Sportsman's News November 2019 Digital Edition

FREE November 2019 | Volume 15 | Issue 11

Whitetails Just Like the Good Ol ’ Days

A buck pole of this stature isn’t a thing of the past. This is accomplished each and every year for a select few who get to hunt Michigan’s Sanctuary.

Chad LaChance: Fishful Thinker

Holiday Season

Gary Lewis: PacWest Outdoors

Sighting-in Made Simple Relentless Versatility: ADAPT TO ANY ENVIRONMENT WITH THE NEW VX-5HD 7-35X56 PAGE 10

Waterfowl Roundup

Must-have gear for this waterfowl season Page 16

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

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Backcountry BackcountryHunts.com Hunts

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

SENIOR EDITOR Kent Danjanovich 801-231-9838 kdanjanovich@sportsmansnews.com MANAGING EDITOR Dan Kidder 435-865-1680 dkidder@sportsmansnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGERS Steven Jackson sjackson@sportsmansnews.com Jared Lombardo jlombardo@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 2019 © 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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2

This is an outfitter we have hunted with every year for the past seven years and look forward to every March. We have been able to harvest some extremely large Aoudad on 40,000 acres. One 33” whopper, 31.5”, 31”, 29.5”, and 28” rams. ~ the Sportsmans News Team

New Mexico & Texas Hunts (575) 361•1053 17th Annual

OUTDOOR WRITING CONTEST Grand Prize Package

• Winner will be chosen to join the Sportsman's News Team on a fully guided hunt in Texas with Steve Jones Backcountry Hunts the last week of March 2020. Included is meals, lodging, 1 on 1 guided hunt for 3 days for Trophy Aoudad in west Texas. This is a free range wild sheep hunt. License is included for the winner. Camp will be shared with the Sportsman’s News team and we will film the adventure for an episode of Sportsman’s News Television.

• Contest will run from November 1st, 2018 through November 30th, 2019 with two stories selected each month and published on our website. One grand prize winner will be randomly selected from those entries and notified by e-mail.

• Every published entry will receive a knife from Outdoor Edge and will be entered into the grand prize drawing.

• E-mail stories and photos to info@sportsmansnews.com.

• Stories should be between 900 and 1500 words and be sent as a MS Word document or pasted into an e-mail.

• Photos should be high resolution JPG’s, TIF’s or PDF’s: if you have any questions regarding photos call (435)865-1680.

• Stories without photos will not be considered for publication or contest entry.

All stories may be edited for content and size. Published articles and photos become property of Sportsman’s News. All prizes are provided by Sportsman’s News Inc. Must be 18 years of age to win grand prize.

All entries must include author name, address and phone number to be considered for publication.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Michael Deming

WHAT’S INSIDE

4 Whitetails Like the Good Ol' Days

The feel of times past in this Michigan hunting Lodge.

Relentless Reach: Leupold VX-5 HD Riflescope 10 Superior light performance and rugged reliability from Leupold.

12 Platinum Approved Outfitters

Choose a Sportsman's News Endorsed Guide for your next trip.

16 Waterfowl Roundup

The latest must-have gear for waterfowl season.

20 Pacwest Outdoors: Sighting-In Made Simple Tips to get zeroed faster and with better accuracy.

22 New Friends In An Old Haunt in Majestic Alaska New begininnings at an old favorite, Pybus Point Lodge.

A

s I sit down at my keyboard to scratch out this publisher’s message, I can’t help but reflect on the journey Sportsman’s Warehouse and our crew here at Sportsman’s News have endured. Ten years ago, the company was privately held and in the throes of bankruptcy. Poor leadership and a bad economy had everyone wondering if we would continue to pursue our passion or if we would be looking for a new career path. Sportsman’s emerged from bankruptcy with new leadership, 25 stores and a path to prosperity.

The new CEO was driven and very focused on the task at hand. New stores started popping back up all over the west. Every year there were between 6 to 10 new stores opening and before you knew it, the talk of getting to a hundred stores started being floated around.

The company went public in 2014 and growth continued. Jon Barker became the CEO of the company and provided a much-needed overhaul of the e-commerce side of this business as stores still continued to pop up. Projections for 2019 were to get to approximately 95 stores and the scuttlebutt was that 2020 would be the year to hit 100 stores.

Just last week, it was publicly announced that Sportsman’s Warehouse would be purchasing eight Field & Stream stores from Dick’s Sporting Goods. This included three stores in Pennsylvania, two in New York, two in North Carolina, and one in Michigan. By the time everyone has a chance to pick up this publication, those stores will be converted to Sportsman’s Warehouse stores and the overall count will be at 103 Sportsman’s Warehouse stores.

It’s so amazing what we have seen over the past ten years and I’m happy to say that I saw it all happen and was part of it. Can’t wait to see what the next ten years holds.

Sportsman’s News is completing our 15th year of being the Official Publication of Sportsman’s Warehouse. This business has pretty much raised my three daughters and even the oldest one at 19 doesn’t even remember Dad doing anything else. Just as Sportsman’s Warehouse has evolved, we have as well. When we started, we were only a print publication and within two years, we started producing video. When this started, we were shooting on standard definition tapes for all of our stuff and the cameras we used were north of twenty pounds apiece. Our cameras are now half the size and produce a hundred times the quality.

We went from producing shows and putting them onto DVD’s to having our own YouTube channel that gets millions of views each and every year.

As the Chief Executive of Sportsman’s News, I’m always looking at keeping us cutting edge, but not leaving our older generations behind that still haven’t launched into the newer technology. I hear from lots of our followers, both young and old when I travel, that they like all we do as a media source. Our videos are extremely thorough and informative and not just a bunch of fluff. The printed publication is enjoyed by millions every year and especially those who are headed to the woods and don’t get service. It even makes pretty good fire starter when you are done reading it and will second as some sorry toilet paper if the need arises. Still better than nothing.

However, things are constantly changing. In 2020, the Sportsman’s News print version will publish bi-monthly. We will have a lot more content in each issue than we do currently, but this will free up team members to produce more videos, which is the direction of the future.

I’m sure there will come a time that this publication will become completely digital, but for now, we are still going to put something in your hands for free whenever you walk through the doors of Sportsman’s Warehouse.

I hope everyone is having a great 2019 and you better hang on for 2020. I have a feeling it’s going to be epic.

26 Sportsman's Warehouse Expands Into New Markets Eight new stores bringing America's Outfitter to several new states.

27 Business Directory 28 Pro's Pick:Outdoor Edge RazorMax

The ease of use of the Razor Safe System in a fixed blade.

30 Video Product Reviews Fishful Thinker: Holiday Season 32

The perfect time to start thinking about gifts for the angler in your life.

34 Trigger Time With Team Doubletap Making your practice effetive.

38 Pro Membership Update: Ranchland Outfitters

Two giveaways coming this month and next for Alberta waterfowl and whitetails.

40 Adventures on a Budget: Waterfowl Hotspots in the Lower 48 The best places for DIY waterfowl action.

44 LaCrosse Alphabury Pro Hunting Boots Garmin GPSMAP 66i with inReach Outdoor Writing Contest: The Student Hunter

45

A student skips class to learn a lesson in being prepared.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary Lewis Chad LaChance Justine Williams Joe Glotz Logan James

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

3

Whitetails Just Like the Good Ol ’ Days

By Michael Deming

A

buck pole full of big mature whitetails is something you usually see in faded black and white pictures. They are memories of the days when big bucks were more abundant, even though most people shot the first deer they saw. Hunting wasn’t as focused on trophies, although they still existed for a few. Today, parties of hunters head to the woods in November to fill their freezers as well as build memories.

Evenings around the campfire, listening to stories from the older generations, is what gives the next generation the vision of getting their turn at hunting those old, mossy-antlered giants.

Being a western hunter, I was always intrigued with these good old days opportunities in the hardwoods. When I got out of the Marine Corps in the early 90s, I even made a trek to Michigan to hunt. On a shoestring budget, I hit the woods with high optimism of getting my own giant. I spent the better part of five days in a tree hoping for a giant, but never even saw much more than a small 6-point. My optimism faded with time, but my hopes of putting myself in a better hunting situation in the future was born.

The next day, I made a stop at the local sporting goods store and saw lots of great mounts on the wall. I spoke with one of the store employees and he said, “You should be hunting the Sanctuary. They harvest some of the biggest whitetails around.”

I found a brochure at the front of the store and gave them a call. The gentleman on the other line said that I was fairly close to their operation and should stop by to discuss hunting opportunities. I was so excited to think that I might get an invite to hunt such a prestigious place. I found the place and it looked like a serious hunting camp. The cabin was pumping smoke out the chimney to take the chill off of the November day. As I walked in, there were mounts of giant whitetails that made my jaw drop nearly to the floor. I got to sit down with a gentleman and talk

TOP: The lodge and meals are unlike any hunting camp I’m ever visited. You will show up as a client, but leave as a fat friend.

BOTTOM: The outdoor firepit is a great place to share the stories of the days hunts and is enjoyed by all.

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November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The lodge is tucked into the hardwoods and along a lake, which is the perfect backdrop for world class whitetail hunting. about the opportunities they provided. It quickly became obvious that this wasn’t a place I was going to just get permission to hunt, but I had to pay. Since I was just getting started in my career after spending eight years as an underpaid Marine, I knew anything more than a few hundred bucks was definitely out of my budget.

However, the fire it kindled in me to return someday and experience this great hunting destination was something that never smoldered.

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Seeing giant deer like this that are only 4 years old and off limits is a management practice that yields a hunting experience that is second to none.

I finally decided in 2017 that it was time to check this trip off of my bucket list.

I had visited with Ryan Bollman and his team at the Safari Club show in Vegas for several years about hunting opportunities for the coming years. Each year they would display the giant bucks taken with them on the previous season. The demand to hunt the Sanctuary was so high, I was going to need to reserve my own spot a full year out. I planned the trip and started the clock ticking. It had been 25-years since I first set foot in the Sanctuary and my anticipation of the November rut hunt was worse than a five-year old at Christmas.

When I arrived at the lodge in November, things looked much different than it had from my first visit, but the feel was still “old style hunting camp”. The leaves had pretty much fallen off of the trees and the air was cold. Pulling up to the cabin, smoke was again pumping out from the wood stove. The meat pole outside was empty and the firepit staged, ready for another great evening of storytelling.

