Sportsman's News August 2016 Digital Edition by Sportsman's News

SportsmansNews.com

August 2016

Volume 12 Issue 8

Over-The-Counter Coues Deer Opportunities By Michael Deming

“

ould you like to kill a big Coues buck”, was the first thing out of Richie’s mouth when I answered the phone. Are you kidding me, who wouldn’t say yes to something like that? Unfortunately, I already had a full schedule of personal trips as well as outfitter evaluation trips throughout the fall. “No worries,” said Rich, “this is something we could do in August or January. You can make it a business trip because I’ve decided to get my outfitters license now. We are living full time in Arizona now and I’m spending most of my days in the woods. So, I’ve got a bunch of these grey ghosts patterned continued on page 2

The new VICTORY V8: The most sophisticated, versatile hunting solution from ZEISS. Learn more: www.zeiss.com/victoryv8

Page 6

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

COUES DEER continued from cover

and we can make the most out of these early and late archery hunts and overthe-counter tags. Rich and Cindy Krug have been great personal friends of mine for many years. They used to live in California and introduced me to hard core archery hunting for pigs on the Tejon Ranch. They are both archery hunting fanatics and very accomplished hunters. They live to hunt and spend the majority of their off time chasing elk, deer, and other critters in numerous western states. They have harvested nearly forty elk between the two of them and most with their bows. Cindy took a Canadian moose with her bow several years back and she was recently on the cover of Eastmans’ Bowhunting Journal with a giant Arizona bull. So, I knew when Rich said that he was outfitting, it was going to be done right. We don’t often start our outfitter evaluation process this way, but I was sure looking forward to an evaluation trip with someone I know hunts as hard as we do. Rich started sending me photos of bucks early in the summer as they were developing. The fuzzy antlers and small bodies on these deer make them look massive, but these pictures were unbelievable. Bucks that would make any old Mexico Coues deer hunter happy to bring back to the states were in Arizona and in a unit that you can archery hunt every year.

On top of that, this isn’t a draw unit; it’s an over the counter tag. By the time we got around to season in August, Rich had well over a dozen bucks that would exceed 100 B&C inches on his hit list. A few of them were true monsters which would break the 120” barrier and several of them with drop tines and trash. August finally rolled around and I departed to Arizona. When I arrived at Rich and Cindy’s house, we went through hundreds of trail camera photos to see exactly which buck was going to be on my hit list. The big drop tine buck he had been sending me pictures of was definitely the one that had my attention. After several hours of catching up and looking through the digital deer catalog, I decided that I would stay committed to the drop tine buck. Rich said that he was coming into his setup about 3-4 times a week and just wasn’t consistent with times. So, this meant that I was going to be in for some all-day sits in a blind, in August, and in Arizona. However, a 120 inch Coues deer with drop tines with a bow is worth just about anything. The next morning, we headed out to camp and got ready for the opener. The plan for the opener would be to hike up to the blind in the dark and get settled in at first light. Rich would leave me with a lunch, book, and lots of water for the day. I would follow my GPS tracks back to the trailhead at dark if I wasn’t successful and if I tagged out, I would clean the buck and get him into the shade and head

for camp. The whole process sounded fairly simple. Richie rousted me in what seemed like the middle of the night, but he had a great breakfast burrito and a hot cup of coffee ready when I got into the trailer. We took a last look at the computer to see the other known bucks that were coming to this location. We hiked nearly a mile to get to our location and it was just getting grey light when we arrived at the blind. Rich gave me the rundown of where the water was located and where the deer were usually bedding. He wished me good luck and departed for the day. I had the typical opening day anticipation as the sun started to rise. Rich had developed a rain capture

type of guzzler at this setup, which would allow the deer to stay on top of the mountain and drink instead of heading to the valley floors to drink out of the creeks. We had dark timber nearby to protect from the scorching Arizona heat and provide a cool bedding area. The area around the blind had significant food, and with all the birds drinking out of the manmade guzzler, I knew we had water. Rich had definitely done his homework in this area and this was one of over thirty setups he had developed. I didn’t have to wait long before my first Coues deer came into range. He was a great 3X3 buck with a good set of back forks and a solid main beam and at least a twelve inch inside spread. I knew he was a great archery buck and would have been my biggest archery Coues to date, but he wasn’t what I came to Arizona to harvest. Knowing that this tag is good in August as well as December and January, you can afford to be picky. Over the next twelve hours, I had a constant parade of deer coming in to quench their thirst and the majority of them were bucks. However, the drop tine buck never presented himself. I hiked off the mountain after spending nearly fourteen solid hours in a blind and was happy to stretch my legs. The next morning, I tackled the hike to the blind myself. The wild raspberry bushes were going wild in the area. They were loaded with berries and I was sure that I was going to run into a big bruin in the dark. It seemed continued on page 5

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

n a recent trip to evaluate an outfitting operation, I had the pleasure of meeting numerous interesting people. It was a very nice fishing destination with a lot of diversity and a very highly rated lodge. Every evening, we would meet in the lounge area for happy hour and hors ‘d oeuvres, where we could discuss the exciting things the other guests had done for the day as well as their level of enthusiasm. Many of them had experienced a wonderful day and were truly enjoying the vacation. Some of the people were not as satisfied and I took the opportunity, as I always do, to research why they weren’t extremely satisfied with their experience. The one thing that usually always holds true with these types of people is that they had a different understanding of what they were going to participate in. In some cases, they didn’t even ask enough questions about the specific trip they had purchased to know it wasn’t what they wanted. This all sounds relatively simple. However, you need to have a lot of experience with traveling to these types of operations to even know the right questions to ask. If you are the type of person that is going to finally make that bucket list trip to

catch king salmon for the very first time, you have a major learning curve on so many things. Where do you go? What time of year do you go? Do I want to pursue them in a river or the ocean? What sort of tackle do I need? Can I bring my fish home and if so, how do I do it? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask and that’s for only one species of fish! If we look at hunting, it’s a whole other ballgame. Most people start their research on the internet. They look at reviews of destinations as well as videos. One thing is pretty constant and that is they do a lot of research. Every one of the people I’ve talked to over the past 25 years of doing outdoor travel (12 years personally and 13 professionally), I have found that even the unsatisfied people did a lot of research. The breakdown happens when they talk with the outfitters/lodges. The success of these outfitters depends on filling vacancies in their lodges. So, they need to answer your questions and make your dream trip conform to what they are offering. Many outfitters do a really good job of asking lots of questions of their prospective clients and pairing them not only with the right time of year, but also guides to fulfill their dreams. However, most

do not. Most of those unsatisfied customers we have met were just at the wrong destination or at the wrong time of year. There are always a few which won’t ever be happy regardless and we can’t help those folks. However, I really want to see everyone who spends the money on a trip to experience the trip of their dreams. Regardless of whether you are fishing or hunting, you probably have a vision of what the perfect trip looks like. If not, we here at Sportsman’s News have the ability to help you shape the vision of your dream trip as well as fulfill it. We have visited hundreds of operations throughout our professional careers and pairing your dreams with the right outfitter to fulfill that is what we are really good at. We know the outfitters and we know the questions to ask you to make sure we put you with the right place and at the right time. Best of all, this service is free to you and we consider it a pleasure to help you in the process and steer you to the right outfitter. It makes for very happy customers and happy outfitters. Next time you are thinking about doing some sort of trip to fish or hunt, give us a call or drop us an email. I’m happy to share my years of experience with you to make sure you have the trip of a lifetime the next time you spend some of those hard earned dollars.

WHAT’S INSIDE

3 Words From The Publisher 6 Carl Zeiss Victory 8 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters 14 Vortex Razor HD LH 16 Archery Roundup 26 Pro’s Tip: Caliber Selection 30 Pro Member Sweepstakes Member Update: Davine 34 Pro Springs Trophy Cam HD 36 Bushnell Wireless 38 Time To Trade In Your Old Gun 42 Bad RiverBucks & Birds Thinker: Speed 44 Fishful Matters 46 Pro’s Pick: Rambo Bikes Product Reviews 48 Video Pacwest Outdoors: Dry Side 54 Black Bears 56 Business Directory XPR Rifle 58 Winchester Game recipe: Smoked 60 Wild Salmon 61 Writing Contest: PR Tarpon On A Budget: 62 Adventures Bowfishing Sagas: Changing 64 Barebow! of the Guard

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COUES DEER

continued from page 2 that Rich had picked a much better trail on the way in the day before than I had picked today. I didn’t make it to the blind until a little later this morning and I was a little worse for wear. The raspberry bushes had gotten the better of me, but fortunately no bears had surprised me. A bachelor herd of bucks was my first visitors to the water on this morning. One of them was a solid 8 pointer that broke the hundred inch mark and I considered dumping the string to avoid another fourteen hours of blind sitting. However, I glanced at my phone to look at my screen saver, which is the drop tine buck. That kept me committed to the current goals. The deer moved strong the majority of the day, but mostly does and fawns. I departed the blind a bit earlier in hopes of stalking up on a feeding buck in the trees on my way back to camp. I found several groups of turkey and even a large six point bull on my trek out, but still no drop tine buck. Rich cooked us up a great steak dinner with all the fixings and we

discussed my commitment to the big drop tine buck. I assured him that I was willing to stick it out as long as possible to get a shot at this guy. The next morning, I decided to take a bit of a different route to the blind which I had noted the night before. It appeared to be a rocky ridge with significantly less raspberry bushes, but a longer route. The route turned out to be significantly longer than expected, so I was pushing pretty hard. I blew a deer out and I could see him through the trees. It was definitely the drop tine buck and he was very massive in person. I got into the blind and I was very distraught about spooking my big buck. A mature buck of this caliber doesn’t take kindly to pressure at all and over the next 3 days, my mistake proved to be fatal. My dream buck didn’t show up at all during daylight hours, but worst of all, he didn’t show up on camera at night either. I had passed over a dozen quality bucks and several over the hundred inch mark and now I was second guessing my decisions for the week. With elk season just around the corner for Rich and his crew, they needed to move into some of their other units

Rich and Cindy Krug run Krug’s Coues Camp out of Heber, Arizona. They are extremely hardcore hunters with high success and happy clients as their focus. Learning an area and knowing the animals and their habits is the key to success. This operation is the epitome of what we look for in a Platinum Approved Outfitter operation. Coues deer and elk are their passion. They hunt a very limited amount of hunters each and every year to keep the quality high. They are semi-retired and still travel to multiple states every year to hunt for themselves. So if you want big Coues deer or draw an elk tag in unit’s 3A/3C or 4B, you better reach out to them early. These limited slots go quickly.

This bull was seen on the cover of Eastmans’ Bowhunting Journal. Cindy and Rich Krug teamed up to put the smackdown on this giant in one of their units. and check their bull inventory. I had The week after I left, the drop other commitments as well, so we tine buck was back to his regudiscussed the possibilities of coming lar routine with plenty of good back after Christmas. Fortunately, my pictures and one lucky hunter unfilled tag is good for the December got a shot at him and missed season. Rich said the rut for these guys him inside of twenty yards. So, is unbelievable and I will surely be I was hoping to get another run back to fill my tag. at him soon.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Carl Zeiss V8 Riflescope

arl Zeiss Sport Optics has always been an innovator when it comes to sport optics which is why they have been around for more than a 175 years. Their attention to detail and desire to bring products to market which are in need is the exact reason they dominate the optics market today. The new Carl Zeiss V8 Riflescope is another one of those innovative products which sets them apart from other optics manufacturers. From the minute you pull one of these scopes out of the box, you will notice that it is something special. The 36mm tube sets it apart from nearly any other scope you

have ever seen. This, combined with the large objective, makes this scope a light gathering dream. The V8 in the name stands for 8-times magnification. The versatility of having 8X magnification gives you the ability to have a scope which covers your needs for extremely low power in thick cover or when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re up close and personal with dangerous game. The same holds true when you are looking to take a long range shot and you need to see exactly where to aim. Regardless of your situation, there is a V8 riflescope built just for you. The four available models consist of the 1-8X30, 1.8-14X50, 2.8-20X56

and the 4.835X60 at the top end of the magnification spectrum. Since the 36mm tube provides a bit of a challenge in purchasing rings, ZEISS has provided a set of high quality 36mm Talley signature rings with each scope. The rings are the appropriate height for each objective lens. It also comes with a certificate for a free set of Talley bases specific to your rifle and a quick call to Talley will get them headed your way. The Victory line of scopes from ZEISS are their top of the line optics and exactly what you would

expect from a veteran company like ZEISS. Everything is extremely well designed with the end user in mind. The fluoride lens elements and SCHOTT HT glass provide you with the highest image quality on the market. Combine this with 92% light transmission and you have a scope worthy of any rifle. The ocular on all models are designed for greater

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Master the challenge. New ZEISS VICTORY V8

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New ZEISS VICTORY® V8 The most sophisticated, precision hunting solution from ZEISS. Unsurpassed in its versatility and unrivaled in its optical performance, the new VICTORY V8 from ZEISS gives hunters everything without compromising anything. The brightest optics combined with 8x zoom enable fast, intuitive reaction time and flexibility at any distance, under any light situation, no matter the hunting scenario or style. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece of engineering is available in four models: 1-8x30, 1.8-14x50, 2.8-20x56 and 4.8-35x60. All models include TALLEY Signature Rings and a coupon for free TALLEY® Steel Bases. ®

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

eye relief and a wider field of view. This gives you great edge to edge clarity, with no dark circles at the edges. These scopes come in two different reticle options. The first is the reticle 60 which provides an extremely fine crosshair with an adjustable illuminated dot in the reticle. The second is the reticle 43 which uses mil dots as well as an illuminated dot. The super fine illumination dot is one of the finest I’ve ever seen and takes up a minimal portion of the target which is extremely important at long range. The illumination on and intensity button is right above the eyepiece. It is very low profile and in the

perfect position. However, there is no need to ever turn it off. Due to the advanced illumination control system, it automatically shuts down when the rifle is tipped straight up, straight down or turned on either side. It reactivates as soon as you take aim. The parallax adjustment is right at your fingertips and gives you precise focus on the target regardless of range. The power selection moves easily through the full range of powers, especially when equipped with the aftermarket throw switch, which is highly recommended. If shooting longer range is one of your desires, the V8 is an ideal setup. Each scope comes with nine different pre-cut ballistic turrets and one is sure to get you on target regardless of your rifle caliber and

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load. Whether you’re shooting a .375 for dangerous game or a flat shooting long range caliber like the .300 Wi n M a g a n d looking to shoot out to 600 yards, one of these LR turrets will have you ringing the steel like a champion. Setting it up is simple once you have zeroed your rifle. You can visit the ballistic calculator page on the ZEISS website and put your specific load data into the program and it will tell you exactly which pre-cut turret to use to give you the best accuracy out to 600 yards. If you are a perfectionist and going to want to shoot at extreme long ranges well past that 600 yard mark, you will be happy to know that ZEISS has included one custom turret from Kenton Industries worth $149 with each scope.

