Sportsman's News June 2014 Digital Edition

SportsmansNews.com

June 2014

Volume 10 Issue 6

Adventure Alaska - The Best of Both Worlds

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

A

s most of you know, Alaska is one of my most favorite places in the world. If fact, with all of my travels to this beautiful state, I really can’t say that I have not had a great experience no matter where I have visited. Each area holds special reasons why you should be there, but really all get the job done time and time again.

But there is one area that is starting to get more and more of my attention and that is the southeast, specifically the inner passage area around Prince of Wales Island. Now if you are one of those people that love to go to Alaska, but have a tough time dealing with water conditions and seem to spend a little bit too continued on page 6

The Sportsman's News Team of Kevin Orton and Kent Danjanovich show off some of their catch after another great day on the waters surrounding Prince of Wales Island.

Page 2

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

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When ExtremeBeam began its sales in the world of sporting goods and civilian sales, there was no change in their quality, durability or that perfectionist keep them alive attitude of zero compromise.

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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WHAT'S INSIDE

2 ExtremeBeam Flashlights 3 Words From The Publisher Contest: Spring Cast 5 Writer's And Blast 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters 14 Father's Day Gift Guide 20 Shane Adair: Talkin' Stocks 22 Pro's Pick GoPro Hero3+ Black 24 Video Product Reviews 26 Not Your Average Bow Tune 28 PacWest Outdoors: Pig Central 30 2014 Fishing Gear Roundup 36 Browning X-Bolt 38 Beretta ARX160 .22 Rifle 40 Business Directory Wild Game Recipe: Salmon In 48 Foil Corner: Trophy Trout 50 Outfitter's of Grey Reef Contest: The Right 51 Writer's Decision

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

Tell your friends.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Al Schultz Shane Adair Shane Chuning Gary Lewis Chad LaChance Stev Mayer John Farmer IV

Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

W

inner, winner, winner! That seemed to be a common phrase around the office this last month. Browning guns, Beretta guns, DoubleTap ammunition, Outdoor Edge knives and much more.

The weekly giveaway process has really ramped up and will continue throughout the year. Those of you who are long time readers are well aware of all the giveaways we do, but I know that over fifty percent of the customers reading this issue of Sportsman’s News Magazine are first time readers or only pick it up on occasion, so we want to make sure everyone knows how to get their shot at some of these great guns and gear. The easiest way is to register for our Digital Edition of Sportsman’s News Magazine. What this means is that you will get a digital copy of this exact publication delivered to your email inbox the first week of every month.

We are trying to do our part at saving as many trees as possible and when we print 140,000 copies every month, we know we are doing some damage. If only ten percent of you would choose the digital version, we could make a difference. We don’t want to discontinue the printed versions because we know that many of you just like to hold it in your hand. It also makes it into camps, where those digital devices just won’t work and for these reasons, we will always have the printed versions available for you at the stores. To entice you even more, we have added some great writers and columns which are only found in the Digital Edition.

The cherry on top is all of the guns and gear that we have to give away. Some of our great advertisers have provided us with some of their very best products, which we are giving away each and every month. We are giving away a box of DoubleTap ammunition, an Outdoor Edge Razorlite knife and a Sportsman’s News Television DVD full year of episodes each and every week. Throughout the month we are giving away some of those Browning guns, Beretta guns, H&K guns and even some Sitka gear.

One of the really big giveaway items coming up is going to be a world class fishing trip to Ruffo’s Sportsman’s Lodge in Saskatchewan, Canada in 2015 with the Sportsman’s News team.

You will start seeing major promotions about this upcoming trip with our platinum approved outfitter in the next few months. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to get your chance at some of these quality prizes. If you’ve already registered, don’t worry, you are already in the drawings and you can win multiple times. If you haven’t registered yet, log onto www.sportsmansnews.com and on the right side of the page, you will see the link to

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register. It’s simple and the rewards are great. Everyone’s a winner because of the quality information and deals you get with every issue of Sportsman’s News Magazine.

I want to remind all of our readers about our Platinum Approved Outfitter program while I have your attention. These are outfitters we have personally visited and we would highly recommend booking a trip with them.

After ten years of doing this, we have looked into over 300 different outfitters and only endorse about 20 percent of them. This tells you that there are more bad then good outfitters out there.

We do this for a living and know the right questions to ask. Our network of referrals is much better than the list of five or ten that the outfitter has prescreened for you to call. So, next time you are looking to head somewhere for a trip, pick a Platinum Approved Outfitter. A complete list is on our website under endorsed outfitters. My team is also very happy to talk with you personally and plug you into an experience that will be a great one that will provide a lifetime of wonderful memories. Let us help you make the right decisions. Send inquiries to info@ sportsmansnews.com or call us at our office 435-865-1680.

Thanks,

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

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

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

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.

Sportsman's News is published monthly.

The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright 2013 © All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Managing Editor.

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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Spring Cast and Blast

By Al Schultz

I

t all started for me back in the early 80s during spring break in school.

Myself and a high school buddy or two would head off to eastern WA to call and hunt coyotes, often referred to as our annual “Varmint Safaris” (I was too young to drive, but my friend had just gotten his license). It was a way to hunt during the “off season” (the time between big game hunting seasons and the trout opener).

Nowadays, 15 and 16 year-olds driving off across the state with guns to hunt might cause an uproar, but back then we did it often for ducks and geese, coyotes, deer, you name it! There was a brief hiatus from these spring trips after high school when I joined the military.

I was Honorably Discharged from the Marine Corps in 1989 and by the time the spring of 1990 rolled around I was again suffering from the dull-drums of the “offseason”. I had cabin fever in the worst way and needed to get outdoors! I recalled the spring coyote hunts I had taken while in high school and that during my fall elk hunt I had spotted numerous turkeys in my hunting area and the light bulb clicked on, I could hunt spring turkeys and coyotes! And so began the “cast and blast” trips, which I have participated in every year since 1990. I absolutely love “calling” animals, be it grunting and rattling for bucks, bugling and cow chirping for elk, clucks, purrs and cackles for turkeys, howling or rabbit screams for coyotes, squeals and rodent distress calls for bobcats, fawn bleats for cougars, and the feeding chuckle for duck and geese - you name it, I love to call and hunt it!

Equally strong is my passion for fly fishing. Fortunately, Washington state has a lot of public land and a lot of quality fishing open in some cases year round, and in a lot of eastern WA, the lakes open a little earlier than the west side lakes.

So that was how it began, and this year I decided to return to the place where it all started so many years before, none other than Grant County. Grant County is the mecca for coyotes, and it is home to Rocky Ford Creek, a trophy trout stream that fly fishermen and women have flocked to from across the US for decades. With plenty of public access, designated camping areas and rainbow trout in excess of 2 feet long on occasion, I could hardly wait to get the trailer stocked up and loaded

with supplies for a much anticipated 2 week vacation. I arrived at the camping area at Rocky Ford near Ephrata, WA and set up camp. This time of year there were relatively few other campers, and once my trailer was leveled out and all set, I assembled my cane fly rod, grabbed a box of barbless Czech Nymphs (scuds) and set off down to my favorite fishing hole along the creek. In short order I hooked and landed my first 21 inch rainbow, releasing it after a quick photo and the die was cast, I was officially on vacation. My spring cast and blast trip was off and running! It was a bright, sunny, warm spring day, in contrast to the rain I had left behind in the Seattle/ Tacoma area. The water was clear and I love sight casting to pods of huge trout, so I spent a blissful afternoon on the water catching and releasing several other huge trout. That evening I seasoned and grilled some antelope taken last fall for steak fajitas and listened as the coyotes serenaded me while I sat around my campfire.

Having had such a wonderful afternoon fly fishing for large trout, I was eager to go coyote calling the following morning. I got up early, fixed a pot of coffee, a couple of eggs and some bacon and set out across the sage in pursuit of those song dogs that had so wildly sang in the night. Unbelievably, on my first stand I called in two coyotes, one after the other using my Dan Thompson predator calls. This Cast and Blast trip was starting out to be incredible!

And so my first week went, I would call coyotes in the mornings and fly fish the afternoons, or vice-versa, and often “shed hunting” while wandering the sage in search of coyotes (I found some awesome deer sheds too). Over the course of that week I caught and released many large trout (the largest of which weighed a whopping 8 pounds!) either from Rocky Ford or from some of the nearby lakes that were open such as Lenore, Dry Falls, etc.

In addition, over the course of the week I had called in and shot 5 coyotes with my Savage 110 chambered in 6.5x.284 Norma, topped with a Weaver Tactical 4x16 50mm scope. The fly fishing and the coyote calling had been epic! Because of that, I was a little reluctant to leave for the turkey woods and my annual turkey camp as the season opener fast approached. Having had so much fun “casting and blasting” into the trip at this point, it was difficult to pack up the trailer and head off to turkey camp, but I did. As each mile brought me

closer to the site of my annual turkey camp of so many years, the scent of the pines from the turkey woods entered the cab and soon I was filled with the anticipation of what I was hoping would be another great turkey opener.

Gone was my apprehension at leaving a wonderful, successful camp along Rocky Ford, now I was filled with excitement and anticipation for the next phase of my spring cast and blast trip, the turkey hunt. Turkey camp is an annual event, and a large group of us get together and spend the week camping, hunting, and just enjoying our friendship and large cookout style meals around the campfire. This year there was scheduled to be eleven of us in camp, some of us never get to see each other except when we congregate around this fire and I was certainly looking forward to seeing everyone once again.

I arrived and was not surprised to see that over the previous winter a storm had blown down a lot of timber forcing me to move the location of my annual camp to the opposite side of a large meadow. I spooked a herd of elk from the meadow as I arrived, but not before I was able to get a few pics of them. Once I located a nice level place for all of us to camp, I got my trailer situated, and then set out to cut and split a bunch of downed wood, stacking it neatly where our fire would be. Once everything was set, and the camp chores were done, I headed off to do some scouting in preparation and in anticipation for the upcoming turkey opener.

I drove around and just enjoyed the scenery. Spring had come early to this part of the state apparently, as the snow was nowhere in the quantities it had been in years past. Like the Rocky Ford area, this too was sunny and warm, although it tended to get cooler in the evenings.

As I drove slowly down the old forest service roads, I spotted a large black bear feeding along an exposed slope, far up a steep timbered ridge. I stopped and pho-

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

tographed it then continued my drive.

I stopped along the way to photograph some mule deer I spotted along another hill, and some whitetails I disturbed from the creek bottoms. This is one of the main reasons I so love to come to this “turkey camp”, the abundance of wildlife. It is not uncommon to slowly drive along and spot all manner of game, and it is a pleasant way to just spend an afternoon. Before my little drive was over, I had spotted a rare treat, a mountain goat bedded down on a mossy, rock cliff far up above, over-looking the Forest Service road. I pulled my truck over and took some photos of it as well, relishing the sight. Since 1990 this was the first mountain goat I had ever seen in this area. Could this trip get more incredible or what?! That evening, as I drove back towards my camp I stopped to videotape two tom turkeys that were fighting in a meadow not far from camp. This season opener was definitely looking to be a great one! I spent much of the next day alternatively driving around and anxiously waiting for some of my cohorts to arrive.

By the time the rest of the group had arrived, I had observed two separate flocks of turkey, seen eight different toms, and watched all manner of other wildlife. That evening around the fire, we celebrated our being reunited among friends, and welcome with the dawn a new turkey season.

We prepared two whole seasoned venison roasts with fresh, coarsely chopped vegetables for dinner, and over a wonderful meal and cocktails caught up with each other around the campfire.

4:30 am opening morning came early. continued on page 46

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

ADVENTURE ALASKA

and French explorers passed by the island throughout the 1700s, western continued from cover interest in the island didn’t come until much time hovering over the side of the the late 1800s, when rich deposits of boat, well you may want to pay a little gold were found on the island. Later, more attention to this article. the primary industry became logging – First let’s fill you in on a few facts Prince of Wales Island is located in the about Prince of Wales Island. Not only heart of the temperate rainforest that does it have a royal-sounding name, but defines most of the Inside Passage and it is also a beautiful island with calm northwest coast of British Columbia and serene surroundings. It is filled with and much of its towering Sitka Spruce beautiful scenery, wildlife and has many and Western Hemlock were thoroughly relaxing things to do. The island is about harvested in the 1970s and ‘80s. With 45 miles wide by 140 miles long and has the decline of the logging and timber approximately 990-miles of coastline. It industry in the 1990s, workers on the is surrounded by bays, coves and straits. island shifted their focus to commercial There are about 1,300 miles of roads on fishing, which remains the primary ecothe island. Some of the roads are paved nomic force today. and some are well-maintained gravel Historically, logging was the mainroads, making it easy to get around. stay of the collective Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Island is one of the is- economy; however, the recent decline Adventure Alaska's philosophy is simple; offer visitors good accommolands of the Alexander Archipelago in in the industry leaves only a few small- dation options, the best fishing equipment available, ac­cess to excellent the Alaska Panhandle. It is the fourth- scale sawmills operating. In the1970s fishing waters and help­ful service at every turn.