I already felt like my dream had come true in checking this off of my bucket list.

Many of the week’s guests were already at the lodge. Nearly everyone had been here more than one time and some of them had been returning for decades.

In most cases, showing up to hunting camp as an outsider can be very intimidating. That was not the case here at the Sanctuary though, and before lunch was over, I felt that I had a new group of hunting buddies. Everyone was happy to share their stories of years and decades of hunting experience with this familyrun operation.

The evening hunt greeted us with high winds, driven rain, and pure cold.

Mike Kolenda, aka, “Puck” was going to be our guide for the week and he knew exactly where we were going to go. We still hunted through some of the hardwoods until just before sunset and then we slipped into a blind where a big mature 10-point had been hanging out. Although we saw plenty of deer, I didn’t see anything worthy of my tag, especially on day-one.

When we got back to camp, the outside bonfire was raging and many of the hunters had already started to gather around with stories of sightings for the

Rattling in the hardwoods is a common tactic we used to lure in some mature deer.

“Puck” proved to know the habits and hidings spots of numerous quality bucks. evening. Word got back to Puck that two of the hunters had connected on great deer. Everyone waited with anticipation as the trucks pulled in to share their success. A couple of absolute monsters had been harvested and were on display for all to see. Reliving the stories of the event was almost as good as getting it done myself and reaffirmed that this was a traditional hunting camp that I was very happy to be part of, regardless of the outcome of my hunt. A few minutes later, we were notified that dinner was ready.

This is where things began to get a bit different from your traditional deer camp. We were greeted with a plate of Alaskan King Crab and a juicy filet with all the fixin’s. This was a first night dinner, so I figured that we were getting the red-carpet treatment, but we found that every dinner was equally good, or better, as we had everything from roasted quail to lobster tails with complete four and five course meals. To say we ate like kings during our stay would definitely be an understatement.

We took the hunt to the wire and in typical Sportsman’s News fashion, we harvested on the last light of the last night. I was rewarded with a huge 190’s class Michigan whitetail with a droptine.

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November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Sitting in a blind or stand for hours on end isn’t very fulfilling for my western hunter personality, but Puck was always willing to accommodate us. We still hunted and rattled during all of the prime-time periods, except when there was a better situation to harvest a target buck. With hunters filling tags each and every day, we were constantly getting feedback of other bucks that had been seen. The rut was in full swing and it wasn’t uncommon to see 10-20 bucks on a primetime hunt. I just hadn’t seen one that truly grabbed me. I wanted a big mature deer with lots of mass, and hopefully not broken.

On one rattling session, we had a possible candidate buck coming on a string.

The wind was perfect and he was looking for the fight that he thought was going on. He closed the distance from several hundred yards down to less than 30 in a matter of minutes. Although this deer was a solid 10-point with some extra points and probably north of 180” B&C, he just lacked something that I was looking for. I think more than anything else, I just wanted to continue hunting.

We were down to the last day of the hunt and in most cases, people would feel the pressure of going home with tag soup. However, I was in the moment and enjoying the experience of being at the Sanctuary more than just getting worried about harvesting a buck. It was as if I was living a dream.

The morning turned out to be a bust and the high winds had the deer hunkered down and not moving. I informed Puck and Ryan that I’m usually a “last light of the last night” kind of guy and that I wasn’t even remotely worried about it. Even if I didn’t get a buck, I was elated with the experience and would definitely be back in the future.

Puck said it had been a couple of days since the big-framed dropper buck had been seen, but Ryan had been out looking for us that morning and thought he got a glimpse of him at one of the other properties. We decided to go all-in and see if this guy would show at a blind sitting in a field before we ran out of daylight.

We got into the blind fairly early since the rut was in full swing. We hadn’t been sitting very long when does and small bucks started funneling out into the fields. Behind the field was a creek and a hill that provided good bedding. As the sun got closer to the horizon, doubt started to creep into my mind that I just might not get one. As if being smacked into reality, Puck said, “I think I see a

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November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

good buck down in the creek”. My western mind wanted to get out of the blind and go try to make something happen, but Puck assured us that staying put was a good play.

We kept seeing flashes of two big mature bucks chasing a hot doe down by the creek, but we never got a big enough window to judge them or even get a shot.

The sun finally set and now the clock was definitely ticking.

I was getting worried when we had eaten up half of our last thirty minutes, especially when I hadn’t seen either one of the bucks since a minute after sunset.

I strained, looking into the low light of the creek with my Zeiss binos until my eyes hurt. I pulled my head away from them and looked quickly out the right side of the blind. Coming in from behind us was my dream buck. He had mass for days, with long beams and completely intact. On top of that, as he gave us a quick glance, he had about a 6” drop-tine on his right side. Puck said, “That’s him, kill him”. I had already made that commitment. This was the buck we were here to target on our last night and we still had at least 10-minutes of legal shooting light. I put the crosshairs of my .26 Nosler behind his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. The buck didn’t make it twenty yards before he expired.

After a good field photo session, I finally got my evening as the hero when we pulled into the yard. Everyone at the lodge was cheering for my success. I got to sit around the firepit with a whopper whitetail story of my own. I had once again got it done on the last light of the last night, but more importantly, I got to hunt every possible minute I was at the Sanctuary. It fulfilled a 25-year-old dream and was way more than I could have ever imagined.

Yes, the Sanctuary (231-972-7722) is an old-style hunting camp with all the comforts of home. You might show up an outsider, but you will definitely leave as part of the family. I’m sure after you make your visit, you will be just like me and be booking your next trip before you leave.

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Relentless Reach: Leupold’s VX-5HD 7-35x56mm

hen Leupold designed its awardwinning VX-5HD, the company set out to redefine relentless versatility.

The riflescope line was given a wide magnification range, ensuring that hunters and target shooters alike would be able to adapt to any environment. Beyond that, the Twilight Max HD Light Management System would deliver class-leading low-light performance. Rugged and reliable, the VX-5HD is ready for any adventure, and consumers have made it one of the most popular scopes in the industry. For 2019, Leupold decided to up the ante and add to the VX-5HD line. Among the new entries: a 7-35x56mm model that’s purpose-built for the long-range precision shooter.

The Basics

The VX-5HD line – which has been named “Optic of the Year” by Guns & Ammo and embraced by consumers around the globe – features a 5x erector assembly, fitting perfectly into Leupold’s line up between the VX-3i and the VX-6HD. “When we designed the VX-5HD line, which featured magnifications of 1-5, 2-10, and 3-15, we were working to build a scope that suited any potential need a hunter or recreational shooter might have,” said Vici Peters, Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “The addition of the high-power 7-35 model ensures that. They deliver the long range performance demanded by many serious shooters today, and a handful of new features that target shooters have been asking for since the original line launched.”

Leupold took what it was already doing well with the VX-5HD – namely its performance in low-light scenarios and consistent, reliable tracking – and tricked it out with new features that are targeted towards the long-range market. We’ll get to those. First, let’s talk about the game-changing Twilight Max HD Light Management System.

ensures the maximum amount of usable light gets to your eye. Point being: you’ll see more in less light. The Twilight Max HD Light Management System adds up to 30 minutes of extra shooting light and eliminates 90% more glare-producing stay light than its competitors. Whether you’re ringing steel on the range or looking to knock down a trophy bull, you’ll be well equipped to deal with any low-light scenario that might come your way.

Meet the T-ZL3 Dial

New to the VX-5HD 7-35 is the CDS T-ZL3 dial. At its core, the CDS T-ZL3 elevation adjustment takes target style adjustments to a new level with a push-button locking feature and an easy-to-read revolution indicator. A 3-turn, target-style dial, the CDS-T-ZL3 delivers 20 MOA per revolution in ¼ MOA clicks and has a lock button revolution indicator. It allows for precise movement, tracking, and return to zero. When paired with the intuitive TMOA or Impact-14 reticles, it’ll help take your long-range precision to a whole new level.

Built to Last

Like every riflescope offered by Leupold, the VX-5HD is designed, machined, and assembled in Beaverton, Oregon – and it’s built to withstand a lifetime of abuse. The VX-5HD features Leupold’s proprietary gas blend, which nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock, and reduces the diffusion of gases sealed inside your scope even more than the company’s proven nitrogen technology already does. Each of Leupold’s riflescope models is “Punisher” tested and capable of withstanding whatever you might be able to throw at it. That said, if you ever do have a problem, know that the VX-5HD is backed by Leupold’s legendary Lifetime Guarantee.

Check out the Leupold VX-5HD at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse today.

Superior Low-Light Performance

Get behind a VX-5HD and you’ll see the difference. Every scope in the line offers superior edge-to-edge clarity and extreme low-light performance. Leupold’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System delivers the perfect balance of image color and contrast, light transmission, and glare management. Most scopes only focus on transmitting high percentages of midday light, but the VX-5HD gives you maximum transmission of the entire visible spectrum. Why does that matter? The human eye is most sensitive to colors outside the middle of the spectrum during dawn and dusk, when game is on the move. Superior glare reduction, meanwhile,

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The Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved Outfitter is an outfitter These are outfitters you would be proud to refer to a friend. We that has excelled in every aspect of their business. They put know this because we are proud to endorse each one of these people and customers before profit. They do what it takes to make sure that they will be in outfitters based upon our staff members personally visiting each one of these business for the long haul and ensure that they have repeat customers. They practice good operations. These outfitters have proven to us that they have what it takes to be game management, which will ensure a top quality trip with them every time you book. “Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved.�

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November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

15

Waterfowl Products Avian-X A-Frame Waterfowl Blind

Don’t waste time searching for cover; take it with you. The A-Frame Blind features a noncorrosive aluminum modular frame complemented by a rugged 600-Denier Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades shell. Grass straps and pockets incorporated into the blind’s outer cover allow for quick, easy and complete concealment using natural vegetation, while the A-Frame design eliminates those bird-flaring hard edges and shadows common with some blinds. Measuring 96” L X 60” W X 48” H and weighing 26-pounds, the A-Frame can easily accommodate four hunters, yet sets up in mere minutes. The A-Frame blind comes complete with four adjustable gun clips and EZ-Carry webbing strap, which makes packing the A-Frame into the field a cinch.