This will get you the most out of this 36mm tube and 100 clicks of vertical adjustment. With some of the faster calibers, it has the ability to get you out past 1300 yards with one full revolution, whereas ¼ MOA adjustment scopes would limit you to less than 1,000 yards. These scopes are very ergonomically designed with the end user in mind. It has the best glass with the very best coatings on the market. Anything you could think of to make a top end scope has been addressed with this offering from ZEISS and it is also covered by their limited lifetime transferable warranty and 5-year no fault policy.

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

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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Vortex Razor HD LH By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

or years, hunters have appreciated the quality and customer service of Vortex optics. Many hunters who may have wanted to keep that reliability and warranty but also have access to higher end glass were forced to sacrifice weight and size to move into the tactical side of the Vortex house and go with their Razor line of optics. Recognizing the need to provide true HD glass performance in a lightweight hunting scope, Vortex created the Razor HD Light Hunter; with all of the performance of a high-end scope without the weight and size. By using a one-inch tube, Vortex has been able to minimize the weight of the scope, and by utilizing state of the art lens coating, get excellent light throughput. The Razor HD LH comes in three configurations, 3-15x42, 2-10x40, and 1.5-8x32 and with either the HSR-4 or G4 BDC MOA reticles. High Density (HD) low dispersion glass provides amazing resolution and clarity, with top-end color fidelity. The lenses are optically indexed to give better brightness and sharpness and computercontrolled alignment delivers true edge-to-edge clarity. The lenses themselves are coated with pro-

prietary XRPlus multicoating to deliver better light transmission and multiple anti-glare coatings on all outside lenses, as well as ArmorTek to prevent scratching and provide resistance to dust and fog. The APO (Apochromatic Objective) lens system uses index-matched lenses to correct color across the entire visual spectrum. A single piece aircraft aluminum one-inch tube houses the lenses and Precision-Glide Erector System. This system ensures the components in the zoom lens mechanism glide smoothly and cleanly through all magnification ranges. The tube is argon purged to prevent thermal shock and internal fogging as well as making the tube completely waterproof. The turrets have 55 MOA of adjustment and a side parallax adjustment from 20 yards to infinity. Under the caps, the adjustment turrets are practically silent, but continued on page 56

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Fall Archery Roundup By Shane Chuning Archery Editor

etting ready for a fall archery tag? Here are some of our top picks for new tackle that will help you have a successful hunt and a full freezer. Bear Archery Threat Bear Archery has been putting together some solid bows the last few years. I especially took note when they introduced their own Hybrid Cam back in 2013. These Hybrid cams have proven to be complete performers, competing right there with some of the other top-end manufacturers on the market. They have even refined theirs better than some, giving you excellent tunability throughout the different draw length. Some of their competitors I feel are not as consistent with the rotating mods but Bear Archery has nailed this part, making tuning a breeze. Let’s spend a little time and go through the Bear Archery Threat. This bow comes with a 330 IBO rating; 6.25” brace height and an axle to axle measurement of 32.25 inches. The mass weight is sitting right at 4 pounds bare bow. It covers a range of different draw lengths from 25-30 inches with a set of rotating mods, making it easy to make adjustments if need be. The Threat is offered in draw weights 50#-60# and 60#-70#. Their ES Hybrid Cams produce great efficiency while maintainBareshaft and fletched arrow at 20 yards.

ing a smooth draw cycle all the way back to full draw. Since they introduced their first Hybrid Cam system, they have had very manageable cam lean engineered into them. The Bear Archery Threat at a mid-range price point is proving to be no different than some of their upper end price point bows. This paves the way for clean nock travel and a very friendly bow to tune. This particular one was sent to us set at 29 inches in draw length and peak draw weight coming in at 70 pounds. It was also set up with Bear Archery’s RTH (Ready to Hunt Package) which includes a Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit, Trophy Ridge 4 pin sight, Trophy Ridge Stabilizer and sling, Trophy Ridge 5 arrow quiver, peep sight and D loop. This bow tuned right up after a few minor adjustments. One was to nock height, which I had to adjust to nock level. While the other, being pre lean on the top cam, needed a few twists to the right side yoke and it was shooting bareshafts with fletched in no time all at 20 yards. They do have engraved marks to use as references on top and bottom cams and these proved to be very close to spot on, for cam synch. With a 29” draw and a draw weight of 70# it was sending a 357 grain arrow down range at 318 fps, which is right on par with their 330 IBO speed rating. The draw cycle is a consistent pull all the way back and locks in pretty well at full draw. Factory strings keep on getting better and appear to be holding up very well. Their String Suppressor material looks to have a little change as well for this year and seems to be an improvement in material. Grip comfort has been a mainstay and I see no change there. The Bear Archery Threat with the Ready to Hunt package is priced at 599.99 and quite the workhorse. With that price point, you get a very friendly tunable bow that will give you all the accuracy you need to put plenty of meat in the freezer this upcoming season. continued on page 18

Chronograph speeds taken with listed specs.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ARCHERY TACKLE

pounds but still maintains great stability at full draw. This would make continued from page 16 for a great backcountry bow with Diamond Archery Deploy SB its overall axle to axle length of 31.5 Bowtech is continuing to impress inches. It makes it very friendly in me this year across the board, even the weight and maneuverability dein their Diamond line of bows. This partment on the long pack in trips. year’s Diamond Deploy SB is provThe bow we tested came in at ing to be one of those that caught 28.5” draw and peaked out at 70.5 my attention. This is a carbon riser pounds. They are offered in draw Binary Cam bow that will compete length ranging from 26”-30.5” with with the best of them. The first thing draw weights from 50, 60 and 70 you will notice right off the bat is the pounds. The camo pattern on this overall mass weight, or lack thereof. one was the Mossy Oak Break-Up The carbon riser gives this bow Country which appeared to be crisp a very light feel, coming in at 3.2 and clear with clean lines throughout. I would say defiReal world chronograph speeds with nitely better than some listed specs of their competitors with the carbon risers. The aero-space inspired carbon riser gives the Deploy SB its strength and durability to handle the toughest of tasks in the field, with a very nice feel to the 3.2 pound overall weight. The Binary Cams on

this one are proving to be exceptional performers as well. This one at 28.5” draw and peaking out at 70.5 pounds is sending an arrow down range that comes in at 357 grains, to the speeds of 318 fps. This puts it over its IBO rating of about 10 fps. The draw cycle is smooth and consistent throughout and is proving to be efficient at delivering arrows down range at those speeds. I found the grip comfortable and repeatable as I was slapping bareshafts right with fletched arrows at 20 yards. The bareshafts were very repeatable on entry with fletched arrows and one of the keys to making those long range groups come together. The overall tuning procontinued on page 20

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ARCHERY TACKLE continued from page 18

cess was a breeze and made for a quite friendly tunable bow with very little effort. I found the reference marks on the cams for cam synch to get you in the ballpark and then fine tune from there. My end results to clean up vertical nock travel were still within reason of the engraved marks but not exact from top to bottom. These are good to use as references, once all fine tuning has been done to see how well your tune is holding true. For nock height, I found the best results with nocking point a hair high and centershot measurement right in between 3/4” and 13/16. This puts your arrow running true with your front stabilizer; this also makes it parallel with your riser for a quick reference to get you started in the right direction. The one limb stop makes for a very nice backwall and still gives you great adjustability when synching the cams. When bows have two limb stops you then

have to constantly readjust to get them hitting at the same time. It’s all personal preference with a Binary Cam, but one stop is sufficient and makes pulling through your shot extremely repeatable. Here’s a tip on synching cams; when adding or taking out a twist in the cables make sure you recheck your nock height each and every time you make an adjustment. Any time you twist or untwist the cables it will change your nock height so you will want to reassess that so the tuning process goes smooth. Overall impression of the Diamond Deploy SB has taken me by surprise. I felt this bow has a lot to offer at a very good price point for a carbon riser. The overall balance, shoot ability, smooth draw and ease of tune made it a joy to setup and test out. On top of that, being an overachiever on speeds was a pleasant bonus I was not expecting. Definitely worth the look if you’re in the market for a new bow. continued on page 22

Bareshaft and fletched arrow at 20 yards. Just about a RobinHood on this one without a peep.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ARCHERY TACKLE continued from page 20

Diamond Edge SB-1 When looking for a bow to suit anyone’s needs, look no further than the new release of Diamond Archery’s Edge SB-1. This bow has so much adjustability, a smooth draw, good speeds, all in a very stout package. It is a great choice for those new into the sport, whether you’re a boy, girl, man or woman, this bow will not disappoint and will be something you can grow with for quite some time. One of the first things I noticed upon first grabbing the bow was the grip. Man, they cut no corners here and made this thing to fit like a glove, giving you exceptional comfort. The next thing was the odd looking limb pockets. However, when realizing all the adjustability available with very easy to use reference marks, you realize how well and thought out they really are. The draw cycle was exceptionally smooth and consistent throughout and boasts an IBO speed rating of 318 fps. This particular bow was set up at 28.5” draw and peak weight coming in at 72.5#.

This setup was sending arrows down range very well and only needed a minor tweak to my nock height setting to have it going perfect in no time. Diamond Archery has included engraved marks on these cams to use as reference points when tuning. I found them to be very close in my specs to deliver the best performance. Using a 357 grain arrow I was coming in with speeds right at 308.9 fps with my 28.5” draw at 72.5 pounds. This put calculated speeds right on par with its 318 fps rating. Centershot on this particular bow was sitting right about 1 inch and this cleaned up the lateral nock travel very well. It did not take long at all to have this 100 percent tuned right out of the box. The performance is definitely there and for someone looking at bow options for the long haul, this would be one to consider. You could literally start out at 15 inches of draw length at 7 pounds and then grow all the way to 30 inches in draw length at 70 pounds. The comfort, dependability, reliability and performance are all there in this little package. The Edge SB-1 comes ready with a R.A.K. custom sight (Apex Gear three-pin), Octane Hostage Max rest, 5-inch Octane stabilizer, Octane Deadlock Lite quiver, comfort wrist sling, a carbon peep and a BCY string loop. With the overall appearance, you get a feel for a very stout and sturdy platform that would last a lifetime. With that said, it has a comfortable feel and not heavy at all, coming in at 3.6 pounds. Bow string quality has even gotten better on these RAK package models and servings have stayed relatively tight, throughout the testing of the SB-1. With the way the cables corkscrew around the cable track to accommodate the large range of draw length I thought this may be one area of concern. However, this area proved to hold up very well, so I give props for not cutting corners and keeping quality up on this great budget friendly bow to suit anyone’s needs. My overall impression of the Diamond SB-1 was, WOW! What a sweet little package that I wish was offered when I was a kid. Talk about a bow that is ready to go, with unlimited adjustability, it doesn’t get much better than that. continued on page 24

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ARCHERY TACKLE continued from page 22

G5 Quest AMP The very first impression that comes to mind with G5 bows is the toughest and best finish in the business. Their DURAFUSE FINISH is incredibly tough and image quality is second to none. Then the very next thing I noticed is the Hybrid cam. Seems like others are jumping in on their own hybrid cam modifications since the hybrid cam patents have expired. The first mental note was the addition of limb stops that added to the more widely noted cable stops. Hybrid cams are known for their cable stops and are still widely used in that fashion today. There are a couple of companies that have added limb stops to the Hybrid cam system but I am still not sold on this added feature. G5 Quest AMP specs: • Axle to Axle 32” • Brace Height 7” • Weight 3.9 pounds • Draw length range 26.5”- 31” • Draw weight range 40#, 50#,

60#, 70# • Standard finishes Realtree Xtra / Black • BCY 452X strings and cables • RAD (Rotating adjustable cam) • New Stabilite Riser The G5 Quest AMP I set up had a Trophy Taker Smackdown Pro rest, AXT 4 pin Slider sight, Gold Tip Pro Hunter 300’s with Blazer vanes and 100 grain fieldpoints. This particular setup resulted in perfect bareshaft and fletched flight but was a little finicky; I will discuss this a little more. The specs were 29” draw, 70 pounds peak weight, with a 406 grain arrow at 303 fps; putting this particular bow at a 338 IBO speed equivalent calculation. The G5 Quest AMP is advertised at a 340 IBO so it is right there, give or take a couple feet per second. The first thing you will notice is the smooth drawing cam with a very solid backwall, due to the limb stop verses the more traditional cable stops. Now when it comes to tuning these Hybrid cam limb stop bows, which are fairly new to the market, I have noticed they can be finicky. This is probably due to

throwing one more thing into the mix. When you incorporate a limb stop you are also adding uneven loads on the limbs at full draw to a Hybrid Cam System that is not traditionally known for additional loads in those specific locations. This being the case, along with the location of the limb stops when using a limb tip style press, it can be a little more time consuming when attempting to fine tune your setup. My end goal was still accomplished when my bareshafts were flying perfect with fletched at 20 yards. The settings that yielded the best results were, nock height level, centershot 13/16, the dots on cams were a very close reference for cam synch, pre lean when putting an arrow on the left side of the top cam projected down to nocking point was just starting to intersect the aim string at nocking point. These settings are a very good starting base to start your tuning process from and should put you very close out of the gate. The G5 Quest AMP is fairly quiet and has very minimal vibe. I did notice the buss cable starting to get serving

separation within the first 100 shots. Just something to look for that might create some cosmetic or possible wear issues down the road. Overall impression was top notch finish, best in the business, smooth draw and firm backwall. On the down side, a little finicky on the fine tuning for the technical guys but perfect end results none the less.