Although I have been to many great the same in the future as well. largest island in the United States (af- - 80s, Thorne Bay was the world’s largLet’s talk a little bit about the different ter Hawaii, Kodiak Island, and Puerto est logging camp and it still holds the lodges in this area, all of them have been Rico) and the 97th-largest island in record. Thorne Bay also has the world’s totally “All Inclusive” complete with levels you can choose from at Adventure the world. The Tongass National For- largest tree grapple, which local teenag- guides on a full-time basis and literally Alaska. First the ‘Self-Guided Package’. est covers most of the island. ers call “the claw.” The grapple is placed everything during your trip was taken Your trip automatically comes with Prince of Wales Island is the home- in front of the small town, with a sign care of. Now, I am not complaining a a cottage, your own vehicle and you bit about being taken care of and I will own boat. You are equipped to fish, land of the Kaigani Haida people. Kai- that says Thorne Bay. gani is a mispronunciation of the TlinThorne Bay is located towards the have to admit it is pretty nice having it sightsee and explore at your leisure. The git word x’aax’ aani which translates to northeastern tip of Prince of Wales Is- that way, but sometimes it is nice to just standard boats are 16ft aluminums with “crabapple country”. The Tlingit name land. Is consists of lush green growth, be able to come and go as you please, 25 hp electric start 4-strokes. They are for the island is Taan, meaning “sea rivers and streams in about every fish for what species you want to or equipped with rod holders, fish finders, lion”. The island is traditional Tlingit direction and the waters around and visit the attractions that you want to GPS with chart plotter, downriggers, territory with the Haida moving into throughout the protected bays hold and not have to worry about what the gaff and net.

This package can be upgraded to the the area in the late 18th century and the just about every species of fish you other visitors at the lodge want to do on abandoned Haida villages actually be- can imagine that inhabit the waters of any given day. Well, one such place is use of a 19 ft. Duckworth powered by ing Tlingit in name Alaska, just waiting for your line to hit located on Prince of Wales Island, in the a 115-hp motor with a 15-hp kicker, little town of Thorne Bay and its name a NorthRiver jet boat powered by a Although Russian, British, Spanish the water.

200-hp Sportjet with 8-hp kicker or a is Adventure Alaska.

Jason Clowar, owner and operator Northriver 23 ft. Seahawk powered of Adventure Alaska visited Prince of by a 225-hp Yamaha with 8-hp kicker.

Wales when he was just a young teen- These boats will get you to just about ager with his grandfather. It didn’t take any piece of water that you can possibly long for him to figure out that Alaska want to fish.

Their most popular package is the just might be the place for him and as they say, one thing led to another and ‘Do-It-Yourself’ package. This package soon Thorne Bay became his home. He is great, but some guests still want to get met his wife here as well and now along out on the water with a professional for with the help of his young family and a day or two on their week-long trip. his competent crew, operates one of the Should you choose to be guided for a most successful fishing operations I day or two, Jason and his crew will work with you personally to integrate your have had the pleasure of visiting.

Jason’s philosophy is simple; offer fishing fervor with the tides, weather visitors good accommodation options, and best producing locations to maxithe best fishing equipment available, ac- mize your catch.

Should you choose the fully guided cess to excellent fishing waters and helpful service at every turn. By giving all option, they will work with you personof his clients the opportunity to secure a ally to make sure your trip is just what package that they feel comfortable with, you want it to be. You will have your Jason Clowar of Adventure Alaska and guest, Greg Pilling of California, Jason has steadily built a great following show of their catch before they head for a steaming crab pot. continued on page 8 and I guarantee he will continue to do

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

match or spend the whole trip on fresh or saltwater. At the end of the day your fish will be filleted, vacuum sealed and frozen for you. At the time of your departure they will have your fish boxed in wax lined fish boxes, strapped and weighed for airline travel.

The calm waters around Prince of Wales Island are a pleasure to fish and as you can see the fish are very ac- A t A d v e n t u r e Alaska their best commodating. advertisement is word-of-mouth and with that in mind, rest assured that they will do all they continued from page 6 can to provide you with a great trip and own professional guide with years of lasting memories! experience taking you to the hot spots Hunting on Prince of Wales is also on the river, lakes and ocean locations. highly sought after by hunters from Are you interested in both saltwater and around the world. Big numbers of black freshwater? With the ‘Fully Guided’ op- bear, Sitka blacktail deer and waterfowl tion, you will have the liberty of choice also call this area home. With high to suit your interests. You can mix and success rates and many animals mak-

ADVENTURE ALASKA

fishorhunt.com 877-499-FISH

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ing the Boone & Crocket record books, guests to the island have proven a guide is not always necessary for success. Adventure Alaska also offers no-guide hunting, again giving you the opportunity to hunt on your time, as low key or as hard as you want.

Spring black bear starts the first week in May and ends the last week of June.

The fall season kicks off with Sitka blacktail deer in the last week of August, then the first week of September kicks off the fall black bear hunt. Black bear hunting on Prince of Wales Island now is a draw situation for non-residents, so make sure if you want to hunt this great area, one of the best in the world, visit the Alaska Fish and Game website for application dates and fees.

On our trip last year durKevin and Kent with a couple of perfect sized ing the first week in Sephalibut, destined for their dinner tables back tember, we tried a little bit home. of everything during our stay to get a feel of just what Adventure Alaska has to offer and boy through September and into October. did we have a trip to remember. Our Both spin cast and fly rod action are charter captain, Jim Silverthorn told us non-stop. And for you steelhead fathat we might be a little bit late for the re- natics out there, these same waters are ally good halibut fishing, but we had no some of the best in the world during problem catching our limits both days the winter months and from the first of we fished with great fish in the 25 to 60 April through mid May. When it comes down to it, there are just pound range. His boat landed many fish in the 100 to 200 pound class during the so many thing to do in Alaska, it is really season, as he knows the waters about as hard to take everything in during your stay. Other things we were able to take in well as anyone you will ever see.

The silvers were running heavy and on this trip were pulling crab pots right no matter if we were fishing with Jim, on in the bay, visiting the nearby Ancient our own in one of the skiffs or doing a Totem Park, the abandoned Salt Chuck little trolling or mooching on one of the Mine and unending trail systems. Prince upgraded boats, never a dull moment of Wales Island is a very special place and was had and we limited out every day with all of the great options available with with fresh salmon. A few pinks and Adventure Alaska, it is really up to you feeder kings were also mixed in with just how much you want to fit into your schedule. So why not give Jason and his our catch.

We also made our way to a few of the staff a call today to talk about all of the many great stream fishing opportunities possibilities and get your trip booked. I around the area as well. Now remem- promise you will have the time of your life ber, this area of Alaska gets a pink run and you will learn more during your stay every year, so if you are looking to catch than you would have ever dreamed of. fish, I mean big numbers of fish, you Adventure Alaska, find them on the web won’t be disappointed and if you can at www.fishorhunt.com or give them a call make it through all of those pinks, big at 907-828-3907. You can also find them on silver salmon are on the prowl starting our website at www.sportsmansnews.com the last of August and running clear under Endorsed Outfitters.

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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

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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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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

CANADIAN HUNTING

Becharof Rapids Camp On the banks of the Egegik River on the outlet of Becharof Lake in the Bristol Bay region. Uninhabited, untouched, and pristine with the area a veritable salmon factory. All five species of salmon plus rainbows, Arctic char and grayling.

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

ALBERTA

360-532-7594

www.ranchlandoutfitters.com 877-924-8440

www.becharofrapidscamp.com

CANADIAN HUNTING

ALASKA HUNTING AND FISHING

Alaska

RAVEN

11

Alaska Raven Guides

ITCHAOUTFITTERS MOUNTAIN LTD.

Southeast Alaskan Rainforest

QUESNEL, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA Specializing in Premium Spot and Stalk Spring Bear Hunts

alaskaravenguides.com (907) 747-6405

Stewart and Sabrina Fraser Phone:(250) 249-5424 Cell: (253) 306-1771

Offering Brown and Black Bear Hunting Salmon, Halibut, Cod, Cutthroat, and Fishing Trips Rainbows, Dolly Varden

www.itchamtn.com • itchamtn@goldcity.net

COLORADO HUNTING

ALASKA GUIDED HUNTING

ALASKA STATEWIDE GUIDES FOOT HUNTS FLY-IN HUNTS SPECIALIZING IN ARCHERY IN THE “BOW-ONLY” ZONE

(907) 978-1148

WWW.ALASKASTATEWIDEGUIDES.COM

ALASKA GUIDED HUNTING

COLORADO FISHING

ro de Renf With Wand Guide Pilot a

ALASKAN ADVENTURES

Fly-in Alaskan hunting for brown bear, Alaskan moose or black bear. Custom tailored trips.

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McIntosh Lake is part of the legendary Churchill River System which holds massive pike, trophy lake trout and scrappy walleye! Join us for a Canadian fishing adventure of a lifetime.

ruffossportsmanslodge.com

855-313-9310 Toll Free CANADIAN HUNTING & FISHING

Canada’s Best Fishing Lodge Of The Year!

Five Star Main Lodge Featuring Fully Guided American Plan Packages Plus Remote Outpost Camps on 4 Lakes

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Big Game Hunting • Spring & Fall Bear • Fall Moose

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COLORADO WATERFOWL

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

303.659.8665

www.stillwateroutfitters.net

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

NORTH DAKOTA HUNTING

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING Hunt the Grand Slam of the Dakotas

TEXAS HUNTING

Whitetail • Mule Deer • Turkey • Javelina

Tumbleweed Lodge

World Class Pheasant Hunting Sharp-tail Grouse • Prairie Chicken Hungarian Partridge • Waterfowl

605-875-3440

Est. 1986

Tumbleweed@sbtc.net

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

Your Connection to First-Class Texas Hunting & Fishing

www.TumbleweedLodge.com SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING

Private Fishing Charters All-Inclusive trips available

Bucky Bonner

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

UTAH HUNTING

W

2013 TROPHIES TAKEN WITH J&J OUTFITTERS

e have 23 years of outfitting and guide experience.

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

Jed and Jenni Wayment

PO Box 244, Henefer, Utah 84033

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

SOUTHWEST HUNTING

Backcountry Hunts • Mule Deer • Black Bear • Aoudad • Cougar • Antelope

• Javelina • Turkey • Exotics • Elk • Whitetail

(575) 361•1053

New Mexico and Texas Hunts

backcountryhunts.com

EXTREMEBEAM continued from page 2

lighting performance in a light yet durable package for your AR15 platform, the new ExtremeBeam TAC24 is a favorite among SWAT officers worldwide, for its extreme range and tune focus-ability in a light and yet an extremely durable package.

If budget and price were holding you back from acquiring a good, solid built flashlight, then the M4 Scirrako is the light for you. Designed for long range and only costing about $50, the M4 will forever change the way you look at flashlight performance. And for a few bucks more, you can add the green LSR cartridge and outperform hunting lasers at only a fraction of the cost.

The green LSR cartridges are LED based technology which causes a predators eyes to reflect light for easy spotting. Range with this bulb insert is nearly 900 feet.

ExtremeBeam believes that a good flashlight is one whose beam can be controlled with high quality optics and performance regulated circuits designed for exceptional battery life.

Gone are the days of wasted lumens

and poor battery run-times. Gone are the days of worrying when your light gets dropped. Allow ExtremeBeam to change the way you think about true flashlight performance.

Once you’ve selected your flashlight of choice, don’t forget ExtremeBeam’s rechargeable battery kits which will save you money and eliminate the need to use those throw away batteries.

ExtremeBeam makes a good variety of lights, all with surprisingly bright long range performance, better quality, better machining, better efficiency and a better warranty. All for a better price.

And ExtremeBeam stands for Truth, Freedom and the spreading of Light in more ways than one.

Finally, ExtremeBeam is one of the few high-end flashlight companies who own their factory. And that means they pass the savings on to you, their customers while providing what is known world-wide as the highest quality and performance and at the best pricing.

If you’re looking for exceptional quality, extremely durable build and an even more exceptional price, try AlphaTAC’s ExtremeBeam flashlights. It will change the way you think about light.

ExtremeBeam - They Out Perform!

bboutfitters.com bboffshorecharters.com

teed tags on most of our ranches.

We run professional, high-quality hunting camps with knowledgeable and experienced guides to pr ovide you with the hunt of a lifetime.

“Make It Happen!” with J&J Outfitters. We look forwar d to hearing from you.

UTAH Life Elevated

www.jandjoutfitters.com

WYOMING FISHING

SW Remington Break Bone_Eastmans HJ:Layout 1

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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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www.SPORTSMANSWAREHOUSE.com

You’ll find Remington Premier® and other Remington ammunition at all Sportsman’s Warehouse locations. Also shop www.SportsmansWarehouse.com.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Father’s Day Gift Guide

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

R

ather than a tie or coffee mug, why not hook dad up with some great gear for the outdoors this Father’s Day? Here are a few ideas that any dad would love.