Browning A5 Wicked Wing – Realtree Max-5

Now you will have to admit – this gun is just plain cool as the Wicked Wing A5 features a Cerakote Burnt Bronze camo finish on both the receiver and the barrel to compliment the Realtree Max-5 camo on the stock. Along with its great looks and design, the Kinematic Drive System simply makes it one of the most reliable, fastest cycling, best balanced and softest shooting autoloaders on the market today. Now that’s pretty good coming from a guy that is a tried and true gas-operated man. And with it now available in 3 ½ inch chambering and a 30” barrel, those ducks and geese don’t have a chance.

Hevi Shot Hevi-Metal Longer Range

Hevi-Metal’s waterfowl load uses Pattern Density Technology which boosts pellet count to ‘fill in the blanks’ of your shotgun pattern. These high energy, high density shotshells put 20% more lethal pellets on-target at 40 yards than any steel ammunition, greatly boosting clean kills. Hunters can now enjoy greater lethality at even longer range than with their original HEVI-Metal shells. The new bismuth pellets are 16% denser than old HEVI-Shot ‘HEAVIER THAN STEEL’ alloy, which allows them to pack smaller pellets that have greater killing power than traditional or even “super steel” pellets. Available in 10, 12 and 20ga loads.

Mossberg 930 Waterfowl Shotgun

Rugged reliability and ease of operation make the Mossberg 930 the shotgun of choice in duck blinds and late season goose hunts. It features a dual gas-vent system, quickempty magazine release button for easy unloading, a drilled and tapped receiver for optics and adjustable drop at comb with a stock drop spacer system on synthetic models that adjusts the vertical angle of the stock for improved sightlines and a custom-type fit. Mossbergs 930 semi-automatic 12-gauges features: 5-shell capacity, ventilated rib barrel, fiber optic front sights, Accu-Set chokes, 13.875-inch length of pull and a Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades finish. The barrel measures 28 inches, with an overall length of 48.5-inches and weighs in at 7.75 pounds. A great gun at a reasonable price point for a semi-auto

16 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WEATHER OR NOT.

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4/23/19 11:22 AM

Waterfowl Products Winchester Xpert Steel

Winchester has re-engineered the way steel loads are built to deliver consistent performance for value-conscious hunters. Winchester Xpert Steel shotshells offer a true breakthrough in high-performance, value-priced, steel loads built to meet the increasing demand for lower-cost, lead-free loads. A new proprietary shot manufacturing process and a specially designed shot cup deliver optimum performance at an affordable price. Xpert’s engineered wads have thicker wad segments for increased barrel protection from the shot. In addition, steel shot offers more pellets per ounce compared to lead, making it ideal for both game and target shooting, especially with velocities at 1,500+. Available in 12 and 20ga.

Drake Large Floating Blind Bag 2.0 Bottomland

Waterfowl blind bags are an essential item to get everything you need to the duck blind safely and securely.

Drake’s ultra-tough, double-lined HD2 waterproof material protects your gear from the elements and hunting abuse. Five panels of closed-cell foam and padding keep the bag afloat in case it takes a dive. Updated with an improved zipper and durable hardware, the Drake Waterfowl Floating Blind Bag 2.0 has plenty of gear-packing space with 18 organizational pockets in the large bag and 20 pockets in the extra-large bag. The elastic loops in the outer face pocket holds your shells and choke tubes. Other storage highlights include two large zippered shell pockets, adjustable gun-case loops, a see-through map pocket and sunglasses holder.

New for 2019, HEVI-Metal® LR improves downrange knockdown power by 16% with a new, higher density bismuth alloy (30%) layered over corrosion-resistant steel shot. Tighter patterns, longer range, clean kills.

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18 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Higdon Apex Full Size Canada Goose Decoys

The Apex one-piece Full Size Canada Goose Decoy is made for a lightning fast setup, durability, realistic motion and high visibility thanks to the Apex stake system, XHD HyperFeathering and a more flexible body. One-piece full body design is lightweight, agile, adaptable and simple to set up and break down. The XHD Hyper Feathering process details and highlights each individual feather with a high contrast paint for ultimate visibility. The Apex stake system gives you maximum natural movement in even the slightest breeze, an important part of any decoy spread setup. And to top it off, a percentage of your purchase will go towards wetland conservation. Package Includes: 6-decoys with flocked heads, 6-Apex stakes.

Waterfowl Products MOJO Outdoors Rippler Duck Decoy

The Rippler will make ripples and waves throughout your spread giving motion to otherwise dead decoys. Duck hunters must have dependability and reliability and this decoy is designed to meet the rigors of all-weather hunting.

All moving parts plus batteries are contained in an easily removable housing of a screw lock design.

This is the easiest and most economical motion device you can add to your spread. The Rippler is available in either the full body model or the mallard “Butt Up” design. Both operate on 4AA batteries.

Rustic Ridge Max 4 Bootfoot Wader

Extend your hunting time in the coldest weather with the 5MM Dura-Stretch Neoprene Bootfoot Wader from Rustic Ridge. With 1600-grams of Thinsulate insulation and fleece lining for maximum warmth and added comfort, you’ll never be cold in the blind again! This great wader from Rustic Ridge has additional padding on the knees and rear with plenty of functional pockets including a handwarmer pocket on the front, a flip-out chest pocket, two additional Velcro pockets on the front, two lower front pockets with drainage and front shell holders for easy access to your shotshells. Also includes a nylon web wading belt for added safely and support a 1-year warranty.

Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro Boot

Built from a proud tradition of innovation, the Alphaburly Pro is Lacrosse’s premium hunting boot. Combining high-quality, scent-free rubber with naturally insulating neoprene, the Alphaburly Pro fears nothing. Not the cold. Not the harsh terrain. Not the challenges of a grueling hunt. Its unique tread pattern gives you the traction to move through demanding terrain while its chamfered edges keep you fast on your feet by shedding the mud, the muck and the mayhem below. The Alphaburly Pro features a thick EVA midsole for less weight, more comfort and unequaled hunting performance season after season. The Alphaburly Pro proves that durability and flexibility can comfortably coexist in a boot. It features three layers of rubber in the toe guard and heel to make it more durable in these high-stress areas and two layers of rubber in the instep for added flexibility where it’s needed most. So, no matter where the hunt takes you, rest assured that these boots will be durable, flexible and, of course, comfortable.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

19

Sighting-In Made Simple Five simple steps to long-range accuracy in the Golden Age of the rifle

By Gary Lewis

T

his is the Golden Age of the rifle.

Never before have good rifles and rifle scopes been so affordable and accessible. Today’s optics are far superior to the glass we used 20 years ago and a scope can be tailor made for an individual to wring astonishing accuracy from his or her rifle. A hunter can buy premium off-the-shelf ammo that, under the right conditions, is capable of minute-of-angle accuracy.

But all the advancements in manufacturing are no substitute for time at the shooting bench. Rifle, optics and cartridge have to be harnessed in a pre-hunt ritual we call sighting-in.

Bore-Sighting Isn’t Good Enough

At the sporting goods counter, a hunter can have his new scope bore-sighted by the same fellow who sold it to him. The technician uses his eye or a laser to align the scope with the bore. Bore-sighting saves a little time at the range, but it is no substitute for sighting-in. A bore-sighted rifle will probably be ‘close,’ but close might mean that the bullet strikes within three feet of point-of-aim at a hundred yards. That’s not good enough when a big buck stands up across the canyon or a bull elk steps into a clearing 200 yards away.

Most rifle scopes have two turrets – one for windage (to move the bullet impact left or right) and one for elevation (to move impact up or down). Remove the turret caps and the crosshair can be adjusted by inserting a coin or twisting the dial clockwise or counter-clockwise. Most scopes are calibrated such that one ‘click’ equals an adjustment of 1/4-inch at 100 yards.

All Ammo Is Not Created Equal

Sight-in with the ammunition you’ll take on the hunt. Don’t bring bargain-basement bullets to the range when you plan to use premium projectiles in the field. Downrange performance is likely to be very different. You can use the cheap stuff in practice if you

Bore-sighting is a service offered by better gun shops. Here, a technician makes an adjustment, using a bore-sight tool. But boresighting is only the first step to sighting-in a rifle.

20 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Adjust the scope up or down to bring the ‘target’ at the bore into line with the crosshair. want, but to establish accuracy, you want to use the hunting bullet.

And one box of 20 rounds is not sufficient. Take at least two boxes to the range and have another set aside for the hunt. If you’re buying factory ammo, make sure the lot numbers match.

Here are five simple steps to take to make sure that your rifle is sighted-in before a deer or elk hunt.

1. Bore-sight it. Set the gun in a vise or bed it on sandbags. Point the muzzle in a safe direction. Remove the bolt and peer through the bore at a target and adjust the scope settings left or right and up or down to bring the crosshair into line with the bore. A laser bore-sighter may be used to good effect during this step. Just remember to remove the device before inserting ammunition.

2.

Dry-fire it. Make sure the barrel is free of obstructions and pointed in a safe

Anticipated recoil translates to flinch. When sighting in, or in practice, use ear protection and watch your groups tighten.

Trouble-shooting on the bench

T

he bench is the best place to work the kinks out of a big game rifle.

Sometimes groups go gunnysack.

The Flinch is the biggest obstacle to accuracy, but you can control it by practice. After you’ve eliminated the Flinch as a factor, there are several ways to troubleshoot big groups.

Stringing is a common problem. Bullets impact on the target in a vertical string, which indicates that the barrel is coming into contact with the stock. The ideal is to have a gap, about the thickness of a piece of paper, between barrel and stock.

There are several ways to correct the problem, but they’re best left to a gunsmith.

Scopes can fail and the best time for them to fail is in practice. Once, preparing for a hunt in the Far North, a scope went south on me. I discovered the problem when the 100-yard groups opened from 1.5 inches to 1.5 feet. Better that it happened at home than on the hunt.

When groups change dramatically or are hard to control, loose scope bases or scope rings may be the culprit. Make sure the mount and ring screws are tightened. I use blue Loc-Tite to keep the screws from rocking out during recoil.