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Choosing Your Hunting Caliber By Eric Christensen

aving worked at a gun store for several years really helped me understand why there are so many calibers available. Like most of today’s hunting products, technology and

evolution have expanded manufacturer ’s standard productions of traditional calibers to explore calibers that can deliver extreme muzzle velocity with accuracy. Walking up to the gun counters at Sportsman’s Warehouse really splits the crowd into consumers

Getting a comfortable and steady platform to shoot from is essential for down range accuracy. I like prone for the overall best position for long range shooting. The steadier the rest the easier it will be to make an accurate shot.

who are caliber specific and the overwhelmed novice firearm consumer. With such a vast selection of calibers to choose from, how do you know what direction to take? Do you stick with the tried and true or jump all-in with a long range setup that users can dial-in with a turret system. I always seemed to ask the customers the same set of questions: What type of shooting are you going to do and what experience have you had in the past with certain calibers? There is nothing wrong with calibers that have emerged as consistent, accurate and affordable. I grew up shooting .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, 7 mm, .300 Winchester Magnum, down to a small .22-250. I remember walking into a gun store when I was 18 and looking at a .338 Lapua round, thinking that it must be a military round because of the size. These traditional rounds are successful for multiple reasons. The .270 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield suit a variety of hunting situations. They offer a wide variety of bullet weights and tips for a reasonable price. For these traditional calibers

Pro’s Tips you must ask yourself what type of hunting you’re going to be doing. Are you buying a .270 caliber to hunt a specific animal or to cover a variety of different types of animals? These mid-range calibers can be okay for versatility. Sure you can kill a coyote with a 150 grain .30-06 and an elk with the same caliber. These animals are completely different and if you place the bullet in the boiler room, both will fall. It really comes down to your needs and wants. But, if you have no idea what performance your load is going to achieve at certain distances, then you’re not maximizing crunch time. I was recently on a late cow elk hunt with some good friends. They were both shooting a .30-06 in 165 gr. SST, but with rifles from different gun manufacturers. They had hunted with the same guns for decades. They liked the caliber and they could share rounds if needed continued on page 28

A good set of shooting sticks can be used when you can’t use Mother Nature to get a proper setup. Be sure to practice at several distances with your shooting sticks prior to heading into the wilderness for your hunting trip.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

CALIBER

continued from page 26 while out hunting, along with a few more reasons. Like most of today’s firearm crowd, they didn’t do enough research and range time to really learn what their calibers would do. If you don’t know the drop at 400 and 500 yards, then by all means you can’t take the shot with confidence. We had cows at 478 yards and couldn’t get any closer. Both shot at cows and both missed. After the excitement settled down I asked them where they held and how it felt. Both men answered with a guess. Not knowing their guns would drop well over three feet at that range, they wasted a lifelong experience of harvesting two cow elk at the same time and adding a successful hunt that would have filled their families’ freezers. This experience is not an isolated one, as even I have fallen into this trap when I was younger. I

would dust off my .270 and go and shoot at 100 yards with a good group, then move out to 200 yards and call it a day. I had no idea then why ballistics were so important to helping me become a more successful hunter. If you think about it, does it make sense to finally draw a tag and then scout and hunt hard only to have to guess where to hold your crosshairs in the moment of truth? All the time and money we spend on getting us to the moment is completely wasted if we are unprepared. Having learned this skill the hard way paid off for my daughter recently. She drew a late cow tag in the same area as my two friends. We chose to go with a 7mm-08 Weatherby with a 140 grain Nosler partition. We chose this round because it fit her 110-pound frame with the size and weight of the gun. Also, the recoil was a little lighter. We sighted in at 200 yards for our zero and practiced out to 500 yards. As a proud father, she managed to be

When it comes to selecting the proper rifle caliber for your hunt, there are plenty of choices. pretty efficient at 300-400 yards! But, 500 seemed to be a struggle, so we realized that 400 yards was our maximum distance. This being her first big game hunt, I wanted to make sure she had a hunt that would hook her love for hunting to last her lifetime. She

missed a cow at 250 yards, but that same evening she harvested another cow elk at 335 yards. I mentioned this story for an example of selecting the right caliber for the situation. Too many times continued on page 32

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August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

CALIBER

continued from page 28 at the gun counter I saw customers purchase guns for themselves that someone else would be using. If the shooter is going to be recoil shy or they haven’t grown into the caliber, then why would you spend money on a setup that doesn’t fit your shooter. Working for Mike Deming and Sportsman’s News has given me an opportunity to try my hand at long range rifle setups and I can tell you I’m hooked. There is nothing like sitting on a bench and rattling a metal plate at 700 yards. You can squeeze the trigger and think you completely missed, only to hear the bang on the metal plate an entire second later than you expect. It has changed my entire outlook on long range shooting. It has made me become a much better shooter by making me understand what the load I’m shooting is doing every time I squeeze off a round, giving me a shooting mindset. This type of preparation has also made me understand that this type of discipline is not only going to make me a more successful marksman, but also fairer to my prey. No one wants to injure or wound an animal they are intending to harvest. By knowing exactly where your bullet is going to travel at a given distance, it will minimize missing a shot. Had my two friends learned and spent

more time with their old, seemingly reliable .30-06’s, they might have brought home a freezer full of meat instead of coming home empty handed. So how do you select a caliber that fits your needs? You need to decide what you are wanting to accomplish. No matter what caliber you decide fits your hunting preference, learning as much as possible about your gun and your ammunition is crucial to becoming a more confident marksman. I’ve learned that some guns don’t like some types of bullets. I would recommend that you try a few different manufacturers and grain weights to see what groups the best out of your setup. It may seem like overkill to buy a few different boxes of ammo in the same caliber, but I promise, you will not complain one bit once your gun is pin-point accurate and performs at its utmost. And of course, the topic of optics is an entire discussion of its own, but also should be thought about before topping your gun and heading to the range. I would highly recommend you invest in a performing rifle scope to fit your shooting goal. Optics are just as important as your traditional or specialty caliber. Practice, practice, practice and you will not be disappointed. Learning your caliber and what it can do will help fill your scrap book and memories with more successful hunting trips.

Hunting big game like this Alaskan Brown Bear requires an extremely accurate shot placement. Most hunters and guides use a large caliber and bullet for smashing through bone and penetrating thick hide. The last thing you want is to guess where your bullet is going to hit on a large bear like this one. Mike Schafer used .338 Winchester Magnum to down this trophy brown bear.

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Big Texas Whitetails By Michael Deming

y the time December rolls around here in the west, all of the big game hunting has pretty much come to a close. There are still a few late archery hunts and some very limited draws available, but few opportunities at some great critters and a good hunt. This is precisely the reason we started hunting in Texas. When we are slowing down, they are just heating up with some of their very best hunting. Since the entire state is pretty much private land, you either have to lease or find a quality outfitter with property. Finding an outfitter in Texas isn’t hard, but finding a really good one and one that you get along with, can be a bit more challenging. We found DaVine Springs Ranch about an hour north of Austin several years ago and have been visiting them each and every year since. They are a family run business and a first class operation. The very first time we visited them, I felt like I was visiting relatives and it has only gotten better with every return trip. We purchased a premium trophy whitetail hunt for the Pro Membership Sweepstakes and David Bloom from California was the lucky recipient of this hunt. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing David for

many years and he was one of the very first people to sign up to become a member of the sweepstakes. He had always called and asked why we hadn’t drawn his name and he was more than shocked when I let him know that he was heading to Texas with me. David has done a lot of hunts over the years that I’ve known him and he always says he is a trophy hunter, but seldom fills his tags with anything of size. There is always a good reason for it; at least in his mind. So, I was pretty excited to get to be along on this trip as the cameraman to share the experience. DaVine Springs Ranch is known for their genetics of huge whitetail. Lane Wolff is one of the family owners of this great operation and he personally put the smack down on the ranch record buck, which stretched the tape to 348”. That number is correct and not a type-O. A whitetail with nearly as much bone as a really good bull elk. This mount is in the lodge and is a spectacular trophy. David and I rolled into the lodge the first week of December and as always, we were greeted by the whole family. Brian Wolff is the dad and also the dedicated camp chef. He knows his way around a smoker better than anyone I’ve ever met and soon had us served up

a great steak dinner. After dinner, we looked through an abundant amount of trail camera pics, which Lane had compiled over the season. The rut was coming to a close when we arrived, so many of the bucks we were considering had broken points and were no longer ideal candidates for our lucky hunter. This was a pretty expensive hunt, but there were several bucks on this ranch which would require an additional trophy fee due to their massive size. The Sportsman’s News team and the Pro Member Sweepstakes weren’t willing to pay for these additional fees, but we let David know that he was more than welcome to shoot those deer if we got fortunate enough to get a crack at one. He would just have to pick up the freight on this expense. After dinner, we still had a couple of hours to get into the blind and look around. On the way to the blind, one of the most impressive whitetails I’ve ever seen on the hoof was working a doe and gave us a great opportunity to look him over. This whitetail is the thing that dreams are made of. He had tremendous mass and matching whopper droppers on each side. I have no idea how big this deer truly was, but Lane felt like he was in the 275-280” range. With this being the first evening of our hunt, David decided not to spend the additional trophy fee at this time. We sat until dark and saw some respectable bucks, but nothing we were willing to drop the hammer on yet.

The next morning, we were all in the blind well before daylight. We could see deer movement and several bucks grunting, so we knew we still had a bit of rutting activity going on. As the grey light faded, we could see two really good bucks. Both were right around that 200 inch mark and David would happily shoot either one of those bucks. As if on cue, they headed for the trees with only about 40 minutes to spare of legal shooting light. We were all a bit bummed, but optimistic that we still had plenty of time. Thirty minutes later, both bucks came back into the field pushing a doe. David wasn’t wasting any time with this just being a passing visit. I had barely gotten the camera rolling when he pulled the trigger on the largest of the two bucks. He was a whopper, 215” whitetail and finally a trophy worth mounting for David. With another day and a half left to hunt, we also hunted a Black Buck and viewed twenty plus species of exotics. DaVine Springs Ranch is a Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved Outfitter and a first class operation. We will be giving away another trip to this destination January 30th, 2017, so if you’re not a member yet, get signed up for a chance at this great trip and many more great adventures and gear packages along the way!

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Bushnell Trophy Cam HD Aggressor Wireless By Shane Chuning

his year I drew a premium elk tag in Utah in some rough country, with limited road access. The trips scouting are long and grueling hikes in and out and with all the time invested, money spent on fuel etc, I figured it would be a perfect time to test out the

new Bushnell Trophy Cam HD. Depending on your situation, this little powerhouse just might save you money in the long run. Let’s go ahead with a quick rundown for setup and features. Bushnell nailed the ease of setup in eight simple steps to get you going and finished in no time at all. The first step is the new account setup, which consists of email address and password. Second step is the new account registration. This is not a long, dragged out process and has been made very easy. The third step then gets you started by adding your camera’s serial number. Number four step in the process is adding 12 batteries and an SD card. Fifth, is simply sliding the camera switch to the setup position. Sixth, you would enter in your cell phone or email address info you want pictures sent to. Seventh is as easy as saving that info. Lastly, your eighth step is the test picture process that

will be sent to you. It really doesn’t get much easier than that. On top of that, they have a user friendly App where you can make changes to your trail camera settings when need be. The Trophy Cam HD Wireless also has a GPS chip that updates the location daily and you can view that via satellite imagery. They have also made the thumbnails 4X larger to make it much easier to make out the detail in the photo’s being sent over. The new modem has more expanded coverage and is provided by AT&T. To my surprise, I was receiving pictures within a minute, even only having 1-bar of signal strength.

Having a 0.3 second trigger speed with 720p HD video and 14 megapixels, as well as 48 No Glow LED’s, this trail camera is sure to be a winner. With the ease of setup and the convenience of all the features being accessible at your finger tips by way of the Bushnell Trophy Cam App, I’m quite sure this will be a mainstay in the years to come for those serious about the game they pursue.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Sell That Old Gun Before You Buy The New One By Michael Deming

ith fall and all the major hunting seasons just around the corner, it might just be time to get yourself a new rifle, shotgun or pistol. Sportsman’s Warehouse is truly the very best place to get this done as they have a vast selection of all of the above. If you need to get rid of an old gun prior to purchasing a new one, Sportsman’s Warehouse doesn’t take Trade-In’s. So, that just might put you in a position as to finding the best way to get rid of your current inventory, so that you can get that shiny new one. GunzMart is probably one of the very best resources to get this done legally, quickly and with a high level of customer service. GunzMart.com is a premier auction site for guns. It was created by shooters and outdoorsmen after disappointing experiences at other online gun auction sites. It was concluded that the “guns online” experience should be much easier and satisfying. As a result, they decided to build the best online auction site for gun lovers and sportsmen possible. It was designed as a place where gun enthusiasts, target shooters and hunters could gather to sell and exchange

new and used handguns, rifles and shotguns. From the end users standpoint, they made the site mobile friendly and they are committed to providing the best customer service possible. Owner Brock Kaufman says, “If you need us, we’re available to answer your questions and make your online gun buying experience as smooth and satisfying as possible”. Since he has personally sold guns online in the past, he knows the challenges that face sellers. “We have worked hard to make it as easy as possible to offer, track and sell your firearms online and to help you keep the money you earn from these sales”, Brock continues. Some of the questions that often arise about selling firearms often keeps people from doing it. GunzMart has taken the time to answer all of your questions. Brock says, “We went the extra mile to make sure we do this 100 percent right from the ground up. This company took an extra two years to launch because of our attention to detail in all of these matters. We wanted everything to be a great experience whether they were a seller or a buyer”. Is GunzMart legal? This is one of the most common questions asked

and rest assured, GunzMart is legal. This is a must when dealing with firearms transfers in today’s market. GunzMart.com provides the platform and process for those who want to buy or sell their firearms though the auction process. Gunzmart does not transfer any firearms. A typical firearms transaction must go through a legally authorized FFL dealer which involves visiting the dealer. You will have to fill out the legal paperwork and pay a transfer and background check fee. After a waiting period, you go in and pick up your new firearm. Using GunzMart.com, you still have to go through the same legal process of transferring ownership of that gun as if you were buying the gun from the dealer. The biggest thing that GunzMart provides is a connection with sellers to buyers. Think of it as a world- wide gun show on the internet. They bring

sellers and buyers together even though they don’t handle the transfer of the firearm. It provides a bigger pool of consumers to sell your guns to and also helps you to hopefully get the best price possible. The best way to understand the process is to walk you through a transaction on GunzMart.com. Whether you are a seller or a buyer, you will need to register on their website. To sell or buy here, you must be legally allowed to own a firearm. You must be an adult who is able to enter into a contract. Anyone desiring to purchase a firearm must be able to pass the NICS-FBI background check, which will be conducted by an FFL holder when the buyer picks up the firearm. There are age limits on the sale of certain items and certain types of items are illegal in specific regions or states. The GunzMart.com site has links that allow their members to view relevant ATF information.