5.11 Tactical Counter Strike 2 The Counter Strike 2 is a full sized tactical folder with a 3.75” spear point knife blade hardened to 57-29 HRC for enhanced tensile strength and edge retention. A deep finger choil provides excellent user control for fine tasks, ambidextrous thumb studs allow quick and smooth one-handed deployment, and a crack and shatter resistant FRN scale handle provides a confident and secure grip with or without gloves. The blade has been beadblasted to eliminate glint, and the liner lock is reinforced to ensure safe operation. The CS2 ships with a four-way pocket clip and a Torx wrench for modifications. The CS2 is a beefy, quality knife that feels substantial in the hand but provides excellent ergonomics. The hardened AUS8 steel is going to take almost any abuse you throw

at it. From a daily carry and work knife to tactical and defensive applications, the CS2 will rise to the challenge. The textured grip provides excellent traction when wet or dry and it forms well to the hand and is balanced for comfortable use. The beadblasted blasted spear point blade is thick and tapers gently into a wicked point for deep penetration

and enough weight to provide ample slicing and cutting, even through thick material. There is zero lateral play at the pivot pin, overcoming any side to side forces you may have to apply. The subdued color of the pocket clip helps it blend in and makes it unobtrusive for everyday carry. The ability to remount the pocket clip in any of four different configurations, makes it ideal for any application.

Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler Providing a small, extreme cooler, just large enough for a 12-pack or a limit of fish, the Roadie gives you the performance of the Yeti Tundra, in a small and portable package. With a stainless steel folding carrying handle, this cooler serves every role, from lunchbox to portable beer hauler, with minimal space sacrificed for hauling.

Whether on a small boat, in the back of a packed SUV, or anywhere where space is a premium, the Roadie 20 fits.

Roto-molded out of a single piece of high density polyethylene and filled with 2 inches of pressure-injected polyurethane insulation, the Yeti roadie 20 will handle anything you can throw at it, including a grizzly bear. The Roadie has been certified bear proof by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). Unbreakable self-stopping hinges have been molded directly into the body and lid to keep the lid propped open without fear of it breaking off. Heavy rubber latches hold the lid down tight and keep the cold in and the

hot out. For the dad who needs to carry 20 lbs of ice or 14 cans of cold frosty goodness in an extreme environment that might mimic a grizzly bear, the Roadie 20 from Yeti is just the ticket.

Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler For those times when you need a little more storage for your cold items, the Tundra 45 from Yeti provides a 26 can capacity or holds up to 35 pounds of ice. It features the same rugged, bear proof design as the Roadie in a slightly larger package. Marine-grade rope handles with foam grips give you an easy and comfortable way to carry the fully loaded cooler and its compact size ensures it will take up minimal room.

An included dry goods basket fits inside to keep your items from getting soggy in melting ice. Heavy-duty insulation and a gasket mean that ice will last for days and a large drain plug makes it easy to drain water without having to empty the cooler. It has a 9.4 gallon storage capacity so it is roomy enough for several days worth of food in camp, or to hold all of your fish on your boat to keep them fresh.

ExtremeBeam Tac 24 SR3 Flashlight Built for Search and Rescue in mind, and outperforming Lights at well over 1200 Lumens, The ExtremeBeam TAC24 SR3 Tactical Search and Rescue Light is one of the most powerful waterproof 6.6 oz. tactical lights ever produced in the history of gun mountable lighting. The

TAC24 SR3 features ExtremeBeam’s – Tri-Mode operation capability allowing up to 12 hours of low-power operation or up to 7 hours of high-power operation. The low mode allows for skin color analysis when used for rescue and first aid use. Additionally, the TAC24’s Patent-Pending Anti-Recoil Pin Technology, and an array of Anti-Recoil remote switches allow for use both on weaponry and on off-road vehicle-mounting. The TAC24’s white hot, tune-focusable beam shoots out an amazing 370 Meters and can quickly be adjusted from pin-point narrow to wide-spread. Designed with extreme brightness, battery efficiency and high-density durability as its key features, the TAC24 redefines the meaning of durable precision optics and efficient functionality. With three modes of operation, high, low, and disorienting strobe, the TAC 24 SR3 is ideal for home defense, mounted to a shotgun or rifle.

It also is rugged enough to withstand being tossed under the seats of the truck for general use, and its CR123 batteries will be ready to go, even 10 years down the road.

Case Blue Bone Trapper Pocketknife Odds are that dad gave you your first pocketknife. If you are anything like me, you carved a forest of sticks into splinters with that first knife. Why not give dad a keepsake knife that looks good, feels good, but also will be a tool he can cherish for years of hard use?

Case is legendary for heirloom pocketknives; tools that get passed down for generations of hard use, day in and day out. Using the highest quality steels, heat-treated to an exacting formula, Case knives are known for taking and holding a super sharp edge. The trapper line from Case features both a clip and a spey blade, making it a versatile tool continued on page 16

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

NO INVESTIGATION NECESSARY. If you need forensic evidence to prove that CCI® loads are devastating on impact, then you must be shooting blindfolded. Once you squeeze the trigger, you’ll witness the explosive nature of CCI’s unique bullet technology on varmints. From our latest product developments like TNT Green™ to the tried and true cartridges you’ve used for years, CCI is the ultimate in rimfire performance. Case closed.

THE LEADER IN RIMFIRE AMMUNITION® www.cci-ammunition.com © 2008 CCI

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE continued from page 14

for a variety of common uses. The blue bone scales with polished stainless bolsters, make this an attractive gift. The XX trademark of a Case knife means this gift will be around for years and is sure to be passed back down for generations. Made in the USA, this is the perfect gift for any dad, whether he works in an office or a construction site.

Thermacell Mosquito Repellant Lantern Whether sitting out under the stars chewing the fat, or extending that bank time into a few final casts for that perfect trout, the Thermacell Mosquito Repellant Lantern provides safe battery powered light and chases those pesky bugs away. Featuring eight battery powered LEDs for hundreds of hours of light, the lantern casts a soft and diffused light that is excellent for campsites and backyard gatherings. The integrated Thermacell cartridges and pads erect a 225 square foot wall of scent free insect repelling power that chases away mosquitoes, black flies and dozens of other pests that can spoil your time in the outdoors.

DMT Diamond Diafold Magna-Guide Knife Sharpening Kit Utilizing precision angle adjustment coupled with the ability to use portable DMT Diafold sharpeners, the Magna-Guide Kit gives you the benefit of both a bench sharpening system and a portable field sharpener for touch-ups in a single kit. The Diafold sharpeners are excellent stand-alone tools for a quick blade touch-up in a portable pocket sized package.

Containing two different grits and folding handles on each unit, the Diafold can be quickly tossed into a pack

or pocket for fast sharpening anywhere. The MagnaGuide system provides DMTs trademark angle guide and rod sharpening system by using a magnet to hold the Diafold sharpener in place at the perfect angle to achieve razor sharp perfection from any blade. Simply clamp the blade in the angle guide, attach the Diafold sharpener with the appropriate grit facing the blade, and slide the rod into the correct angle hole. Make a few strokes on each side of the blade and then quickly swap grits to achieve the perfect edge, each and every time. The Magna-Guide Kit comes with two Diafold sharpeners for a total of four grits from coarse to XX Fine to re-edge your blade and then polish it to a smooth and razor sharp edge. Whether putting a carving edge on your favorite kitchen knife, a working edge on your favorite pocketknife, the Magna-Guide kit will help you achieve the ideal cutting edge on all of your knives and tools.

SOG PowerAssist Multi-tool The new PowerAssist takes multi-tools to a new level.

This is the first in the world to house not just one but two SOG Assisted Technology blades. Start to open the main blades, which are available when the main tool is closed, and S.A.T. takes over to complete opening. When not in use, these blades lock closed using their patent pending side release. Flip open the tool and experience the precision of the heavy-duty plier capability and large wire cutters. Smooth handle surfaces promote comfort on even the toughest jobs.

Also includes Compound Leverage, gear covers, heavy duty construct ion, V-Cutter, builtin crimpers and matte black finish for low reflectivity. continued on page 18

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE continued from page 16

Bushnell G-Force ARC 1300 Rangefinder Good shooting depends on a variety of factors and knowing the distance to target is one of the biggest keys to accuracy. The Bushnell G-Force ARC 1300 is loaded with features at a price that is available to everyone.

The feature-rich device is packaged in a rubberized armor case that makes it a dependable workhorse for whatever abuse you can throw at it. The textured rubber coating makes it easy to grip in all kinds of weather and with heavy gloves.

Coated optics and 6-times magnification ensure you will be able to get an accurate hold on your target and won’t fog up in the cold.

A BAK-4 roof prism and multicoated lenses offer crystal clear viewing of your target in low light, as well as exceptional clarity in a variety of conditions.

Whether you are hunting with a rifle

or a bow, the G-Force is the rangefinder for you. It has both rifle and archery modes with ranges of between 5 to 1,300 yards and is accurate within half a yard from between 5-125 yards in increments of 1/10th of a yard and within one yard up to 1,300 yards.

A wide field of view shows you 393 feet at 1,000 yards so you can see your target and what is around it as well as easily acquire your target against a cluttered background.

The G-Force doesn’t just provide distance to target, but also includes Bushnell’s Variable Sight In (VSI) mode to provide distance, angle compensation with ARC and bullet drop data in MOA, inches, centimeters, or mils.

BullsEye, Brush, and Scan modes allow you to easily pick out your target in all kinds of terrain and environments. This feature will help you look through tall grass or brush to pinpoint your target with minimal interference with objects in the foreground or environmental factors such as rain or fog.

Ten different rifle modes correspond with ballistic data available on Bushnell’s website so you can select the

proper ballistic and bullet drop and angle compensation data for your specific load.

The Extreme Speed Precision (ESP) Turboprocessor makes this one of the fastest and most accurate laser rangefinders for the price.

The G-Force ARC 1300 also includes a tripod mount for improved stability.

It is available in either black or Realtree AP camo. It is a bit heavier than some other rangefinders on the market, weighing in at eight ounces, but that additional weight is the price you pay for the rubberized all metal housing and rugged dependability. The unit is easy to use and comes with an easy to read intuitive interface that provides a wide range of options without information overload.

I particularly like how compact the

unit is, compared to some others with comparable features. It is just 3 inches high, 3.5 inches long, and around an inch wide, so it takes up less space in my pack, pouch, or pocket. It also comes with a well-made nylon carrying case with a built in belt slide loop and a carabineer for clipping it to web attachment points available on most field backpacks.

$30 REBATE MAIL-IN

WHEN YOU PURCHASE ANY SIMMONS LASER RANGEFINDER OR RIFLESCOPE OF $49.95 OR GREATER

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Vortex Viper HS.9.75x10.5

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Talkin’ Stocks

By Shane Adair

A

good rifle stock is a very crucial piece to the hunting and shooting puzzle, as with bullet selection, cartridge, optic etc. Where do you begin, who’s the best and where can you go wrong? It’s a topic and opinion with no definite answer or a one stock fits all situation. Everyone h a s o n e t h a t ’ s b e t t e r, l i g h t e r, stiffer, etc. So in this article, I’ll go over a few points that I hope will help you determine the best stock for your application and what I feel are some key aspects in a good stock.

First of all, your stock must fit you. Most stocks come with a 13.5 inch trigger pull, measured from the trigger to the end of the butt pad. I’m 6 feet tall, but I have short arms and neck, so this ends up being a little long for me, but I have found I shoot great with a 12.5 inch pull. I find myself stretched out and not shooting great with a full length pull. Also, 13.5” will almost always be to long for women, kids and smaller framed men.

Any gunsmith can help you with this and most recoil pads are fairly adaptable. It will greatly help you, especially while shooting in the prone position (laying down).

Next, a stock must be stiff, but a stiff stock doesn’t mean it’s overly h e a v y. I f t h e f ro n t e n d t w i s t s around on you or if you can flex it with your hands, you will struggle to shoot well. Your scope will always have a little bounce in it as

you look at your target, especially on a bipod and as the gun fires, the recoil of the rifle will amplify the vibration that is already there and cause your groups to stretch.

I’ve seen it so many times where a flimsy stock is a deal breaker and really frustrates shooters. With the wave of synthetic stocks having all but taken over the market, remember, they are not all good for you in this respect. Some are molded great and stiff, while others are pretty flimsy and loose.

All synthetics stocks are great for wet conditions where they will not swell and cause bullet rise but remember, some are way better than others.

Consider your primary purpose h u n t i n g o r b e n c h re s t . I f i t ’ s a bench only, then stick with a big stiff, heavy stock. If you’re a heavy backpacker, then it needs to be lean, slim and light. As for general bench shooting and normal hunting conditions, you need to find one right in the middle. I love the way that the light slim stocks feel, but I shoot way better in all conditions with a medium weight stock. I like a little bit of width in the front end to lay across a backpack or rocks and logs while hunting and they also hold a bipod better as well. One with a sharp taper on the front end will be harder to shoot well from the bench or a backpack, while thin ones are quick and easy to shoot while moving fast or standing up.

Wood verses synthetic. Most wood stocks are stiff and will al-

low you to shoot well and they will hold glass bedding in the recoil lug area very well. They are more subject to moister and take a lot more care to keep them pretty.

If wood is what you must have and you’re upgrading, the newer laminated ones are rock hard and are infused with epoxy’s while being built and aren’t nearly as finicky with climate changes as the old wood ones were. They are very stiff and some even come built with aluminum bedding blocks inside them. The laminated wood stocks are my choice. Most factory synthetic stocks are molded nice, but don’t hold an epoxy bedding j o b a ro u n d t h e re c o i l l u g v e r y well. It’s hard to get an epoxy to get a good bite on plastic. On the

magnums, a bedding job can eventually break away from the stock.

If upgrading to a new synthetic stock, almost all good stocks will hold a bedding job well. They are my favorite choice for all shooting and hunting conditions.

If upgrading your stock is in order, you will need to spend a minimum of $200 for a good stock and up to around the $800 mark for a lightweight stiff stock. They are well worth the money if your budget will allow. You can usually find and need to expect to pay in the $300-$600 range for a stock that will really do you a great job in most all shooting and hunting conditions. Considering both

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continued on page 22

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

THE RUGER

®

LC380 ™

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

It features a dovetailed, high visibility 3-dot sight system, 7-round magazine and finger grip extension floorplate, manual safety, loaded chamber indicator and light recoil spring for an easy-to-manipulate slide.

The LC380™ is the same size as the LC9™, yet offers reduced recoil making it Ruger’s lightest recoiling personal protection centerfire pistol yet.

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

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

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

WWW.RUGER.COM/LC380

Dovetailed, High-Visibility 3-Dot Sight System

©2013 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

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SHANE ADAIR

continued from page 20 wood and synthetic along with weight and shape, there are a ton of options.

When considering the weight of your stock, unless you are spending a little more money, it will be hard to find a good stock that weighs less than 2.5 pounds.

Most bench rest stocks will weigh more than 3.5 pounds. Most good all-purpose stocks will be a few ounces either way of three pounds. Most factory stocks will average close to two pounds so if you are upgrading stocks, plan on adding a half pound or so to your rifle. Believe me, it will be worth it. You will greatly improve your accuracy and ability to shoot and it will take a little recoil out of your rifle as well. If your budget allows and you want the weight peeled off your rifle even more, carbon fiber stocks are awesome and you can find one that works with most shooting and hunting

applications. Again, it can be well worth the price.

Now, glass bedding the entire b a r re l c h a n n e l o r f re e f l o a t i n g the entire barrel - that is the question. Since the introduction of synthetic stocks, the bedding of the entire barrel channel has a l l b u t d i s a p p e a re d . Wi t h o u t a doubt, you will want your barrel channel free floated and free of anything that will cause you a problem with inconsistent vibrations on the barrel. You want a nice bedding job around the action and recoil lug and maybe a little bit under the first inch of the barrel in front of the recoil lug, but the rest can be free floated.

I’ve seen some very good shooters spend a lot of time and money on great barrels and optics and then skimp on the stock and end up very frustrated to say the least. When they finally upgrade to a good stock, it completes the package and they shoot well.

In summary, a good stock is as

m u c h o f a c ru c i a l p a r t o f g o o d shooting as any other part of the equation. Hold a number of them and do some research. Determine your application. The choices are endless and overwhelming, but don’t hesitate to make it happen.

definition video makes it a great asset. The numerous accessories which are available with these little cameras make them capable of doing nearly anything.

The Hero 3+ Black Edition provides video footage which can be filmed in resolution up to 4K as well as take photos at 12 megapixels for 30 frames per second and is waterproof down to 131”. These are all the extremes for this camera and settings that most consumers won’t ever use. However, it is good to know that it has the capabilities if you desire to use them. Whether you’re a professional videographer group as we are or just a novice, the GoPro Hero 3+ is a must have for your arsenal.

The compactness of this camera makes it a handy item to stick into your pocket, so you are ready to film or take photos at a moment’s notice.

The audio that is recorded when not in the waterproof case is extremely good and we often use it for Sportsman’s News shows. It is 20% smaller and lighter than its best-selling predecessor. It delivers improved image quality and powerful new features geared for versatil-

ity and convenience. Video can be shot in various views including narrow, medium and wide. SuperView is a new video mode that captures the world’s most immersive wide angle perspective, while Auto Low Light mode intelligently adjusts frame rate for stunning low-light performance. The battery on this version is larger than GoPro’s of the past and provides 30% longer battery life. Even though this is the case, we feel that the batteries are the only weak link in this setup. Although better than the past, there is still much room for improvement, so make sure you purchase extra batteries as well as a dual battery charger to get the most out of your cameras.

These cameras are set up with Wi-Fi and this newer version is 4x faster than in the past. It allows you to trigger a photo or the video with the included remote control or the smart phone app. The new f2.8 aperture provides for a much sharper image whether you’re shooting video or taking still photos. GoPro has a vast array of mounts that come with the setup and many more can be pur-

You won’t regret it.

We are happy to help you out with your own personal setup as well as give advice, so don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We can help you out and steer you in the right direction.

GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition Camera

C

apturing the action in the field is becoming very common for nearly everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are doing a fly-in camp for fishing or climbing the highest peaks in search of a trophy mountain goat, you are going to want to capture the moment. Choosing the right camera to get the job done can be a daunting task and definitely can set you back a paycheck or two.

The GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition camera is truly one of the most versatile camera’s on the market. It’s not going to cost you a month’s wages either. The Sportsman’s News team has been using GoPro camera’s for many years now and they are a staple in our photography and filming adventures. Having the ability to take good quality photos as well as high

chased as additional items. The Chesty is a chest harness that allows you to mount the camera snug across your chest and capture everything at chest level and is one of our favorites for filming outdoor action stuff.

The head harness can be used the same way, but the footage gets a little dizzy if you move your head a lot.

This camera has way more options than we have room to list in this article, but we will tell you from experience that you won’t be disappointed when you purchase a GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition camera.

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SEACAT CREATIVE

TURNING CLOTHING INTO GEAR

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SITKAGEAR.COM | 877.SITKA.GR

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

2014 New Video Product Reviews

Leupold BX-1 McKenzie 10X42 Binoculars

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ot all binoculars are created equal the quality”. Well, the BX-1 McKenzie and with so many choices these 10X42mm binoculars from Leupold is days, it can be difficult deciding about to change the way we think of optics. on the perfect optics. Binoculars are one of Priced at an unbelievable $199.99 the the most valuable tools a hunter can have BX-1 McKenzie is made with all the feawhen looking for that once-in-a-lifetime tures, quality and design we have come trophy. Whether it is low light conditions to expect from Leupold at an affordable or scanning a hillside at great distances, price. They’re extremely compact and a good pair of binoculars is invaluable. lightweight, measuring 5.80 inches and When it comes to that fine line of success only weighing 22 ounces, making them or having tag soup, a good pair convenient to carry in your of binoculars is a must! pocket or backpack. They are The price for good optics 100% waterproof and rugusually equates to being the ged with an impact resistant most expensive piece of gear polycarbonate frame to ensure owned and unfortunately bedurability you can count on. ing able to know the difference The large, tactile focus dial is between good optics and great easy to use and quickly brings optics can prove more difficult Scan this QR Code with everything into a focal point, your smart phone to view than ever these days. For some, t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s even on those colder days while the rule of thumb has been, YouTube Channel. Video wearing gloves. The tripod Available after June 7th.

“The more you pay the better mount provides good stabil-

ity and is easy to setup and remove.

Leupold’s BX-1 McKenzie has multi-coated lenses to ensure all airto-glass surfaces have multiple layers of antireflection coatings combined with BAK-4 prism glass to give you a high-end glass that produces clearer images, typically found in more expensive optics. They have a very generous eye relief with twist up eyecups allowing for easy use with or without eyewear. When you combine the crisp optical view with ergonomic design, you get an optic that is extremely comfortable, not only to look through, but also to handle.

If quality craftsmanship, durability and compact size are what you are looking for, then make sure you stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and check out a pair of the new BX-1 McKenzie 10x42mm binoculars from Leupold.

With a price of only $199.99, you won’t be disappointed!

Uncle Mike’s Tactical IWB Tuckable Holster

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or everyday carry of your flick of a thumb and a ruled concealed firearm, Uncle s l i c k s t i c k m a k e s i t e a s y t o Mike’s has developed the move the hook and loop straps Ta c t i c a l I n s i d e t h e Wa i s t b a n d t o j u s t t h e r i g h t p o s i t i o n . ( I W B ) H o l s t e r. O f f e r i n g m o r e The holster is constructed than 30 adjustments and the of rugged nylon and has a a b i l i t y t o c a r r y e i t h e r l e f t o r smooth plastic liner to prevent right handed in a wide range your firearm from snagging. A o f p o s i t i o n s , t h e Ta c t i c a l I W B p a d d e d c o r e p r o v i d e s c o m f o r t h o l s t e r i s o n e o f t h e m o s t v e r- w h e n w o r n f o r l o n g p e r i o d s o f satile holsters for carrying a time. concealed firearm.

The J hooks are designed to Tw o J h o o k s s l i p o v e r t h e b e w o r n i n s i d e t h e w a i s t b a n d , pants and lock in position be- but still allow the user to tuck hind the belt where they are his or her shirt over the gun, c o n c e a l e d f r o m v i e w. T h e s e J a d d i n g e v e n m o re c o n c e a l m e n t . hooks feature five adjustment T h e I W B Tu c k a b l e h o l s t e r i s holes and can be ara v a i l a b l e i n 4 d i ff e re n t ranged into three difsizes, accommodating ferent holes to achieve the majority of pistols the ideal cant angle for commonly worn for c o m f o r t a b l e c a r r y. self defense.

To m a k e t h e h o l s t e r Because of the versaeven more adjustable tility of adjustment as and versatile, the rewell as the reversible t e n t i o n s t r a p s c a n b e Scan this QR Code with a d j u s t m e n t s , t h e h o l a d j u s t e d f o r a v a r i e t y your smart phone to view s t e r c a n b e w o r n a p he Sportsman's News o f d i f f e r e n t g u n s . T h e tYouTube pendix, small of back, Channel. Video re t e n t i o n s n a p i s e a s i l y Available after June 14th. strong side, or cross disengaged with the d r a w.

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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2014 New Video Product Reviews

Swarovski SLC 15X56 Binoculars

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great percentage of professional hold. The new rubber armoring is extremely hunters will have Swarovski bin- durable and provides a professional finish oculars around their neck and glued on the binoculars that will last. to their eyes during most of the big game The glass is what truly draws the customseasons. This is because the name Swarovski er to Swarovski. This roof prism binocular has become known as one of the best you has been optimized with P coating. The three can own. When your livelihood depends part objective lens system is fully multicoaton success, you don’t want to depend ed with SWAROBRIGHT, SWARODUR on a product that isn’t the best. The new AND SWAROTOP coatings which are all Swarovski SLC 15X56 binos hold this con- proprietary to the Swarovski brand. These tinued tradition of excellence. high quality coatings allow the Redesigned and released in light to reflect at an extremely 2014, the new ergonomic design high level without distorting of these binoculars makes them the colors as it bounces through very comfortable in your hand. the prisms. The end result is This is due to the impressions great color fidelity and edge to on the side of the binocular edge clarity, which is extremely which is new for the SLC’s, but important when you are trying the reliable thumb impressions Scan this QR Code with to identify a trophy of a lifetime your smart phone to view are still there from the original t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s at over a mile away. The 56mm models making these one of the YouTube Channel. Video objectives allow you to grab as most comfortable binoculars to Available after June 21st much light as possible during

those fading minutes when a trophy is most likely to be moving.

The center focus knob is extremely large with a very smooth operating mechanism.

The size of the focus knob is ideal when using heavy gloves during those extremely cold days afield. This knob also seconds as the diopter adjustment knob. By pulling the knob out, you can focus each eye independently to get an extremely crisp image. The roll-up eye cups have very specific stops allowing every user to get the most out of their SLCs. They are nitrogen filled and waterproof in up to 13 feet of water. They provide a field of view of 234’ at 1000 yards.

They come with a floating neck strap, rubber lens covers and form fitted carry case.

These high powered binoculars are designed for spending hours behind the glass and looking for trophies like deer, sheep or aoudad at extremely long distances. This takes lots of patients and can be even more enhanced

by using a top quality tripod. Being steady and comfortable will allow you to put in the time behind the glass to turn up that trophy. The quality of the glass makes these binoculars very comfortable to spend numerous hours a day behind, looking for “Mr. Big”. These binoculars weigh in at 42.3 ounce and are 7.5” tall and 5.5 inches wide, making them medium to large in size, but you won’t ever regret having them when you are looking for that trophy of a lifetime.

Carl Zeiss Conquest HD5 Rifle Scopes

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he totally redesigned Conquest rifle scope by Zeiss has added some high end features from its’ top of the line models, without adding the high end price. This scope is truly a great scope for those of you wanting to extend your accurate shooting range without breaking the bank.

This new scope is compact in size, lightweight and built on a one inch tube. Our 3-15x42 test model came in at just over a pound and 13.5” in length. The new 5X zoom makes this scope much more versatile than the older Conquest models which were only a 3X zoom.

The HD5 comes in three different magnification options, 2-10x42, 3-15x42 and the 5-25x50.

The 2-10x42 is an ideal scope for those of you spending a lot of time tree stands hunting where most shots are close up, but an occasional opportunity for an across field shot at several hundred yards isn’t out of the question.

The 3-15x42 test model we have been using is ideal for nearly every western hunting situation. The 3X

is perfect for those “In the timber” situations when you might be looking for an elk heading to bed while you’re still hunting, but you have the ability to crank up the power to 15X when you are contemplating a 700 yard shot on a bedded dall sheep.

The 5-25x50 is what we consider super magnification and great for target shooters or those of you who really want to push the envelope.

The Rapid-Z reticle is the key to extending your long range shooting with this scope. It comes in 600, 800, 1000 and varmint models. Determining which reticle is best for your setup is based on the caliber of rifle you are shooting and a visit to the Zeiss website will provide you with this information. You can plug in factory ammo data or personal data from your hand loads to tell you the exact trajectory for each yardage on your reticle. For those of you that prefer a turret instead of an etched reticle, lockable target turrets are available on the two higher magnification models with a standard plex reticle. You

also have the ability of shooting forums, queshaving a custom turret tions have been asked cut to your setup. about the “Assembled in The enhanced optical Germany” stamp on the design with T* coatings, scope and if it is truly a allows for the increased German product. Make no magnification while promistake, this scope is a prev i d i n g e x t re m e b r i g h tcision German designed this QR Code with ness and contrast. As Scan product with top quality your smart phone to view with the other top of the t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s craftsmanship and quall i n e Z e i s s m o d e l s , L o - YouTube Channel. Video ity control. Each scope Available after June 28th. tuTec® lens coatings is is covered by the ZEISS added to the Conquest 5-Year No-Fault Policy, HD5 which sheds moisture and which means anything that happens resists scratching. to your scope for the first five years O n s e v e r a l o f t h e l o n g r a n g e is covered 100 percent.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Not Your Average Bow Tune

By Shane Chuning

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s archers, we owe it to ourselves to be the best we can be in this sport. Whether you are a target shooter or a bowhunter, we all have the same goals in mind; and that is to aim small, miss small. We are all striving for the best, most consistent groups we can achieve.

Now some of us might fall short, not due to our own ability, but due to our overall bow setup. Some of the things that might be hindering you would be arrow selection or spine of the arrow, incorrect draw length, form, overall tune of the bow in general and lastly grip. When these things are implemented correctly, you will take an average tune into a super tune and it will yield you some amazing results.

In this article, I will take you through my step-by-step procedure of how I tune my own bow as well as many others from across the country.

Some might say I already have a great bow shop; they tune my bow well for me and that is a great thing to have. I am all for supporting your local bow shops; they are definitely needed and should be supported.

However, let me give you an example.

You have local gun stores that are not necessarily a gunsmith and they aren’t able to customize your firearm for op-

timal accuracy. The same holds true with archery. There are lots of great shops across the country, but very few people that will go in depth with a bow tune to gain the most forgiveness and accuracy out of a bow. Lets dive into this a little to see how you might be able to improve on your over-all forgiveness with a given bow, as well as your accuracy down range.

First and foremost is your arrow selection. This is best determined by computer programs like Ontarget2, Archers Advantage or TAP. These programs give you a very good starting base for your arrow selection, more so than what you get behind the back of an arrow box. These programs are very price friendly and worth every penny.

In the case you don’t have that option and are relying on the manufacture’s arrow boxes, when in doubt choose the next stiffest option when choosing an arrow. I have never had an arrow too stiff that it would not tune properly.

On the other hand, I can’t say the same for a weak spine arrow. You will be doing yourself a favor by choosing your foundation wisely to start your tuning process and that begins with your arrow selection.

Now let’s touch base on draw length, which is critical to overall accuracy. The biggest issue I see with draw length is being too long for the

Make note at the end of the raw shaft at full draw, it is directly in line with my eye. This is a very good reference for proper draw length

most part. Lots of folks are still after the most speed they can get out of a bow and this is a bad way to go about it. Humble yourself and be fitted for your proper draw length despite a possible speed decrease.

Your end result will be better a c c u r a c y a n d I find measuring this far more accurate in regards to in return better your true measured draw length when getting fitted for placed shots on a bow. animals you are trying to pursue. What I find to be nock right in relation to my fletched, a very close method is, while in the I would add twist to the right side of wingspan position, have someone my yoke. On a side note, you have to measure from the center of your chest maintain the balance of cam synch, to where your arm meets your hand. so sometimes whatever you do to one This will generally put you very close side of the yoke you will need to do to the opposite so cam synch stays the to your actual draw length.

Let’s now transition into the tuning same. Once your entry of bareshaft is aspect of things. This type of tuning exactly the same as your fletched at 10 would only be recommended for yards, you would repeat this all over those that have the basic fundamen- again at 20 yards and then make the tals down, as well as a decent overall same adjustments accordingly.

One major factor in all of this comknowledge of traditional tuning methods such as paper, french/walkback ing together is your grip. The slightest and bareshaft. I have utilized all these rotation of your knuckles to the target methods for years and by far the most or knuckles away is key to finding that advanced of them all is bareshaft tun- sweet spot in regards to grip presing. In the past I have done this from sure. While at the 10 yard exercise, I time to time, but not to the extent I encourage you to rotate your knuckles presently do it now. Every bow I get slightly towards the target and release in for tuning I personally tune this a bareshaft, assess the impact and way. The end results are very satis- angle at entry. Then do another with fied customers that have a way more knuckles having a slight rotation away from target and more back towards forgiving/accurate bow.

Let’s assume you have the basics you and release the bareshaft. Again, down and all your preliminary setup assess the entry and one will more is good or within reason. The goal is than likely be straighter on entry into to have a bareshaft and fletched ar- the target than the other. This is a great row fly the same at 20 yards. When way to determine which grip rotation doing this, it should also have perfect your particular bow will require.

Now the rotation is very subtle entry into the target, equaling your fletched shaft. This entry is critical to in nature and if you were to look at your end results and you need to be my grip you might not even notice very picky at determining this. I take there was a change. I can’t stress grip one bareshaft and one fletched shaft enough, it is very much overlooked and fire away at 10 yards while aim- and a key factor at getting the most ing at the exact same spot and then I out of your tune, overall accuracy and assess my results. When I am nock left forgiveness of your bow. Another way bareshaft right, I will twist the left side to put it would be your index finger of my yoke - How much depends on knuckle towards the target; this would the results. Now if I was bareshaft left give you more thumb side pressure.

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The index finger knuckle, back towards you slightly, would give you less thumb side pressure at the grip.

These changes are slight, so I can’t stress that enough.

Now that you are looking good at 10 yards, let’s go back to 20 and see the results. Say at 20 yards you are nock left, bareshaft right a couple inches from your fletched shaft. You can do a couple of things to try and correct this. One is to go back to my reference on grip and see if it improves your impact with bareshaft before you make adjustments. Now if that doesn’t give you that perfect entry with a bareshaft you would need to add a half a twist to the left side yoke and reassess your results, repeating prior procedures as necessary. Let’s say you have bareshafts perfect with fletched from left to right, but are high with them upon impact at 20 yards. You can do one of two things to correct this. One would be to lower your rest and the other to advance your top cam, in reference to a hybrid cam bow. Tuning is all about balance and you don’t want one thing too far out of that balance.

So keep in mind where your nocking point is. If you are already 1/8” nock high you would want to look into top cam advancement vs. lowering your rest even more. To do this you would untwist your control cable or add equal twist to your yokes and then recheck your results and repeat if necessary. Most still think that you would adjust cam synch on a hybrid cam to hit the same at full draw, but this is generally not the case to gain the most out of your accuracy and forgiveness down range. I would even say that 90% of the time you are better off having some slight top cam advancement, meaning top cam is hitting before the bottom at full draw.

A good rule of thumb is no more than a strong 1/8” before the bottom.

When everything is in that balance, your long range groups will shrink from a vertical standpoint quite a bit, not to mention your groups from a lateral standpoint shrinking from proper grip/grip pressure as well as fine tuning your yoke with a bareshaft as I mentioned early in the article.

These are a perfect scenario when your bareshaft is flying true with your fletched arrows.

In this pic you have a view of the buss cable which splits and attaches to the outside of your axle at the top cam. These are utilized in reference to yoke tuning to improve lateral nock travel.

These methods will have a huge impact on your ability to find that extra forgiveness and accuracy you are trying to achieve with a bow. Some of this stuff is advanced and not recommend for those new into the sport.

For others that might want to up their game and shrink those group sizes, these are definitely a few things that will do that. In some cases I would even say it could cut your group sizes in half when you get these things dialed in. There is a lot of info that goes into keeping that tune in balance, not to mention all the different circumstances of each make and model of bow.

Please feel free to shoot me an email at ot7shane@ gmail.com with any questions regarding the tuning services I offer as well as the DIY guys wanting to tackle this on their own. I will be more than happy to answer your questions.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Pig Central

Hunting hogs in the foothills of Central California

By Gary Lewis

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ou don’t have to hunt for very long before people start telling you about great hunting places. These are what are known as

wild goose chases. It is easy to fall for them, but you never know until you go. My friend Tim Rose called this one Pig Central and it was central all right - Central California.

We were five hours out of Redding when Sam Pyke entered the keywords Hollister, CA, into his iPhone app and calculated our course. We hooked a right off of Interstate 5 and headed toward San Jose.

“Odd,” I said. “I would have guessed we would take an exit another 50 miles south.” We decided to trust the electronics and soon found ourselves headed west toward San Jose in rush hour traffic and not any closer to our destination.

Sam looked up from his iPhone.

“Thirty-five minutes out,” he said.

Odder still. He looked closer. “This says Hollister is a clothing store.”

Apparently there is a Hollister store, for Dudes and Bettys, somewhere in San Jose. Recalculating, we pointed south again.

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At dusk, we saw the sign for Cinderella’s Motel and swung in. A Prince not-so Charming eyed me with suspicion when I said we had a room reserved. He had to check with his better half who sported a blonde wig and a princess complex.

We were shown to the Western Room, themed with blue jeans, boots, a barn door and a Cinderella painting. Nothing says Old West like a fairy godmother.

T h e re w e re f o u r beds, three with matching sheets and pillowcases. It must have been a nice set of sheets once, with Photo by Gary Lewis the big horsey on the pillow. I guessed the Gary Lewis tagged this feral hog while hunting on vintage at 1970. I had the Central California coast. Hog hunting is ala set like that when lowed year-round in California.

I was knee-high to a At eleven o’clock, Tim Rose and Steve Black Angus. As I turned in for the night, I couldn’t help but imagine how Manners stomped in. They had been out many other heads had reclined on this hunting and had a lot to tell us about plans for the morrow. We set the alarms for 4:15. same pillowcase in the last 40 years.

Only One Rifle Hunt Still Available for 2014

WWW.ALASKASTATEWIDEGUIDES.COM (907) 978-1148

Tim Rose, of Bend and Leonard Vella (left) retrieve a feral hog from a patch of poison oak.

Photo by Gary Lewis

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The gate code was an easy one, but it was hard to see in the dawn’s early light.

While we struggled to get the gate opened again, Leonard tried to find his glasses.

He turned around and drove back up the road looking for his spectacles alongside the track. In the dark.

Tim and Sam got the gate open about the time Leonard returned and we ripped off down the county road to another gate, this one a little easier to open. Then we blasted through a field of barley, still smarting under the wrath of Leonard.

That’s when I spotted a line of feral hogs trotting along the base of a hill. About ten o f t h e m . We m a d e a h a rd Tim Rose (right), of Bend, Sam Pyke, of right turn and got stopped Sisters and Leonard Vella, of Oakdale, by another gate. The pigs got California, celebrate the successful conup the hill ahead of us. clusion of a morning hunt in the foothills An hour later Leonard near Hollister, California. perched his jeep atop a hill Photo by Gary Lewis and we glassed a huge bedding area choked with old In the morning, we were 25 mingrowth poison oak. Sam and I took utes late, so late I thought Steve’s the high side of the brush while truck might turn into a pumpkin.

Tim paralleled our course below.

We met our host, Leonard, mad With the wind in our faces, we with the fear that the pigs were eased through the bedding area, already headed back to their beds. on the lookout for signs of our porWe j u m p e d i n t o h i s j e e p a n d cine prey.

Minutes in, we jumped a bombed back toward the gate blacktail deer, then I saw the south which we had just dutifully locked.

Nosler’s E-Tip It is one of my favorite new bullets. We’ve used it on blacktail deer hunts in Oregon and for wild boar in California. Nosler calls it the E-Tip. The E stands for Expansion, but it could also stand for Energy and Environment.

Recognize it by the signature olive-drab-green polymer tip which initiates expansion. The expansion control ring ensures controlled expansion at a wide range of velocities and conditions. Behind the tip is the energy expansion cavity which provides a chamber designed for stopping power and uniform expansion. The one-piece design meets all “leadfree” hunting regulations while the boat tail configuration lends itself to long-range performance and easier loading.

Expect 95 percent weight retention with the E-Tip. -Gary Lewis

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Nonresident licensing

A California nonresident hunting license is $159.58. A nonresident wild pig tag costs $73.44. Nonresidents may purchase licenses at CADFG offices or at sporting goods stores and other outlets.

California’s big game regulations are on the web. See http://www.dfg. ca.gov/regulations for more details.

-Gary Lewis

end of a northbound porker headed into brush. A small one, 40 pounds, I guessed.

After another two hundred yards, I called a halt. Brush popped under cloven hoof while unseen pigs fed down the slope below us. We still had the wind, but I guessed we could use it to our advantage. I walked ahead and stood for a couple of minutes while the breeze blew my scent to the swine, then I doubled back about 50 yards to watch the trails.

Now they were on the move. Moments later, two black and brown shapes materialized on the trail below. Flicking the lightweight

308 Kimber to my shoulder and thumbing the safety, I centered the crosshair on swine spine and sent 168 grains of lead-free Nosler E-Tip on its way. Two hundred pounds of ambulatory pork became the raw material for a ham sandwich.

That afternoon, our hunters bagged two more porkers. It was Pig Central all right. It was western, it was old California and you can’t find it on an iPhone app.

Gary’s latest book, A Bear Hunter’s Guide to the Universe, is available as an e-book on Kindle and Nook or in print at www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

2014 Fishing Gear Roundup

Both feature Costa’s proprietary 580G glass lens in Silver Mirror color. The 580G family of lens colors is Costa’s top offering for their ability to block blue light at 400nm to reduce haze and blurring as well as yellow light at 580nm to cut glare. The Silver Mirror color is not as mirrored as the name implies; actually it’s a subtle effect using encapsulated mirrors on a copper base. This lens color is excellent for all around fresh water fishing including streams and sight fishing. Like all Costa products, Corbina features a lifetime warranty and comes with a hard protective case. Costa Corbina lets you “see what’s out there!”

Chad LaChance

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kay, I’ll admit it - I’m a tackle junky. I spend entirely too much time obsessing over, tinkering with or researching tackle. I fish multi-species just so I can “need” more tackle. Yep, I love fishing and fishing tackle and I bet you do too!

So, without further ado, may I present you Fishful Thinker’s 2014 Tackle Review.

Plano Flex’N Go Satchel Plano Molding Company is virtually synonymous with the term “tackle box”. After all, this leading plastics company produces dozens and dozens of tackle management products and works with some of the biggest names in fishing to come up with new and uber-useful designs. The Flex’N Go tackle storage and carrying satchel is among those designs. Like many Plano offerings, this system features a two-sided design; one deep side with a see-thru polypropylene “Duraview” lid and adjustable compartments and

the other side has a rubber strap that securely holds two Plano 3650 series clear plastic boxes. The beauty of that is that the two smaller 3600 series boxes can be readily swapped out for a day’s angling. Perhaps you have small trout stream items in a couple of boxes and bass pond items in another couple; in seconds you’re carrying only what you need for that particular trip. Staple items like pliers stay in the more permanent side. The 3600 boxes are very affordable and can be purchased in several configurations separately, making for a very modular system. Overall dimensions are about 15”x11”x5” and the Satchel is light in weight, yet will contain tons of tackle. All the latches and straps are typical Plano, which is to say beef, and the main handle recesses for easy shelf or boat storage. Retailing at $25.99, the Flex’N Go Satchel is a great choice for anglers that value versatility in their tackle management.

Costa Corbina 580G sunglasses I don’t fish without sunglasses, period. Between eye protection and glare reduction, you just have to have quality shades to fish safely and effectively. There is no variance on that and there is little variance in the actual sunglasses I wear. For 10 years now, it’s been Costa exclusively and it’s often their Corbina model. The Corbina frame is constructed of Hydrolite which is non-slip and in my experience, extremely durable. The frame size is well suited for large faces and the angular look is bold and modern without being overdone. The design stays put on your face during physical activity and does an excellent job of blocking all extraneous light trying to sneak around the potent lens. The Corbina frame is available t h ro u g h S p o r t s mansWarehouse. com in two colors, black and silver.

Berkley Trilene Braid If you’re still fishing your grandpa’s monofilament, consider this a wakeup call! Today’s angler has so many great choices in line selection and materials that many of us match our lines specifically to our presentations.

Around my shop, the majority of our spinning reels and many of our casting reels are spooled with some sort of braided “superline”; very often it’s Berkley’s Trilene Braid.

We’ve been fishing this stuff since it was introduced 18 months ago and the results have been stellar - fewer tangles, excellent durability and castibility and extreme breaking strength. Trilene Braid is produced by braiding Dyneema fibers and then coating the ensuing line for smoothness and quiet performance. The color is moss green and is fairly colorfast; continued on page 32

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

EVOLUTION IN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY Anglers get more with the new Curado I series, showcasing the latest in Shimano baitcasting reel technology and offered in 3 gear ratios – 5.5:1 - 6.3:1 - 7.2:1. Still the go to, fish with confidence reel among bass anglers, Curado I reels for 2014 takes the next step in Shimano tackle innovation.

X-Ship

X-Ship provides improved gear durability. By supporting the pinion gear on both ends with bearings, the pinion gear maintains precise alignment with the drive gear. This means the gears will stay in the same position under the heaviest loads. The added benefit is that friction between the spool shaft and gear is eliminated, enhancing the casting performance with lighter lures, and allowing for longer casts.

SVS Infinity

Relying on ‘inner friction’ against the raceway during the cast to provide consistent brake force, Shimano’s innovative SVS Infinity braking system provides easy-to-manage spool control to the Curado I baitcasting reels. Anglers can fine-tune the SVS Infinity system to control spool speed especially when using lighter lures, plus the external adjustment knob provides for quick, precise adjustments for either the conditions or when you switch baits.

Shimano Stable Spool Design (S3D)

fish.shimano.com

Shimano’s S3D technology leads to significantly reduced spool vibration. By designing a balanced and uniform thin wall aluminum constructed spool, S3D creates an incredibly smooth feeling when casting and retrieving lures.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

FISHFUL THINKER continued from page 30

it will lighten slightly with enough use, but that slight fade does not affect breaking strength. We still have the original line we tested on a reel and it’s doing just fine even after 18 months of use! Trilene Braid is available in 20, 30, 40, 50, 65 and 80 pound tests, yet the super thin diameter and excellent handling allow it to fish like lines with much lower breaking strength. We fish 20 and 30 pound on spinning rods for a range of applications and use 50 and 65 pound on casting tackle, typically for fishing bass or pike around very heavy vegetation or wood cover. Eighty pound is best reserved for salt water or perhaps muskie fishing. Trilene Braid is a premium braided line for serious anglers looking to get the most from their tackle.

Camp Chef Rainier Camper’s Combo Okay, so maybe this isn’t technically fishing tackle, but what true angler doesn’t enjoy eating their catch now and then or at very least cooking lakeside on a camping trip? We certainly do, so much so that the Camp Chef Rainier Camper ’s Combo stove now spends most of the open water season in my boat. The Camper’s Combo is a propane powered, two burner stove and grill/griddle combo that cranks out 18,000 BTUs total in a compact

and easy to stow unit that even comes with a carrying case. Dimensions come in at about 13”x23”x5” and weighing 17 pounds including a one pound propane cylinder. It fits neatly in the zippered bag and sets up with a three sided wind screen in about 20 seconds. One burner is 8000 BTUs and has a swappable 10.5”x13” aluminum non-stick grill for direct flame access and a griddle for more gentle cooking of things like pancakes without the need for a separate pan.

The other burner is a 10,000 BTU traditional stove burner for a myriad of uses. Both feature matchless ignition and precise heat control knobs. The stove has an easy to clean stainless drip tray. We’ve used ours to cook everything from fresh fish to grilled cheese; it sets up in seconds, heats up quickly and has more than enough power to brown or boil, coupled with enough control to gently scramble eggs. We love cooking outdoors and Camp Chef’s excellent Rainier Camper ’s Combo makes that easy in all our travels. Retailing at $90, this stove is a steal!

Abu Garcia Revo SX Casting Reel I’ll admit it; I’m a sucker for a good value. Show me a reel that performs great, looks great and is priced much lower than a lot of its competition and continued on page 34

“All our game goes in a Grizzly Cooler, nothing keeps our meat colder and trophies looking great!”

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Grizzly Coolers are the perfect solution for serious hunters like Fred that need to be able to securely preserve freshness of the game until it reaches its final destination. With the ability to retain ice for 19 days, hunters don’t feel limited on where their hunt will take them.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

FISHFUL THINKER continued from page 32

I’m a willing buyer. Enter the Revo SX - Abu Garcia’s amply endowed yet reasonably priced workhorse baitcasting reel. Yep, I bit, several times actually! The Revo SX adorns several rods in our rack. The whole Revo family has enjoyed accolades from across the globe due to the performance levels achieved. The reels are lightweight, durable and made in a variety of models to fit specific needs. The SX is, in our mind, the best overall value. It’s priced at $159.95 which certainly is not cheap, but compared to other brands and even many of the other Revos (which can come in as high as $500 for very high end models) it’s a steal. This is the third generation of the Revo lineage and the best in our book. It’s available in 6.4 or 7.1:1 retrieve ratios in both left and right hand models, all featuring nine stainless ball bearings and one roller bearing housed in a proprietary X2-Craftic alloy frame sandwiched between C6 carbon side plates. The

Carbon Matrix drag system is one thing Revo is famous for; it delivers 24 pounds of drag and the MagTrax cast control system is very consistent.

Overall, the SX is compact and the bent handle and star drag make it even more ergonomic. The “Gen 3” SX lost 25% of its previous weight while gaining a more powerful and durable Duragear gearing system. Our SX’s see tons of use from flipping heavy cover to casting lipless crankbaits while spooled with everything up to and including heavy braided line; they hold up day in and day out and purr right along. Sure Abu Garcia makes fancier reels, but who needs fancy? I’ll take performance and Revo SX delivers!

St. Croix Eyecon St. Croix Rod Company is headquartered in Wisconsin. Word has it there are a few walleye anglers there.

So, it stands to reason that a Wisconsin family-owned rod company employing a bunch of Wisconsin walleye fanatics might just have a handle on producing a superb walleye-specific

fishing rod. St. Croix did one better; they produced a whole series of them!

Enter the Eyecon Series - 18 purposebuilt rods designed to do one thing - put more walleye in your diet. The series is comprised of mostly spinning rods with a casting rod and several trolling rods as well. Since we do no

trolling in our guiding, we use the spinning rods. The series is built on St. Croix’s famous SCii graphite blanks with technique-specific actions. The 7’ medium Light powered model we use most often is very light in the tip for sensitive bites and powerful through the mid-blank for fighting. It has a super comfy Fuji IPS up locking reel seat with a foam palm pad and premium cork split grip. The guides are Kigan Master Hand 3D models; strong and slim aluminum oxide rings and there is two coats of Flew Coat to beautify and protect the blank. The whole series has a 5-year warranty.

Our guide clients often comment on how comfortable this rod is to fish with when paired with light fluorocarbon or braid.

Frabill 15’ Lure Retriever I’m notorious for being stingy with money. I’m also notorious for using very expensive jerkbaits and crankbaits to catch fish. How does that fit together? Easy, I rarely lose a hardbait. continued on page 42

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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Browning X-Bolt

A

fter spending years of shooting a custom rifle, I was very concerned about possibly going back to a factory rifle, but I was told by Scott Grange at Browning that I wouldn’t be disappointed in the performance of the new factory guns.

Our test gun is an X-Bolt which w a s d e v e l o p e d i n 2 0 0 8 . M o re s p e c i f i c a l l y, w e h a d o u r h a n d s on an X-Bolt Stainless Stalker in Carbon Fiber. After years of producing the tried and true AB o l t , B ro w n i n g d e v e l o p e d t h i s new model which has some pretty g o o d i m p ro v e m e n t s t o c a t e r t o the guys like me who have been shooting a custom rifle for years, but don’t want to pay the custom gun prices.

Our test gun is 300 WSM with a 23” barrel and tips the scale out of the box at 6 pounds 6 ounces.

The Dura-Touch® Armour coating on the stalk make for a sure grip and weather resistant finish.

The bolt has three locking lucks and a heavy duty extractor and plunger style ejector. The sixty degree rotation on the bolt makes for short movement to eject the c a r t r i d g e o u t o f t h e c h a m b e r.

The X-Bolts new Feather Trigger system is probably one of the best improvements to an off the rack factory gun. It is adjustable from 3 to 5 pounds and our test model was set at 3.1 pounds when we

got it out of the box. The trigger system had absolutely no creep and felt like a gunsmith had done some polishing and turned this into a custom trigger, but it was fresh out of the box. The barrel is free floating and fluted with a target crown. The target crown means that the final machining on the end of the barrel insures that the rifling’s do not get damaged.

Any damage to your rifling’s will cause major accuracy problems.

The X-Bolt comes in barrel lengths from 22 inches for standard cartridges, WSM cartridges have 23 inch barrels, magnum cartridges come in 26 inch barrel lengths.

This gun has a detachable rotary magazine which lines up the next round directly with the chamber. This proved to make for very smooth feeds even with a short magnum cartridge. I feel that this system is a great asset for anyone wanting to shoot a short action cartridge. Browning has eliminated the base plate on t h e X - B o l t w h e re t h e m a g a z i n e goes as is with the A-Bolt which reduces weight. The magazine re l e a s e b u t t o n i s a m p l e i n s i z e and the design insures that you can even pull it out with heavy duty winter gloves on. The receiver itself is where the X-Bolt gets its name. Each set of mounting holes for your scope has four holes creating an X. This system m a k e s f o r a n e x t re m e l y s e c u re

scope mount. Until recently, the only mounts that would work on this setup were the Browning Xlock mounts which is a combined mount and ring set-up, but there are aftermarket products available now. The X-lock system is what we used and it was an excellent setup.

We originally set this gun up for a spot and stalk spring bear hunt in British Columbia. Our shots could be as close as 20 yards but could also exceed 500 yards.

After bore sighting the gun for a 200 yard zero, it was off to the range. With nearly a box of ammo through the gun and on target, we started working on loads. This g u n w a s s h o o t i n g f a c t o r y F e deral Ammunition with Barnes 165 grain TSX bullet in sub .5” MOA. Prior to the bear hunt, we fired over 100 rounds through this gun which has continued to shoot sub

.5” MOA groups. Our local range goes out to 800 yards and this gun can consistently hit the mark on a 14” steel target. This gun is the best factory gun that we have ever put to the test.

I have so much confidence in this gun after season that it is the first gun I grab when I open my gun safe and look for a weapon of choice. This gun is for sure a custom gun at a factory gun price.

Sportsman's News gave away a Browning X-bolt to one of our loyal readers at the end of May. We give away a great gun and tons of gear every month to those who register for our online forums. We do additional gear and gun giveaways for those who subscribe to the Digital Edition of Sportsman's News. Visit our website at www.sportsmansnews.com for full details and to enter all of our contests and giveaway drawings.

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Beretta ARX160 .22 LR Rifle

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

T

here is no doubt that .22 LR modern sporting rifles are a lot of fun to shoot. As many big bore and combat style guns as I have, I still enjoy the sheer enjoyment of plinking cans with a .22 caliber version of these larger guns. Even with the shortage of .22 LR ammunition, it is still much cheaper to spend a day firing hundreds of rounds through these guns over their full-sized counterparts. Additionally, they are great for training on the fundamentals of shooting without the loud noise or recoil of their larger brethren.

Beretta has an amazing .22 rifle that looks like it belongs on the set of a big budget sci-fi movie. Known as the ARX160, built for Beretta by Umarex, this modern sporting rifle contains all of the same features as Beretta’s .223 offering, the ARX100, without the easily replaceable barrel.

The outside of the gun is made of polymer, keeping the weight down.

It comes with a full-length top mil. standard rail for attaching optics, and three shorter rail segments for lights and lasers. A side folder stock is fully adjustable for length of pull as well as providing you the ability to fire the gun like a pistol. A standard AR style pistol grip and magazine release give those accustomed to AR rifles a familiar feel.

Flip up sights provide you a variety of settings that allow you to easily acquire targets at various ranges with both eyes open. The adjustable rear peep wheel even provides an easy number reference to help you quickly dial in the correct peep size.

The ARX160 features fully ambidextrous controls and a reversible bolt charging handle for left and right handed shooters. The only shortcoming to this design is that you cannot alter the direction of ejection of spent brass so it will always eject out of the right side of the gun. The upside to this

is that the brass ejects perpendicularly to the gun so left handed shooters won’t have it coming back into their face. I shot the gun both right and left-handed and had no problems with brass flying into my face.

On the inside, the 18-inch barrel improves accuracy over shorter 16-inch barrels. A recoil-operated bolt prevents gas fouling and the gun comes apart so easily for cleaning and goes back together again just as easily. The trigger is crisp, with almost no noticeable creep

and very comfortable in the hand.

For those looking for a quality training firearm with reduced recoil and ammo costs or just a gun that almost everyone in the family can shoot, the ARX160 from Beretta is an ideal platform for new and experienced shooters. And besides all of that, it is just a lot of fun to shoot. Now if they would just include about 10 of their 20-round magazines, because you can definitely shoot this thing faster than you can load it.

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June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

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FISHFUL THINKER

storage compartment when collapsed and we leave ours on the deck of the boat for instant use when cranking snaggy stuff. It’s built from strong, yet lightweight tubular aluminum and extends/locks using a quick turn Cam Lock system. At $39.99, this tool will pay for itself in short order and ours has saved us hundreds of dollars over the several years we’ve had it. Like I said, gotta have it!

I use quality line and reels, tie fresh knots often and never leave the dock without my Frabill 15’ Telescoping Lure Retriever. Let me be blunt; this is a true “must have” item for boating anglers. Look, even cheap plugs are upwards of $5 these days and even the best anglers will snag them.

But very few plugs will reach deeper than 15’ meaning that they are easily salvaged with this retriever. Similar to a golf ball retriever, Frabill’s Lure Retriever is quickly extendable from 57-inches to 15’ and can even be used to free lures inadvertently cast into a tree or up on the bank due to it’s rigid design. It fits into a rod locker or

Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel Face it, the spinning reel is the quintessential fishing tool for conventional anglers. Everyone owns one, we all fish them and even the hardcore fly guy probably has one laying around

continued from page 34

somewhere. We have tons of them in my mancave and one that gets a lot of use is the Orra S. Abu Garcia makes a bunch of spinning reels including the ubiquitous Cardinal series, Revo and even other Orras, but it’s the distinctive red and black Orra S that we keep gravitating back to. Orra S is a true workin’ man’s reel; built well but without pageantry, with performance to match its looks and priced for those that would rather be fishing. Its heart is the 6-stainless ball bearings and 1-roller bearing all working in a one piece gear box inside the X-Craftic alloy frame. Abu’s venerable sealed Carbon Matrix drag protects your line while bullying fish and the Everlast bail system does just that - last, for a long time. Our Orra S’s were purchased two and a half years ago and have endured a bunch of guide trips without fail. We fish a lot of braided line, which can be tricky to work with, but Orra S handles that aplomb with a slow oscillation spool bob speed that lays the line in even wraps even with super thin braid. Cooler than that even is the spool that features a corkscrew type machined aluminum spool that requires no backing when attaching braid; the spool will prevent slippage while the solid anti reverse bearing is positive and solid even on robust hooksets with no-stretch braid. Orra S is available in four sizes, all with reversible handles and geared at 5.8:1.

We use the size 20 most often.

Johnson Sprite Spoon I have a long history with the Johnson Sprite spoon dating back to the 1990s when I fished Florida’s inshore saltwater. In those days, the 3/4oz Sprite in gold was a go-to bait to target redfish, sea trout, snook and others.

Fast forward to now and I’m still tossing the Sprite, only these days it’s

most often for bass, walleyes, trout, pike, white bass, wipers - you get the point. Yes, the Sprite is that versatile.

Back in ‘The Day’, I ripped the spoon across turtle grass covered salt flats or fluttered it in the Gulf of Mexico surf swash channels. Now I rip it across weedbeds on shallow flats or flutter it semi-vertically around deep structure or just reel it across the river - it’ll get bites regardless. The key is the balance of profile and weight coupled with a bomb-proof chrome or gold extremely shiny finish. The profile yields a signature wobble on retrieve and flutter on the fall, while the shine produces profound flash to grab the fish’s attention. The Sprite is very easy to cast and is armed with a high quality treble hook to nab pescado.

In fresh water we typically use sizes from 1/8oz to 3/4oz, with the 1/2oz doing the heavy lifting. Though I haven’t tried it personally, I’m told the 1/8oz size makes a great spoon attractor on ice, too. I do know that brookies in the high country love the littlest Sprite. We rarely hit the water without a Johnson Sprite within reach.

St. Croix Bank Robber I’m not a fly fisherman in the traditional sense. I don’t own a nymph or “strike indicator” (let’s be honest, it’s a bobber folks) but I love to fly cast and catch fish. What do I do then? I streamer fish - a lot. Enter the Bank Robber. St. Croix Rod enlisted streamer guru, Kelly Galloup to help them design a streamer specific fly rod and the Bank Robber is the result.

This rod is purpose built using all of St. Croix’s technologies including ART and IPC along with NSi resin to beat the banks of a river with large heavy streamers and it does that exceedingly well! I chose the 9’ 6wt; it’s very accurate and loads easily, yet is somehow very powerful due to the multi-modulous blank. The machined aluminum reel seat has a hook keeper continued on page 44

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

FISHFUL THINKER continued from page 42

and the stripper guides are tangle free designed. The Bank Robber has a lifetime warranty and is built in Park Falls Wisconsin, USA. Johnson ThinFisher Blade baits are a guarded secret in many angling circles. They don’t look like much when compared to a snazzy crankbait, but don’t let the simplicity fool you; blades are extremely effective for a range of species. They can be trolled, cast or jigged vertically and the wobbling shimmy on the fall goads even negative fish into biting. Johnson has

been a leading producer of spoons – probably the closest cousin of the blade bait - for many years, so it was a make-sense move to put that expertise to work when they created the Johnson ThinFisher last year. We’ve been working them consistently since pre-production models and they just flat work. We use a range of sizes and a couple of the available eight colors, usually casting them across large flat structure on braided line and then employing a rip and fall retrieve. The heavy vibrating rip gets the fish to look, the seductive shimmy on the drop gets them to eat.

The vibration pattern can be changed by moving the included quick snap and is bolstered in the ThinFisher by the use of a sonic rattling chamber.

The blade is equipped with quality black nickel treble hooks and has a super durable finish with distinct red eyes.

Lowrance Mark 5X DSI Fishfinder Do you have sonar in your boat?

Ever wonder what exactly the screen Mojo Bass Ad 2014_STC Ad 4/11/14 8:36 AM Page 1 is telling you? Well, wonder no more

- just get a Lowrance Mark 5X DSI. Before you think I’m up-selling you, consider that this unit is only $199 and will show you exactly what is on the bottom. Lowrance’s DownScan Imaging Technology has changed what we look for and what we can discern on the screen. This unit is no

frills, all work; 16 level gray scale with a 480x480 pixel, 5” Film SuperTwist display that is easily readable in bright sun. A high speed skimmer transducer is included, as is an easy to use manual. If you have not experienced DownImaging, the Mark-5X DSI should be all the incentive you need to do so!

So there it is our list of items we feel will help you enjoy our great sport even more than you do.

If you have questions, email us at Chad@Fishfulthinker.com. Check all these items out at your Sportsman’s Warehouse store or buy them online at SportsmansWarehouse. com. Thanks a bunch for reading and Fish Big!

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

CAST AND BLAST continued from page 12

Myself and Scott (a fellow SWAT team member) had planned the night before to head out above the meadow where I had videotaped the two toms fighting the previous evening. I knew they couldn’t be roosted far from there. Because of how early it was becoming daylight this time of year we opted to skip preparing breakfast, instead settling for some cereal bars, granola and a bottle of water. By 5:00am we were in the woods, concealed in some hasty ground blinds I had taken the time to prepare the previous evening before everyone arrived (after I had videotaped the toms). Sure enough, shortly after we were set, the timber erupted with the sound of a “thunder” gobble. I suspected the tom was some 70 yards away or so above us.

I played the reluctant hen and the tom gobbled incessantly. No sooner had I shot my bird, a beautiful, heavy, mature Merriam tom with inch long spurs, and a beard that was a full 8 inches long, another tom erupted into a gobble another 80 yards or so up the hill! This tom had hens with him and would strut and gobble but was not

leaving the hens he had “in hand” for another “in the bush”. Unfortunately, as we stalked closer we got busted by the group and Scott lost the opportunity. By 9:00am on the opener we were back in camp and preparing breakfast, a camp favorite, scrambled eggs with chopped onions, peppers and mushrooms and fried thick cut bacon and toast with good black coffee!

We enjoyed our breakfast around the fire and shared the events of the morning. Leo had set out by himself early in the morning and also gotten a tom on the ridge above camp. That night, as was our tradition we prepared one of the turkeys, in this case Leo’s, for the evening meal. Leo did the honors and pressure cooked the bird, and because of the size of our camp I added a whole pheasant taken on an upland bird hunt last December in Montana. The meal, as are all of our meals, was exquisite, and we celebrated into the evening, enjoying our friendship and just being outdoors, at our annual camp. Only 7 of the 11 of us actually hunted for turkeys on this trip and of the 7, three members got their birds over the course of this hunting camp. Before my trip had ended I had added a moose to the list of game animals observed and

photographed.

About the only down side to the trip was the amount of ticks that I had encountered in the turkey woods this year.

I suspected there were so many because it had been so warm, but whatever the reason I pulled six of the little buggers off me, and Scott removed a few from himself as well, and another non-hunting friend, Robert, had also managed to acquire a tick or two while lounging near the fire!

When it was finally time to break camp and start returning to our “normal” lives, it was with some sadness. I for one wasn’t ready for the trip to end, it had been such an eventful vacation. I got the trailer ready and we went around and cleaned up the camp, making sure there were no coals in the fire pit as well. Then off we went, with me taking a slight detour from the others back to

Rocky Ford for just one more day and night!

I highly encourage family’s to make a similar cast and blast trip their vacation!

Other than the gas and food items, the trip cost nothing. The spring fishing is awesome, the weather was much nicer across eastern WA than it had been on the “wetside”, and the “blasting” was awesome for coyotes and turkey. In addition, simply getting out and observing and interacting with nature and the wildlife was incredibly fun. I already lament the end of the trip and am longing for next year’s!

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown ®

™

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

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Digital Edition Only Special Content

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

Salmon In Foil

N

othing beats a tasty fish dinner served outside on a summer evening. This recipe keeps the fish super moist and flavor-full and you just throw away the pan. Now that is my kind of doing dishes! Allow a third to a half pound of fish per person.

There is enough of the sauce to go to three pounds of fish if you need to. You can add some vegetables as an option and have a whole meal cooking in foil at one time. You have to really tailor the cooking time to the amount and thickness of the fish (and vegetables if you go with that option) that you are cooking. It is easy to check the done-ness as you go. Searing it under

the broiler at the end really tops this one off. It is one of my favorite ways to cook salmon.

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • •

1/3 cup honey 2 tablespoons white wine 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar ½ teaspoon dry thyme ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 lbs. salmon fillet Kosher salt and black pepper 1 jalapeno sliced as thin as possible

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl mix together the honey, wine, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, vinegar, thyme, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. If you like a little more heat, add some extra pepper flakes and even a shot of your favorite hot sauce.

Begin with a large glass baking dish or metal baking tray. Lay a piece of aluminum foil over the dish that is at least 2 ½ times larger than the fish (You will be totally sealing the fish in a foil packet. I use the heavy duty foil that comes in a larger size). Fold up all four sides of the foil to make a “boat” that will hold liquid.

Spray the bottom with cooking spray.

Option

If you want to add vegetables to this dish, substitute some olive oil for the spray in the bottom of the foil. Layer thinly sliced, seasoned vegetables on the bottom of the oil. Onion, zucchini, carrots and bell pepper all work well.

Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place the fish onto the foil (Or over the vegetables). Ladle the honey mixture over the fish and add as many of the thinly sliced jalapenos as you wish to top off the fillet. Fold the foil over the fish and crimp the edges to seal completely. Place the baking pan with the foil packet into the pre-heated oven. Depending on the thickness of the fish, cooking time will be between 15 and 25 minutes. You can check it by removing from the oven, opening the foil and prodding the thickest part with a fork. Be careful when opening the packet for it will emit hot steam. Remove just before it is done to your liking and open the packet fully. Switch your oven to broil and place pan under broiler for a few minutes until it browns to your content. Plate the fish and pour remaining juices over the top.

Serve this delectable dish with a fresh mixed green salad with vinaigrette or some coleslaw.

Pair it with a refreshing chilled Rose’ from Wild Game Wine. An assortment of incredible wines that pair with salmon a r e a v a i l a b l e a t w w w. wildgamewine.com/ G a m e / R e d - F i s h . O rd e r some wine and cook this one up for the family, they will love it.

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | June 2014

Digital Edition Only Special Content

Trophy Trout of Grey Reef

W

hat’s Grey Reef? Where is it? Even though the Grey Reef tail water fishery has become well known to many trout anglers in the west, much of the country has never heard of it or yet experienced it.

Grey Reef is a 45-mile stretch of the North Platte River, stretching from below Grey Reef Dam downstream to Casper, Wyoming. The Grey Reef forever has been over shadowed by its upstream rival the “Miracle Mile”, another well-known tail water below Kortes Dam on the North Platte River. So why and how has Grey Reef become such a prolific trout fishery? Becoming arguably better than the Miracle Mile? Maybe the best tail water in the country?

Enter what is called the “Flush” by most; this man made increase in river flows below the Grey Reef Dam each March flushes out fine sediment that impedes spawning success of wild trout. Every March, at the request of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Bureau of Reclamation releases water each day from Grey Reef Dam at an increased rate, with flows jumping from 500cfs to as much as 4000cfs in just a few hours. Each day these flows are raised and lowered to create a cleansing effect on the river’s silt load. The “flush” continues on for about a week each year. The affect is astonishing. Grey Reef once supported as few as 500 trout per mile and now supports over 7000 trout per mile! Unlike other tail water fisher-

ies this “Grey Reef” produces some of the biggest wild trout in all of the western United States. Just take a glance at some of the pictures; these are wild trout, raised on the rich food base of Grey Reef.

Speaking of trout food, what is it that the trout are eating to reach their maximum potential for size at Grey Reef? All one has to do is kick around in the rich Grey Reef water for a couple minutes and you will see what I call the “Big 3” - Scuds, Crawdads, and Leeches - similar to big rib-eye steaks on the trout menu.

In addition to these three large food sources the Grey Reef system supports large crane flies, mayflies, stoneflies, midges, snails, numerous other aquatic insects too many to list and various minnows. It has been stated by many biologists that the North Platte River system below Grey Reef Dam is one of the richest rivers when it comes to fish food in the entire United States.

So what is the Grey Reef fly fishing experience really like? Nothing short of incredible! I personally have been fishing Grey Reef for over 15-years and have yet to experience a river with average size trout this big. My fly fishing travels include fishing Alaska, Europe and most major rivers across the U.S. I even put my drift boat on trout water in North Dakota below Garrison Dam. Have I caught big fish in places other than Grey Reef? You bet! But for average trout size, I’ve yet to see a fishery that matches the Grey Reef.

It’s not uncommon for clients to experience a guided float trip at Grey Reef with fish totals for the day reaching 40-50 trout to the net while nymph fishing. The crew of guides at Grey Reef Anglers know the waters well and

are well equipped to guide you on their trophy trout adventures. On a real good day, when conditions are just right, clients experienced catch totals approaching 100 trout to the net between two anglers! For novice fly fishers, these numbers are very enticing. However, for advanced fly fishers wanting to target quality over quantity, the guides at Grey Reef Anglers switch tactics and throw big streamers for big brown trout. These streamers are imitating crawdads, minnows, leeches and baby trout, all of which can grab the attention of the trout of a lifetime.

Here is what our clients are saying: “Jason, we would like to thank you and Jessie for a great day on the water Saturday. We commented on the way home how impressed we all were with you guys. We will recommend Grey Reef Anglers to anyone a n d l o o k f o rward to fishing with you again this summer” Shawn-Denver, CO “I want to thank you again for such a great weekend. The

four of us had a blast and we are already planning another trip back to your lodge. You and Jesse made this trip such a great experience and a lot more fun than any of us have experienced in the past. I know that Danny and I learned a lot about how to fish Grey Reef correctly and then on top of that how to throw streamers on that river. Throwing streamers was a blast and I cannot wait to get back up there and do some more streamer fishing - hopefully for some big spawning browns!” David- Ft Collins, CO For the legitimate Grey Reef experience, contact Jason or Judi with Grey Reef Anglers at 307-267-2559. For the latest Grey Reef Fishing Report visit www.greyreefanglers.com

June 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The Right Decision

By John Farmer IV

H

unting has always been a very enjoyable pastime for our family. My sons and I talked about caribou hunting for many years, but could never make our busy schedules work. This past fall I received information on a northern Quebec Canada hunt for Labrador Barren Ground Caribou, hunting the Leaf River herd. I immediately began researching how I could get my two older sons to join me on this adventure. Craig, our oldest, is currently a sophomore at Kansas State University and caribou season conflicted with his college schedule. I decided his college education was too important for him to miss that many classes. My son Kyle, who is in 8th grade, is an avid hunter and was next in line. Kyle’s school would start August 28, 2013 and caribou season was from September 11-17th. Initially, we were excited, but decided it would not work to take him out of school for this adventure.

After making the decision to not pursue the caribou hunt, I began reflecting on when the right time would be. I looked at my older son who was in college and thought about when would have been a good time to take him, but concluded there is not a right or easy time. I began to reflect on Craig’s life and could see him graduating college, getting married and starting his own family. I began to realize that I’d already missed the right time with him. This weighed on me for several days, so I approached my wife and asked her thoughts about Kyle missing school for this hunt. I tried to convince her that schedules will always conflict and if this year is not good, when is? I indicated every day is a gift from God and

while we are healthy, willing and able, we should not wait to do tomorrow what can be done today.

A few days passed and one of my coworkers had a cousin die unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 38. He was young, energetic and healthy. This event made me realize that life is short and if I’m going to do this hunt, this would be the year. We made the decision to book the hunt for Kyle and I and deal with the consequences, which included not only school, but football. Football began a few weeks earlier and I found out that Kyle had been promoted to starting quarterback of his 8th grade team. My wife made me tell his coach that he was going to miss one or possibly two games. Kyle and I eventually met with the head coach to tell him of our decision. We both felt badly about taking his quarterback away, but he was very understanding and said he would develop another player for the position while Kyle was gone.

We booked our caribou hunt with Tunilik Adventures, out of Montreal. The camp manager was very excited to have a young kid join our group. The night I told Kyle the hunt was on, he had all of his hunting gear laid out and every evening thereafter he prepared by watching caribou hunts on YouTube.

We arrived at our hunting camp September 10th and were joined by two other adult hunters along with my uncle- Vic Lyczak, Kyle and I. One of the hunters, Justin Raggazine, recently became the youngest and fastest person to complete the North American Super Slam (harvested all 29 big game animals in North America). When we returned from long hunting days, Justin would share pictures and stories of the many big game animals he harvested. This was quite a treat that we will never forget. We became good friends with Justin and he plans to hunt turkeys with us in Kansas this spring.

Vic harvested a good bull on the first day and Kyle shot a nice bull on the second, but things slowed down some afterwards. By the fourth day everyone but Kyle and I

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Digital Edition Only Special Content had tagged out, Kyle had one more animal to harvest and I still had two tags. The first three days we saw several small bulls, but we were waiting for the “big one” to show up. The fourth morning the weather turned cold and it was spitting sleet. We could see a large number of caribou cutting thru a valley and decided to get closer to this area. We finally got within about a half mile of the activity and immediately saw a good number of animals. We glassed the area for probably two hours and finally saw a huge bull heading our way. The bull was with several other very nice bulls and to our surprise, bedded down on the side of the valley.

Kyle and I, with our guides, moved to a ridge where we could glass them at about 300 yards. Shortly after arriving, the caribou, about thirty in total, began walking down the valley towards us. The group got within about 100 yards when the big bull, towards the back of the herd turned broadside. After securing a good rifle rest, I carefully squeezed the trigger and hit him with a perfect shot behind the shoulder which sent him spinning and bleeding from the shoulder. Our guide instructed me to shoot him again, I did and he dropped. A second bull was standing near him so I shot him and filled my second tag. From our vantage point we could see the first bull looked like a real trophy as the excitement set in and high fives and congratulations ensued. I looked at Kyle and gave him a big hug; he was so excited, he nearly sprinted to the first bull.

As we approached, we were in disbelief of how big the first caribou was. The guides went back to get equipment while Kyle and I took pictures and admired. When the guides arrived, they were as excited as we were and were sure it was a Boone and Crockett animal; in fact they thought it was one of the biggest caribou ever killed in their camp (This animal made the Boone and Crockett record book by scoring 380 3/8”).

With only two days of hunting remaining, Kyle had yet to fill his last tag. We woke early the following morning to find the sleet from the previous day had turned into a snowstorm. With 5-6” of snow and blizzard conditions, we left shortly after sunrise and headed to the same area where I had shot my bulls the night before. We were about a quarter of

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

a mile away from camp when we spotted four bulls about 300 yards in front of us.

There was a nice bull within the group and Kyle decided he wanted this animal. The guides, thinking he could not make a good shot from this distance and in these conditions discouraged him from shooting.

However, Kyle convinced them otherwise and with his insistence, the guides told him to go ahead and shoot. Kyle made a perfect shot and dropped the animal in its tracks. The guides were really excited that a young boy was able to make this shot and were very impressed with his abilities. This bull ended up being one of the bigger bulls taken in our camp as well.

Following our successful hunt and after getting delayed a day by weather, we finally got back to the small airport at Kujjack where hunters gathered from several camps. One of my favorite memories of this trip was in the airport lobby. Hunter after hunter came up to visit with Kyle and myself, as Kyle was the only child of about forty hunters. The hunters were eager to hear his story and Kyle was excited to share. Each hunter complimented us that we were able to do this together and create such good memories. Several hunters told us that they regretted not doing this with their kids.

Upon arriving home we were a little worried how Kyle’s teachers, teammates, peers and football coaches would treat him after missing school and football.

They were all very supportive of him being gone. In fact, some of his football coaches pulled me aside and told me they thought it was awesome that we experienced this together. Kyle did a lot of his homework on the way there and back, as this was part of the deal with his mother. He ended up getting all A’s that semester, but never regained the starting quarterback position back. Twenty years from now, football will be forgotten, but the caribou hunt memories with his dad will remain with him the rest of his life.

This was, no doubt the correct decision and the right time to experience this caribou hunt with my son.

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Stores in Red Open in 2014

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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