Ammo may be the culprit. Modern rifles should hold a 100-yard group inside three inches. Due to factors like twist and barrel weight, some ammunition doesn’t shoot well in some guns. The closer you get to a one-inch group at 100 yards, the better. If groups are unacceptably large, try a different bullet.

-Gary Lewis

5. Tune the 100-yard group. After establishing a 25-yard zero, set a target at 100 yards and fire three rounds to establish a group. Depending on your hunting style, you may want your 100-yard group to impact three inches above the bulls-eye for a zero closer to 300 yards. Fine-tune the zero from the bench then replace the scope turret caps. The gun is sighted-in.

Now it’s time to practice.

Shoot off-hand, from improvised rests, from sitting, kneeling and prone positions. Use a bipod and shoot from shooting sticks.

Shoot at close range and out to 300 yards and beyond.

This is the Golden Age of your rifle. Learn how to make it perform and your seasons will be golden.

To order a signed copy of Hunting Oregon, send $24.85 (includes shipping) to Gary Lewis Outdoors, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 or visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com. **Notes: • When shooting from a bipod, don’t grip the rifle with the off-hand, instead, use the off-hand to stabilize the stock at the butt.

• Hunting with a bipod? Sight-in with a bipod. Anytime changes are made to the rifle, scope, ammo or the shooting style, head to the range for another sight-in session to fine-tune accuracy at long range.

For this hunt the 30-06 was sighted two inches high at 100 yards. For the uphill shot at 215 yards, the hold was dead on.

Mikayla Lewis recovered from shooting over this buck with the first shot to connecting on the second when the buck stopped broadside. direction. Replace the bolt, set the safety and practice mounting the rifle to the shoulder. Flick the safety from ‘safe’ to ‘fire’ and, using the pad of the index finger, take the slack out of the trigger.

Have a partner watch to make sure the trigger finger is not transmitting flinch to the end of the barrel. When you’re comfortable with the trigger and flinch is not an issue, put the gun on the bench.

Note: Centerfire rifles are not damaged by dry-firing. And dry-firing is good practice. It helps the shooter gain familiarity with safety and trigger without burning expensive ammo. Don’t dry-fire a rimfire, shotgun or a muzzleloader.

3.

Bench-rest it. Create a solid rest for the gun from sandbags or use a bipod (only use a bipod if you plan to hunt with a bipod). Settle in behind the gun, snug it against your shoulder and settle your cheek on the stock. Don’t grip the fore-end. That’s what the bipod or the sandbags are for. Use the off-hand to stabilize the stock.

4.

Establish the 25-yard zero. Set a target at 25 yards and fire three rounds to establish a group. Adjust the crosshair to center the group around the bulls-eye.

This may take several adjustments and most of a box of ammo.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

21

New Friends In An Old Haunt In Majestic Alaska

By Kent Danjanovich

S

outheast Alaska has a beauty that’s all its own, with coastal rainforests, icefields, Sika spruce and luscious growth interacting to create some of the most beautiful settings anywhere in the world.

One of the Sportsman’s News team's favorite destinations is Juneau, the state’s capitol city. With a number of flights available every day of the week and cruise ships constantly entering and exiting its harbor, the city and surrounding areas are truly a traveler’s paradise. From sightseeing adventures of every type to some of the best fishing waters in the world, Juneau is definitely a must-see destination.

Juneau is also the first leg of our trip when visiting one of our favorite fishing lodges in Alaska, Pybus Point Lodge. The lodge is situated on Admiralty Island, about a 40-minute float plane ride away. With its location set at the mouth of Cannery Cove, you will never find a more natural and spectacular setting anywhere, with thick growth, snow-capped peaks and calm waters combining to make a perfect home for wildlife of all kinds. Brown bear, Sitka deer and eagles can all be seen on a daily basis as well as whales, harbor seals, porpoises and sea lions.

Scott and Jody Jorgensen have owned and operated the lodge for over a decade and have now welcomed Redmond Inc. as a new partner. And with that new partnership, some great renovations and additions have taken place. New cabins have been built

22 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The lodge is set at the mouth of picturesque Cannery Cove. They have eight ocean vessels and a handful of skiffs that keep guests busy with opportunities of all sorts. They even have their own floatplane for those wanting to do a little exploring to the islands’ secret hot spots. The lodge is open from the last week in May until about the third week in September. and new boats have arrived to even more enhance the already wonderful customer service throughout.

More and more travelers to Alaska are looking for variety in their experience. Some areas can supply that and some simply can’t. Well, at Pybus Point Lodge, you can truly customize your trip to get the ultimate experience from your stay. Also, the lodge can accommodate up to 40 guests at a time, so groups of literally any size can find their place at Pybus Point.

Our visit during the summer of 2019 gave us our first look at some of the new additions and renovations at the lodge. I was joined by cameraman, David Heath as well as one of our latest Pro Membership Sweepstakes winners, Parker McElveen and his son Trace. This would be Trace’s first visit to Alaska (but I don’t think it will be his last).

After an over-night stay in Juneau, we met at Ward Air, situated next to the main airport terminal, at 7am. We quickly signed in and gave our luggage to the crew as they weighed everything in preparation for our float plane ride to the lodge. With surprisingly clear skies both in Juneau and at the lodge, we were in the air before 8am.

The 40-minute flight took us along the coast of Admiralty Island. We were able to spot a couple of brown bears below us and seemingly endless waterspouts from whales as well throughout the flight. Soon we started losing altitude as our pilot made his final approach.

Scott and his staff met us at the dock and they quickly welcomed us off of the plane and then unloaded our gear, with a half dozen guests, complete with a stack of fish

boxes, taking our place on their flight back to Juneau after a successful stay. Yes, this is truly a streamlined operation, as they host over 500 guests during their short, four-month season.

And with a high return rate, this should give you a pretty good idea of how much people love their operation.

Our group of ten made their way up the ramp to the main lodge, where a continental breakfast was awaiting. After we downed some fresh pastries and juice, we were given a brief orientation before fixing our lunches at the sandwich bar. Dave and I grabbed our waders and wading boots out of our bags and the rest of the guests scurried back down to the dock to get fitted for raingear, just in case it was needed.

We then headed over to our awaiting captain, Jamie Gness who was busy setting up halibut rods for our first stop. We all took a seat in the cabin of our vessel and after a quick safety briefing, we headed out for a short ride to halibut country.

After a short 20-minute run, Captain Jamie located one of his favorite halibut holes on his GPS as each of us released the line on our reels. At Pybus Point Lodge, jigging is the chosen technique when fishing for halibut as their experienced captains ease along desired outcroppings on their screens instead of anchoring up. I personally have always liked this technique the best for halibut, as you are able keep your jig moving constantly and have your rod in hand to feel any hesitations or hits.

The next two hours kept us all pretty busy, as each of us were able to land three or four a piece. The daily limit in this area of Alaska is one halibut under 38-inches or over 80-inches per person. Finally, we all had our halibut in the slot and we then headed for lingcod, yelloweye and rock fish waters.

Again, the technique used for lingcod and yelloweye is usually with a lightweight, curly tailed jig (8- to 16-ounces) with either regular halibut rods or sometimes with longer, lighter-weight salmon rods. I love to use the lighter-weight rods as the fight

Pro Membership winner, Parker McElveen with a great yelloweye rock fish that he landed during his trip to Admiralty Island and the Pybus Point Lodge. is much more exciting and I think the jigging motion has a lot more feel. Three great yelloweye made their way to the fish box, as well as a tiger yelloweye, a couple of lingcod and eventually a full limit of our 20 black sea bass for our group of four. With the time now about 4:30pm, we headed back for the lodge after a very successful first day on the water.

By 7pm, everyone took their places at the dinner tables and we all enjoyed the first of our many great meals from the kitchen of Chef John Diamond. Tri-tip and all of the fixin’s were on the menu on this night and of course one of his delicious deserts followed before we headed out to the deck to take in some more of our gorgeous surroundings.

My bed felt good that night in our brand-new cabin, as I drifted away with sore arms

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

23

from our day of fishing and dreams of the next day dancing through my head.

Our second day on the water went much like our first, except for a few silver and pink salmon mixed in for good measure. The king season had just closed a day or two before we arrived and the silver’s we just making it into the area, but we were still able to do a little trolling with hoochies and cut herring. That evening after dinner, we did a little halibut fishing on our own and also threw some flies and spinners at pink and chum salmon at the back of Cannery Cove.

Day three found us heading for Misty Cove in search of silvers. Three or four of the boats from the lodge joined us on our journey, with all landing some nice, chrome-bright balls of muscle trolling in the bay with its beautiful waterfall as its backdrop. We then found our way to a number of other hots spots for halibut, lingcod and rockfish on our way back towards the lodge, with all producing for us.

We were also entertained throughout the day by the seemingly endless numbers of whales, spouting, tailing and breeching for as far as the eye could see. The water was like glass on this day, one of the great things about fishing the Inner Passage of southeast Alaska with Pybus Point Lodge.

That evening found us taking the short hike into Little Pybus for some pink salmon on the

Trace McElveen was able to join his dad, Parker, on this great adventure. The halibut fishing in the waters of the Inner Passage is always great, along with salmon and rockfish opportunities.

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www.jokerswildoutdoors.com 24 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Cameraman, Dave Heath, even got in on the action as he was able to hook into this nice lingcod while jigging along one of the many great areas a short distance from the lodge.

fly as well as Dolly Varden in its clear waters. Anything pink seemed to do the trick and the only thing that distracted us a little from our fishing was looking over our shoulders periodically for the furry, toothy inhabitants of the area.

We did manage to see a couple in the distance, but no close encounters would happen on this night!

Our last day on the water found us in new sections in search of possibly a whopper halibut. Although we didn’t hook into a true monster, we did bring a couple of hundred pounders to the side of the boat for Captain Jamie to release back to the depths. We were also able to do some more black rock bass jigging, as they were putting on a pretty good show on this day, splashing and rolling all around us while doing a little top water feeding. And did I mention the whales? Spectacular! Oh and we also ventured out to empty the shrimp and crab pots before dinner as Chef John worked his magic again, of course.

Well, another great adventure was taken in by all of us on our latest visit to southeast Alaska’s Pybus Point Lodge. This has become an every-other-year event for our Pro Membership Sweepstakes and I am sure it will continue into the future. Parker and Trace McElveen were the latest to take in its splendor and who knows, maybe you will be the next lucky winner! Remember, this and many other great trips and gear packages are given away every ten days, year-round, so if you aren’t a member yet, really, what are you waiting for?

And in the meantime, if you are looking for a true trip of a lifetime to one of the most beautiful places that I know of, give Scott and Jody Jorgensen a call today to book your trip with Pybus Point Lodge (907-364-2113) and visit them on the web at pybus.com.

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November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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6/28/19 12:43 PM

Sportsman’s Warehouse Expands Into New Markets

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

S

portsman’s Warehouse was founded in 1986 with a vision of providing the best outdoor products to consumers, supported by knowledgeable local associates who knew not only everything they could about the gear, but also the best hot spots and honey holes where it could be used.

Based out of Midvale, Utah, Sportsman’s Warehouse has expanded across the country and currently has 95 stores ranging from Alaska to North Carolina, but has previously mainly served the intermountain West. In 2019, they also added a fullservice, professional Gunsmithing Center.

Starting this month, even more stores in the east will open, some as far north as New York, based on an agreement with Dick’s to sublease and re-brand eight of their locations from Field & Stream stores to Sportsman’s Warehouse.

These new stores will turn over in the next month, with the stores aimed to open mid to late October. The new locations are Elmira, NY; Rochester, NY; Washington, PA; Altoona, PA; Camp Hill, PA; Greensboro, NC; Asheville, NC; and Troy, MI. “We are very pleased to announce the expansion of our current 95 stores through the acquisition of eight Field & Stream locations. Each of these stores operate in strong markets, with well-established customer bases. We look forward to serving these communities with our continued strong commitment to provide outstanding gear and exceptional service to inspire outdoor memories.” said Jon Barker, Chief Executive Officer.

The expansion follows Sportsman’s Warehouse sustainable growth strategy of providing underserved customers a major outdoor retail experience in markets where there is a demand for a major outdoor outfitter.

Fulfilling their slogan to “Gear Up for Unforgettable”, Sportsman’s Warehouse is uniquely poised to be successful in markets where others have struggled because they manage to connect with those customers as fellow outdoorsmen and women. They strive to hire and retain experienced outdoors enthusiasts who are actively engaged in the outdoor lifestyle.

Their associates include world-champion sporting clays competitors, fishing television celebrities, “Top-Shot” contenders, and world-renowned big game hunters, just to name a few.

It is this connection to local hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, and hiking communities that creates a loyal customer base.

And while connectedness is a strong draw for outdoor enthusiasts, price is also a key

factor. Sportsman’s Warehouse has a solid reputation as being a price leader in the outdoor retail universe, thanks to straightforward retail spaces that utilize every square foot efficiently to provide maximum selection. Their position in the marketplace gives them tremendous purchasing power that they are able to pass on to consumers.

This triple-punch of knowledgeable local staff, premium selection, and great value make them a strong force working for consumers to help them make the most of their outdoor experience. But Sportsman’s Warehouse doesn’t stop there. They also provide workshops, classes, training, and information to users of the outdoors so they can have more fun and success.

Each local store is deeply involved in their community, sponsoring banquets, working with wildlife agencies, and hosting local experts on a variety of topics from fly tying to concealed carry certification. Additionally, they provide customers with this publication, Sportsman’s News, filled with how-to articles and reviews of the latest gear. This information is available in print in all of their stores, and also on their website at News.Sportsmans.com.

All of this is aimed at not only providing customers with a superior shopping experience, but also becoming a comprehensive resource for anyone venturing outdoors.

As Sportsman’s Warehouse grows into new brick-and-mortar locations, they are simultaneously ramping up their web presence with better online shopping, information, education, and a wider selection of products that are available to ship for free to their stores if they don’t have it on hand.

As Sportsman’s Warehouse expands to more regions of the nation, the information they provide will evolve to encompass the various outdoor activities in the new regions.

Sportsman’s News has already begun this transition. For years our focus was on western big game hunting, but we have branched out and have recently included articles on kayaking in Michigan, hiking National Parks, fishing in Louisiana, and much more. Sportsman’s News is committed to creating content that is relevant to all of our readers, everywhere in the country.

To make sure we are covering topics you want to read about, we encourage you to reach out to us with your story ideas by email to info@sportsmansnews.com. This is also the address to send your story submissions for our outdoor writer’s contest.

Details of that contest are available on page 2 of this publication.

As for the opening of the new stores, we suggest going to Sportsmans.com and using the store locator to find the grand opening dates of the store nearest you. Sportsman’s Warehouse associates are standing ready to assist you in all 103 locations from coast-to-coast, no matter what outdoor activities you enjoy.

8 NEW LOCATIONS

26 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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719-276-2883 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

27

PRO'S PICK

Outdoor Edge RazorMax

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

F

or most tasks, a folding knife will get the job done, from opening boxes to skinning out a deer. But for larger jobs, nothing beats the comfort and rock-solid stability of a fixed blade.

For several years, knife users have been able to get the easy use of the Outdoor Edge Razor Safe replaceable blade system in a variety of folding models.

Now, they can get that same ease of use in a fixed blade model and have the ability to quickly swap between 3.5-inch drop point blades and 5-inch fillet/ boning blades.

The handle is made of a textured thermoplastic rubber, giving you a great gripping surface, even when the handle is slick with blood. A slight thumbrise with jimping provides excellent control for fine work and stability for serious work where significant pressure is required. A bottom quillion molded into the handle helps further guard against forward slippage and keeps your fingers away from the exceptionally sharp blade. This molding provides excellent ergonomics and comfort. Additionally, the TPR is durable and cleans off easily. The handle is available in both blaze orange and in black.

The blades attach to a stiffener channel, which the blades slide into, so they have support on either side of the blade. This allows you to still flex the blade significantly without snapping it. Every blade has its snapping point, but I was able to get a good degree of flex without snapping this blade. A big factor in this is the stiffener, which is unique to Outdoor Edge replaceable knives and one of the reasons they are my choice for a replaceable blade.

Changing the blades is just as easy as it is on their other Razor Safe Blade systems.

Just press a button on the grip and pull the blade forward. To put the new blade in, just

28 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

slide it between the stiffener in the channel and click it into the handle. The RazorMax gives you the versatility of the standard 3.5-inch drop point or the longer and springier 5-inch boning/fillet blade.

The RazorMax comes with three of each blade, and replacement packs of blades are easily available and inexpensive. It also comes with a plastic clamshell BladeBox designed to hold a single blade, so when you take a blade out of the plastic vacuum packaging and remove the plastic blade guard, you have a safe way to store it, should you swap between the 3.5-inch and the 5-inch.

The black handled knife comes with a black sheath, and the blaze orange handled knife comes with a Mossy Oak camo sheath. The sheath is a hybrid between a polymer sleeve that completely protects the blade and an out Nylon covering. There is also a removable blade pocket with a Velcro closure that can be strapped to the sheath for carrying spare blades and the BladeBox. The sheath is long enough to carry the RazorMax with either blade installed.

The overall length of the RazorMax with the 3.5-inch blade installed is 8 inches and it is 9.5 inches with the 5-inch blade. The weight of just the knife is 2.6 ounces, and only 4.7 ounces with the sheath.

There are some features of these knives that really make them ideal for game processing, but they also get used on the regular to open boxes. I will warn you that these blades are scalpel-sharp.

They have also been used around the Sportsman’s News office to open some thumbs when we get a little careless and when they cut you, they cut you clear to the bone.

Fortunately, they are very clean cuts and heal quickly and completely. Be cautious with them, and they will never be a problem. Toss a band-aid in the spare blade pouch in case you get a little careless.

They are super easy to clean, and I frequently give them a rinse to remove loose blood, pop out the blade, and Scan this QR Code with toss them in the dishwasher. If you your smart phone to view don’t clean them right after use, you t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s may need a pair of pliers to tug out the YouTube Channel.

PRO'S PICK

blade if it gets stuck from dried blood. But even then, a quick scrub of the spine channel with a toothbrush and some warm soapy water does the trick. When dressing an animal, sometimes it is inevitable that you will need to cut some hair and that really does a number on a knife blade. Instead of carrying a knife sharpener to touch up the blade, you just push a button and swap it out for a razor sharp new one. If you are a very frugal person, you can touch up these blades on a sharpener at a 22-degree angle. The best part though is that occasionally a hard-used knife will get nicks or chips in the blade, and with a traditional blade, you have to remove a lot of material and spend a lot of time to get rid of those nicks and chips. With the RazorMax, you push a button and swap out a new blade for about $2.50.

With the ability to use both 3.5-inch and 5-inch blades, you are really getting two super sharp knives for the price of one, so from a value proposition, as well as a weight factor, you are getting a lot of versatility at a great price and with minimal weight. All of these factors together make the Outdoor Edge RazorMax a great addition to your hunting pack or to your belt for the upcoming hunts.

And every Outdoor Edge knife comes with a lifetime warranty, and the RazorMax handle and the sheath are no exception. If they break during normal use, they will stand behind their product 100 percent. I have used this warranty and trust them to stand behind it.

Scan the QR code in this article with your smartphone and see how we put this new knife to the test and then head on over to Sportsman’s Warehouse to add the Outdoor Edge RazorMax to your kit.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

29

Video Product Reviews

New Zeiss V4 Riflescopes with Thin Line Reticles

T

he Zeiss Conquest V4 series of riflescopes has proven to be a tried and true lightweight yet extremely durable hunting scope, but the addition of these new Thin Line reticles makes them even better for longrange shooters. There are two different models to choose from here with the V4 4-16x44 ZMOA-T30 as well as the Conquest V4 6-24x50 ZMOAi-T20 which is illuminated.

The Thin Line reticle provides the utmost in intelligence for the long-range hunter and shooter. A fine floating crosshair, thin reticle sub-tensions, numbered MOA hash marks for easy referencing, and floating windage dots for long-range wind holds add to the great features of these scopes. The 30mm tube provides 80-MOA of elevation adjustment, perfect for longerrange shots. The use of advanced aircraft-grade aluminum and superior optical design means a lighter scope than the competition.

High-performance optical glass and ZEISS premium T* 6-layer transmission coatings bring light transmission to 90%, which leads this price category. A wide, generous eyebox allows the shooter to get on target quickly and comfortably, allowing for Scan this QR Code with precise shots even in stressful situations.

Ballistic turret with precise 1/4 MOA clicks and an your smart phone to view t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s easy-to-use zero stop function provides the shooter with a YouTube Channel. system that is quick and easy to use while in the field or at

the shooting range. LotuTec external lens coatings shed moisture off the lens and protect it from scratching and abrasion. All of this and the ZEISS 5-Year No Fault Policy + Limited Lifetime Warranty make these scopes the perfect choice for the weightconscious hunter or shooter.

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Video Product Reviews

CVA Cascade Bolt Action Rifle

C

VA has been our go-to brand for all of our muzzleloader hunts for well over a decade. Their precision and attention to detail makes them an easy choice. When they announced they would be entering the bolt action rifle market and doing it with an unbelievable price tag, we stood up and took notice.

We recently got our hands on one in 6.5 Creedmoor and it’s proven to be nothing short of spectacular for a rifle that is priced just below $500.

The Cascade comes with a synthetic stock that is fiberglass reinforced and has a SoftTouch finish that is easy to grip. It has a great recoil pad and spacers, which allow you to adjust the rifle from a 13” pull out to 14”. This is ideal when you are purchasing a first rifle for a youngster who needs a shorter stock. You can add the spacer back in as they grow instead of having to purchase a new stock or a new rifle. It comes with two front sling swivel posts, usually only seen on higher dollar rifles, which allows you to leave your bipod and sling attached.

The barrel of this little dynamo is 22” long, is made of 4140 carbon steel and is finished in a rich matte blue. It has a threaded muzzle to accommodate a suppressor or muzzlebreak.

This is another feature you don’t usually see on rifles in this pricepoint. The barrel is free floating and so far, our shooting has delivered consistent sub-MOA accuracy. These barrels are produced at their factory in Bergara, Spain and endure the Scan this QR Code with same rigorous testing that goes into all their top your smart phone to view muzzleloaders. The bolt incorporates a 70-det h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s gree throw which gives you extremely fast and YouTube Channel. smooth action and also provides plenty of scope

clearance. The bolt is of a 3-lug design and our initial testing shows that it is very solid. The trigger assembly is adjustable and comes preset at about 3-pounds. It has a range of between 2 to 4 pounds and regardless of where you have it set, it has no creep and a very crisp break.

This rifle is extremely impressive across the board and not just for a $500 rifle, as it consistently shoots sub-MOA groups at 200 yards and well beyond. Check out the complete video review.

When mounting your scope, be aware that you need to utilize a Savage Accutrigger, two-piece setup like Talleys. If you want to utilize a standard or 20-MOA Picatinny rail, I recommend that you order it direct from CVA as the rail for the Savage Accutrigger version is too long.

SMOKEPRO DLX The SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill & Smoker brings you an easy, reliable smoke every time.

Features like the patented Ash Cleanout system make cleanup easy. With a simple pull of a lever, empty the ash from the firebox. That means less time fumbling with a suction hose and more time enjoying the beautiful day and delicious food.

Check it out at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse store.

For the best performance, use Camp Chef Premium Pellets.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

31

I Chad LaChance

Holiday Season

’m not going to lie. My focus ain’t on fishin’. For one short period of time annually, my brain has to take a break from living, eating, and breathing fishing, and that time frame is mid Nov through the holidays.

Don’t get me wrong, fishing still occupies more of my conscience and subconscious than I care to admit, but not with the intensity it does the rest of the calendar year. This reprieve from angling allows me to recharge and focus on a few other aspects of normal life. Fishing will once again dominate my thoughts when the new year rolls in, new seasons of Fishful Thinker TV start airing, but for now it’s all about taking a deep breath and relaxing. I hope you consider the same from

your job occasionally.

So what does a career angler think about during this down time? Well, hunting is one thing. Chasing predators is fun; it tunes me up as an outdoorsman, and it’s good fishing practice. Calling angles, location decisions, reading weather, and gauging the quarry all carry over to fishing skills in my mind. But, I’m not supposed to be thinking about that. I also think a bunch about cooking. I love to cook game and fish, especially those that I’ve personally harvested, but again, I’m not supposed to be thinking about that.

32 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Come to think of it, a nice bowl of homemade fish chowder sounds great about now.

Since I don’t seem to be able to escape the fishful mindset, let’s consider some fishing related items really worth giving this holiday season.

I already mentioned food, and selective harvest of fresh fish really brings angling full circle. For me, there is no better way to cook fish and game than outdoors, especially on cast iron. Cast iron ages gracefully, lasts a lifetime, and makes for a delightfully heavy package to unwrap! Folks on my gift list may end up with a Camp Chef classic dutch oven or skillet. Before you can cook it, fish (and perhaps beverages) has to be kept cool. A soft cooler like OtterBox’s fantastic Trooper series or hard cooler like their Venture series is another great food related idea. Who doesn’t need a cool new tumbler or thermos to keep their coffee warm? Yea, OtterBox makes those, too.

Cooking related gifts have a way of being used a lot; something I think is key to a good gift. Comfort related items do as well. Some folks on my list will find high quality wool socks or base layers upon tearing into their package. Being comfortable outdoors is paramount to enjoyment and success even; if you want the anglers on your list to truly enjoy their time afield, help them be comfortable. This is especially true of kids and ladies that may not possess the same drive to succeed despite the elements that us manly men do. Ladies, please don’t take offense to that, it simply means your smarter than most men who have a tendancy to grin and bear it instead of focusing on good clothes.

Gifts need to be useable in my mind, so to that end many folks on my list will receive fishing consumables; items like fishing line, leaders or tippet, a selection of soft plastics/ flies/Powerbait; in short, anything I can identify that they will go through a bunch of in their angling. Nobody likes to buy these less than glamorous yet oh so important items so get a few for them. Other possibilities include fly tying materials, hooks, jigs, or even a few plastic lure storage boxes. Somehow, we never seem to have enough of those. It helps to know at least a little about the recipient’s fishing habits prior to shopping for these items.

Some random items that make great gifts but need no real explanation include a quality pair of fishing pliers or forceps, complete with a lanyard of some sort to keep them handy.

A quality landing net is always appreciated. Stepping up the scale in price, how about a pair of Costa sunglasses purpose built for angling? This is another item many won’t spend their angling budget on, but will appreciate immensely once they try them on the water.

Really want to wow them? Buy them an annual membership to the Pro Membership Sweepstakes. That way they get three chances per month - 36 annual drawings - to win something off the charts cool, like the all expense paid Kodiak Island brown bear hunt I personally won, along with several of the smaller prizes. I look forward to all the drawings every month; it really is a gift that keeps on giving.

Ok, ok, so I can’t really escape fishy thoughts, even in my gift giving. But you know what? Most hardcore anglers I know, pro or not, have the same symptoms. Fishing is not just a sport to many, .it’s a lifestyle; and as such encompasses several facets of living.

Whether it’s cooking fresh fish at home or in camp, layering up with wool for a cool morning on the boat or stream, or just packing the cooler with whatever gear is required to succeed on the next adventure, the anglers on our lists will appreciate we thought of their passion this holiday season. Rest assured that, in any true angler or outdoorsmen’s mind, fishing related gifts are met with big smiles long after they’re received.

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ms Willia er e n i st st

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The Importance of an Effective Practice

H "

Effective Practice

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Learn more at www.doubletapammo.com 34 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

ow do I practice?” is one of the questions that I’m asked most often. This is a tricky question because if done incorrectly, bad habits can begin to form, and these will be difficult to break. I will be explaining what practice is, and how I practice so we can run an effective practice and successfully build up our skills.

So, what is practice? By the dictionary definition it “is performed (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency.” I believe practice is more than that. In any competitive environment, to be great, practice is essential, and let me tell you IT WON’T BE EASY! Some days you’ll be killing it and doing the best you have ever done, and on other days, you won’t even be able to do the most basic of skills. That is the hardest part to expect.

You should always come up with a game plan on what you will be practicing before you start; Have each drill mapped out and stay on track. This saves you time and will allow you to focus on accomplishing these goals instead of dilly dallying around. You also should have all your gear ready and prepared the night before.

Ammo should be loaded, gear should be put together, and your magazines should be loaded.

Once you get to the range, STAY FOCUSED! It’s easy to get side tracked when people come and talk to you or you see an old friend, but this will really cut into your practice time, meaning less quality practice. Limit conversations to five minutes max, and you’ll be right back on track.

Keep a journal, preferably with a pen and paper.

Statistics show that people learn and retain more if they write it down themselves.

This is very important and will help you track your progress; Instead

of starting two clicks behind where you left off, you can start right where you left off!

When I am practicing, I always start with accuracy shots which normally include head shots anywhere from 25 yards to 35 yards.

This step helps me confirm that my gear is running properly, and that my head is in the right mindset to have a productive practice session.

You should then move on to the main portion of your practice. This will include drills that you need to work on, or your opportunities. To continue to improve, we need to practice these things regularly. I tend to do three to four drills depending on their intensity, and how many rounds each drill requires.

My favorite drill that really helps me tune my shooting and improve my skills, is what I call the three-target drill…Easy enough to remember.

You will set up three different targets with three different target presentations at 7 yards, 12 yards and 20 yards. You will start off with a baseline par time. The par time gives you a start on stop signal

until you have a winner. If two people tie, then the tie breaker is determined by having the two participants shoot strong hand only at the smallest dot. If you tie again, then you’ll shoot the smallest circle weak hand only. The person that hits the dot, wins. This is such a fun game and really helps you focus on building and maintaining your fundamentals.

After you’re done with your game write down notes from your practice in your journal. Make sure you are writing things down in a positive manner, because putting yourself down will not help you progress.

You can write opportunities but try to put them in a positive manner.

Write down what you worked on that day and what you would like to work on the next time you go out to practice.

All these steps will help you improve your skills. Practice will be difficult at times but remember to stick with it and push through the hard times.

About the Author

on your timer. This will give you a margin of error. You will then slowly decrease the par time. Once you have reached the time/point where you start to make mistakes, stop and think about what is breaking down in your fundamentals and go again. This really helps me with draw, transitions, splits, target acquisition, aiming, and reinforces the basic fundamentals. You must remember to be careful not to just waste ammo. Every bullet has a purpose and when you miss, think about what happened and what can you do to fix it.

Once you have reached the end of the main part of your practice you should be mentally and possibly even physically tired. I love to end my practice with a fun game whether I am by myself or with someone. I like to incorporate what I worked on from that practice session. Make up your own drill, be creative about it and make sure you are using and applying the skills you learned from that day.

One of my favorite games to play at the end of my practice is the Diminishing Dot game. For this game, I use the Tactical Performance Center Diminishing Dot Target. There are several different ways to play this game. The most common way to play is that you have an unlimited amount of time on all the strings of dots. You will start with your gun loaded and holstered at 5-7 yards. You will then begin at the largest dot and you will take one shot. If you hit the circle move on to the next smaller dot, if you miss, you are out. This cycle continues

36 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Justine Williams is a 15-year-old USPSA, 3-gun, IPSC, and Steel Challenge competitor. Justine is also the youngest Grandmaster in USPSA Production Division. She made Grandmaster at the incredible age of 13. Justine is currently 2-time Production IPSC National Champion. Justine competed on the men’s Production team at the 2018 Pan American Games and won a Gold in ladies Production, a silver in the Production team event, and a bronze in the Production shoot offs, as well as 2 Presidential medals. She has won over 80 titles in level 2 and above matches. Justine is a straight A student and enjoys riding and training horses. Justine also has a passion for instructing.

Summary: This exercise is another vision “See What You Need to See” honing tool. You might guess, correctly, that we think Seeing What You Need to See is important.

• Time: 30 minutes • Rounds: 100 live, 100 dry • Target: Diminishing Dot • Start Position: Compressed Imminent Threat, 3 to 7 yards (based on skill) • Dry Variant: Same as Live We’ve numbered the targets, but don’t use a version with numbers on them. You need to start thinking about hitting regions, not spots. They are numbered here to help you plan the exercise.

1. Commit to doing this at the pace of doing it RIGHT. Right now… look at each target and decide what you need to see on each.

(Hint… try an ever improving sight picture in a circle smaller than the actual target. What you need to see for #4 will be much tighter and precise than #1, probably using the tip of the front sight, not the post).

2. For at least the first 10 reps, step away, and step in and rebuild your stance and grip from scratch each rep.

3. Do this dry first. Then hot.

4. Present to circle 1, then shot 2, 3, 4 – 4 times (16 rounds) 5. Present to circle 2, then 3, 4, 1, 2 – 4 times (16 rounds) 32 rounds 6. Present to circle 3, then 4, 1,2,3 – 4 times (16 rounds) 7. Present to circle 4, then 1,2,3 – 4 times (16 rounds) 64 rounds 8. You now have 46 rounds left. Do 10 rounds of any sequence you want. Play with it. have fun.

9. You know have 6 rounds left. Present to the TPC logo and eliminate it.

10. Write down what worked in your journal. Write down ideas for improving.

Diminishing Dot Drill

Go to news.sportsmans.com to download & print this drill

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

37

PRO MEMBER UPDATE As you can see, our group had an unbelievable experience, with non-stop action. Ducks and geese were literally raining from the sky. If you haven’t experienced Alberta for waterfowl, you need to get on the phone to book a hunt with Ranchland Outfitters.

Ranchland Outfitters Alberta

By Kent Danjanovich

The Sportsman's News Pro Membership Sweepstakes will give away two Trophy Whitetail hunts on November 10th and a Waterfowl Hunt on December 30th. Go to ProMembershipSweepstakes.com to enter to win one of these great hunts with Ranchland Outfitters.

Layout blinds are the norm in stubble fields. Some areas have water nearby, as those seem to draw in both ducks and geese. As the Isaacson boys will attest, the opportunities that the Pro Membership Sweepstakes offers are unmatched in the industry, as people from all walks of life truly get the chance to “Hunt & Fish Like The Pros”!

Owner, Rob Reynolds, of Ranchland Outfitters in Alberta runs one of the best waterfowl operations in Canada. Their season opens September 1st and runs into late October. Both ducks and geese are available, with heavy emphasis on geese early and ducks late in the season.

Bond Isaacson Sr. and Jr. made the trek a little north of the border after Bond Sr. was the lucky Pro Membership winner of the Ranchland Outfitters waterfowl hunt. Big Canadian honkers were the name of the game, as the Isaacson boys experienced a great trip with plenty of opportunity.

HUNT AND FISH LIKE THE PROS

38 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Sportsman’s News Pro Staffer, Steve McGrath was all alone on this shot opportunity on a big greenhead. And yes, he was up to the task as he folded him like a wet rag! Most packages at Ranchland are for five sessions, three morning hunts and two afternoon hunts, if needed!

The Sportsman's News Pro Membership Sweepstakes has given away over $ 1 MILLION worth of trips like this so far. A new grand prize every 10 days. Go to www.ProMembershipSweepstakes.com for your chance to be featured here.

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

Sportsman’s News Pro Staffer, Kevin Orton, with a nice buck that he took on our hunt with Ranchland Outfitters. Ranchland owner, Rob Reynolds, kept hoping for some cold weather and his wishes came true as the big bucks really started to move and present our hunters with great opportunities.

Mike Schafer, one of the first to sign-up for the Pro Membership Sweepstakes, was able to harvest a great Alberta whitetail with Ranchland Outfitters. After downing his buck, he exclaimed as he took a closer look, “He’s a great buck and he’s got a bunch of junk along with a great drop tine on his right side. I couldn’t be happier”!

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

39

Adventures On A Budget

Waterfowl Hotspots in the Lower 48

By Joe Glotz

I

t’s almost Thanksgiving time and Momma needs a big ol’ goose and a few ducks for the big meal, so let’s take a look at a few of the great possibilities for some exceptional waterfowl hunting across the U.S. The following are some of the best areas in the country to set out on a DIY adventure and if you catch the weather conditions just right, you should have no problems in downing plenty of birds for the big feast.

North and South Dakota

There might be no finer waterfowling journey than a trip to America’s duck factories—the prairie potholes of North Dakota and South Dakota. Collectively, the prairie pothole region of Canada and the United States accounts for about 50 to 80 percent of North America’s annual duck production and nowhere is that more evident than in the eastern Dakotas. Filled with miles of habitat and abundant public land, they can be a freelance duck hunter’s dream. Further, the area offers all types of hunting—pothole puddle ducks, big-water divers, grain-field ducks and geese and even jump-shooting. Don’t be afraid to knock on doors and ask permission to hunt private ground. True, guides have leased up lots of land in some parts of the Dakotas, still, many areas remain relatively open and farmers or other landowners often consider polite requests to hunt.

You’ll encounter more competition in North Dakota, which has over-the-counter nonresident waterfowl licenses. South Dakota probably has a bit less duck country, but it limits nonresident hunter numbers through an annual license draw, typically held in July. Incidentally, North Dakota law recognizes implied consent. That is, if private land is not posted, you can legally hunt it. Still, it’s always preferable if you can locate a landowner and touch base. You’ll typically shoot multiple duck species in the Dakotas, including mallards, pintails, wigeon, gadwalls, shovelers, ringnecks, redheads, bluebills, canvasbacks, bufflehead and green-winged teal.

Louisiana

Louisiana is arguably one of the best locations in the country for some in your face, hard-hitting duck hunting. From the flooded hardwoods of the northern part of the state to the vastness of the grassy coastal marshes, ducks can be found virtually any and everywhere. The abundance of swampy backwaters and winding bayous attract ducks in numbers from early teal migrations in September until late-season mallards call flooded timber home in

40 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

January. And the best part is most of it can be accessed via public land. Louisiana sports more than 1.3 million acres of state-owned wildlife management area (WMA) property and roughly 8,000 square miles of the state is covered in water, giving quack addicts ample opportunity to duck hunt. Southern Louisiana is a paradise for both birds and hunters as well. Its rivers and marshes are home to over nine million ducks and geese and if you go there to hunt ducks, you have prime pickings, including pintails and canvasbacks.

Arkansas

Known as the ‘Duck Capital of the World’, Stuttgart, Arkansas, has long been a favorite destination for waterfowl hunters from near and far and for good reason. Extensive rice production, naturally flooded bottomland hardwoods and intensively managed green-tree reservoirs make the broad alluvial plain surrounding Stuttgart a winter paradise for mallards and duck hunters. For those willing to work for their birds, good public hunting is available on the nearly 34,000-acre Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson and Arkansas counties and the 160,000-acre White River National Wildlife Refuge, spanning nearly 90-miles in four counties.

Adventures On A Budget Missouri

With over 40 percent of all waterfowl migrating over and around St. Louis, it’s no wonder it’s a great place to hunt ducks. Missouri gives you the best of both worlds with duck hunting in rice and soybean fields or in sheet water and flooded areas.

Many of the Mississippi Flyway’s waterfowl, including at least 14-million ducks, pass through this narrow corridor formed by the Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri rivers just north of St. Louis. More than 40,000 acres of public land exist on national wildlife refuges, state conservation areas and tracts owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the surrounding four-county area. Many of these properties are intensively managed for waterfowl and provide good public hunting opportunities for residents and nonresidents alike.

Texas Panhandle

The Texas Panhandle lies in the heart of what is known as the playa lakes region, also encompassing parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

Much like the prairie potholes of the northern Great Plains, playas are dependent on seasonal precipitation and in those special years when timely rainfall replenishes these unique wetlands, the Panhandle fills up with incredible numbers of waterfowl.

Hunting pressure is light across much of this sparsely populated region. Freelance waterfowlers can often receive permission from landowners to hunt waterfowl on playas and private agricultural land.

Utah

The Great Salt Lake may be one of the most important habitats for fowl in the western mountain region. With 35 different waterfowl species and between three and four million birds a year, it’s no wonder Salk Lake City is considered a favorite of those who hunt ducks. Great Salt Lake marshes are an oasis for breeding and migrating waterfowl in the heart of this arid Great Basin. This 70-mile-long lake and associated marshes are among the continent’s most important staging areas for pintails and other dabbling ducks. Steeped in waterfowling tradition, the area is home to quite a few private hunting clubs, but plenty of public hunting opportunities are available on the lake itself and on several state waterfowl management areas along its shores.

Washington

From flooded corn ponds to open water, the Seattle area provides duck hunters with a vast variety in both landscape and birds. From puddle ducks and divers to trophy harlequin ducks, it’s a fowl phenomenon you’ve got to see. When Lewis and Clark explored the Pacific Northwest in 1805, they encountered almost unfathomable numbers of ducks and geese. Today, the region continues to support a great abundance of waterfowl. At peak times, more than 500,000 dabbling ducks winter on Puget Sound and many of these birds gather along Washington’s northwestern coast in Samish, Padilla and Skagit bays. Good public hunting is available on several state wildlife areas in Whatcom and Skagit counties as well as on Puget Sound.

42 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Upper Mississippi River

During the 1930s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built a series of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River, creating a vast network of shallow open water, islands and marsh along the borders of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Not surprisingly, these wetlands attract droves of staging waterfowl during migration. At peak times, more than 50 percent of the continent’s canvasbacks as well as thousands of other ducks, geese and swans gather on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Public hunting is allowed throughout much of this sprawling 240,000acre area and waterfowlers equipped for hunting big water have good success gunning from points and islands along the shoreline.

Mississippi Delta

Birthplace of the blues, the Mississippi Delta has an equally rich waterfowl hunting tradition. When winter rains flood low-lying cropland and bottomland hardwood forests, this broad alluvial plain can rival neighboring Arkansas as a wintering ground for mallards, wood ducks and a variety of other waterfowl. Freelance hunting is available in Delta National Forest and on several national wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas in the region.

In conclusion, these do-it-yourself areas represent just a fraction of the self-guided waterfowl hotspots you can enjoy this fall. Get together with your huntin’ buddies and put a plan together to get out and enjoy the great waterfowl opportunities that are available throughout the lower 48.

I

LaCrosse Men’s Alphaburly Pro Hunting Boots

f you are looking for a pair of boots that can withstand the rigors of hunting life, are built to fit and can guarantee your comfort, you should consider the LaCrosse Men’s Alphaburly Pro 18” Hunting Boots. These boots offer premium protection for your feet and they are made to last.

The Alphaburly’s are designed with several layers of rubber at the toe and the heels to protect your feet from dangerous elements. Also, these layers of rubber don’t crack or break easily, making the boots very durable. The boots also have a double vamp, which supports and protects the toes, should something heavy accidentally fall onto the boots.

Although the Alphaburly’s have several protective coverings, they are not very heavy at 5 ½lbs, so you can rest assured that your feet will not fatigue easily. And unlike some boots, the Alphaburly Pro is very easy to slip on and also take off. This is because of their gussets, which easily adjust to make room for almost any calf.

With the 1600G Thinsulate lining that our testing pair of premium boots come with, we found that you can wear them in very cold conditions and still have adequate levels of warmth around your feet. The Alphaburly Pro’s embossed wick liner does a brilliant job in enhancing the circulation of air in the interior of the boots while at the same time preventing any form of moisture from developing inside the boots. This feature greatly helps in keeping your feet from perspiring as well as preventing foul odor from being generated inside the boots. The boots’ neoprene lining does a terrific job of making the boots water-tight, as well.

Wherever the hunt takes you, the Alphaburly Pro is always ready and able. Its unique tread pattern gives you the traction to move through demanding terrain while its chamfered edges keep you fast on your feet by shedding the mud, the muck and everything else you are traversing. The Alphaburly Pro features a thick EVA midsole for less weight, more comfort and unequaled hunting performance season after season.

Every hunter wants to hunt longer. The Alphaburly Pro makes it all possible by keeping your feet comfortable no matter the weather conditions, no matter the terrain.

As I mentioned above, its embossed neoprene liner creates better air circulation while also regulating temperature inside the boot. So, your feet never get too hot and sweaty or too cold and stiff. And with its full rubber clad over neoprene construction, scent protection is also at a premium.

The Alphaburly Pro proves that durability and flexibility can comfortably coexist in a boot. So, no matter where the hunt takes you, rest assured that your boots will get the job done in every situation. Check this great pair of hunting boots out at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

44 November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Garmin GPSMAP 66i with inReach

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

O

ver the past few years, those who spend time in the outdoors have come to see the benefits of a GPS loaded with detailed topographic maps for navigation. Not only can these devices help guide you back to camp or to your vehicle, they can help you find your way to your destination without forcing you to taker a straight line over difficult terrain.

Additionally, thousands have found themselves lost, injured, or in some other type of trouble and have relied on the inReach communication technology to contact help. The inReach technology uses the Iridium satellite network to provide coverage anywhere on the globe. Coupled with 24/7 monitoring from the GEOS emergency response team, inReach can contact rescuers on your behalf and let you know they are coming and how long it will take them to get to you. But it is much more than just a rescue beacon. The inReach can also be used to easily send and receive SMS text messages to family and friends and will also update them via a web portal of your location and any updates you make.

Garmin has paired these technologies into a robust device that provides unparalleled navigation with best-in-class satellite communication in their new GPSMAP 66i.

The Garmin GPSMAP 66i includes detailed Birdseye Imagery on the device without an additional subscription. It can also update you of changes to the weather and provide detailed forecasts.

In addition to waypoints, tracks, and breadcrumbs, all features you expect from a GPS, the GPSMAP 66i has detailed topographic mapping pre-loaded to show you elevation changes, terrain, features of interest, boundaries and borders, and landmarks.

This is an upgrade from the standard Garmin inReach Explorer that required the use of your smartphone to access this detailed information.

Garmin has also beefed up the battery on this new device, providing up to 200 hours in Explorer mode with tracking every 30 minutes, or 35 hours of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode. It uses a built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery that charges via micro USB, so it can be recharged on the go with a battery brick or solar panel.

The unit is waterproof, shockproof, and very rugged. It meets MIL STD 810G for durability in extreme environments.

Whether you are out exploring off the beaten path, fair chase hunting in rugged terrain, or looking for the honey hole filled with monster Pike your buddy gave you coordinates to, the GPSMAP TOPO mapping will ensure you are able to get there and back without scaling steep mountains or needing a rope and harness. If you are interested in the peace of mind that should someone get injured you can initiate a rescue, or even if you just want to check-in to see how your kid did in their soccer game, you will have the ability to stay in contact with anyone with SMS texting service back home from anywhere on the planet and even send text messages and location data to other Garmin inReach users in your party.

Check out the Garmin GPSMAP 66i and the various subscription options available at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST

The Student Hunter

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

By Logan James

I

t was a chilly Friday morning on November 9th, during the rut in southern Indiana, and I was skipping class to try and get my first buck with my bow. This date, the 9th, was stuck in my head from the previous year because I had sat up in my stand all morning into the early afternoon and had not seen anything. I sat half asleep until a big 10-pointer came running over the crest of the field and caught me off guard as I watched him run past me at 25 yards without blinking an eye. It all happened so fast, and I was in awe of this trophy animal. I did not think about getting my bow ready for a shot.

I walked out of the field that day extremely disappointed in myself for not being ready; I vowed to never be complacent while hunting rutting whitetails again.

So here I was, a year later in the same stand, on the same exact date. The morning started out eventful as I heard some movement behind me at daybreak and later a doe walked out about 100 yards away heading down the side of the harvested bean field.

About an hour later, a smaller buck walked her same trail where I had previously scouted about three scrapes along the woods line. While all this is going on, I am consciously thinking about what happened the year before. It gets to be about 9:30 A.M. after I get my morning snack in when I start to see something coming out of the woods to my left where the other deer came from. I could see antlers, but I could not tell which buck it was from trail camera pictures. I decided to wait and see what he was going to do before I tried to make a move and get him to come to me. He stopped at every scrape heading down the field line away from me to urinate and kick the dirt around. He was making his territory known. It was something I have never seen hunting, and I will never forget that encounter of the hunt.

He marched further and further away almost into the woods away from me, where the big 10 pointer from the year before came sprinting out. I conveniently left my binoculars in the truck that morning so I still had yet to get a good look at the rack, but I knew he was going to be a shooter. I slowly stood up and got in to position because I was not going to let this year be a repeat of the last. I gripped my bow in my left hand, grabbed my rattle bag from my pack, and beat it as hard as I could against my leg. The wind was blowing, making it hard to hear at the distance he was at, which was about 130 yards. Finally, after about five seconds of crushing the rattle bag, he heard it. He stepped out of the woods looking as if he was ticked that he was not invited to the fight in his woods. Just to reassure him that he heard a fight, I rattled it one more time. This buck put his head half way down to the ground and took off on a trot right towards me; it was on. I was having déjà vu of the year before.

I set my rattle bag down and clipped my release on my bowstring and waited about five seconds before he was standing 25 yards from me. He stopped just behind a branch with sleeves to the side of my shooting lane. He started walking to my left in to the woods, so I drew back my bow. I noticed his left side G2 and G3 was broken down to the main beam. He was indeed a fighter and was not about to let someone else fight in his territory without joining them. He also happened to be the 10-pointer on camera all summer and early fall that I was eager to get my hands on that I called ‘Tines’. He stopped perfectly in a narrow opening about 20 yards directly to my left. I took a deep breath and on the exhale, I released the arrow. I watched as it felt like the arrow was going in slow motion sink in his body right behind the shoulder blade. I was sure that I made a great shot, but you never really know until you see him dead on the ground.

I tried to wait and give him time to die like an experienced hunter would, but I thought I heard him crash after nearly ten seconds of tearing through the woods. I immediately called my dad who always said to keep in touch and let him know what was going on. My voice started to shake as I shared with him that I was sure that I had ‘Tines’ on the ground. After I hung up, I nearly slid down the ladder as if a firefighter just called out for a fire. I went straight to the spot where he was standing, I saw blood on a log from the exit hole. I followed the blood trial for 45 yards and there piled up was my first buck taken with a compound bow after hunting with it for eight years. I sat over my buck admiring his rack and appreciating the animal that I just took down and thanked God for the experience He gave me that morning in the woods. I was supposed to be an hour and a half away from that spot listening to a professor talk about math problems, so I sent pictures to my buddies who were stuck in that class to give them a little taste of what I was doing while they were miserably sitting in their seats. Needless to say, it was a great day to skip class.

November 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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