Even though it has served you well for years, it may be tme to trade-in your old trusty rusty and purchase a more modern hunting rifle.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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

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

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Once you have become a member of the site, you can list your firearm for sale. You have the ability to post pictures of your firearm as well as a complete description of the firearm. Your listing will be for a set period of time and during this time, prospective buyers will have the ability to view the items, email you to ask specific questions and most importantly, to bid on your item. The people bidding on your item/ items will know that this is a legally binding, irrevocable offer to purchase the item at the winning bid price. Once the seller accepts the bid, the buyer is legally obligated to complete the transaction. Failure to comply with this obligation is a breach of the GunzMart.com User Agreement and may be legally actionable by the seller. To place a bid on GunzMart. com, you must provide a valid email address and User ID. Once the bidding starts on your listed item, the prospective buyer places the maximum amount they are willing to pay for the item. This amount is kept secret from the

seller and from other bidders. As other potential buyers place bids, GunzMart.com’s auto bidding will automatically make incremental bid increases on the bidders’ behalf up to their maximum amount. In the case of a tie for the highest bid, the earliest bid will take precedence. Once a bidder has confirmed a bid, without exceptional circumstances, it cannot be withdrawn: These circumstances include the seller materially altering the item description after a bid or clear errors in the auction description take place. If another buyer outbids the current high bidder, they will be notified via email, though an auction may end before you receive notification. This process insures that you get the highest possible dollars for your item. You can always check the status of a bid by checking your account page. Once an auction has been completed, GunzMart sends the winning bidder an email that contains the seller’s user name and email address along with the winning bid amount. From the time the auction closes,

the buyer has a maximum of seven days to contact the seller at the email address located in the notification sent to them. The seller must contact the buyers as well within the same seven days. The seller is required to send instructions on making payment and will request the address or the FFL’s address for shipping. Your local gun shop will have this information and is a good place to ship to. Typically you will be required to prepay using a money order or a certified bank check, although some sellers will take credit cards, personal checks, COD, etc. Make sure that you follow the seller’s payment instructions very carefully. GunzMart suggests that you use a US Post Office money order and send payment by US Mail. This way, the US Post Office will be

able to help you in case of problems with the seller. If there is ever any sort of problem, this is where GunzMart truly shines. They are firm believers in customer service. There is always someone there to take your calls and walk you through the problems you are having. Whether it is loading photos of your gun or gathering buyers’ information on a finalized bid, the GunzMart team is there. Once you’ve got that old firearm sold, you can then head to Sportsman’s Warehouse and pick up the latest and greatest for the upcoming season.

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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The full line of new Yamaha ATVs & SxS vehicles. Serious about hunting? Time to get serious about the off-road vehicle you trust to get you there and back. Yamaha ATVs and Side-by-Sides are proven Real World Tough™ in the harshest, most ® ® rugged terrain. All boast class-leading features like On-Command 4WD and Ultramatic , the industry’s most durable transmission. Choose from the top-selling new Grizzly and Kodiak 700 ATVs starting at just $6,999*, or maybe an ultra-versatile Wolverine, Viking or Viking VI Sideby-Side is more your style. Either way you’re getting the most advanced, reliable, rock-solid hunting vehicle money can buy. Learn more at YamahaOutdoors.com.

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For your nearest Pro Yamaha dealer and to learn more about the full line of Yamaha ATVs and Side-by-Sides, visit YamahaOutdoors.com *Kodiak 700 model starts at just $6,999. Kodiak 700 EPS shown, $8,199 MSRP. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Prices may vary due to supply, freight, etc. Actual prices set by the dealer. Product and specifications subject to change without notice. ATVs shown are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. · For Side-by-Sides: Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. · Specifications subject to change without notice. Professional riders depicted on a closed course. Models shown with optional Genuine Yamaha Accessories. ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation. U.S.A. All rights reserved.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

A Well Rounded Operation - Bad River Bucks & Birds By Kent Danjanovich

heasant hunting and South Dakota are synonymous and the economic impact pheasants have on the State are immense. With over 150,000 residents and visitors hitting the fields each year, hundreds of millions of dollars flow into the many areas of the state, as hunters fulfill their dreams as they watch their prized pointers work cover and then suddenly “freeze” before the riveting flush of one of the most beautiful birds on earth takes place. The ring-necked pheasant is the State Bird of South Dakota, one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States. The pheasant came to South Dakota in 1908 when a group of farmers purchased a pair of birds from an Oregon farm and released them into a field near Redfield. The hearty pheasant not only survived, but thrived on the prairie, prompting the State to purchase and release 48 additional pairs of birds.

In 1919, the pheasant population was high enough for the State to hold a one-day pheasant hunting season. Over a century later, the combination of habitat, wildlife management and fortunate weather patterns have made South Dakota a pheasant haven and a world-class hunting destination. With 100’s of thousands of acres available to hunt throughout the state and bird numbers approaching record highs, South Dakota is the place to be if you want to down a limit or two of colorful roosters. Brood reports for 2015 showed a 42% increase in the statewide pheasant-per-mile index and that is after reporting nearly 1.2 million birds harvested in 2014. As in any sport, choices abound and pheasant hunting is no exception. Do-it-yourselfers hit the field on a regular basis and in many cases, seem to do just fine. Others, of course, find that it is much easier to book a trip with an outfitter, complete with lodging and meals, along with plenty of

Randy Danjanovich and his shorthair, Zeek, after another great retrieve.

acres to hunt and experienced guides and dogs to get you on the birds. Now just because a farmer decides that he thinks he can make the transition to the hunting side of things doesn’t necessarily mean automatic success. It takes a lot of planning and the right situation to make for a smooth transition and in many cases, it just doesn’t work. The farming operation needs to work to accommodate the hunting side of things and steps then have to be taken to protect the birds in the chilly winter months on the prairies of South Dakota. Areas need to be set aside for brooding in the spring months as well and then in the case of operations that want to have preserve status (meaning that they can extend their season from September 1st through March 31st) they must then treat those acres even differently and also must supplement the bird population each year as well. Yes, there is a lot more than meets the eye that must go into the planning of a good operation. Well, one such operation that fits

the bill in all areas listed above is Bad River Bucks & Birds, situated in Draper, South Dakota, about 45 miles SW of the Pierre, the State Capitol. The 110-year-old Hermann Ranch is actively involved in cattle and crops, as well as in the hunting side of things, with not only superb pheasant hunting opportunities, but both whitetail and mule deer, turkeys, sharp tail grouse, prairie chickens, prairie dogs and even some waterfowl and fishing opportunities as well. Yes, they are what you would call “Well Rounded” and Brett Waibel and his staff do a great job in every way. When an operation is so diverse, it is hard to not talk about everything that they have to offer. But in this article, we are going to focus on the pheasant hunting side of things. The Sportsman’s News Crew has been visiting Bad River almost yearly now since 2006 as one of our exclusive, Platinum Approved Outfitters and each time we have the chance to visit them, we know that we are in for a

A perfect day of hunting at Bad River Bucks & Birds in Draper, South Dakota.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

special experience and our visit the first week of December of 2015 was no exception. During the past 10 years, we have had the chance of meeting many great people during our stays and have made some lifelong friends in the process. In fact, so much so, that the last two years have found about 20 of us from around the country, meeting up at the lodge to again share stories and partake of the great hunting opportunities that Bad River has to offer. Our typical trip finds us arriving late afternoon at the ranch. After settling into our rooms, we soon start to work our way to the upper level of the main lodge for appetizers and an open bar. Some soon rack up the balls for a quick game of pool, others shuffle the cards for a “friendly” game of poker, while others relax on the couch while checking the channels on the big screen TV. The dinner bell then rings around 7pm and the first of many great meals awaits in the dining area. The next morning finds breakfast served at 8am and then it’s back to your rooms to grab your gear and head to the awaiting bus to transport the group to the first hunting location. Now in South Dakota, the general hunt doesn’t open until 10am

daily. But this is not a problem at Bad River Bucks & Birds, since they have preserve status on over 2000 acres of their property, allowing hunters to start their day at 9am. At this time of the morning, Brett usually has us unloading at both ends of a tree-lined shelter belt, with a handful of hunters, guides and dogs pushing the cover, while the rest of the group lines the sides of the route to hopefully be in position to down any birds that flush to the sides and or at the end of the push. Our first push of the day produced 15 birds, with an estimated 300 to 400 flushed from the tree line. Yes, I said 300 to 400 birds! Now of course many of them flushed out of range and a few are “missed” as well, but what a way to start the day as Brett’s pointing labs could be seen, bounding after birds in every direction. One little note about these birds will help those that have not had the experience before to understand just a little bit more: While pheasants are able to fly fast for short distances, they prefer to run. If startled however, they will burst to the sky in a flush, with flight speeds of 27 to 38 mph when cruising and when you ad in the usual South Dakota breezes, well let’s just say you had better get out in front of them or

you will have no chance of bringing one down! After our first push, it was then off to a large, dried slough. A wide line of hunters, guides and dogs spread themselves out at the far end as others started to position themselves around the slough and at its end. It didn’t take long for birds to start flushing out ahead of the pushers and shots started to ring out all around the marsh. As the pushers closed the gap on the blockers, birds again started to explode into the air and feathers started to fly. Another 20 birds had fallen to our group, nearly half of our limit for day one (daily limits of three birds, with an added bonus bird from the preserve for a four bird daily bag, per person). After one more push on the way back to the lodge, we soon found ourselves unloading from the bus, dropping our guns and hunting jackets off in the prep area and then heading over to the main lodge for lunch. Hot soup, sandwiches and salads were served buffet style, along with a tasty dessert to rejuvenate us for our afternoon hunt.

By 1:30pm, we were headed back to the bus and off to our next location. For the next three days, this scenario played out over and over. Different tree lines and fields with varied results, but all contributing to a ton of birds down and smiles and hi-fives seen throughout our stay. Yes, pheasant hunting is one of my passions and Bad River Bucks & Birds definitely is one of my favorite destinations. Brett Waibel and his staff do a wonderful job and I look forward to visiting them whenever I get the opportunity. In fact, they are now part of our Pro Membership Sweepstakes at Sportsman’s News and we will be giving away a trip for two in the next few months to join me in the fall of 2017. And as I mentioned earlier, they are not just a pheasant hunting operation. They also have exceptional deer hunting opportunities, as well as spring turkey hunting and unbelievable prairie dog hunting as well. Why not give them a call today to talk about all of the opportunities at 605-669-3440 and visit them on our website or at www. badriverhunts.com.

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Great guides and dogs are a big part of the formula for a successful hunt.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Speed Matters

bend at the tip under it’s given weight range and only bend farther down the blank than that under heavier loads, like when fighting a fish. Both are designed to cast the same weight, but they do it totally differently. They respond to your inputs relating to lure movement, like jerks, twitches and hook-sets differently as well. Quality manufacturers, like St Croix, make rods with a wide range of power and speed combinations to fit any angling situation. If you generally fish with live or dead bait, a slower action rod will Chad LaChance allow you to gently lob it out and hat’s your speed? There’s will also help keep fish hooked a good chance you don’t once they bite; the rod is more even know. If you do forgiving overall. Slower rods are know, you may not realize exactly also good for baits that are moving how it affects your fishing and beforward constantly, like a crankbait lieve me, it affects your fishing. At or inline spinner, because the fish this point you are rightly wonderwill get a more solid bite as the rod ing just what exactly I’m referring “gives”. to -speed and fishing? What gives? Conversely, fast action rods are I’m talking about speed as it remore accurate and sensitive and lates to your tackle and ultimately also allow you to be much more your lure presentations. No, not precise with your lure movethe speed that you troll or reel, ment. Any lure that requires crisp the speed of your tackle itself. The twitches, like a jerkbait or topwater plug, is easier to work correctly on a faster action rod. When picking a new rod, consider the power first. Make sure the lures or bait you want to use fall within its specified weight range. Then select the speed or action based on your intended use. Personally, my St Croix collection runs the gamut from moderate action to extra-fast action, with fast getting most of the field time. Reels also have speed ratings, but they’re totally different in that it is Opposite ends of the speed spectrum; Revo Rocket on an extra-fast St Croix flipthe rate at which ping rod, and the Revo Winch on moderate speed Mojo Bass Glass crankbait rod. line is recovered

speed of your rods and reels. So I ask again - what’s your speed? How can a rod with no moving parts have a speed? Good question. It’s more of a lingo thing. A rod blank’s characteristics are generally described in two ways; speed and power. They are often confused with each other, but are very different things. Power is how much force it takes to bend the rod’s blank and is rated by lure weight. For instance, a typical “medium power” rod is rated to cast 1/8oz to 5/8oz of weight. In other words, with that much weight and a normal casting stroke, the blank will bend or “load” perfectly to make your cast. Many people casually use the term “medium action” to describe the rod, but that is not correct. Action is correctly used to describe a rod’s speed, not power. There are lots of rods that are all, say, medium power, but with actions or speeds - ranging from slow to extra-fast. They describe where along the rod’s blank it bends under a given weight load. Slow action rods bend parabolicaly or evenly from the tip to the butt. Extra-fast action rods

that is rated, such that high-speed reels take in line faster than lowspeed reels. Anglers commonly hear about gear ratios in the reel talk, but the gear ratio is only part of the story. Gear ratio is how many times the spool or bail (casting reel or spinning reel) rotates over a single, 360 degree rotation of the reel handle. A ratio of 5:1 would mean that the spool rotates five times for every one handle rotation. Obviously, the higher the ratio, the faster the reel. But is that true? Not always! The gear ratio does not take into account the diameter of the spool that the line is being wrapped around. What anglers should really consider is “recovery rate”, typically reported in inches per turn. Recovery rate considers both the gear ratio and spool diameter and varies from about 20 inches per turn to just under 40 inches per turn in the Abu Garcia reels I use, with the Revo Rocket series being the fastest of all. Faster reels are more efficient; you can make more presentations in a day because you can get your lure back when your presentation is complete quicker each time. You can also get tight on fish quicker and manage slack line presentations easier. Conversely, they are not well suited to lures that take a lot of power to retrieve, like a deep-diving crankbait. You will physically tire of winding and will also lose “feel” as you are forced to overpower the crankbait. In this case, a low recovery rate will make that same crankbait much easier to retrieve. In general, I prefer the fastest recovery rates when pitching jigs, dragging bottom contact lures and fishing topwater lures. Mid-speed recoveries work well for lures such as small crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Low-speed reels are best for deep diving crankbaits and other lures that have a lot of resistance on retrieve. Ironically, the fastest rod blanks pair well with the fastest reels and vice versa. So, what’s my speed? That depends heavily on how I’m fishing and yours should too!

