insanity”, offered Clark. “The fact is that suicide is a condition of hopeless-

ness and as far as I am aware, there is no pill that cures hopeless. The condition of hopelessness is best treated through the establishment and fostering of trusted relationships”, added Clark.

Camp Patriot’s goal is to fundamentally shift the treatment and care of wounded and disabled veterans from the current pharmacological focus to one that centers on empowering veterans with unique outdoor programs and the right relationships. “The real war is right here at home and our veterans are being hit by friendly fire in the form of VA backlogs, federal government cutbacks and ill effective treatment for complex wounds”, added Clark. Camp Patriot’s custom designed therapy programs will cater to wounded and disabled veterans of all generations. These proposed programs range from four wheeler excursions into the backcountry to PB

continued on page 26

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Vortex Viper HS.9.75x10.5

10/16/13

10:26 AM

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

CAMP PATRIOT

of the organization. Jeremy Sage and Mike Demcontinued from page 24 ing of Sportsman’s Warehouse first met the Camp beekeeping, fishing on the ranch lake Patriot team nearly seven and nearby rivers, hiking on the miles years ago at an outdoor of trails woven in and around the ranch trade show and immediand other programs that make use of the ately partnered with the entire complex. organization to donate The challenge for many wounded gear and help make conand disabled veterans is not physical nections with outfitters or emotional it’s relational. Veterans’ across the country. “The return to a strange country and are in leadership at Sportsman’s many cases estranged from their family, Warehouse knows the friends and former military community. sacrifice that our miliThey become isolated and stuck. “No tary members and their matter how one becomes stuck, you families make. They also understand the need someone to reach out and pull therapeutic value of being outdoors. For you out. The right relationships offer some people it’s a game of golf and for a hand up and a push forward to gain others it hunting, camping and fishing. momentum.” said Clark.

Sportsman’s Warehouse has been aweWhile our nation’s veterans spent some” said Clark. years training and fightIn the coming ing to defend us, their months, Camp Pacivilian peers were buildTo donate visit: www.camppatriot.org or call 480-201-4036 triot will continue ing important relationto host disabled ships in their communities, schools and in the workplace. These ing the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, Justin veterans on outdoor adventures across relationships afforded them a network Boots and Sportsman’s Warehouse have the country while working the phones to find employment and advance their played an important role in the growth for donations, build relationships and careers by solidifying relationships outside the workplace during recreational activities such as golf. Returning veterans are tasked with building new trusted relationships and often times in new communities. This task can prove to be far more challenging than overcoming physical wounds. Camp Patriot’s Ranch Retreat functions much like a golf course in that it will become a simple way for veterans to commune, meet new people and create a new network of relationships. These relationships become the fabric of support under each veteran.

“Many of our past veteran guests have secured jobs, new housing and returned to school because of the relationships they have established through our program” said Clark.

Camp Patriot was built on relationships and many organizations includ-

doing whatever it takes to raise the remaining funds required to purchase the first ever retreat ranch exclusively designed for wounded veterans. “We feel honored to be able to do this work, to say thank you and to give back to those who have given so much for all of us. We are grateful to everyone who shares our vision and lends their support” said Clark.

For additional information about Camp Patriot or to donate visit: www. camppatriot.org or call 480-201-4036.

PB

New

from Camp Chef,

The Pellet Grill/Smoker • Trap Door Cleanout for the firepot • Built in High and Low Smoke Settings • Quality Digital control and readout

Watch for it in store at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse

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March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

New Products for 2014

E

ach and every year the Sportsman’s News team travels to all of the industry trade shows where manufactures display their new products which will hit the shelves during the calendar year. We have picked some of the products that caught our eye and will be on the shelves of Sportsman’s Warehouse sometime this year. They are new and exciting and you will probably see a more detailed review of each of these items throughout the year in the pages of Sportsman’s News.

Camp Chef Italia Artisan Pizza Oven You can’t control the weather and you can’t control the hunting or fishing, but the one thing you can control is the food you eat. That is why engineers at Camp Chef spent more than a year designing the new Italia Artisan Pizza Oven to mimic cooking patterns found in a traditional wood fired brick oven.

Not only is it an inexpensive alternative to a wood fired brick oven, it’s a lot smaller and portable too. This oven is powered by a disposable propane bottle. However, a bulk tank hose and adaptor is included, allowing users to take the oven from the back patio to the camp site.

The oven is not limited to just pizza but creates new options for any outdoor menu. That’s because specially designed ventilation and double layered ceilings create heating dynamics similar to that of a wood fired oven. This means menu items can include a roasted steak dinner or cedar baked salmon with hot breads like cinnamon rolls for breakfast. The options seem endless, especially with a little bit of creativity.

G5 Havoc Expandable Broadhead This expandable, two bladed broadhead provides you with the power of G5’s Dual Trap blade retention system. Its surgically precise construction and wide slice give you the ultimate advantage in the field, with a two inch cutting diameter no game is off limits.

The Dual Trap retention system incorporated into the Havoc gives you the best of both worlds. With the durability of a stainless steel collar and the reliability of an elastomeric ring, it’s like a memory foam pillow on a steel frame bed. This construction provides the perfect place to rest the razor sharp Lutz blades before releasing havoc.

The business end of the new Havoc broadhead utilizes two Lutz blades. From high strength steel to the Lutz proprietary grinding process makes this German sharpened metal the sharpest blades in the industry. It’s not whether you can afford to have it, it’s whether you can afford not to have it.

G5 Cmax Full Containment Dropaway Arrow Rest This rest has a full 360 degrees of containment, the Cmax has the versatility to take on any fletching orientation. The launcher arm can be activated by either the all new push button activation system or drawing of the bow string. A minimal weight of 2.7 oz. and a durable full metal frame the new Cmax arrow rest from G5 is a must for any serious bow hunter or competitive shooter.

Built to withstand the toughest conditions, the Cmax has been cycled over 1 million times without losing a step.

The innovative Cmax dropaway arrow rest has an extended arrow contact release timing for improved accuracy while offering virtual silence in the field. In addition, a set up time of less than 5 minutes from package to the field makes frustrations of installation a thing of the past.

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Sitka Gear-Blizzard Parka and Bibs An integral piece to Sitka’s warmest big game system, the Blizzard locks you into a GORE-TEX vault that’s insulated 650 fill power white duck down blended with Primaloft ultra-fine denier fibers. When the Blizzard Parka is paired with the Blizzard Bib, it essentially becomes a walking sleeping bag that’s 100% waterproof – ideal for long periods of low activity on the tundra, like riding horseback and settling into glass.

With a design that fits close to your body, the Blizzard Jacket features articulated patterning and minimal bulk, giving you more freedom to move, while keeping clear of your bowstring. Unmatched warmth combined with a minimal bulk fit makes for the ultimate cold weather system in the field.

The parka is equipped with RIRI Waterproof Front Zipper, Welded and Water Tight Zippers, Two Hand Warmer Pockets, Along With an Array of Zippered Pockets, Internal Sleeve Cuffs, Drop Away Hood for Maximum Visibility, and Durable Face Fabric. The bibs are equipped with Welded and Water Tight Zippers, Extra High Back which Maximizes Overlap for Increased Protection, Quiet Snap Cargo Pockets, and Durable Face Fabric.

Garmin VIRB 1080P Action Camera VIRB has a sleek, aerodynamic design that makes it fun and simple to record HD video- just move the slider forward to record.

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery can record up to three hours of HD (1080p) video with one charge, and can be easily changed on the go. The WideVü lens captures all the action, and the high-resolution Chroma display makes it easy to change menu settings, set-up and playback shots, but has reflective technology so it doesn’t drain the battery.

The 1.4-inch screen uses ambient light (instead of a batterydraining backlight) to illuminate the screen and make it easy to see in bright sunlight. continued on page 30

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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

Any perceived advantage of an inertia-driven autoloader dies the instant you shoulder a VERSA MAX ®. Its new VersaPort ® gas system cycles every load, from light 2 ¾" to heavy 3 ½" magnums, with flawless consistency, dramatically less recoil and less maintenance than any other autoloader out there.

For a devastating combination, choose Hypersonic Steel.® At 1,700 fps, it’s the world’s fastest, hardest-hitting steel.

©2012 REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, LLC.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 28

Bushnell Wireless Trophy CamHD This camera is the first carrier-approved wireless trail camera, offers unmatched convenience and simplicity with its user-friendly interface and a prepaid introductory data plan.

Built on the award winning Trophy Cam platform, Wireless Trophy Cam HD is the ultimate next generation scouting tool. With the transmission of thumbnail images via email or text, hunters can monitor activity and keep an eye on the woods in near real time, while an exclusive smart phone app (free for both Android and iPhone devices) allows hunters to quickly modify camera settings. Hi-res images are saved to the web portal www.wirelesstrophycam.com where users can download images or change camera settings remotely.

Easy to set up out of the box, Wireless Trophy Cam HD utilizes patented Zipit Wireless technology and includes a prepaid AT&T data plan that provides users with unlimited thumbnail images for the first 30 days. From seasonal to year-around scouting, Bushnell offers data plans (no contract required) as economical as $9.99/month to complement a variety of scouting tactics, including a convenient pay-as-you go plan. Data communication to and from the camera operates on AT&T’s fast and reliable 4G LTE network.

Vortex Kaibab HD 20 Power Bino’s The Kaibab HD is the ultimate long-distance western-hunting binocular series. When serious patience and superior optics are required to locate trophy animals at extreme distances, the slim, ergonomic Kaibab, delivers premium-quality, high-magnification optical performance.

Bright, crisp and clear, the Kaibab features Vortex’s advanced APO optical system with HD (Premium High Density Extra-low Dispersion) glass. Dielectric multi-layer prism coatings and lenses fully multicoated with XR Plus antireflective optical coatings, (the highest grade Vortex offers) deliver truly exceptional light transmission along with astonishing, color-accurate images.

All exterior lenses are protected by ArmorTek - an ultrahard, scratch-resistant coating that repels oil, dirt and the corrosive salts of fingerprints. Locking right-eye diopter ensures binoculars stay optimally focused.

100 percent waterproof, fogproof (purged with argon gas), dustproof and shockproof construction. Argon gas maintains its protective properties over a wider temperature range compared to traditional nitrogen, does not diffuse as quickly as other elements and will not absorb or react chemically with water.

Intended to be used with a tripod, the Kaibab includes the Uni-Daptor tripod adapter to provide extended, comfortable, rock-steady viewing at long distances.

Soft and durable twist-up-and down eyecups provide additional comfort during long glassing sessions.

Vortex Kaibab 20x56 binoculars deliver the features and performance western hunters demand to visually tear apart open landscapes in pursuit of tough-tolocate trophy big game.

-Gary Lewis

on August 17, wh tion dedicated to Anglers who Nut, Apex Trout K For flash, tie o to take your bait Many anglers In deeper wat raise the rod tip 1 and the Luhr Jens When jigging fo

Rigging for kok

-Gary Lewis

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Bushnell Elite Tactical 1 Mile Rangefinder The Elite Tactical 1-Mile ARC offers pinpoint precision and high-quality optics in a rugged yet compact and lightweight design. The device quickly acquires distances from 5-1760 yards, with +/- one-yard accuracy and a 1/10th yard display out to 199 yards.

Equipped with five modes of operation – standard scan mode, bow, rifle, BullsEye and Brush modes – the Elite Tactical 1-Mile features 7x magnification and fully multi-coated optics. Built with a sturdy, rubberarmored housing that’s finished in dark sand, the device is 100 percent waterproof and fog proof. Bushnell has taken all-weather performance a step further with the patented RainGuard HD permanent lens coating, an anti-fog and water repellent coating that gives users a clear view in the toughest conditions. continued on page 32

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

NEW PRODUCTS continued from page 30

Seal Skinz Waterproof Socks Long known in the UK, SealSkinz socks are newly available in the United States. These Merino wool blend socks are so much more than meets the eye. Sandwiched between soft Merino wool and space age fibers is a breathable waterproof membrane. What this means is that sweat can pass from inside the sock to the outside where it is wicked away to evaporate, but water coming from outside can not pass into the sock. This technology keeps your feet bone dry no matter where you put them. The socks are calf length to prevent water from coming in over the top, and features an elasticized instep and heel padding to offer supreme comfort and support.

If you routinely walk in water or snow, these socks will provide needed warmth, thanks to their Merino wool blend and also keep your dogs dry. This prevents blisters, fatigue, and chilling from wet feet.

Fire Buggz Fire Fishing Pole Sometimes a great new product gets selected because it is a lot of fun. The Fire Fishing Pole from Fire Buggz falls into that category but it is also a very useful tool in camp. The Fire Fishing pole uses a strong steel rod with a handle attached to a thinner steel “line” with a set of four roasting hooks on a hinged platform. Use the hooks to attack marshmallows or hot dogs. Roast them over the fire without singing your hands. Not only does the Fire Fishing Pole give you plenty of standoff from the fire, but it has a twist. This is where the fun comes in. Just slightly jig the rod and the hinged roasting platform flips over to let you roast the other side of your food.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the ease and convenience of being able to perfectly roast their favorite treat over the campfire and they will be jigging the rods up and down trying to get that perfectly roasted marshmallow.

SeaToSummit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Sack Everyone loves the versatility of a compression sack to store clothing and compress it down to minimize the space that it takes in your pack. The problem with most compression sacks is that if you get wet, so does whatever is in the sack. The SeaToSummit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Sack solves that problem by making a compressible sack that lets air out to compress but keep water out so the items inside stay dry. This is especially useful for those who canoe to their camp sight or spend time packing through very wet environments. The Compression Dry Sacks are available in 3.3 liter, 6 liter, 10 liter, 14 liter, and 20 liter sizes and their weight ranges from 1.8-3.5 ounces. The eVent fabric is lightweight and amazingly thin so it compresses even the bulkiest material into a manageable size while protecting it from the elements.

PowerPot Today, there are countless electronic devices we use in the outdoors and there are just as many products on the market to keep those devices charged. One method that is a new innovation is the ability to charge your electronics while you cook. Everyone knows that one of the oldest methods of generating electricity is by burning fuel; oil, coal, gas, or wood, to generate electricity. The PowerPot allows you to recoup the energy usually lost while preparing food and use it to charge your electronics. A sturdy hard anodized aluminum 1 quart pot lets you prepare the majority of camp meals, boil water, or heat up your favorite canned food at the same time as you charge your device. The Pot works with any USB capable device and can even be used to charge power cells to store electricity when not directly charging your device. The PowerPot will work on any portable camp stove, or directly on a campfire. The PowerPot is a great choice for the active backcountry camper because it is lightweight and you can store your stove right inside the pot, but it is also a great fit for emergency preparedness as a backup energy source.

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Browning’s Hells Canyon Ultra-Lite For hunting in early season conditions, it’s tough to beat the new Hells Canyon Ultra-lite series from Browning. The focus is on high breathability and mobility. Ultra-Lite is ideal for the active hunter who covers mile after mile in all kinds of conditions. The Ultra-Lite jacket and pant are also great for cold weather when layered over an insulation layer. Both the jacket and pant feature Browning’s new Addvanced Scent Control to help get you closer to game than ever before. The new Ultra-Lite series is an essential part of any serious big game hunter’s outdoor gear.

Features and Benefits: • Mid-weight shell fabric is windproof, highly water-resistant and breathable • Soft fleece lining features Addvanced Scent Control to reduce human scent • Harness Access • Internal sleeve cuffs and drop back bottom hem with draw cord • Two oversized pockets with zipper closure • Pant • Fully constructed waist with zippered fly, belt loops and no-slip strip • Zippered hip, thigh and rear pockets • Athletic cut and articulated patterning for great fit

today at

Coast HP7 Flashlight & HL7 Headlamp The Coast HP7 LED Flashlight is a great size that is easy to carry and packs the light output and runtime that is needed by those that rely on their light every day. A quick cycle switch allows you to select between a high output setting of 251 lumens or a low output of 58 lumens allowing you to choose the right level for your application. Coast’s Pure Beam Focusing Optic System with Fingertip Speed Focus Control provides superior beam consistency from spot to flood, with no dark rings typically associated with focusing flashlights and you can lock the beam focus in any position you want with their Beam Lock System. The Bulls Eye spot beam pattern gives you a great focused spot with a maximum beam distance of 196 meters (642 feet), while producing an outer ring of flood light which allows you to see a broader area to the sides. Built tough, an impact-resistant, lightweight aluFull time, full service minum casing resists rust and corrosion. P.S. – The word is there will be a new outfitter guiding Arizona rechargeable version out soon! and New Mexico since The HL7 Focusing Headlamp boasts both adjustable focus and light dimming 1995. functions. With Coast’s new beam shaping technologies such as their Pure Beam Focusing Optic system, you get more usable light. From spot to flood, their new optics produce superior light output and beam quality. The Bulls Eye spot beam pattern gives you a great focused spot with a maximum beam distance of 109 meters (357 feet), while producing an outer ring of flood light which allows you to see a broader area for added side vision. A larger power switch and easierto-grip focusing bezel ensure no fumbling in the dark to get your light turned on and adjusted; even while wearing gloves. A handy dimming function allows you to adjust your light output to just the right level for your application. For added durability, an expandable Z-Cord provides power to the LED from the battery pack and is built in to the headband to reduce the possibility of snagging. Both of these products are backed by Coast’s lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Outfitter-Jeff Lester 928-245-2668 www.hunthard.com

continued on page 35

Unit-wide Landowner Tags Available-N.M. Only

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

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March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

NEW PRODUCTS

TEXAS HUNTING

continued from page 30

NITE IZE STS Headlamp: The INOVA STS Headlamp by NITE IZE has a sleek design that’s not only comfortable and adjustable, but has a multi-mode, dual LED color lamp consisting of white & red lights.

Imagine being able to access your different lighting modes with a simple swipe of your finger, bringing the NITE IZE innovative design “Swipe-To-Shine” alive.

The hands-free illumination is controlled by just swiping your finger across the top, allowing access to multiple modes and making it the perfect tool for shedding light on your dark occasion! Using 3-AAA batteries, the dual white LEDs project lumens up to 142 and have a variety of light settings including a strobe light and lockout mode to prevent you from accidentally turning it on. It’s water resistant up to one meter with a battery life of 255 hours on the low setting.

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Jumping Jack X4 Trailer When it comes to camp trailers that are durable and versatile, the first company that comes to mind is Jumping Jack Trailers. The new X4 series is nothing short of perfection with its removable tent pod. The X4 pod not only works seamlessly with the X4 trailer, but can also be mounted to your own trailer, pontoon boat or truck bed. When closed, it offers a 6x6 upper deck for cargo, such as an ATV or other gear, including bike and kayak racks, etc. The wings of the X4 Tent Pod can be positioned vertically for use as a high-wall utility cargo space. Like the 6x8 Utility model, the X4 tent includes the patented “jump up” feature with two beds and a swing-up table. I really like how quick and simple the X4 series is to set up. The exterior material is made of a durable marine canvas that is mildew and water-resistant giving great protection from Mother Nature. The interior consists of 80 Sq ft with a ceiling height of 6 ½ feet and sleeps 2 to 4 people. If the X4 wasn’t rugged enough with its 15” wheels, they offer a larger fender kit to accommodate up to a 35” tire.

The size and weight of this trailer make it ideal for towing behind smaller SUVs, cars or off-road vehicles. With everything included in one trailer, it will make your greatest adventures a reality.

Benchmade Knife Company, Inc The Saddle Mountain Skinner is part of a new hunting line this year for Benchmade Knife Company. Benchmade took a survey of 5,000 hunters to find out what they wanted in a knife and found Edge retention, durability and corrosion resistance were all atop the list.

The CPM-S30V steel is a premium grade stainless steel that’s corrosion resistant with superb edge qualities.

They’ve featured the Dymondwood handle that is a stabilized wood, impervious to moisture and will not warp under extreme conditions. The Saddle Mountain Skinner is designed and built for the individual who appreciates the difference a highquality cutting tool can make. It’s the perfect knife for skinning your big game and tough enough to withstand anything you dare put in its way. With their Lifesharp service and lifetime warranty to back it up, how can you go wrong?

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Binos, Birds And Ballet In The Klamath Marsh

“He had the advantage of being a foreigner,” wrote Donald Culross Peattie in Audubon’s America, “so that he took nothing for granted and all things American struck him as fresh.”

In The Birds of North America, Audubon identified 25 species and several sub-species new to science.

Audubon’s life work was finished in 1851, but his influence lives on in the memory of birders and fowlers.

We had both in the marsh at the end of April for a tour of the Skillet Handle and Putnam Point on Upper Klamath Lake and the Lower Klamath This spring, put down the Refuge. shotgun and pack up the optics Darrel and Diana Samuels, Dave for a trip back to the wetlands. Hewitt, Julie Van Moorhem and Mary Ellen Sargent, of Klamath Falls,

By Gary Lewis members of the local chapter of the Audubon Society, were our experts. " he steady, rapid, springing I brought along Sonny Bachman, step, the long hair, the aqui- great-great-great-grandson of one of line features and the glow- Audubon’s best friends. ing, angry eyes – the expression of a While passing through Charleston, handsome man conscious of ceasing SC, in 1831, Audubon chanced to to be young and an air and manner meet a clergyman, John Bachman. that told you that whoever you might The two men, both enthusiastic huntbe he was John Audubon, will never ers, formed a friendship manifest in be forgotten by anyone who knew or their book The Quadrupeds of North saw him.”

America.

Thus, one anonymous observer reOut in the marsh, our first goal called the naturalist. Portraits made by was to catch the dance of the grebes. his son, John Woodhouse Audubon, At Putnam Point, there were four show him with his favorite double subspecies – eared, horned, Western shotgun, a 10-gauge fowling piece. and Clark’s.

Dave Hewitt pointed out a pair of Western grebes.

The male surfaced and presented a fish to his intended.

They dipped their heads as if preening, then the male moved alongside the female.

“There is a very ritualistic courtship beBird identification manuals and Alpen’s new Teton ED HD havior that establishes that binos.

T

pair bond that says yes, I’m committed to you for this season. The male really has to prove his worth.

Then they do this dancing thing. They take off and rush across the top of the water. The female sets the tone and the male cannot drop into the water before the female does or he is not keeping up his end. It is a long and involved process when she finally says ‘I’m going to trust you to be my mate for this season.’ There are a lot of fish that have to get brought back to her while she is on the nest.”

We turned to look back up the lake and saw another pair side by side. As still as swans one moment, the Photo by Gary Lewis next they were on their toes in a headlong allegro across the surface.

From left: Diana Samuels, Julie Van Moorhem, Out on the Skillet Handle, Darrel Samuels, Sonny Bachman and Dave a peninsula in Klamath Hewitt glass for forest birds out on the ‘Skillet Lake near the Running Y Handle’, a peninsula on the western shore of Ranch resort, we watched Upper Klamath Lake. forest birds and a killdeer that feigned a broken wing to lead us Under a clear blue sky, thousands away from her nest. of white Ross’ geese gabbled and I n S o n n y B a c h m a n a n d D a v e preened. A scant two months ago, Hewitt, there was a glimmer of the we hunted these birds and smelled zeal that Audubon and John Bach- t h e d e c a y o f t h e s w a m p w h i l e man shared in their letters. Bachman, snowflakes piled on our hats. Now who used to host Upland Adventures there was new growth in the marsh, TV, is an enthusiastic fowler like his the birds rested and ready for the grandfather. In his grandfather ’s move north to Canada. memoirs, I found a letter written to The ballet of the grebes intensiJohn Woodhouse Audubon about a fies in May. Mallards, cinnamon duck hunt in the late 1850s. teal and northern shovelers display “I could not crawl in the mud their spring plumage and honkers or wade up to my waist in water, keep their little ones in tow or lose so that I took them on the wing; them to the hawks. sometimes I tumbled over one or In the spring, with double-bartwo fat fellows at a shot and then reled optics in hand, a hunter gains again only made the feathers fly. I a special appreciation for the quail, bagged some wood-cocks and a few pheasants and waterfowl pursued partridges...” in the fall.

Out on a dike road in the Lower Klamath Marsh, we slowed and For a chance to win prizes and to sign stopped. Rooster pheasants cackled up for a free subscription to Gary Lewis’ from the ryegrass and red-winged On the Trail newsletter, visit www. blackbirds lit in the tulles.

GaryLewisOutdoors.com

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

37

Shed Hunting to Improve Your Success

By Michael Deming

L

ate January and early February is the time when most of the deer will begin to shed antlers in the Rocky Mountains. The elk will do the same starting in March and continue on into April and the further south you live, the later it will be. Regardless of when it happens and when your state will allow you to start picking up these brown treasures, it is a great asset to your future success.

We shed hunt for many reasons, but one of the primary ones is to see what animals have survived the hunting season, harsh winter, collisions with cars and 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 with the different

Pro’s Tips conditions Mother Nature throws their 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 our hit list for the upcoming season, we 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 we 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 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, we 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 overran 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.

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 horns.

A backpack full of elk sheds can tip the scale 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 $700 to $1,200 dollars.

The prices for 2014 are ranging from $7 to $12 a pound for brown antlers and about 25% less for 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 and when you can legally do it. Some states like Utah now require you to have an online training course prior to hitting the field.

Other states just don’t allow it until the winter has broken and the days are longer, providing 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 them very easy to find matched sets. South facing slopes are always a good place to start glassing and 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 prime position for you to start watching them and getting ready to hit the hills.

38

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Garmin Alpha Dog Tracking GPS and Trainer

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

I

f you run dogs after wild game, having the means to accurately track them as they chase their prey is a necessity. The Alpha GPS Track and Train system from Garmin with Tri-Tronics dog training technology offers amazing accuracy, an intuitive interface, and top of the line dog training technology all in a single compact handheld unit and collar.

The Garmin Alpha 100 handheld unit provides ease of use with a 3” color touchscreen that can even be operated with gloves. It is preloaded with 100K U.S. TOPO maps, and electronic compass, barometric altimeter, and wireless communication with other units, with the ability to send preset messages. It is IPX7 waterproof, and operates off of a replaceable rechargeable battery pack that will run for hours on a single charge, depending upon use. The handheld can track up to

20 different collars, and even comes with the ability to add dogs that are already on the hunt without being near the receiver. This is especially useful if you want to meet up with another hunter and coalesce all of your data into a single BaseCamp map to see the area covered. BaseCamp will also allow you to track dogs in real time with ANT+ technology.

When multiple dogs have been added to the Alpha 100, each dog will be displayed as a different color marker with the dog’s name displayed. This allows you to easily tell which dog is where without having to remember coloring coding. In compass mode, the handheld with also show you the direction each dog is traveling, whether they are on point, stopped, have prey treed, walking or running, and their distance from the handheld.

Each dog has a separate screen that will give the total distance they have traveled, their average speed, current state (treed, on point, running, walking, etc.), and battery level of their collar.

The Tri-Tronics Te c h n o l o g y a l lows you to communicate with the dog through either a tone, or a constant or momentary stimulation of the TT 10 electronic collar.

This can be used to train your dog for a variety of activities, as well as signal it to return to your location. Additionally, you can remotely activate lights on the collar of each dog to make them visible from a distance, or to blink quickly or slowly.

You can also adjust the reporting interval of the collar to broadcast

its location from every 2.5 seconds to every 2 minutes.

The TT 10 collar comes in a variety of colored straps so you can keep each dog’s coll a r o rg a n i z e d .

The handheld unit will not only track the location of the collars, but will also track the location of other Alpha 100 handhelds, so each hunter can have their own handheld unit and also track the location of each dog and each hunter.

On top of all of the tracking capabilities, the Alpha 100 handheld is a first rate standalone GPS receiver. You can easily mark waypoints, navigate, track altitude, and do everything a regular GPS unit does, with the addition of providing accurate long-range dog tracking and training. It even has a remote for the Garmin VIRB action camera.

The range of the Alpha 100 is up to 9 miles with the included extended range antenna. It comes with both a an AC wall charger as well as a 12 volt DC car charger, regular and an extended range antennas, both short and long contact points and a wrench to swap them out, and a nice sturdy carrying bag with plenty of room for multiple collars and all of the accessories.

I have been testing the Alpha on Diogenes, a Search and Rescue dog in training. The Alpha has tremendous value as a search aid, as it can show me areas the dog has been through without finding anything, and it allows me to be further away from the dog than I could be without

PB

the tracker. The ability to download multiple collars into BaseCamp lets incident commanders quickly see areas that still need to be searched.

The ability for the collar to transmit the status of the dog, whether it is moving, or treed or pointing, can let searchers know whether a find has been made and the exact location to send aid. This would be especially useful in cadaver and avalanche searches as the dog could remain at the scene to assist searchers in quickly locating the site.

Overall, the Alpha GPS Track and Train System from Garmin is a rugged and versatile tool for those who use dogs in the great outdoors. It offers a wide range of features and benefits that make it a great investment. The ability to combine data from multiple units allows fantastic collaboration. All of this comes in a single package from Garmin, a company that is at the leading edge of GPS technology. Check out the Alpha at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse Gift Bar.

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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39

40

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Digital Edition Only Special Content

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

Wild Turkey Enchiladas

T

he native wild turkey was on the verge of extinction in the 1930’s.

But today, thanks to hunters and wildlife restoration programs like the NWTF, the wild turkey is abundant and thriving in its homeland. If you were fortunate enough to bag your own Turkey, this is a great way to prepare it. If not, this tasty recipe works equally well with a domestic bird or even chicken.

This meal utilizes one side of the turkey breast and feeds six hungry gobblers.

Ingredients Brine • • •

8 cups water 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup kosher salt

Recipe • • • • • •

1 turkey breast (one side) about 1 ¾ pounds Kosher salt & black pepper Olive oil ½ onion thinly sliced ½ cup red or white wine (red will impart a more savory flavor) 1 28oz can green chile enchilada sauce

• • • • • • • •

1 10oz can cream of chicken soup 1¼ cup milk 8 ounces canned diced green chile 1 cup sour cream 1 pound shredded Mexican style cheese blend (4 cups) divided 1 tablespoon adobo seasoning (or seasoned salt) 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 ten pack 10” burrito size flour tortillas

Preparation Method

To make the brine, mix the brown sugar and salt into the water until dissolved. Add t h e t u r k e y b re a s t a n d re f r i g e r a t e a t l e a s t 12 hours. Remove the breast from the brine and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 9x13” glass baking dish with a large piece of foil overlapping the edges to make a “boat”. Place the breast in the foil, season both sides with salt and pepper, coat with about a tablespoon of olive oil and cover with the sliced onion. Add the wine and seal the f o i l c o m p l e t e l y.

Bake in the oven one hour and allow it to cool.

Cut the breast into 1” wide sections, shred it by hand into small pieces about 1/4” wide and set aside.

In a large bowl combine the enchilada sauce, soup, milk, green chile, sour cream, 11/2 cups of the cheese and seasonings and whisk together well. In the same glass baking dish, spoon some of the sauce into the bottom and spread to cover well. Grab a tortilla and in the center two inches, spread some sauce, meat, cheese, then more sauce and fold in half. Starting at one end of the baking dish, put the folded half in the sauce on the bottom and roll it up width-wise in the dish, dragging it through the sauce thereby getting sauce through-out the enchilada. Keep rol l i n g t h e m u p a n d p a ck i n g t h e m i n l i k e sardines till the pan is full. You may need to replenish the sauce on the bottom periodically. When the pan is full, tuck the edges down and use a spoon to create room for the sauce around the sides and each enchilada.

Pour the rest of the sauce over the top and using a spoon, working the sauce into all the nooks and crannies. Loosely cover the pan with foil and bake 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees until it starts to bubble. Remove foil, top with remaining cheese and bake another 10 minutes or so until cheese is melted and s l i g h t l y b ro w n e d . L e t re s t f o r a n o t h e r 1 0 minutes before serving if you can keep them other turkeys away!

I enjoyed this recipe with a light zinfandel, but some great wines to perfectly accompany this dish can be found at www.wildgamewine.com. Special thanks to Eileen the enchilada queen for her tips!

Cheers!

PB

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

Digital Edition Only Special Content

W Chevy’s Silverado A heels

field

Redesigned to be big, bad and brutish.

By Andy Lightbody

I

t’s been seven long years since Chevy and GM have freshened its lineup of full-size pickup trucks, and for 2014 the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD LTZ CREW has very fresh, heavy-duty looks, while now sporting one of the longest names in our pickup truck dictionary! Gone are softer and flowing sheet metal lines, only to be replaced by a more standup and chiseled look.

In truth, the Silverado looks like a work/outdoor truck, and that’s a good thing. And yet on the flipside, these looks can be deceiving. And that’s a good thing as well. In addition to sporting that “rough and ready” exterior, the truck’s interior and comfort appointments actually rival that of a luxury car with plenty of interior room, spaciousness and appointments in terms of fitand-finish that are as fine as we’ve seen in those “high brow” cars. Take a look at the nearly $50,000 list price, and many pickup truck lovers are sure to gasp at the sticker shock. However, when you consider the number of crossover SUVs and luxury cars in the same price range, the Silverado is a lot of truck for the money and offers versatility for hauling your camping equipment, transporting big game trophies or towing upwards of a 9,500 pound boat or trailer for your next outdoor adventure.

Walk around the Z71 LTZ crew cab (5’8” or 6’6” bed length) .and several features are sure to catch your attention. Wheel wells have been squared out and look for aggressive than the older rounded tire wells. On the 4WD tester, you can see the Bilstein shocks, and there is plenty of wheel/tire space and travel when bouncing around on the back roads and off road. On the truck bed, Chevy has put in an integrated bumper step that makes it much easier to access gear while loading or unloading. In addition, they’ve added an internal tailgate dampening system that allows the big and heavy tailgate to be lowered without it slamming down. And finally, you’ll find a unique bed lighting system with under-bedrail LED light strips! Way cool for unpacking all your gear in the dark!

Crawl your way into the crew cab, and you’re going to be amazed at the interior room that awaits. Its spacious both front and rear. Seats up front are power, power everything and include heaters and cooling features. Power outlets abound and include 12V, USB, SD card, auxiliary audio input, and a 110 volt household outlet.

Under the massive hood, you get a choice of three power plant offerings-a small V6 (4.3 liter) , and two larger V8s (5.3 and 6.3 liters). The V6 and the smaller V8 are Flex Fuel compatible – regular unleaded or E85, while the big V8 is regular unleaded gasoline only. And yes, that means that all three engines work on regular unleaded, no higher priced premium gas needed. All feature GM’s Ecotec3 technology, which is techno-babble for being direct fuelinjection, with cylinder deactivation and a variable valve timing system. In plain English, when you reach your cruising speed and are under light engine-load demands, the V6 turns off 2-cylinders, and the V8s turn off 4-cylinders to increase f u e l e c o n o m y.

Truth? In our test truck with the 5.3 liter V8 that kicks out 355 horse-

Looking more like the interior of a luxury car or SUV, the Silverado series provide plenty of front and rear passenger room for everyone. Power controlled seats with heating and cooling for the driver and front passenger add to overall comfort. power and 383 lb-ft pounds of torque, it was virtually impossible to feel when the 4-cylinders kicked in or out at the higher freeway speeds.

All the engines are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that performs fairly well, however with so many other competitors offering the latest in 8-speed tranny technology, GM may want to re-think this offering somewhere down the line. The drive was acceptable when the truck bed was loaded, however when we hitched up a heavy-duty two-place snowmobile trailer loaded up with our “snowbs,” ice-fishing huts, target shooting gear, ammo/gun cases and camping equipment (6,200 pounds), the truck’s tranny was not near as smooth when negotiating the icy roads and unpaved trails.

The addition of the factory spray-in bed liner, integrated trailer-brake control and the back-up camera did make

hauling and towing the big loads much easier.

Overall ride and handling characteristics of the truck, both on and off the road are exceptional. The steering is tight and responsive, with very little slack or over steer. At idle speeds and all the way up to 70 mph highway cruising, the Silverado is unbelievably quiet! Gone is the traditional engine noise and road rumble. With the truck’s cab re-engineered with an additional vertical pillar, as well as super sounddeadening insulation, it really is near a “whisper quiet cab.”

Fuel economy is improved and is rated at 16 mpg city/22mpg highway with the 4WD package. Our combined totals were an honest 18mpg combined. And best of all, they were fun miles on a new design that is sure to please the outdoor and sporting marketplace user.

For getting out and enjoying the out of doors with a trailer or a boat, the new Silverado with the 5.3 liter V8 engine and the 4WD package has a towing capacity in excess of 9500 pounds. Opt for the larger 6.2 liter V8 and that towing capacity jumps to 11,800 pounds.

42

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | March 2014

Digital Edition Only Special Content

My Journey As An Elk Hunter

By Caden Hyde

A

s far back as I can remember, I have walked in my dads footsteps. Especially elk hunting.

When I was just a kid, my dad used to pack me along on all of his hunting trips. I remember walking in the deep snow or in the waist high grass. When I finally turned 12, I was old enough to hunt, well actually shoot. I couldn’t wait. My dad and I decided to do the late muzzleloader hunt. It is one of my dad’s favorite hunts. When we finally got to go hunting, it was late November and I remember there was a fresh snow that morning which helped build the excitement. We the left the truck when it was still dark, muzzleloader on my back, all geared up, and ready to go.

We walked up a long draw and at the top of it we hit fresh tracks. The tracks covered the whole top of the mountain, so it must have been a big herd.

We followed the tracks for a while and they went to a huge burned out area.

Then we saw the herd. They were everywhere. It seemed like they covered the entire hillside. We started our stalk and heard a familiar noise, but one you wouldn’t expect to hear elk hunting.

It was a plane; a small bush plane. It flew overhead and scared all the elk.

The elk spooked over the ridge into

a huge bowl, which was full of thick timber. So we followed the herd down into this steep bowl. The timber was so thick we could only see probably 40 yards ahead of us. We could hear the elk all around us but we could only catch short glimpses of them.

Finally we found some. I was walking right behind my dad and all of a sudden he stops pulls up, aims, and click. His gun didn’t shoot; the cap must have been wet or something. So he grabbed me, pulled me forward and said shoot.

I looked up and saw two elk, so I pulled the hammer back, aimed and boom.

The smoke finally cleared and by now I could only see one elk running and then it disappeared into the timber. My dad and I walked to where they were and there was an elk lying on the ground. It was a calf elk, but at the age of twelve, my first elk and with a muzzleloader, it was perfect for me. We cleaned it out and came back with our horses later that day to pack it out.

My second elk was a special one. It was a spike and it was also taken with a muzzleloader. There was no snow that year, it was just very cold. My dad and I parked the truck in our hunting spot and not a mile from the truck, we found elk. There was a small bull, a spike, and a bunch of cows and calves.

They were all just kind of working

their way through this meadow, so we moved to where we could shoot. I decided to shoot the spike, so I waited until he gave me the shot, and I took it.

We watched the herd spook from the shot, but the spike hit the ground dead.

I was excited as it was my first antlered elk. It was also an easy pack out.

My third elk was another muzzleloader hunt. It was opening day on November 11. We had been staying in our wall tent and just waiting for opening day. There wasn’t a lot of snow that year, so it was more difficult to track the elk. Finally my dad and I found a herd.

We stumbled right into them. They caught us off guard, and at only sixty yards away we didn’t have much time to make a decision. I put a cap on my muzzleloader and picked out a cow elk.

The herd started moving in a single file line, and there was just a little opening in the trees where you could see them pass, so I aimed on the first cow.

As the second cow passed, I made sure I was aiming the right height and everything. As soon as the third cow's shoulder showed, I shot. I knew it was a well placed shot, so my dad and I waited a while and then went to looking for blood. There was no blood for a bit, but all of a sudden a single drop of blood was in its hoof print. It was weird because it was only a single drop.

We kept following it and every two or three steps there would be a drop.

We followed it for about one hundred yards, up and down some small canyons and ridges. Then starting up one ridge there was blood everywhere and as soon as we hit the top there was no blood but my cow elk. I shot her right through the heart, but there was no exit wound. The entry was very big so we assumed that is why there wasn’t a lot of blood to follow.

For my fourth elk, it was an early snow year. It was up to my waist in November. It was tough walking in and most of the elk had already pushed out of the mountains, but we ended up finding some. They were on their way off the mountain and we were able to intercept their path. This time, I picked out a big cow. The elk had no idea we were there. I put a cap on the

muzzleloader and took aim. I shot and she probably only went thirty yards and was done. With all the snow we just used our snow machines to drag her out.

Now the fifth elk is a little different. I shot my first four elk with a muzzleloader. This time I wanted to try archery. My uncle gave me one of his old bows, so I took it and got arrows and everything I needed to hunt with archery. It was a Saturday and I didn’t get to my hunting spot until around 1 p.m., so I was running way behind schedule. This time it was just me as my dad couldn’t make it. I walked about one mile from the truck, bugled and five different bulls bugled back. One of them was really close so I decided to go for it. It didn’t work out, so I kept walking. I walked for three hours and I got on a north/south ridge. There was a bull at the top and a bull at the bottom.

They just kept bugling back and forth to each other. I decided to go to the bull at the top of the ridge. I started my stalk but the trees were really thick and I couldn’t see much. I knew I was getting close because of the bugle getting louder. Then I knew I was within one hundred yards of the bull but I couldn’t see him. I could see some cow elk in the trees and they just kept calling to each other. Then all of a sudden, the herd spooked and fifty or so cows ran over a bare ridge above me. One problem; I never saw the bull. I followed where the cows went over the ridge. Suddenly, I hear all of these sticks breaking and I thought the herd had spooked again.

Then I noticed something; it was an antler. Next, I saw him. It was a big herd bull. He was just standing there raking a tree. He had no idea I was there and he was only sixty yards away, so I stepped in line with a tree so he couldn’t see me.

I nocked an arrow and stalked in until about thirty-five yards and drew my bow. I crept until about thirty yards and stepped out from behind a tree. The bull was facing towards me. He stopped raking the tree, so I took the shot. I put my arrow right between his neck and shoulder. He spooked, went probably twenty yards and started walking stiff legged and unsteady. Then he stopped

about ninety yards out and I did the same thing again; got thirty yards and took a second shot. This time he was broadside. He went down not eighty yards from where I last shot. I called my dad and told him what all happened.

He met me at the truck with the horses and we packed out this bull. It was a 6x6 and scored 320. My first bow kill and it was a nice bull.

My sixth elk was an archery elk also.

My dad and I decided to go elk hunting on a Wednesday. We ended up going to a new spot. It looked like good elk country and we wanted to try it out. We left the truck and we were ready for a full day of hunting. We walked probably half an hour and found elk, so we figured it would be a good day. There was a good bull and a bunch of cows there. We didn't mess with that bull much and ended up leaving him there.

We eventually got into the back country where the terrain was a lot more open and heard a herd bull’s bugle. It was definitely a good bull. You could just tell by his bugle. We looked in the direction of the bugle and thereat mid-day the bull was just out in the open with his herd of cows. He was definitely a really good bull. Then we noticed above him was another herd of elk. All of these elk were just out in the open. There ended up being three or four different herds.

All the herds had good bulls, but this one bull was definitely a better bull. We went for one of the other herds in case

March 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

43

Digital Edition Only Special Content

we spooked them or messed up on the stalk we could always drop onto this bigger bull. We ended messing up on one of the herds but by this time there wasn’t a lot of daylight left. As we were dropping on to big bull, we spotted some satellite bulls on one of the ridge lines. We got to where we were on the ridge right across from the bulls. I had brought one of those little Montana decoys with me, so my dad set it out in the open and we stood behind some trees and blew a cow call. These bulls looked over and saw the cow and went all the way to the bottom of the canyon and came right up to us. They stopped at thirty five yards and just stood and stared. They stood there a couple of minutes, but neither of us wanted to shoot so we waited until the rag horns spooked. We could hear this bull still bugling so we dropped to the bottom of the canyon where the bull would be.

There in a meadow we found him. He had probably twenty or so cows with him. We were on tree line only seventy or eighty yards away. We just watched and waited for probably an hour. This bull just moved around his cows the whole time. Finally, this bull found a cow in heat, and he wouldn’t leave her.

My dad and I cow-called and bugled but this bull was not moving. He was only eighty yards out. Then all of a sudden, one of the satellite bulls we called in earlier showed up. He was probably twenty yards away and was

moving towards the herd. The big bull saw him and started moving towards him so we thought we could get a shot.

The big bull got probably sixty yards away and the rag horn took off, so we never shot. Eventually we called all of the cows out of this herd, except the one in heat. All these cows suddenly spooked out, except for the one cow and that bull wasn’t leaving that cow. We watched all nineteen cow elk run out of the canyon and the bull and one cow stayed behind. The cow moved up the ridge to the west of us, so there were us, then the meadow, then the ridge with the cow and bull. We moved along the tree line and this cow started moving, with the bull right with her. She walked in so close and with all of the excitement I forgot to readjust my single pin and I shot right over his back.

He didn’t know what we were and went out a little ways and stopped and looked back. This time I shot him right through the heart. We found blood right away and we followed it right into the trees and found the bull. This time it was right around dark so we quickly gutted it and walked out in the dark.

The next day on Thursday I had football practice in the morning so as soon as I was done my dad had the horses ready.

We rode in on Thursday and figured two hours in and two hours packing and two hours out, so we would be done by six or so. We headed in and before we realized it we had ridden for five hours.

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

Obviously, we were pretty lost. It was getting dark again, so we hiked to the top of the mountain and called home and told my mom we had to spend the night. We weren’t planning on spending the night and all we had were our t-shirts and not a whole lot of food and water, but we had enough, and it was late September and it gets cold at night in the mountains. With just t-shirts, we knew it would be a long night. We put a rope between two trees and but a bunch of tree branches on it and made a little lean-to windbreak. We gathered a bunch of fire wood and made a fire.

We had four horses with us, so we put the saddle blankets on the ground and tried to cover ourselves with them. It was a long night. On Friday morning, we hiked to the top of the mountain and tried to figure out where we were. We went back down and got the horses and started out. We found a spring and got some water from it. Finally we figured out where we were, and located where the bull was and started to it. We got there and packed up all the horses and rode out with the bull. It was nice to see the tuck for sure but we got the bull out and he scored a 347.

NEWS | March 2014 44 SW MapSPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Ad_2014 Feb:Layout 1 2/13/14

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40. Logan, Utah 91 East 1400 North 41. Midvale, Utah (801) 567-1000

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42. Provo, Utah (801) 818-2000

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1. Corporate Office Midvale, Utah (801) 566-6681 2. Anchorage, Alaska (907) 644-1400 3. Fairbanks, Alaska (907) 374-8800 4. Soldotna, Alaska (907) 420-3000 5. Wasilla, Alaska (907) 864-8000 6. Mesa, Arizona (480) 558-1111 7. Phoenix, Arizona (623) 516-1400 8. Tucson, Arizona (520) 877-4500 9. Chico, California (530) 897-0500 10. Rancho Cordova, California Opening in 2014

43. Riverdale, Utah (801) 334-4000 44. St. George, Utah (435) 634-7300 11. Redding, California (530) 222-5500

21. Twin Falls, Idaho (208) 737-9900

12. Rocklin, California (916) 782-9900

22. Ankeny, Iowa (515) 963-3500

13. Colorado Springs, Colorado (719) 597-9200

23. Lexington, Kentucky (859) 263-7000

14. Grand Junction, Colorado (970) 243-8100 15. Loveland, Colorado (970) 461-5000 16. Thornton, Colorado (303) 428-6500 17. Idaho Falls, Idaho (208) 542-1900 18. Lewiston, Idaho (208) 743-2000 19. Meridian, Idaho (208) 884-3000 20. Nampa, Idaho (208) 468-7600

24. Southaven, Mississippi (662) 349-5500 25. Bozeman, Montana (406) 586-0100 26. Helena, Montana (406) 457-7200 27. Missoula, Montana (406) 523-9000 28. Carson City, Nevada (775) 884-2100 29. Las Vegas, Nevada (702) 474-1100 30. Reno, Nevada (775) 828-1500

31. Albuquerque, New Mexico (505) 761-9900 32. Farmington, New Mexico (505) 326-2100 33. Bend, Oregon (541) 693-5000 34. Hillsboro, Oregon (503) 844-9100 35. Medford, Oregon (541) 732-3700 36. Portland, Oregon (503) 777-8700 37. Salem, Oregon (503) 589-0800 38. Columbia, South Carolina (803) 731-3000 39. Chattanooga, Tennessee (423) 892-6300

45. Vernal, Utah Opening in 2014 46. Roanoke, Virginia (540) 366-9700 47. Federal Way, Washington (253) 835-4100 48. Kelso, Washington Opening in 2014 49. Kennewick, Washington (509) 736-2200 50. Puyallup, Washington (253) 864-0800 51. Silverdale, Washington (360) 307-6900 52. Vancouver, Washington (360) 604-8000 53. East Wenatchee, Washington (509) 886-7200 54. Casper, Wyoming (307) 233-3700 55. Cheyenne, Wyoming (307) 635-4500