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Rambo Bikes: Future of Backcountry Hunting By Eric Christensen

etting further into the backcountry and away from the crowds is something I’ve done my entire hunting career. The further you are from road hunters and the noise they make can be very surreal. Preparation is the key in deciding what gear is coming with you on these trips. Rambo Bikes new electric assisted R750 will take you to the

16-sportsmansNews-august-mountainExtreme.pdf

backcountry with more gear and more miles with moderate inclines. Surprisenergy. ingly, the next morning my legs were I was completely blown away with not sore and beat-up. The electric gear how well the bike performed. The system takes some seat-time to learn bike’s electrical engine assists your and to feel when to kick in the level of ride depending on the terrain and pedal assistance needed for your trail. slope. It was amazing to be able to But towards the end of the ride, I was peddle with the same cadence and becoming familiar with the bikes’ feajust adjust the electric gears to assist tures and the ride became significantly my ride, no matter how steep the trail easier. It took me less than an hour to presented itself. go the distance. This hike would have The aluminum 6061 frame is rock taken me over three hours with less solid and easily handles weight round trip on foot. the weight and torque The 4-inch tires are great for trail of the rider and gear. riding as I could get serious traction I loaded my and control when climbing usual huntover rocks. They also gave ing pack with me control when climbing all my gear areas that I went slightly off (about 35 the trail. The 48-volt battery pounds) for has some serious power. The a backcoun- Scan this QR Code with your bike will go 19 miles off the phone to view the try day trip. I smart throttle by itself, depending Sportsman's News YouTube 2 7/7/2016 10:35:39 AM rode for five Channel. on your incline. The steeper

the hill, the more power it will drain. Rambo Bikes also thought of the overnight scouting and hunting trips when designing the battery. The battery has a USB port to charge and power small devices. A fold-out solar panel can be purchased and accompany you on a long backcountry trip to recharge the battery when out stalking your trophy. An optional trailer will carry up to 300 lbs. of extra gear to your basecamp. This feature is a true game changer to explore and get deeper into the wilderness without being in ultra-marathon shape. The Rambo Electric Peddle Bike will change the way you plan your scouting and hunting trips. Having the ability to get farther quicker and easier, with more gear, opens the door for areas you never thought you could traverse into before.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Sitka Mountain Vest

hen it comes to offering harsh fall wind will penetrate. outdoor clothing that The thing that I like most about is both rugged and du- the vest is that it is extremely light rable, no one does it better than weight and will fold away into Sitka Gear. almost nothing. When going in to We’ve been using Sitka for the backcountry ounces quickly years and when you do multi- turn into pounds and pounds turn ple hunting trips a year like our into pain, so finding clothing that team does you need gear that will is light and still durable is a must. withstand the abuse you put it The vest also features two zipthrough. pered hand pockets giving you New for the 2016 hunting sea- quick access to your phone and son is the Mountain Vest. The other important items while proMountain Vest is de viding zippered security signed to give you imensuring that nothing mediate wind protection will fall out. and warmth to your core The two-way stretch when in pursuit of that nylon will move with trophy animal. Utilizyou while hiking giving ing seam-taped WINDyou a comfortable fit. Scan this QR Code with your STOPPER technology, it smart phone to view the The DWR finish will News YouTube ensures that none of the Sportsman's work to repel water durChannel.

ing light rain showers and the mist you often encounter in hunting environments such as Alaska. I love using my Mountain Vest in the fall and spring time when you have chilly mornings and evenings. It’s the last layer I take off and the first one I put on and it makes glassing a lot more comfortable. The 8.5 ounce vest is made of a high gauge nylon with a soft knit backer and it really is unbelievably light for the amount of protection from the elements it offers. It is currently available in Sitka’s Optifade Open Country camo pattern. Be sure to check out this new offering from Sitka Gear along with all of their other great products at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

ALPS Commander Lite

L P S B r a n d h a s b e e n little effort. Once in the setaround since 1993 and tings I preferred, I noticed right l a u n c h e d A L P S O u t - away how comfy the padded d o o r Z i n 2 0 0 7 . T h e 2 0 p l u s waist belt and shoulder strap years of experience in the field system were. The mesh back has catapulted ALPS OutdoorZ b a n d f i t s n i c e l y a w a y f r o m as a brand to be reckoned with your back giving you proper in the hunting industry. They v e n t i l a t i o n , e v e n w h e n y o u desire to give hunters in the carry heavy loads. When in the field what they want; some- field, I found my lower back thing that is practical, durable even hitting the cool breezes and user friendly, all without and getting a chance to air out breaking the bank. The ALPS a little. The waist belt is also acC o m m a n d e r L i t e p a c k i s n o commodating for those wanting exception. to securely carry a hand gun. The first thing I noticed with The Commander ’s lashing this pack was the smaller pro- panels feature full length zipfile and fairly lightweight de- pers with interior mesh pocksign for a frame pack. With the ets, to store any items you need shoulder harness fully adjust- to get you through those gruable to a torso range of eling pack-outs, with 17” to 23”, I thought all that meat on your r i g h t a w a y, t h i s i s a back. They are also pack I could see mylarge enough to carry self getting used to in my 40 oz thermos witha hurry. out any issues, if wantI quickly found it ing to use it for wav e r y e a s y a n d u s e r Scan this QR Code with your ter. The lower lashing smart phone to view the f r i e n d l y a d j u s t i n g t o Sportsman's News YouTube s y s t e m s e c u re s m e a t m y t o r s o , w i t h v e r y Channel. for those long hauls

very well. In place of meat for this time of year, I used it to haul in 60-80 lbs. of feed with zero issues and still managed to be very comfortable in some very rough country. I could see this still being quite comfortable with 100 lbs. on your back. ALPS OutdoorZ Commander Lite has definitely impressed me with its comfort, ease of adjustability and how well the smaller profile can handle the heavy loads. With 80 lbs. on my back, for a 3-mile hike-in at 10,000 ft elevation with tight quarters of small aspen trees everywhere, this g re a t p a c k p ro v e d to hold its own in every category.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ELECTRO-OPTICS

HOG WILD T HE R M A L DE T E C T ION

ECHO1

Thermal Reflex Sight

The SIG SAUER ECHO1™ Thermal Reflex Sight is the most revolutionary direct-view digital sight in the world. Based on the latest generation of thermal imaging sensors, the 1-2X digital zoom ECHO1 fuses advanced technology with extreme simplicit y. A single joystick controller is coupled with an intuitive menu system to get you up and running fast. Utilizing our Stealth ID design philosophy, the ECHO1 is incredibly compact and lightweight. The ECHO1 eliminates the eye-piece and miniature screen of older generation thermal sights, allowing for rapid target acquisition with superior night vision protection. Ideal for both day and night, the ECHO1 is the ultimate thermal weapon sight for hogs and predators, as well as home defense, law enforcement, militar y, and search and rescue situations.

DISPLAY MODES Six different display modes including white hot and black hot, are available in order to enhance the digital display for optimal thermal image contrast of target against background.

RETICLE OPTIONS Five default reticles are included with the ECHO1™, including User Defined Reticle (UDR) capability at sigoptics.com.

MADE IN USA This product is subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Depar tment of State in accordance with the International Traffic in Arms regulations (ITAR) (22CFR 120 through 130).

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Garmin Rino 755T

or 2016, Garmin, the world leader in navigation products, has launched their newest GPS and GMRS/FRS radio pairing, the Rino 755t as part of the new Rino series. Retaining all of the functionality of previous Rino models, as well as compatibility with previous version accessories, the Rino 755t features a larger 3-inch capacitive touch screen with dual orientation, making it mountable in multiple configurations. This larger screen is also more sensitive and provides better backlighting for easier viewing in various lighting conditions. The improved 8-megapixel digital camera allows you to quickly capture photos of your excursions and geotags them with location information for easy sharing with applications such as Google Earth. Large and easy to manipulate volume controls make it easier to adjust with gloves than the touch screen

controls on previous versions. improved accuracy in difficult terrain The addition of Bluetooth connectiv- and provides ½-watt FRS radio transity means that you can easily pair your mission and 5-watts on GMRS (U.S. Rino 755t with headsets, as well as a only) radio transmission. It offers the mobile device for accessing real-time ability to see the position of other Rino weather radar map overlays relevant 6xx and 7xx users in range. to your location. The Bluetooth conThe device is compatible with ANT nection also allows users to directly and Bluetooth accessories and can even download geocaching data wirelessly act as a remote for your Garmin Virb from geocaching.com. action camera. It has an IPX7 water and Features that users of the 600 series dust resistant rating, so it is great for a of Rinos have come to appreciate, like variety of activities and environments. location broadcast and easy to navigate A micro SD slot lets users install custom user interface, are also included in the maps and also stores images from the 755t. digital camera. The lowercase letter T in The rechargeable battery the model name denotes the pack has a standard life of inclusion of detailed TOPO approximately 14 hours of 100k topographic maps, but normal use and an optional the 755t also comes with a battery pack lets users substifree 1-year subscription to tute AA batteries. An internal BirdsEye Satellite Imagery. three-axis digital compass Scan this QR Code with your The 755t provides both smart phone to view the also provides altimeter and News YouTube GPS and GLONASS for Sportsman's barometric measurements Channel.

Leupold VX-6 Riflescope

he gold ring of Leupold has age from edge to edge throughout always been a brand you can the entire magnification range make count on and the VX-6 holds the farthest targets appear right on true with the same tradition. This top of you. The features and benefits top of the line scope is designed, of this scope are nothing short of machined and assembled right spectacular. here in the good ol’ United States Leupold’s Quantum Optical of America. System with legendary Xtended The VX-6 comes in various mod- Twilight lens coatings and Diaels ranging from the 1-6X24 all the mondCoat 2 combine with edge way out to the 7-42X56. The major- blackened, lead-free lenses for ity of the scopes in this line come astonishing clarity and light transwith a 30mm tube, but the higher mission. The extreme fast-focus eyemagnification scopes come with a piece ensures a generous eyebox, a 34mm tube, making them a light superior field of view and optimal gathering dream. Our test model diopter adjustment in the field. The is the 4-24X52mm with illuminated Illuminated reticle VX-6 features Boone and Crocket reticle with CDS. either traditional or super bright This scope features unsurpassed FireDot illumination. The 1-button light transmission, unlow- profile design allows compromising mechanical users to choose between performance and unbeat12 intensity settings. Proable optical clarity. The prietary motion sensor VX-6 is undeniably as technology automatically good as it gets when it deactivates illumination comes to high end optics. Scan this QR Code with your after five minutes of inacphone to view the The powerful 6:1 zoom smart tivity, yet re-activates as Sportsman's News YouTube Channel. ratio and crystal clear imsoon as any movement is

detected. The 34mm maintube is extremely rugged, but unbelievably lightweight. It comes with a twin bias spring erector system and popup re-zero finger click adjustments to assure maximum adjustment for range and precision. All Leupold VX-6 riflescopes are CDS capable and include one free Custom Ballistic Dial with purchase. The CDS models allow you to quickly dial your elevation to different sight-in ranges with a custom adjustment matched to your specific ballistics information. The CDS dials change out easily, allowing you flexibility with different loads, conditions and calibers. Every CDS dial features ¼-MOA click or 1-cm click (metric versions), finger adjustments and no adjustment covers to lose, making the VX-2, VX-3, VX-6 and VX-R even more accurate. The

for navigation and weather. Additional apps such as a calculator, stopwatch, alarm clock, hunting and fishing times, calendar, area calculation and sun and moon phases make the Rino 755t a perfect backwoods companion when your smartphone isn’t getting service. Far more than just a radio or a GPS or a camera, the Rino 755t provides multiple functionality and compatibility with other Rino users. Check them out at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse or online at www.sportsmanswarehouse. com.

CDS System works by laser-inscribing your scope’s elevation dial to match your load, velocity and conditions. Your scope will be in perfect synch with the way your rifle and load shoots, even for hand loads. Each CDS dial is unique, taking all practical ballistic and environmental factors into account. Each scope is waterproof, shockproof and backed by the Leupold Full Lifetime Guarantee/ Leupold Golden Ring Electronics Warranty.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

M A K E S HOR T WOR K OF

LONG-RANGE S H OT S

WITH THE LEUPOLD® CUSTOM DIAL SYSTEM® (CDS®), ACCURACY HAS NEVER BEEN SO SIMPLE. CDS delivers unprecedented accuracy because each CDS dial is laser cut to the specific ballistics of each individual shooter. Once installed on your Leupold riflescope, simply range the distance to your target, dial to the corresponding yardage, hold dead on, and squeeze the trigger. Extend your range with the Leupold Custom Dial System and shoot with total confidence. © 2016 Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

See how easy it is at LEUPOLD.COM/CDS

ZERO LOCK (ZL) DIALS CDS-ZL dials eliminate accidental rotation, and quickly compensate for ullet drop with the push of a button. Available on select VX®-6 models.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Browning Hell’s Canyon Speed

rowning is well known in the hunting industry for products that are very dependable, with reliability that will last under the toughest conditions. They are keeping these same qualities in mind with their launch of Browning Hell’s Canyon Speed hunting clothing. Over the last 10 years there has been a growing push and desire for backcountry style hunts. These hunts can be long, grueling and require gear that is tough, and tailored to fit, while still maintaining comfort. With Hell’s Canyon Speed, Browning looks to excel in all these categories and gain ground in the fast growing demand for this style of hunting clothing. Hell’s Canyon Speed is offered in two camo patterns, A-TACS AU (Arid / Urban ) and the A-TACS FG ( Foliage / Green ). I find these patterns to be well thought out, with very good depth built

into them. Most digital patterns don’t and lethal mindset, while maintaining really have an organic feel, but this is the comfort you need for the long haul. not the case with A-TACS camouflage. The Speed line has several options A-TACS is not your typical leaf and to suit you. Whether that is the Backlimb pattern and breaks up the human country, Hellfire, Rain Slayer, Shrike, or outline well. the Javelin; there is an option tailored The Hell’s Canyon Speed is Killer for your hunting needs. Throw in the Clothing and features Hero-Fit tailoring under-layer clothing that includes, that trims away excess weight and bulk, briefs, bottoms, tops made from either while the abrasion resistant, stretchable fleece or an itch free Merino wool blend, fabrics maximize your freedom of move- and you have a total package system ment. This paves the way for unmatched that meets the quality and demands of durability, mobility and comfort to hunters. get you through those deFor the better part of 60 manding hunts. Additionally, years Browning has offered Hell’s Canyon Speed has been quality clothing to the huntdeveloped as a complete ing and shooting industry. layering system, with each With this new high-perforlayered piece of clothing mance line of Hell’s Canyon slightly larger to fit the layer Speed clothing, Browning has Scan this QR Code with your beneath. This coincides with smart phone to view the upped their game to meet the News YouTube the demand of the light, fast Sportsman's needs of active hunters. Channel.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Calling Dry Side Black Bears

Expert tips to bring bears badbreath close By Gary Lewis

od Lum thumbed cartridges into the magazine and closed the bolt. We left the truck parked on the road and climbed uphill on a bare slope. Twenty minutes later we worked onto the shoulder of a finger ridge and looked down into a canyon choked with hawthorn bushes. We set the caller below us on the slope and found a vantage point. Insistent, the FoxPro whined its

Photo by Gary Lewis The only mud puddle in the area and it was a good place to find a fresh set of tracks. The bear came to the call the next morning in 52 minutes. John Warren traces fresh black bear prints on a hunt in Oregon.

pitiful electronic cry. We didn’t have to wait long. The bear emerged from the bottom of the canyon and stopped to look back. The first shot shivered him and he ran left along the hill. Tod chambered another round, swung and shot again. The bear rolled end over end to the bottom of the canyon and came to rest against a fallen pine. Calling a bear, whether with a mouth call or an electronic unit is charged with electricity. It never happens the same way twice. Sometimes they charge in. Sometimes they swap ends and head for cover. He comes in ready to fight, sometimes with his jaws popping, sometimes circling, silent, intent. Calling a predator armed with sharp claws and teeth is not for the faint of heart. In the West we get our wet weather off the Pacific. Coastal mountains and interior ranges like the Cascades, the Sierras and the Rockies take the teeth out of many a major storm system. Western Oregon and Washington habitats may see rainfall of six feet or more per year, but east of the mountains in the high desert and in parts of Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, annual precipitation can be measured with a ruler. Black bear thrive in moist and fertile country where spring grasses, tender shrub shoots and forbs are abundant. In rainforest habitat, they don’t have to travel far to find grub. Over on the dry side though, a bear must cover a lot of ground to make his living. And when bears move, they are vulnerable to a hunter with a call and the patience to employ it. Over on the Dry Side To put yourself in the best place, follow the feed. Dale Denney, of Bearpaw Outfitters in Washington, thinks in terms of the food sources available. “In our area, there are two things bears love: fresh green grass and skunk cabbage. In other areas wild onions will be the draw. You need to pick an area that has lots of

bear and you Photo by Gary Lewis need to know what food source they want when they come out of hibernation and one of those three things is going to be in your area.” One overlooked source of protein is winterkilled John Warren commits to spending whole days moose, deer watching his favorite hillside. He uses calling as and elk. Stea backup plan when the bears do not show in the ve Nunley of berry patch. Arapaho Wilderness Outfitters in Colorado keep him on the move. When huntwatches for winter kills as the snows ing a bear, keep the calls constant. recede. “Wherever the carcasses are, Any number of sounds may bring that’s where the bears will be.” a bear, but larger animal sounds Mike Jenkins, owner of Upfront promise a bigger payoff. Think bigOutfitter, believes that when food ger meals. There is a lot more protein is scarce, the call is most effective. in a deer than in a rabbit. A fawn The phenomenon is most apparent bawl will give a bear the prospect of in New Mexico. “Although hound seizing a bigger meal than it may get hunting is allowed, we strictly use coming to the sound of a cottontail. calling and spot-and-stalk methods. Bears respond in various ways. I have been fortunate enough to Sometimes they sit and listen from hunt all over the West including hundreds of yards away. One bear Alaska. New Mexico bears are the came like he was tied on a string. most aggressive bears I have ever Tod Lum’s bear waited 15 minutes seen.” before he emerged on the opposite Jenkins thinks dry country bears tree line, headed away. He stopped come in fast because of the scar- and looked back and ended up gocity of protein. “I think they’re just ing home in the cooler. Sometimes aggressive to find a good source they take off and run in the opposite of food. These bears want meat. direction. If they are hungry and agThey’re eating dry dead grass and gressive, they charge in. grubs and worms and bugs. They Give him time. Depending on have a chance to eat a high protein how far a bear has to travel, he may meal of a baby elk or deer and they take an hour to reach the call. Scout are on it.” a few days or weeks before to make sure there are bears in the area. Then Calling Strategy keep the wind in your favor and If there’s one thing a hungry bear your confidence high. Commit to wants more than anything, it’s an spending an hour at each call set. easy meal. And he is used to taking food from smaller predators. A Bear’s Best Defense But Mr. Bear is easily distracted. A good olfactory sense is a bear’s On the way in, he may stumble best defense. When a bear inhales, across a berry patch or a ground it draws in airborne molecules squirrel den. For this reason, you that help it sort a complex array of need to keep the sound rolling to odors which include food signals

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

and threats. Our challenge is to beat a bear’s defenses. We succeed when we work to dispel human scents in every setup. One of the first things is scent elimination. Scent control products attack human odor in three categories: laundry products, body products and products for use in the field. By removing a high percentage of human smell, the hunter makes cover scents, attractants and calls more effective. Cover scents distract the predator from the scent of the hunter. Fox urine covers the human scent with the strong odor of Photo by Gary Lewis a small varmint. A bear’s nose may be further confused with This bear showed itself after 15 minfresh earth fumes or the scent of utes of calling. Tod Lum connected a food source. with a quick second shot. Mountain Bears may come straight to meadows and creek bottoms with the call, but they may also circle a gentle grade are favored calving and come to the downwind side. grounds and a good place to call The scent of a prey or non-target a bear to dinner. Calf elk calls and animals can keep their confifawn-in-distress cries can bring a dence high. An approaching bear on the run. bear expects to find something

Made in the U.S.A.

good to eat at the end of the trail. And he expects to have to fight for the meal. Fawn deer, for instance, only bawl when something is trying to eat them. Don’t expect the shot to be easy. The bear may charge across a meadow or it may come up through the brush. In either case, it is probably going to be on the move. With a bear quartering head-on, hold one-third to halfway up the body, between the head and the shoulder to punch the projectile through the scapula and On a late Photo by Gary Lewis August bear hunt in eastern Oregon, Troy Neimann (left), Rick Neimann and Chris Neimann watch a canyon for a second look at a bear that walked in through the junipers.

the heart and lungs. Sometimes a frontal head shot is all you get. Try to break the bridge between the eyebrows. It is hard to break the spine without a perfectly placed shot. Though, if the animal’s head is up, a neck shot will put the bear down fast. A thorough approach to scouting and scent management can pay off with a bear that charges in, circles downwind and keeps coming. To contact Gary Lewis, visit www. GaryLewisOutdoors.com

GrizzlyCoolers.com

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Outdoor Business Directory ALASKA FISHING

UTAH HUNTING

ALASKA LODGING

UTAH HUNTING

85 Rooms 10 Minutes to Downtown Free Airport Shuttle Complimentary Breakfast Free Wi Fi 4400 Spenard Rd., Anchorage, AK 99517 (800)-4PUFFIN - (907)-243-4044

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COLORADO HUNTING

VORTEX RAZOR continued from page 14

IDAHO SHED DOGS

TAXIDERMY

still provide ample tactile feedback to be able to count clicks. Zero can be reset with a simple screwdriver. A l l o f t h e s e f e a t u re s a re packed into a lightweight 16.5 ounces and a short 13.5 inches on the 42mm model. This gives hunters the performance of a high end tactical scope without the weight. A generous 3.8 inches of eye relief gives you multiple mounting options on a variety of weapons, and a 35.8-7.1 foot field of view at 100 yards gives shooters ample awareness of what is going on down range. The MOA reticles provide better ranged accuracy at unfixed distances and the ability to quickly calculate adjustments on the fly. Because the reticle is on the second focal plane, it will not enlarge when you zoom in, covering the target.

The HSR-4 is the ideal reticle for those who want enough information to utilize personalized ballistics, but prefer a clean look. A fine crosshair, coupled with MOA-based hash-marks (2 MOA spacing), promotes fast and accurate shots from close to extended ranges. The HSR-4 reticle can be used to effectively determine ranges, holdovers, windage corrections, and moving target leads. Ultra precision laser etching on the glass reticle ensures that minute of angle (MOA) specifications can be kept to the tightest tolerances possible. The fine center crosshair subtensions on the HSR-4 reticle were carefully chosen to provide the optimum balance between precision aiming and low light visibility. And because the scope is a Vortex, it means that the best-in-class VIP Warranty covers it. Their products are unconditionally guaranteed. If the optic becomes damaged or defective, it will be replaced or repaired for you; no questions asked.

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

RUGER LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPACT HANDGUNS PERSONAL PROTECTION FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS ®

RUGER COMPACT ®

HANDGUNS Ruger offers lightweight, compact handguns for every personal protection need. 380 AUTO

LCP CUSTOM

Designed with the shooter in mind, the Ruger LCP Custom is affordable, comfortable and perfect for licensed carry for personal protection, or as a backup firearm for law enforcement. ®

380 AUTO

LC380

The LC380 ® provides 7+1 rounds of effective .380 Auto personal protection. Slim and lightweight for easy concealment, the LC380® combines reduced recoil with modern safety features in an easy-to-rack design.

9MM LUGER

LC9S

Chambered in 9mm Luger and sized just slightly larger (less than 1'' taller and 1'' longer) than the LCP®, the LC9s® is compact, powerful and features a short, light, crisp trigger pull for faster shooting and improved accuracy.

22 LR, 22 WMR, 38 SPL +P, 9MM LUGER, 327 FED MAG, 357 MAG,

LCR

Now available in six calibers, there is a lightweight, reliable and easy-to-shoot LCR® for every need – from personal protection to low-cost practice at the range.

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August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Winchester XPR

inchester has created a new way to look at bolt action value. The XPR is a rugged, reliable and precise bolt-action rifle built for the next generation of Winchester hunters. Combining proven concepts from the Model 70 with more efficient manufacturing processes means that the XPR is a superb hunting rifle at a more affordable price. The Winchester XPR packs as many features and as much accuracy as possible into an affordable rifle platform for the hunter or recreational shooter. It incorporates a premium button-rifled, stress-relieved barrel with a target crown. The barrel attaches to the receiver using a barrel nut system for precise headspace control,

which aids in overall accuracy. Rugged, reliable and precise, the XPR bolt-action rifle just might be the rifle you have been looking for. It is equipped with the same MOA trigger found on Winchester’s venerable Model 70 rifle. The three-lever trigger is factory set at 3 1/2 pounds with no takeup and zero creep and overtravel, but the trigger ’s pull weight and overtravel are also user-adjustable, with the pull weight varying from 3 to 5 lbs., a great feature not found on many mid-level offerings. The XPR utilizes a chromemoly, three-lug bolt that has been coated in nickel-Teflon for added lubricity and ease-of-use. The bolt offers a 60-degree throw for quick operation and fast follow up shots

camo, is built for superior grip in wet conditions and will stand up to the scratches and bumps you’re bound to encounter on the stalk or on your walk to the stand. The matte blued finish is tough and non-reflective. The detachable box magazine is a built-in feature that is typically an expensive aftermarket addition, allowing you to keep extra shells in a spare mag instead of jingling loose in your pocket. Wi t h o u t a s c o p e , t h e X P R weighs in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and the suggested retail price is under $600. Stop in and handle one for yourself at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and visit Winchester’s website for more details and calibers available.

and can be easily field stripped if needed. Other features of the new XPR include a composite polymer stock with a plate-style recoil lug and an Inflex recoil pad, a standard two-position safety, a bolt-unlock button for unloading the rifle with the safety activated, a set of steel sling swivel studs for attaching a sling and a 3-round detachable box magazine that is located at the front edge of the magazine and is very easy to release and reload. If you’re looking for a rifle that will stand up to the abuse you put yourself through in the field, the XPR is the rifle for you. The advanced polymer stock, available in either black synthetic or Mossy Oak Break-Up Country

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August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

KILLER CLOTHING

BROWNING.COM #BROWNINGSPEED

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Digital Edition Only Special Content

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

Smoked Salmon

ummer to me means salmon. This is the time when these incredible fish make the journey from the ocean back up into the freshwater streams to spawn. July and August are optimum times to get up to Alaska or the Pacific Northwest and catch some of these hard fighting fish. Any species of salmon will make great smoked fish, but kings and silvers are my favorites. Some fine salmon can also be purchased at your local fish market, but remember to stick with wild-caught as opposed to the “farmed” fish. There are a lot of recipes and techniques for smoking fish, but this reduced salt cure is my hands-down favorite for salmon. Turn your fresh salmon into a real flavor treat for the family with this age-old method of smoking fish.

Ingredients • • • • •

1 cup brown sugar ½ cup white sugar ¼ cup salt 1 tablespoon garlic powder ½ tablespoon onion powder

• • • •

½ tablespoon smoked paprika ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper Salmon fillets Wood chips for smoking

Preparation Method

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Depending on how much fish you are going to smoke, you may have to double or triple the batch. You will need enough of the mixture to cover the fish completely. Rinse your fillets and pat dry with a paper toweling. Skin on fillets are the best for smoking. Portion the fish into the size you want to smoke. I usually will cut each fillet in half for the smaller fish or in thirds to quarters for the larger fish. You will need a glass or plastic container to brine the fillets in that will hold all the fish and still fit in the refrigerator. Start with a layer of the cure on the bottom. Place a layer of fish, skin side down and cover completely with the cure. Repeat with the remaining fillets and add what

remaining mixture is left over the top. Seal the container with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 8-hours. If your fish is really thick, you may want to go a few more hours. Remove the container from the refrigerator and check the progress. The cure will have drawn moisture out of the fish and made a slurry in the container. Rinse each piece under cold water to remove the cure and pat dry. At this point you can add some cracked black pepper, some dill or a touch of cayenne pepper as additional flavoring. Let the filets sit out in the open air for at least ½ hour until a glossy sheen or pellicle develops. This pellicle is a protein film that will help the smoke flavor absorb into the fish. Now it is time to smoke! What type of wood to smoke with is the next question. I love alder wood for salmon. Apple or cherry woods also work well, but I have had the best results with alder. The ideal temperature for this recipe is 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring your smoker up to temperature. Add your wood chips and get them smoking well before putting the fish in the smoker. Place the fish, skin side down on the racks, leaving space between the fillets. The fish will smoke quickly, so monitor it closely. Check the meat in a half hour and every 10 minutes after. By separating a piece at its thickest point you can check the process to achieve the texture you like. Do not smoke it too long or it will dry out. Usually, 40 to 60 minutes is sufficient. Thinner fillets will be done the soonest. Remove all the fish from the smoker when done and let cool. There is nothing like fresh smoked salmon right out of the smoker. It is an outstanding appetizer and can be used in many other recipes. Smoked salmon pasta is incredible and it can really add a delicious flavor to a casserole. It is phenomenal with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or an ice cold beer. My advice is to go out and catch some salmon and smoke it!

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Tarpon Fishing in Puerto Rico

By Byron Coburn

here I sat, on a cold concrete bench in the early morning dark, while I waited for Captain Omar to show up. After almost 20 minutes, it occurred to me something may have happened. I turned on my cell phone (it had been off since we had boarded our flight the previous night). I was dismayed to find that there were several messages from Omar and his wife, Elvia, informing me that the boat had motor problems and the trip would have to be rescheduled. To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I contacted Omar later that morning. He was very apologetic and promised that the boat should be ready to go the following day. I was really concerned that this trip was going to be a flop. My wife and I had scheduled a two week Caribbean Cruise with

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

another couple a few months before. The cruise originated out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. We always fly in a few days early. We had three extra days at the beginning of this trip. A few weeks before we left, I was on the Internet and found out that there was tarpon fishing available! To me, catching a tarpon is one of the biggest thrills there is in fishing. Captain Omar Orraca with Caribbean Outfitters came highly recommended on Trip Advisor. The next day I was back on my bench at the Congrejos Yacht Club. Only this time, Omar showed up right on schedule. As Omar was loading the boat, I noticed he had a handful of fly rods. I asked him if that was how we were going to fish. “I thought you had said you wanted to catch one on a fly rod”, he replied. I asked him which was more likely to

be successful at catching tarpon, a fly or bait. His response was, “You might catch one tarpon today using a fly rod, but you will catch a lot if we use bait.” My reply was, “Put those fly rods back and let’s use bait!” It wasn’t long and we were underway. I expected to exit the little harbor and head out to the open sea. Instead, we crossed a small lake and headed up a canal to an inland lake named Laguna San Jose. At one point we crossed under a very low highway bridge (I had to remain seated or my head would have hit the bridge). There was a good current where the canal passed under the bridge and there were some local fishermen using throw nets to catch bait fish. Omar stopped and talked to one of them and the fisherman pulled a plastic laundry basket of fish from the water. He passed it up to Omar. Omar was at the back of the boat putting fish into his bait tank for quite some time. I finally looked back and noticed that he was evaluating every bait fish to make sure it was lively and the correct size. After seeing how careful he was being with the bait, I had a really good feeling about how Omar ran his operation. The trip from the harbor to the fishing spot didn’t take more than 20 minutes even counting the stop for bait. The lake was surrounded

by dense mangroves and tropical trees. The main highway from downtown San Juan to the airport bisected the lake. Occasionally, a jet liner would roar over our head since the airport was adjacent to the lake. I couldn’t believe we were going to fish for tarpon right in the city. Omar told me the lake had been a very shallow lake before they built the airport, but gravel and rock were dredged from it to use as fill for the airport runways. The lake now varies between six and 30 feet deep. Omar used his GPS to find a spot in the middle of the lake. He then let the boat drift with no anchor set. Within minutes, he had four rods set out. The baits were lip hooked directly to the line with no swivels or weight so they could swim freely in the water. There were a few tarpon rolling on the surface, but they were pretty far away. I have fished for tarpon several times and been skunked at least twice, so I wasn’t overly confident. Omar had just turned to say something to me, when a tarpon leaped out of the water ten feet from the port side of the boat. The rod closest to the fish bent over and the reel’s drag started to scream. Omar grabbed the rod, gave it a couple of pumps to make sure the hook was in deep and then handed the rod to me. Wow! What a fight! The fish jumped a couple of more times and then made several more runs. Omar stood close by, giving me instructions on how to fight him. “Keep your rod tip lower. Pull to the right. Okay, now pull to the left. Bow to the king!” Bow to the king is a term they use when fighting a tarpon. When a big tarpon jumps, you always drop your rod continued on page 63

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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In Bowfishing They Don’t Have To Be Biting By Tom Claycomb III

started bowfishing 35 yrs. ago with an old Herter’s 40 lb. recurve and spool. I then progressed to a Fred Bear Whitetail Hunter. The Whitetail Hunter was frustrating. Right as I was drawing down on a fish, I’d notice the line had hung on a bush 10 feet behind me or was tangled around the sights. But despite all of this, I still shot boatloads of fish while walking the Platte River and hitting the sandpits in Nebraska. I’ve since bowfished in Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho and Oregon. It’s a blast plus you’re cleaning the waterways of invasive trash fish. Getting into bowfishing is really quite inexpensive. You can use a cheap bow, spool and fishing arrows. For clothing, a T-shirt and tennis shoes. I waded rivers and sandpits for years, but if you have a Jon boat so you’re elevated, it’s even better. So yes, it’s a cheap DIY adventure. But, if you find yourself really getting into it hang on - you’re about to meet the Carp Cartel. Down in the south, they bowfish a lot at night, but up in Idaho where I live, I never had hunted at night. The other day I got introduced to Jacob Hyer, who along with his buddies form a group called the Carp Cartel. As I hear it, Jacob pretty much introduced night fishing in SW Idaho. Well, one thing led to another and a couple of weeks later we met up at 7pm on night for a bowfishing trip. On this trip there would be Jacob, his wife Kacey, Brandon Shaw and myself. They’re members of the

Photo by Jacob Hyer

Adventure On A Budget

Jacob Hyer with one of many great fish on our adventure.

Bowfishing Association of America, which is the NRA for bowfishing. We were soon unloading on the Snake River and soon shot off upstream. After a bit, Jacob shut her down and fired up the twin 2000w Inverters. The lights then take a few seconds to warm up. Jacob has the ultimate set-up; a 21 foot Kingfisher inboard extreme shallow Sport Jon boat with a 200 HP Mercury Optimax motor with a raised platform on the bow, lights mounted underneath the deck and a trolling motor on front. A fellow bowfisherman Photo by Jacob Hyer from Pocatello, Idaho made his lights and the water clarity determines which light bulbs he’ll use. This night the water was murky, so he chosen the High Pressure Sodium bulbs to match the stained water with the orange color from It was a beautiful night on the river. the lights. In clear

2-hour nap and was ready for an all-nighter. I’d been pre-warned when the Carp Cartel gets on a roll, it’d probably be daylight before they quit. Brandon got the largest fish, a 29 pounder and Kacey got the smallest, probably about two (I lied, I told her that wouldn’t go in the article). I tagged a couple of 24 poundish fish and we had a great trip. Of course all three of them shot circles around me, but I had a blast. No doubt, bowfishing at night is the ticket. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve always bowfished during the day. This could be addictive. I may sell my house, buy a bowfishing boat and live on the river! Even though these guys are fanatics, they were super patient with me and I learned a lot. I’ve always used a spool, but Brandon took time and showed me the ropes of how they do it. He cautioned me to be constantly hitting the release on my reel so I didn’t have a bounce back. I had one last summer and they’re not fun. He likes to keep the line tight, that way when he draws back, if it has engaged, then it will hang up and the arrow will fall off and you’ll know it. He recommends using the Muzzy reel that has a flip switch instead of a push button and then it can’t re-engage.

water, he uses Metal Halide. I was pumped. Jacob and Brandon were fast on the draw and Kacey could hold her own too. We’d drift by the islands and stick fish as they swam by, illuminated by the lights. We’d pick up singles, but it seemed like when we got into them it was fast shooting for everyone and of course, we had multiple hook ups at the same time. When Photo by Jacob Hyer you stuck one you went to the back of the boat and reeled them in and threw them in the 55 gallon barrel. This was more fun than I had imagined. Ha, what’s not to love about it? Big fish, cool equipment, a beautiful night, everything was perfect. I’d gotten up at 4:30 that morning to take a couple of kids turkey hunting with Chris Collins and then ran home, Another member of the “Carp Cartel”, Brandon packed, caught a Shaw with another bruiser.

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My group of instructors like using the arrows where you tie on back, because if the string does manage to get wrapped up, it will break

the arrow off and not come back at the shooter. You also get better arrow flight and they help with fish removal on full pass-through shots.

Photo by Jacob Hyer

The Author connected on his share of big fish with his bow on the Snake River.

TARPON

continued from page 61 tip down and bow to give them some slack line. After 10 or 15 minutes (who was counting!), I had the fish up next to the boat. Omar grabbed it by the lower jaw and hoisted it into the boat. He had me hold the fish with one hand on the lower jaw and another back by the tail to support it.

Wouldn’t you know it, I forgot my camera! Omar was kind enough to take pictures with his cell phone. He estimated its weight at 25 lb. Seemed a lot bigger to me! After the fish was carefully released, we moved to a new spot a few hundred yards away. About 30 minutes later, the rod behind me banged against the rod holder as another tarpon went airborne. I grabbed the rod and the fight was

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But I’ve gotten used to using the sliding nocks the last two years, so that’s what I used on this trip. We were shooting upstream at about 40 mph and ran up on a submerged sand bar. Jacob prewarned me to bring waders because if we got stuck, we’d all have to get out and push. Of course, they’ve been bowfishing the river since January, so they’ve hit some really frigid water, but this time the water wasn’t too cold so we’d just jumped out and pushed. In the course of the night we got stuck a half dozen times, none as bad as the first one, but with all adding to the excitement. Well, Jacob finally decided it was time to call it a night. I’d had a blast. It had been everything I’d hoped for. These guys were good, but more importantly had been patient and deferred plenty of shots to me. Here’s the personal gear list: • Mission Craze II bow with Muzzy arrows, tipped off with a Muzzy reel and rod. Most bow fishermen don’t use sights,

but I put an old sight on. • ThermaCELL mosquito unit, but it was cool enough that we didn’t need it. • XGO under garments. I love their gear. • Head lamp and flashlight. Bowfishing is a simple sport if you want it to be. So the only other thing that I had to bring was deer sausage and cornbread. If you want to gear up like them, here’s the equipment that they were using. • Bows: Jacob-Oneida Osprey, Brandon-Alpine Make, KaceyBear Apprentice III • Reels: Muzzy XD with TuffLine XP 200 lb. test and THE Shoot Thru rods. • Arrows: Fiberglass with Gene Davis 4 barb points. • Arrow Rest: Jacob-Bowfishing extreme aluminum osprey rest, Brandon & Kacey-both use Muzzy Fish Hook. What a great night we’d had. Thanks to the Carp Cartel guys and gals.

on! This one took a little longer. Omar estimated its weight at 30 lbs. More pictures and then we were off again. This time we moved closer to shore and fished around an oyster bed. The sun was getting hot by now, so the fishing had slowed down. At one point, Omar pulled out a kayak paddle and used it to move his boat through the water very slowly. I asked him why he didn’t use a trolling motor and he said the motor noise would put the fish off and they wouldn’t bite. This guy really knows his stuff! Suddenly, a tarpon jumped and a rod, up front, bent over. Fish on! This fish only jumped once, but he was much stronger than the others. At least twice he swam close to the oyster bed that was only a few feet below the water’s surface. Omar yelled at me to put on as much pressure as I could to keep the fish away from the oyster bed or the line could get cut on a shell. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally had him next to the boat. Omar said he would bring him on board, but the fish had to remain laying on one of the bench seats so its body was supported. Omar

said the fish weighed about 60 lbs and if we held it up for pictures, the weight of the fish would injure its internal organs. Omar took some pictures and then asked me to hand him a pair of needle nose pliers. He plucked out a large scale from the fish’s side before returning the fish to the water. He handed me the scale and told me to press it flat in a magazine until it dried. He said the scale would make a great souvenir. What a guy! We did have one more hit, but the fish managed to throw the hook. Three tarpon boated in four hours – now that is a really successful trip. Usually, when tarpon fishing, you lose most of the fish because the hook pulls out. They have a very hard mouth, so it’s hard to get a good hook set. Omar uses a special fresh water hook to help prevent this. I can’t say enough about Omar. He was without question the best guide I have ever hired. He was friendly, knowledgeable and a pleasure to be around. No wonder he has a solid ‘five stars’ on his reviews. Next time I am in Puerto Rico, I‘ll be fishing with Omar!

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The Changing Of The Guard

t was at the 1983 biennial Pope and Young Convention that Jeanne and I first heard anybody discussing hunting Dall’s Sheep with a bow and arrow. Having met two years earlier at the previous P-and-Y confab, we were only now beginning to expand our imagination over the virtually limitless bowhunting possibilities that were “out there.” Montana archer Paul Brunner had taken a beautiful Dall’s ram the summer before with Greg and Fay Williams (Nahanni Butte Outfitters). He’d been hunting the Liard Range in the southwest corner of the Northwest Territories and he couldn’t say enough about what a great operation the Williamses ran, how spectacularly rugged the mountains were and how awesomely beautiful were those great White Sheep of the far North. Courtesy of Dallen Lambson

A magnificent black-and-white drawing of a true trophy Dall’s ram.

July 15, 1984, was the first opening Greg had for us. At least that gave us one more year to save up our funds and our vacation days for what we both felt was truly likely to be the hunt of a lifetime. Ours was to be the first hunt of the new season, and Greg had promised to assign us his two best sheep guides. When July of ‘84 finally arrived, Jeanne and I were so ready we could hardly stand it! We’d been told it would be a very rugged, backpacktype hunt, so we had been working out and running nearly every day for a month to get in “sheep shape,” as the hunting world likes to call it. There is absolutely no disagreement out there about the fact that the hunting of wild sheep and goats (anywhere in the world) is by far the most challenging and physically rigorous of all types of hunting. Those creatures simply live in the wildest, most remote, most vertical environments on the face of the planet. Opening morning of the sheep season dawned clear and calm for us. Jeanne and I had arrived at Nahanni the prior evening. The plan was to fly us and our guides (one at a time) into an old cut-line near the south end of the Liard Range, where Greg had determined he could land his Cub - barring an unfriendly crosswind. The landing and takeoff were both tricky and it was going to require four separate flights from Nahanni to get all of us and our backpacks in to the point where we could begin the threeday trek that would take us to our principal spike-camp. Earlier in the month, helicopter drops had been made into the heart of the range: a wall-tent and a couple of steel barrels containing our two-week food supply. Fortunately, the barrels proved to be bear-proof; the wall-tent - unfortunately - did not. When we finally arrived at the site, late in the afternoon of the third day of strenuous hiking, we discovered that a grizzly bear had torn the big tent to shreds with his sharp claws, rendering it unusable. The first day’s hike was the least pleasant, since we weren’t up in the

Courtesy of Hayden Lambson

A colored drawing of three great rams, titled, Valley of the Dall’s. mountains yet and it was nearly all time! Not only did it have a pot bushwhacking - probably five or of gold at either end, but directly six miles of nearly nonstop bush- underneath its lofty arc - on an whacking before we started gaining open, grassy bench some 200 yards enough elevation to give us some below us - we spied a large grizzly relief! bear walking slowly away from us By 4 p.m., a spectacular thunder- through the still-falling rain. Makand-lightning storm was bear- ing lazy circles in the air above him ing down upon us and before (yet still beneath the shimmering, long the rocky ramparts above us bejeweled archway) was a mature were totally obscured by the black golden eagle that soared, glistening clouds and heavy moisture content in the sunlight, seemingly intent that slammed into us with considerable ferocity. Just as quickly, it seemed, old Sol suddenly broke through the gloom and the skies began to clear. The knifelike crest of the range still hovered in the mist 1,000 feet above us to the west, but just to the east, an enormous, 180-degree rainbow burst upon the scene with the most intense, dazzling display of colors I had ever witnessed anywhere. All rainbows are beautiful, of course, but some more than others. This one had to be the ultimate rainbow of my life- On the spine of the Liard Range.

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Jeanne in the middle of God’s country. on following the meanderings of his fellow-carnivore. The image of that scene is one that none of us will ever forget. It was about 4 p.m. on the second day by the time we reached the first helicopter food-drop. The barrel was found to be intact and it lay just feet away from a tiny seep-hole in the moss where we could replenish our exhausted water supply. On top of the Liard Range, sources of water are few and far between. Some days, in fact, we were dependent on finding one of the relatively few remaining little patches of snow that had not already vanished into summer. The plan was for us to spend our second night at this seep, because there was a small, grassy flat right there, just wide enough to accommodate our two fly-tents. A third, strenuous day of backpacking finally brought us, by late afternoon, to the site of the second barrel and the “wasted” wall-tent. Since the big tent was unusable and

these items lay at the bottom of a green basin some 800 feet below the ridge-crest, we decided not to make camp down there and - instead - to relocate our food-cache back up on top of the chain. That way, we’d be able to access it more easily in the days ahead, as we hunted in both directions up and down the midsection of the range. The decision involved emptying out our packs and making an extra trip up to the crest - then back down again - but the job was accomplished in a couple of hours. By sunset, our fly-tents were up once again and the high-pressure cell seemed to be establishing itself for as far as one could see. Alan was to be Jeanne’s guide; Bob accepted me as his challenge. From then on, we always parted company every morning to go off hunting in different directions. The system worked well and it definitely increased the odds of at least one of us getting a ram.

Masters of all they survey!” (The leader of the band is on the left.)

Day 11 was the day when every- (or more) of large, flat rocks on top thing was destined to come together of every single guy-line attached to for me. Jeanne and Alan had initi- each of our tents. I’m convinced that ated several stalks, but nothing had - at the shrieking, deafening apex yet worked out sufficiently well to of the onslaught - Alan’s foresight give her a shot opportunity. The was the only thing which kept the night preceding my kill truly turned four of us from becoming airborne out to be Mussorgsky’s Night on and being literally blown right off Bald Mountain and I feared for a the mountain while still inside our while we might never get to Day 11. tents! Shortly before midnight, our camp Somehow, by the Grace of God, was hit by the most frightening our tents did not come apart at the thunderstorm Jeanne or I had ever seams overnight and dawn arrived experienced. Usually, we humans with utter calm and nary a cloud observe mountain thunderstorms in sight - as if it were the perfect from down in the valleys, at rela- Easter Morning. No doubt we were tively safe distances. On this par- all feeling washed clean of our sins ticular night, we found ourselves and ready to follow the Master right in the middle of Zeus’s pri- anywhere. Many prayers had been vate quarters as he waged all-out said in between the countless thunwarfare against his enemies in the derbolts of our nocturnal ordeal. Kingdom of Cumulonimbus. Still a bit traumatized, we were Lightning bolts started striking rather slow getting going that mornthe high points on either side of ing. Time was running out, however our saddle every 10 to 20 seconds. and - when rams began appearing The intensely-polarized, peak-to- by 9:30am on the skyline of the two peak combat continued for nearly peaks on either side of our saddle an hour, with thunderclap and Bob and I shouldered our daypacks, lightning flash occurring simultane- resolving that we would not let ously throughout much of that time. another 12 hours pass without harBefore, during and after the spectacular fireworks, which repeatedly lit up the interior of our paperthin tents like 1,000-watt floodlights, winds with gusts that had to exceed 100 miles an hour b a t t e re d o u r pathetic little shelters relentlessly. Just at dusk, we had noticed the angry storm coming our way, but it was - as yet - many miles distant. Alan, I suspect, had an idea of what was in store for us and he insisted on piling an extra hun- The author’s hard-won trophy, shot in his bed at dred pounds 8-yards.

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vesting one of them. The peak we chose possessed two different summits, about 150 yards apart. Eleven o’clock found us no farther than 200 yards away from the closer of the two - with no fewer than seven mature rams congregated on top of the rounded granite dome. Within minutes - bow slung over my shoulder - I began scaling one side of their fortress, hoping to catch them unaware at close range. I had forgotten, however, to consider fully the air movements around me. The prevailing breeze had not been blowing up the cut I’d used to reach the bottom of the summit rock, but the granite face I needed to climb was already warm from the direct morning sun and it was undoubtedly those rising thermals right there which wafted my scent straight upward and alerted my quarry to the danger at hand. I should have known better than to try that approach. Ever so slowly, I lifted my eyes above the top edge of the rock wall I’d just mounted - only to see that the dome had been completely vacated. As I then looked in the only direction they could have gone to make their escape, I suddenly realized that they had merely relocated to the peak’s other summit. There they were - all seven - standing out as dazzling white silhouettes against the azure sky, just staring at me! Their super-keen nostrils had not let them down, but I think the chances were good that they had never encountered human scent before. To play it safe, however -in the event they had seen human hunters in previous summers - I was determined not to give them any vertical profiles. Staying flat against the rock surfaces, I crawled the rest of the way up onto the cap of the dome, rolled over onto my back and commenced a long, slow “scoot” - feet first - down off the dome toward the dirt margin of the green earthen swale that rose from below to separate the two summits. The band of rams seemed utterly fascinated by the spectacle I was creating. I’m sure they’d never seen anything like it before. Once fully descended from the elevated dome, I flipped back onto my stomach and immediately perceived what my new game-plan had to be. Uphill to

my right, the seam between Mother Earth and solid rock extended in a straight line about 40 yards to a tiny, grassy saddle I could just make out profiled against the blue sky beyond. If I could manage to gain that saddle and disappear over it, without spooking the rams, the ball game would likely be mine. I would then be able to move - sight unseen - around to the backside of the other summit, sneak over the top and shoot one of them in his bed. My immediate challenge, though - before I could ever get them bedded - was to put their fears to bed, and to get them to stop worrying about me. I was in full view of all 14 eyeballs, every one of them still riveted upon me. So, I decided the best strategy was simply to take a nap! One thing I knew with certainty was that - unless I spooked them off the crest of that mountain - they weren’t going anywhere until dusk! My first nap lasted only 20 or 30 minutes because of the building heat. I awoke bathed in sweat. Whereas my stomach lay on the ground, my right shoulder was all-but-touching the hot rock surface, which was performing like the inside wall of a reflectoroven. I felt as if I was being baked alive! (I found out later that the temperature in Fort Nelson on that date had soared to 93 degrees.) The good news, upon my awakening, was that six of the rams had bedded, were chewing their cuds and were gazing everywhere else but at me. The one ram still standing appeared to be the biggest of the lot and he had obviously assigned himself sentry duty. His eyes were still glued to me - and for the next two-and-a-half hours, as well! That’s how long it took to finish my snail-like “snake-slither” over those last 40 yards to the grassy saddle. Dragging my bow uphill behind me with my left hand, I progressed ever so slowly - maybe two inches at a time. The slower my overall pace, the less chance there would be of spooking the sentry ram. Somehow, under the circumstances, I knew that patience was going to determine everything. Unless the sentry’s level of COMFORT with my presence increased significantly, I knew I’d have no chance at all of achieving my goal.

Dunn’s ram with both guides. Consequently, a couple of additional naps along the way proved useful - if not imperative. Slowly but surely, as the afternoon wore on, I was becoming severely dehydrated. I hugely regretted leaving my daypack with Bob. He certainly didn’t need two water bottles, but I did! When the saddle was finally no more than five feet away, I decided - as a matter of strategy - to postpone my last leg of the “snake-slither” for about 15 minutes. Granted, the length of the time-delay was arbitrary, but I used my watch to make it happen accordingly. Sunset was still hours away and time was the greatest ally I had. If I’d known Bob was waiting for me, water bottle in hand, just out of sight beyond the saddle, I doubt I would have opted for that final “time-out.” It was probably a good thing I did, however. Although too miserably hot and thirsty to sleep anymore, I was starting to feel excited because I knew I was about to find out if my game-plan was likely to pay off. On this particular, marathon stalk (the longest, most difficult and most exceptional one of my life), the real “moment of truth” would come in the first 60 seconds after the sentry ram lost sight of me. I was certain of that beyond a shadow of a doubt. With any animal of prey - as long as it can keep a potential predator in view - it feels more or less in control of the situation. Once your quarry loses visual contact with you, however, one of two things will always happen. Either the prey animal

forgets about you (rarely) or it starts worrying about where you’re going next (most common) and quickly decides to relocate to safer, more distant environs. Had I been patient enough? Had I taken enough time to travel those 40 yards? That was the paramount question. As soon as I slithered out of sight (ever so slowly) over the top of the grassy notch, I regained my feet and heaved a huge sigh of relief. Bob greeted me with a big smile and an outstretched water bottle. It sure felt good to stand up again! Before taking that first precious drink, however, there was one, even-higher priority. I removed my baseball cap, gave the sentry another few seconds to forget about me, then rose up (with extreme caution) to “part the grass” with my binoculars. When I saw that the big ram had returned to the others and just bedded down, my heart jumped for joy. I now felt confident that a ram would fall to my arrow before evening. A different ram had risen to become the new sentry and he wasn’t even facing in my direction! The second summit was quite different from the first. It was a flat, grassy tabletop which - on one side - had a second bench 20 feet below it. All the rams but one lay bedded on the lower level, right up against the vertical wall that supported the mesa-like summit. The new guardram seemed to have taken up his position about 20 yards out from the others. The final moment of truth was now nearly at hand. As I crawled

August 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

up onto the back edge of the mesa, my first concern was to determine once more the exact position of the sentry. It didn’t take me long to spot the top of his horns, and - like all good lookouts - he was facing the only direction from which he and his compatriots were vulnerable to ambush. The grassy tabletop seemed about 20 yards wide and 15 deep. I noticed right away an open, six-inch-wide fissure that started on the front edge of the drop-off and extended toward me some eight or nine feet. Leaving my bow behind for the moment, I eased forward on my belly until I could peer down through the closed end of the narrow crack. Bingo! My line of vision, as it angled down and forward into the sunlight, encountered two big patches of snow-white fur. The rams were bedded right below me and my shot would be no more than seven or eight yards. I could hardly have asked for anything better! Retreating to my bow, I sat up, got my knees under me, nocked an arrow and prepared to shoot. First, however, I needed to advance - caterpillar-like - as far as I could toward the front edge of mesa, without being seen by the guardian ram. When the top of his horns materialized again at the bottom margin of my restricted field of view, the only thing left for me to do was draw my bow, stand, take two steps forward, lean over and direct an arrow at whichever ram was offering the best shot opportunity. The standing part was vital, unfortunately, because having to shoot almost straight down made a kneeling position out of the question. There’d have been no room for

the lower limb of my bow! As soon as the sentry spotted me getting to my feet, he stomped a front hoof and went into motion. Immediately, all the other rams began rising from their beds. As I started to take aim at one of the two directly below, a movement caught my eye - several yards off to the right. I glanced that way and suddenly realized I was looking at the original sentry-ram: the leader of the band, the biggest of the seven and the one I’d been hoping to harvest all day long. But time on the shooting-clock had run out! My arrow left the bow with zero seconds remaining. It was launched by the pure instincts of the primordial predator pulsating within me. Although I had shifted targets at the last possible moment, I’d had no time to aim the arrow consciously. When I saw the shaft pass through the ram somewhere amidships and self-destruct on a rock just beyond, his four feet were already under him and his body was twisting toward the only “escape hatch” they had available to them. I quickly sent a second arrow after him as he ran full tilt down the ridge away from me, but the missile landed harmlessly in the rocks, right between his flying heels. I knew, however, the first shot would prove fatal; it was simply going to take some time. Bob and I watched the fleeing band of rams as they turned left off their escape ridge 300 yards down the mountain and headed across a large, steep section of smooth, boilerplate rock. They all slowed down for this traverse, but their leader was now bringing up the rear. When the wounded r a m re a c h e d the middle of the boilerplate, he stopped and stood there, unmoving, for a good 20 minutes. Through our binoculars, we noticed a big reddish stain developing on the rock surface beneath Back at camp the next morning, preparing for the him. The other three-day hike out. rams had now

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stopped, as well, but they were all out there 50 to 100 yards ahead of him, nibbling on various pockets of greenery. Eventually, when my ram decided to finish traversing the steep rock plate, he bedded immediately on top of a tiny alpine nest-spruce. Meanwhile, Yours Truly was suddenly not feeling very well, as the delayed effects of heat prostration were beginning to hit me. Since I could see my ram wasn’t going anywhere, I lay down on my back on a flat boulder that allowed me - with my head cranked sideways - to keep one eye on the stricken animal. My heart had switched into fibrillation mode and was racing wildly out of control at something over 200 beats a minute. For a while, I felt so lightheaded I feared I might pass out. During the next three hours, the wildlife drama that unfolded before our eyes was one of the strangest (and most moving) I have ever witnessed over my many years of exploring the wilderness regions of North America. I had shot my ram around 4 p.m.. At 5-o’clock, he got up from his initial spruce-bed and advanced 20 yards to a softer, moister patch of green. Half-anhour later, he switched ends in that bed. At 6 p.m., he rose and advanced one last time, perhaps 10 more yards, to an even-friendlierlooking spot of green, no bigger than a bathtub. In short order, it was to become his deathbed. First, however, it seemed that the changing of the guard had to take place. Over the next two hours, his six brethren - one by one - from distances as far away as 700 yards, all came back to pay their respects and bid their old leader a final good-bye. Absolutely spellbound, I watched as each ram, in turn, arrived at his side and then proceeded to nuzzle him, nose-to-nose! It was clear that every one of the six understood that he would not be with them much longer. At the conclusion of each individual adieu, the deliverer turned away and fed off into the setting sun. The last of his colleagues to come and pay tribute (with the same nose-to-nose nuzzle) was the second-largest ram in the band. No doubt he would become - by natural selection of his peers - their new leader. When this last one finally

turned to go, my ram tried to regain his feet and follow. The monumental effort went for naught. No sooner had he managed to stand, than he died on his feet - collapsing back into the bed he had struggled so valiantly to leave. The Ceremony of the Fraternal Farewell was complete. And so was the changing of the guard. Now that I think of it, there were - indeed - two “changings of the guard.” The first one (a new sentry) had made possible the second (a new leader). Undoubtedly, without the first, the second would never have taken place. What an odd irony! As the reader can well imagine, many emotions had coursed through me while I watched this powerful drama. In the world of Ovis dalli, there was apparently a much-more-highly-structured social order and protocol than I would ever have believed. I felt in awe of being allowed to observe such a moving piece of Nature’s theater and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Almighty, who had spared my life the night before, yet allowed me - as a natural predator in the food chain - to take the life of such a magnificent animal fewer than 24 hours later. For every man or beast, life hangs only by a thread! The BAREBOW! Sagas – Adventure and Misadventure in the Wilds of North America Dennis Dunn doesn’t just tell hunting stories; he shares his dreams, his victories, his disappointments, his wisdom and he teaches from his knowledge and experience. The BAREBOW! Sagas will not only acquaint you with the sweet taste of success and the bitter agony of defeat; they will convince you that well-regulated hunting sustains the use of wildlife and gives the animals increased value to justify their conservation and preservation. In this series, Dennis takes you along on his quest for the North American Big Game 29 Super Slam. A bow, a string, an arrow – no trigger, no peep-sights, no pins – just fingers, guts and instinct. That’s hunting BAREBOW! To learn more about Dunn’s award-winning book (from which the above story was taken), or to order a copy of BAREBOW!, you may visit the author’s website at: www. barebows.com.

August 2016 | SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION