Sportsman's News December 2014 Digital Edition by Sportsman's News

SportsmansNews.com

December 2014

Volume 10 Issue 12

Hunting Utahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rutting Bulls By Mike Deming

he changing of the leaves along with the first view of your warm breath touching the cold morning air both contribute to the most exciting time of the year for an elk hunter. Those majestic animals with hundreds of inches of bone on their heads let out that bone chilling scream which sends shivers down my spine even after thirty years of elk hunting. The elk rut is something everyone should experience at least once in their life. If you get to do it during hunting season, you will be back year after year. Unfortunately, most states continued on page 5

Tyler Todd, Josh Smith, Eric Hellbach and Jed Wayment with a massive Utah Wapiti taken with J&J Outfitters in Henefer, UT.

Silvers In Every Direction

Tsiu River Lodge

PAGE 2

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

Silver Salmon In Every Direction

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

he staff at Sportsman’s News spends a lot of days each year, May through September, visiting fishing and hunting lodges throughout Alaska. This beautiful state, referred to as ‘The Last Frontier’, offers so much beauty and intrigue that its visitors just can’t seem to get enough of it. Really, no matter the area, Alaska offers both the traveler and sportsman plenty to do and see. And believe me, when I give my Pro-staffers a call to see if one of them are available to join me on a new adventure, rarely is the opportunity turned away, no matter how busy their schedules may be. Now as I have mentioned many times before, one of my favorite species of fish to go after is Coho, commonly referred to as silver salmon. They offer the latest run of all of the Pacific salmon, entering freshwater streams and rivers throughout the state in early August and continue their spawning runs well into the first part of October. In most areas, the silver run is divided into two runs, with the fish in the second run entering the systems in early to mid-September, having added a few extra pounds before they leave the sea on their final journey in the cycle of life. Silver salmon can be caught in many ways and in almost every area of Alaska, but there is something special about

fishing for them close to the ocean, as they enter chrome bright and full of vigor. Now, I mean no disrespect to the many other great areas of Alaska, but one area to me stands a little bit taller than the rest when you bring up the topic of silvers. The Tsiu River (pronounced sighyou) is located approximately 250 miles east of Anchorage. Access is only by plane from either Cordova of Yakutat, both about 40 minutes away by air. Although this short river has runs of other species of salmon as well as Dolly Varden and steelhead, it’s their run of aggressive silvers that make it a must on every fisherman’s list. The headwaters of the Tsiu are small creeks that merge in the heart of the Yakataga State Game Refuge beneath the Wrangell Mountains to the north. It’s part of an extensive, gravelly drainage that includes the Tsivat River and about two dozen tributaries. The result is perfect spawning habitat for silver salmon. While there are many fishable areas in the drainage, the focus is concentrated on the five miles of river closest to the ocean and the Gulf of Alaska. About three years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Greg Dierick at the Denver ISE Show. At that time, I had yet to visit his area of Alaska and to be honest, I hadn’t even heard of the Tsiu River. After spending a few minutes with Greg as he filled me in on every-

Vic Lyczak, John Farmer and Marty Patterson braved the elements and caught more fish than they would ever have imagined with both spinning and fly rods.

Kent Collins of Twin Falls, Idaho and guide, Joe Anderson with a big silver Kent brought to the net on the Tsiu River. thing that Dierick’s Tsiu River Lodge had to offer, plans were soon made for our first visit. Well, that first visit was so outstanding that we immediately made plans for our next visit, one that would be included in our Writer ’s Contest for the first half of 2014. The lucky winner would accompany me on a trip of a lifetime to the Tsiu in the middle of September, considered the absolute ultimate time for “Catching” big numbers of high-flying silvers. The contest winner, John Farmer from Russell, Kansas, was chosen on July 1st, 2014 and plans were quickly made for him to join me on the adventure. Now I don’t really know who was more excited, as of course John was beaming ear to ear after finding of his good fortune, but I myself knowing that I would have the chance to again visit the best silver salmon fishing waters in the world. We converged in Seattle as John and his buddies Marty Patterson and Vic Lyczak met for dinner with myself and my brother, Bruce ‘Silver’ Danjanovich. The next morning we found ourselves boarding our flight to Yakutat, AK at 7am. Once there, we were met by a representative from Yakutat Coastal Airlines and our bags were quickly carted to their building just a short

walk away from the Yakutat terminal. Thirty minutes later we were boarding our chartered flight and soon found ourselves looking out the planes’ windows in wonder as we found ourselves flying over some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Rugged mountain, glaciers, greenery and wildlife in every direction and of course the vast Gulf of Alaska and its coastline - WOW!!! Soon we found ourselves circling the camp and before we could say ‘Tsiu’ we were on the ground and shaking hands with Greg Dierick and his staff. Our luggage then quickly made its way to our cabins as we all headed for the main lodge for lunch before meeting our guide and heading to the river. After the first of our many great meals, we could all hardly contain ourselves as we briskly walked to our cabins, grabbed our gear and headed for the awaiting four-wheelers and custom trailers that would transport us to the river. Now from the air, I could tell that the area looked a little different than I had remembered it from my earlier trip. The river was not really a river anymore as the vast sandy flats had been inundated with water from endcontinued on page 8

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WHAT'S INSIDE

2 3 Words From The Publisher 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters 15 PacWest Outdoors: Pheasants 18 Pro's Tip Cooking Waterfowl 22 Pro's Pick: Beretta 1301 Tactical 24 Christmas Gift Guide 38 Business Directory 39 Video Product Reviews 40 Fishful Thinker: Reflections Game Recipe: Cherry44 Wild Bourbon Goose Breast Writer's Contest: Into Africa 46 Tsiu River Lodge

Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary Lewis Steve McGrath Chad LaChance Steve Mayer Peter E. Popieniuck

or those of you who are faithful readers of Sportsman’s News, I would like to apologize for the redundancy of this month’s publisher’s message. However, the message is so strong and important, I felt that it was worth repeating. We know that many new people will be walking into the doors of Sportsman’s Warehouse to buy gifts for their loved ones and we want them to be aware of this new and exciting opportunity coming up and this is the reason for repeating the message. Membership has its’ privileges. I’m sure this is a saying many of you have heard throughout your lives. The question is, “what are those privileges”? Sportsman’s News will launch a new

membership program in January that is something you won’t want to miss. We are finishing up all the final touches on this program right now and installing the programming on the website to accommodate all of our new members when launch time comes. We don’t want to let the cat out of the bag at this point in time, but we will tell you that we have invested several hundred thousand dollars with some of our Platinum Approved Outfitters for some of the very best trips they have to offer and these trips will be awarded to some of our lucky members. Stone Sheep hunts, Grizzly Bear, Trophy Mule Deer during the rut and bugling bulls on Utah private land are just a few of those special trips we’ve got lined out right now. As most of you know, we have visit-

ed each one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters on one or more occasions and we know they are the very best in the business. So, these trips are truly some of the best anyone can ever expect to do during their entire life. The membership program has many other exciting benefits at this time and we are still adding more as we get ready to launch. The countdown is on and for those of you that would like to be notified about this program first should sign up for our Digital Edition of Sportsman’s News at www.sportsmansnews. com. Not only will you get the Digital Edition of Sportsman’s News to your in box each moth, but we will send out the early membership info for those on this list as well. There might even be a special trip giveaway for those that register first. Don’t forget that we are still giving away lots of guns and gear on a regular basis for those of you already subscribed. This year we have given away more than $50,000 worth of guns and gear. We notify all of our winners via email, so make sure you use a legitimate email address. Nearly every week, we have winners who don’t respond to their winning notifications, so make sure you put us here at Sportsman’s News onto your approved senders list so we don’t end up in your “SPAM” folder. If your prize isn’t claimed during the appropriate time listed in the rules, we will select another winner. This is our last month with our current writing contest. Details can be found on page 4 of this issue on how to enter. We know there are some great stories out there and maybe one of them is worthy of getting you in the pages of Sportsman’s News. You might even make it as a grand prize winner and head to Canada next summer with me to catch some world class pike at Ruffo’s Sportsman’s Lodge, so make sure you get us your stories. I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued patronage and support. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us here at Sportsman’s News.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

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

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

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

Subscribers should contact Managing Editor for changes of address.

Sportsman's News is published monthly. The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright 2014 © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Managing Editor.

SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE 7035 So. High Tech Drive Midvale, UT 84047

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

UTAH BULLS

continued from cover only offer short range weapons like archery and muzzleloader during the rut. Utah is a very unique state which offers a very limited number of tags during this time of year which allows you to hunt the prime of the rut with a rifle. When I say limited, it is very limited and you are lucky to draw one premium tag during your lifetime for these premium hunts. However, Utah offers tags through their Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMU) which allows the landowners to set their own season dates which means you can hunt elk with any weapon you choose during the prime of the rut. Most of these large tracts of land are leased to outfitters and one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters is J and J Outfitters, who has a good share of these types of leases. When my good friend, Bond Isaacson from North Carolina, called me and said that he was interested in doing an elk hunt, I knew exactly who I was going to call and when I wanted to hunt. Bond and I have hunted together for ten years and have shared some great camps, so I knew we would really have fun elk hunting. This would be very special though, since it would be his first elk hunt ever. We arrived in northern Utah on the 14th of September with the rut in full swing. After a quick test of the rifle to make sure TSA hadn’t used it as a jackhammer, we jumped into the Yamaha Viking and headed up the hill for a quick look. One very unique thing about hunting elk on private property is that they

Lance Nalder with his bull taken during the 2014 general elk season in the Wasatch Mountains.

have a tendency of doing what elk do during the rut - they bugle nearly all day long as well as being very active, unlike heavily pressured public land bulls who often rut at night and seldom bugle during daylight hours. Bond was getting an eye and an ear full of prime rutting action. Within an hour, we had spotted nearly twenty bulls and at least a hundred cows. Things were definitely shaping up for a good first morning hunt. Tyler Watson would be our guide for this hunt. He has worked with J & J Outfitters for many years and knows this specific ranch extremely well. The plan would be to get on top of a good glassing knob and view all the country through binoculars and spotting scopes. Once we had found a large mature bull, we would position ourselves to get in close for a shot without the bull and his cows knowing we were in the area. This late in the rut, most of the large herd bulls have a good number of cows and won’t usually leave them to go inspect a call. So, this spot and stalk technique is the best way to harvest the biggest bulls in Bond Isaacson, Tyler Watson, and Mike Deming savor the area. the success of another great hunt on a J&J Outfitter We reached property. our lookout spot

just in time to be able to see the one mile across the big canyon and onto the mountain that held hundreds of elk. Every ridge had a small pod of elk with multiple bulls surrounding each herd. At this distance, all you are looking for is a big framed bull and something worth getting a closer look. It didn’t take Tyler long before I heard him say, “BIG BULL”! We jumped into the Yamaha Viking and headed for the opposite mountain that held our trophy. There were about thirty cows in the herd with five satellite bulls around, but one really heavy horned bomber that was taking no crap from the other suitors surrounding the herd. It took us twentyfive minutes to make it around to the other side of the mountain. By this time the sun had peaked up over the top of the mountain and was quickly warming the hillside. We were in the thick of it and bulls were screaming from continued on page 6

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December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

UTAH BULLS

continued from page 5 everywhere. We needed to wait for the thermals to get consistent and start rising before we totally dropped off the ridge and put ourselves in shooting position. By nine o’clock, the thermals were in our favor, but the bugles had dropped off considerably. It had been an hour and a half since we had last seen the bull, but knew he was somewhere in the thick timber below us. We scoured the trees at a safe distance, hoping to get a glimpse of our bull, but after two hours of looking, we decided to come back in the evening in hopes of getting our opportunity. We were right back in the same spot in the afternoon with very high optimism about getting a closer look at this bull. At six o’clock, the bugle machine turned on and they went from bugling every fifteen minutes to multiple bugles every minute. There were over twenty different bulls that we could hear from our location and the big pod we had bedded was definitely in the trees below us. A beautiful three hundred class six

point came out on the ridge above us and screamed at the valley below. Bond was glued to my spotting scope. He said that he would be very happy to shoot that bull. He had a great rack, was well within Bond’s range, but was unfortunately just a young bull that needed a few more years. He taunted us for the rest of the evening as we glassed for our big bull in the trees below. We ran out of daylight before the big boy ever showed himself. Day two was a carbon copy of the first day and Tyler immediately found our bull. This day was hotter than the first and the bulls shut down early without us getting eyes on our prize once again. It was obvious that we were going to need to split up and have one spotter and one of us with Bond if we were going to have a chance at this bull. Since I was filming the hunt for an episode of SNTV, I would need to stay with Bond. I’ve guided for J&J Outfitters in the past and have worked with Tyler on occasion, so this was a plan we had executed before. The next morning Bond and I left way earlier than Tyler. The plan was to get

into the general vicinity of our target bull and Tyler would pick the hill apart from the lookout. If he could find the bull early enough in the morning, it would give us enough time to close the distance and evaluate his quality up close and take the shot. As Bond and I sat in the Viking waiting for some daylight, it was amazing to hear Jed Wayment and Brent Trumbo show off why Utah so many bulls is known as mule deer central with this excellent lighting up the specimen of the species. cool morning. We literally heard hundreds of bugles. We close to the property line. My Vortex left the Viking and started working Kaibab 15’s were going like mad trying down the ridge where the bull had been to find this bull. He came out on top of seen the past couple of mornings. My the ridge with all of his cows and was phone buzzed with a text telling me continued on page 13 that our bull was one draw over and

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TSIU RIVER LODGE continued from page 2

less days of rain throughout the summer months. The usual river that channels from the mountains to the north and works its way through grassy flats and then to dunes before emptying into the ocean had spread itself literally throughout the area. Fishermen could be seen dotted in the distance as we approached our destination for the afternoon along grassy knobs sticking out of the shallow waters of the Tsiu. We had been told that black leaches had been the ticket, so just about everybody quickly tied one on their 8-wt. fly rods. Of course, I had to be a little bit stubborn as I decided to go with my standard leadeyed pink bunny leach. It didn’t take long for the first silver ball of muscle to explode from the water as I quickly found myself in the middle of a battle with a fresh 15-pounder. Our guide, Joe Anderson was soon at my side, gently easing the net under my first fish of the trip. Surprisingly, our first afternoon was a little on the slow side. Another big front was moving into the area and the system had all of the sudden had an effect on the fish. We did manage to catch a fair number of fish, but not the numbers that I had been throwing out to those that had accompanied me on the trip. With heads huge a little low, we headed back to the camp for dinner, wondering what the next five days were going to be like. At dinner that night, I sat next to an older gentleman that seemed to sense my feelings of dismay. He struck up a conversation and soon was assuring me that everything would change the next morning. Once the storm hit, which was to carry strong winds and big rains, the fishing would go nuts. He said, “No matter how bad the weather gets, stay out there because the fishing will just get better and better”.

And boy was he right! As we gathered for breakfast the next morning at 6:30am, strong winds and rain were battering the area. An extra layer seemed in order under our waders and rain jackets as we quickly grabbed our gear and headed for the river. Joe soon had us spacing ourselves out along a channel on the north edge of the flats. We were standing in about two feet of water with a slightly deeper channel ahead of us. With the wind howling and the rain pounding, I backhanded my St. Croix Imperial fly rod, spooled with intermediate sink tip line into the seam of the slow current and to my amazement, two strips later, my line felt resistance and the hook was set. My line streaked across the water as a big silver flew into the air, catching everyone’s attention as hoots and hollers soon followed. As I continued to fight my fish, first John, then Marty and soon Vic and Bruce all had fish on. For the next five hours, I kid you not, this scene just kept playing itself over and over again. Poor Joe found himself struggling to keep up with his netting duties as all of us hooked into fish after fish. As lunchtime approached, Joe asked us if we wanted to go in for a hot lunch or stay out and keep fishing while he ran back to the lodge to retrieve sack lunches for us. I am not sure if anyone actually even looked his way, but all could be heard saying, “Just go and get ‘em. We’re going to keep fishing”! While our guide was gone to grab our lunches, I decided to take a break and grabbed the net to help out the rest of the group. For the next 30 minutes, all I did was wade from fisherman to fisherman, netting and releasing big, bright silvers, many that had entered the system literally just a matter of minutes earlier. As Joe returned, unwillingly, each of us slowly made our way to the small trailer as we quickly downed our turkey sandwiches and a soda as we kept our view of the rest of the group, still under siege from

Four-wheelers with custom trailers are the mode of transportation to the river and as you can see, there was plenty of water spread across the sandy flats of the Tsiu River.

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

the seemingly endless waves of silver salmon making their way upstream. As the storm continued to pound us, some of the group traded their fly rods for spincasters. And you know what – it didn’t matter what technique we used or what lure or fly we threw on, hookup after hookup continued all afternoon. Five-o-clock soon arrived and we loaded into the trailer and headed back for dinner. After hanging our waders and jackets in the drying room and washing up a little, we headed to the main lodge for the first of Chef Mike’s awesome dinner presentations. Fresh salmon, halibut, scallops and shrimp adorned the buffet line, along with fresh salad fixin’s and of course, scrumptious deserts. Sorry Mike, but as good as the food was and it was very good, none of us could hardly wait to finish and jump up from the table and head back to the dry room and throw our gear back on as we headed back to the river for another hour or so of non-stop action. Yes, our beds felt good that second night as tired arms and sore muscles got some needed rest and a little extra help from a double dose of Aleve. Our third day was a repeat of the first two, with continued tough weather, but spectacular fishing. Our last day and a half started a clearing trend, as the fishing continued at a torrid pace ( Next time I visit, I am going to take a click counter with me to try and get a true count of my fish caught, guesstimated at over 100 per day). Needless to say, everyone at the

lodge experienced unbelievable fishing along with wonderful service and all of the amenities that you would expect from a destination of this magnitude. Well as you might be able to tell from this article, our stay with Dierick’s Tsiu River Lodge was again nothing short of FANTASTIC and I guarantee that it won’t be our last one either. Not only was the fishing unbelievable, but everything else during our stay was first class in every way. Greg and his The Sportsman's News 2014 Writer's Contest winner, John Farmer of Russtaff have built a great sell, Kansas holds up one of the biggest silvers of the trip. reputation with their guests and it is easy to see why they have a very high rate of returning ily and friends will love you forever when you clients. So what are you waiting for? Get on the bring home a box or two of the most beautiful phone right now and see if they have any dates salmon fillets you have ever seen. Dierick’s Tsiu left for next fall at Dierick’s Tsiu River Lodge. I River Lodge, 907-784-3625 and visit them on the can just about guarantee that you will catch more web under Platinum Approved Outfitters on our fish than you have ever dreamed of and your fam- website or at www.tsiuriverlodge.com

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continued from page 6 pushing off of the property. He appeared spooked and I couldn’t figure out what we had done wrong. He was just what we were looking for, but now was gone. I called Tyler to let him know the problem and that we needed to turn up another quality bull as ours was on the neighboring property now. He told me the neighbor’s quad had spooked our bull while they were checking their boundaries, but they had also spooked a really big bull back our direction at the far end of the ranch. Bond and I hustled back to the Viking and put this machine to the test getting to the last known location of the bull. We bailed out and ran to the face of the mountain to get a vantage. I could hear a bull bugling just below us and it sounded like he was just trying to keep his cows in order. Without a visual on the bull, I had no idea if he was the right one or not, but with it getting hot already, it was going to be our only play for the morning. I broke my silence and let out a bugle myself and got an immediate response. I knew if I could keep him bugling, I could at least get eyes on him.

After four hundred yards of cat and mouse, I finally got a glimpse of the bull. He had a huge frame and lots of width and was definitely a shooter. Unfortunately he didn’t stay in that small opening long enough to get a shot. We watched the stand of dark timber he went into for nearly an hour. He would respond if I bugled, but was always in the same place. I told Bond, “We are going in”. Since I normally bow hunt this time of year, this was right up my alley and I knew Bond was going to truly enjoy getting up close and personal with a bull of this quality. It took us nearly an hour to move the hundred yards down the hill to the edge of the timber. I would take a step and then glass and then take another step and glass again. I finally found the big bull laying thirty yards inside the timber and facing away from us. We were exactly seventy one yards away from this bull. He had stuck his head between two large trees which forced him to pull his head back and turn it to look up the hill. So, every time I would call to him and try to get him to stand up, he would hit his rack on the trees. Bond was set up on shooting sticks and ready for the time when he would finally get up. It took several calling sequences to get

Sportsman’s News • 435-669-4624 mdeming@sportsmansnews.com

him mad enough to get up. He rose from his bed and faced us with a quartering shot. I whispered to Bond, “kill him” and the .300 magnum barked. The big bull whirled and ran out of our camera frame. “My whole body is shaking”, was Bond’s first comment after the Bond Isaacson waited half a century to pursue the bugling shot. Not only had wapiti. He was blessed with a week of prime rut and some we got it done, but up close and personal experience on some great bulls. we were inside of cson on a job well done. bow range! J&J Outfitters has been in business for Getting up close and personal with mature bulls like this is something you over 23 years and have been a Platinum Approved Outfitter for Sportsman’s News just can’t explain. As Bond walked up to his trophy, it for over 10 years. They are known for their was obvious that this fulfilled a dream top quality bull elk and trophy mule deer in of a lifetime for him. The bull was very Utah. They do both private land hunts and unique as both G-2s turn down towards publicly drawn tags. To experience your the ground. He is very symmetrical with hunt of a lifetime with a Sportsman’s News tons of mass. He is truly and old warrior Platinum Approved Outfitter, give them a and the type of bull J&J Outfitters strives call at 435-336-4146 or check them out online to harvest. Congratulations to Bond Isaa- at www.jandjoutfitters.com

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

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Pheasants, On The Farm And In The Forest Hunting ring-necked roosters in historic habitat in the Willamette Valley By Gary Lewis “

n the 1960s there were pheasants in all the fields.” Terry Rodakowski, 62, of Junction City, thumbed cartridges into his Remington Wingmaster. “Back then, if you wanted a rooster for dinner, you just walked out and jumped them up.” We were on a forest path along a creek on the Upper Calapooia River near Crawfordsville in western Oregon. There was a glint of the enthusiasm for the hunt that Terry must have had in the 1960s. He was going back into the field with his old shotgun. Ringneck pheasants were introduced in the United States in the 1880s and were released first in the Willamette Valley. For most of the last century, the birds were common throughout the state. As urban sprawl and efficient farming practices took over; as hawks and owls, crows and ravens increased in number, the pheasant lost ground. Now, a wild rooster is a rare sight indeed. Now, most pheasant hunts in Oregon take place on private preserves where birds are raised then released in good habitat. When outdoor writer Troy Rodakowski, Terry’s son, told me about a place called DK Wildlife Ranch, I was intrigued.

Photo by Gary Lewis

George and Jo Dern bought the 150-acre property in 1994 and started to rehabilitate the ground which had been clear-cut in the early ‘90s. To establish baseline data and gauge the advancement of their efforts, they began a bird survey to document avian changes as habitat improved. Slash piles were burned, large areas of brambles and Scotch broom were cleared, snags and native vegetation was left for wildlife habitat. Two years of data showed that bird species richness increased 32.5 percent from ‘Year 1 to Year 2’ while bird abundance increased 137 percent. Two decades later, the property retains a natural character, shaped by the Derns with multiple shelter belts of native cover for non-game wildlife and for hunting. “We try to work with what nature gave us,” George Dern said. Dern and Jeff Lebow were the guides for our hunt. Troy brought his dad, Terry, I brought my friend Jack Young and his grandson, Hayden. Out of school on Christmas break, this would be 16-yearold Hayden’s first pheasant hunt. “I like to begin the hunts continued on page 16

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

LEWIS

continued from page 15 with a little warm-up,” Dern said. “We start you off in the outhouse and when you break a clay pigeon, we let you out.” I took a box of target shells into the outhouse, where I stood in the doorway. Dern took his seat on the clay thrower. An orange target streaked through the trees, left to right and I missed it. I missed the next two shots and then connected. Some of our hunters shot better than me, some shot worse, but eventually we were all “toilet-trained” and could go hunting. Dern let Ellie, his 11-year-old pudelpointer, and two Hungarian vizslas off their leads. Beau, Young’s French Brittany, started off at heel then began to quarter ahead. We started on what Dern calls his “grouse walk,” along the creek, through alders, firs and Oregon grape. There are blue grouse on the property, but it was a pheasant the dogs pointed. My toilet training paid off as the bird flushed left to right and I stopped it. Ellie, Dern’s 11-year-old pudelpointer, made the retrieve. Minutes later Ellie locked up and the other dogs honored her point; Hayden walked in and the bird flushed

straight away and he dropped his first rooster. We crossed the creek into a field of Scotch broom broken by shelter belts of cottonwoods and Douglas firs. After we had eight pheasants in our game vests, I thought our hunt was over, but Dern, who turns 79 this year, said we were just getting started. By the time we were finished, we had 21 in the bag and we never hunted the same piece of ground twice. Hayden marveled as each bird was brought to hand. No one rooster was like another. One bird’s coloration tended toward greens and aquamarine, while another bird wore shades of blue. Each hen, too, was resplendent in muted browns and iridescent greens. We packed enough home for a dozen dinners. These days, when we think pheasants, we picture prairies of wheat and rye and standing corn in wide-open spaces, but there was a time when farm kids chased roosters in fields and forest lands like this. Gary’s latest book, A Bear Hunter’s Guide to the Universe, is available as an e-book on Kindle and Nook or in print at www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

Cooking Waterfowl By Steve McGrath Camp Chef

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would guess that there are as many different reasons to waterfowl as there are choices in shot shells, but I seriously doubt there are many that do it for the meat. We’ve all heard the cliché sayings about cooking duck; most of them ending with some sort of punch line about throwing away the meat and eating the rock it was cooked with. For those that have been fortunate enough to have tasted just how good waterfowl can be, your hunts have probably taken on a different meaning. If you are lucky enough to have a great shoot, it’s what you do with the ducks afterwards that can dictate just how good or bad, they will taste. Treat the birds the same as you would a prime cut of beef; keep it cool and dry. The sooner you can clean the bird the better. There is a long-standing debate on methods of cleaning, with many just removing the breasts. The time consuming plucking can lead to a much better tasting duck, but I would guess that many overlook it for logistical reasons. If you decide to breast the ducks, leave the skin on and just pluck the small patch left with it. If you plan on consuming it within a day or two, soak the newly cleaned meat in a bowl of slightly briny water; it will help draw the blood out of it. Place the submerged duck pieces in the refrigerator for a day or two, changing the water as needs be. If you are leaning towards collecting a few more ducks before firing up the grill/smoker, vacuum pack and freeze them to keep them as fresh as possible. Waterfowl cooking methods can be as diverse as Bubba’s suggested shrimp methods in Forrest Gump. I’ll spare you the reciting of that rather lengthy list, but suffice to say, there should be a method that suits your tastes. Here are a couple favorites among the fall crew I hunt with. Smokers are well known for cranking out some great ribs and brisket, but don’t overlook waterfowl. It’s become my family’s favorite way of eating ducks and geese. There are a couple of ways to add smoky flavor to your meat. Cold smoking takes the longest

Pro’s Tips time and requires controlled temperatures of 100 degrees or less. If you’re new to smoking game, start with hot smoking. Ideally, hot smoking temperatures are around 170 degrees, give or take 10 degrees or so. Duck breast fillets typically take about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours to reach the desired internal temperature of 135 degrees (medium-rare). Whole or split ducks will take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the size of the ducks. Given the inconsistencies within most smokers, rarely will the different meats be finished at precisely the same time. In other words, when each piece is done, take it out. If it’s not done, leave it in until it is done. Smoke-cooked ducks will be moist and juicy, provided that you don’t cook them too long. You’ll know if your ducks are overcooked when they shrink up, turn grey in the center and become tough and dry. If that happens, don’t blame the duck that it was smoked too long. Here is a simple brine recipe from The Sporting Chef, Scott Leysath. It’s great to use on birds before smoking them. This brine formula works for whole or halved waterfowl. For larger birds, allow extra time in the brine to penetrate the meat. Ingredients • 12–16 duck breast fillets, skin on or off • Olive oil Brine • 3 quarts water • 1 cup kosher salt • 1 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup Italian seasoning • 1/4 cup garlic powder • 2 tablespoons cracked black pepper • 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes • 4 bay leaves, crushed • 1 1/2 quarts ice Directions Heat 1 quart of water in a saucepan over medium heat. Add kosher salt and the next six ingredients and stir until dissolved. Reduce temperature to low and simmer brine 15 to 20 minutes to blend flavors. Transfer brine to a large container, add remaining 2 quarts of water and allow to cool. Add ice. Place duck breast fillets in brine and refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours. Rinse fillets with cold water, pat dry and rub with a thin coating of olive oil. Place fillets in a 170-degree smoker for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 135 degrees for medium-rare. When you’ve spent any amount of time in the field you are bound to have banner days that will always be remembered. One of those for me happened to be a spring hunt for snow geese. The geese are literally eatcontinued on page 20

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

WATERFOWL

same hunt next year, who was handy with a knife and helped breast the birds out. The first problem had been solved, the geese had been breasted and vacuum packed until we could decide what to do with them all. My wife was born and raised as a city girl, having never tasted wild game of any kind, I spent years wondering if she would like the taste of any wild game. Foolishly, I had never given her to opportunity to try it though. Some may cringe at the idea of snow geese being her first exposure to wild game, but the stars aligned and she was hooked. As talked about in the previous paragraph I had copious amounts of snow geese breasts and needed to do something with them. I did what many hunters do when faced with large amounts of meat - I made jerky. Following the simple instructions from the Hi Mountain Jerky package I bought, I was able to make some of the finest jerky I’ve ever tasted. The confirmation on just how good it was came from my citified wife and kids. The reason I tell that story is cooking waterfowl doesn’t have to be difficult or dreaded, it’s as simple or

continued from page 18 ing themselves out of house and home. Their breeding grounds up north can’t support the populations, which has brought about the conservation order. Our group, which included an editor of Sportsman’s News, met in the northeast corner of Colorado to see if we could shoot some northbound snow geese. We were fortunate enough to find the “X” in the two days we were there and shot over 150 geese. After the fun ended, the real work began with processing that many birds. Thankfully there was as aspirational 17-year-old that hoped to go on the

tough as you want to make it. The last method, which I would bet is the most popular of cooking waterfowl is grilling. Let me paraphrase waterfowl cooking guru Hank Shaw, “Think of a duck breast as a steak wearing a hat made of bacon.” Keep the skin on to seal in that thin layer of fat and sear the skin to crispy perfection. When cleaning the duck, if the fat is off color, orange or yellow, be sure to clean it from the meat and dispose of it. The colored fat tends to hold more of the fowl taste. The taste of the meat varies from species to species, with divers being some of the worst tasting. Leysath has another great recipe he uses for divers, but it can also easily be applied to any ducks. Ingredients • 8-12 diver duck breast half-fillets (depending on size of ducks) • 1/3 c. olive oil • 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar • 3 cloves garlic, crushed • 3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary • 1½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper • 1½ tsp. kosher salt Directions

1. Whisk together olive oil and remaining ingredients. Place duck breasts in a zipper-lock bag, pour half of marinade over, reserving the other half to serve with cooked breasts. Squeeze out air and refrigerate for 2 hours. 2. Heat a well-lubricated grill to medium-hot. Remove duck from marinade, drain and place on grill. Cook until medium-rare on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. 3. Allow meat to rest for a few minutes before serving. Arrange on plates and drizzle on remaining marinade. Give these recipes a try and discover just how good waterfowl can be! Your mouth might just start to water the next time you decoy in some birds.

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Beretta 1301 Tactical Shotgun

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

esigned for home defense or law enforcement use, the Beretta 1301 Tactical Shotgun provides a versatile gun with Beretta reliability for added peace of mind in a defensive encounter. The 18.5 inch barrel, featuring Steelium Technology, bonds the tri-alloy steel and combines it with cold forging and vacuum distension to make a superior barrel with the ability to fire a wide range of shotgun loads from steel shot to slugs without damaging the barrel or having accuracy suffer. The fixed choke cylinder keeps uniform conformity without the need to change chokes. The gun patterns very well, given the short barrel, with about a 12-inch spread

with #6 target loads at 50 feet and 8 inches with 00 buckshot. The Optima-Bore HP geometry gives the barrel a natural point of aim/point of impact that almost makes the sights unnecessary. But as sights go, the ghost ring sights provided rapid target acquisition and ease of sighting. They give the shooter a quick sight picture and make it easy to quickly reacquire the sights after each shot. While this gun is designed as a defensive gun, it absolutely screams three-gun. In fact, Beretta also makes a competition version of this gun. The B Link gas system is self-cleaning, super reliable, and cycles 36 percent faster than any other semi-automatic shotgun on the market. The exclusive exhaust valve, combined with a cross tube gas piston, allow

the 1301 to fire a wide range of loads, making it a super versatile gun. The 1301 also comes standard with customization options to allow the shooter to adjust the length of pull, drop, and cast, with a series of spacers. A standard Piccatinny rail on top allows the addition of optics or lights without drilling and tapping for a scope mount. An oversized charging handle, combined with oversized reversible safety and a large intuitive bolt release, make the 1301 a cinch to operate in the cold or with gloves. Aggressive textured checkering on the fore-end and stock make it easy to grip and provide positive control with slippery hands. I put about 200 rounds through this gun, alternating between target loads and high brass steel shot. I also put several slugs and defensive loads down the barrel. My first impression is that this gun is a natural pointer and sights are almost not needed for ranges under 50 yards. The gun wants to shoot where you think it should and it destroyed stationary clay pigeons so rapidly that I was having difficulty keeping targets at which to shoot on the range. The B Link gas

system is so fast that follow up shots were amazingly quick and smooth. The trigger was amazingly crisp with no creep and a medium weight that, since I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a trigger gauge, I am guessing was around 4 pounds. On a gun this nice, it was difficult to find a shortcoming, but the one area where the gun was lacking was in the capacity of the magazine tube. Because Beretta ships guns all over the world, it has a magazine capacity of 4+1 to comply with various nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laws and import restrictions. Never fear though, because an after market extension is available to increase that capacity to 7+1. All in all it was a supremely well-made gun with engineering that far surpasses its closest competitor and topped off with more than 500 years of gun making experience behind it. The Beretta 1301 Tactical shotgun is like many fine Italian products, but not as high end as a Ferarri. More like a sporty and practical Alfa Romero. Not so nice that you will be afraid of scratching the paint, but something you will want to drive every day.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

Great Gift Ideas From The Sportsman’s News Team

very year, the Sportsman’s News team hits the field for well over 1,000 man-days of hardcore hunting, fishing and camping excursions. During these trips, we get to test out a good portion of the new gear that hits the shelves. After the completion of the year, we have beaten up some of the best products and weeded out what is good and what is gimmick. I have asked the team to put together a few items that has made a lasting impression on them and now finds a place on their gear list for the future. Any one of these items would be a great gift for anyone that is fortunate enough to receive one of them under the tree on Christmas morning. Outdoor Edge Razor Pro Knife

Spending the majority of the fall in the field hunting numerous different states week after week doesn’t leave much time to tackle the task of sharpening a knife. This is also a skill set that is acquired over countless hours of practice and we usually don’t have that time. In 2013 Outdoor Edge came out with a new knife called the Razor Lite which is a replaceable blade knife and it truly helped to solve the problem. However, I had gotten attached to the gutting blade which opens the game up like a zipper and doesn’t dull the primary blade when cutting through the hair. I was still forced to carry two knives to have both blades I desired. The new Razor Pro now solves this problem. Just like the Razor Lite it is a full-sized drop point folding hunting knife that comes with 3-1/2” replaceable razor blades made from surgical grade Japanese 420 stainless steel. It also has the gutting blade built into the knife. The rubberized TPR handle provides for an extremely ergonomic non-slip

grip. This tacky-feeling handle material is ideal for a hunting knife because it gives you something to safely hang on to, even when the knife becomes wet with fat and blood while breaking down that trophy. The razor blades with this system are not only extremely sharp, but durable as well. The knife blades themselves are very rigid and have the additional support of the black oxide coated blade holder. This blade is very similar to a traditional knife and not like other replaceable blade knives which have a tendency to break when you put pressure on them. It comes in black and fluorescent orange. ExtremeBeam M1000 Fusion The M1000 is the ideal companion for just about any situation. It is a full sized light, which is 10.375 inches long and only weighs in at one pound six ounces. It boasts a whopping 850 Lumens of light with four CR123 batteries or two 3.6 volt 18650 batteries. The housing is made from 5.5mm aircraft aluminum which is double sealed and waterproof, making this one of the most durable lights you have ever had the opportunity to own. It is built with dual Anti-Recoil pins that are rated to handle the recoil from a .50 BMG and the 30mm housing will fit standard 30mm ring mounts for any weapon. With this kind of durability and the ability to cast a powerful beam nearly a mile, we can with confidence say, “this is the last light you will ever need to buy!” CEO David Wilson says his company’s philosophy is “Go out and break it, so we can find a better way to build it.” ExtremeBeam builds a good amount of product for our military personnel. Unlike some companies who don’t let this technology trickle down to the everyday person for several years, David and his company believe that everyone is equally important and deserve the same great products. During an interview, I pressed David to tell me why his products were able to be priced so much better

than his competition while also delivering better quality. For a company to be priced so much better for similar types of products, there had to be some corners cut somewhere. His calm voice assured me that ExtremeBeam would never cut corners or build a substandard product. They simply own their own factory where they produce the product and are the innovators in bringing products to market. After spending the last year beating up an ExtremeBeam light and meeting with David Wilson to discuss the company’s goals and philosophies, I’m positive ExtremeBeam will be the top light for years to come and a great gift to find under the tree.

Leupold VX-6 This scope is as good as it gets when it comes to top of the line rifle optics. It comes in various models ranging from the 1-6X24 all the way out to the 7-42X56. The majority of the scopes in this line come with a 30mm tube, but the higher magnification scopes come with a 34mm tube making them a light gathering dream. We have currently been shooting the 4-24X52mm with illuminated Boone and Crocket reticle with CDS. This scope features unsurpassed light transmission, uncompromising mechanical performance and unbeatable optical clarity. The powerful 6:1 zoom ratio provides crystal clear images from edge to edge throughout the entire magnification range. The features and benefits of this scope are nothing short of spectacular. Leupold’s Quantum Optical System with legendary Xtended Twilight lens coatings and DiamondCoat 2 combine with edge blackened lead-free lenses for astonishing clarity and light transmission. The extreme fast-focus eyepiece ensures a generous eye relief and optimal diopter adjustment in the field. The Illuminated reticle VX-6 features either traditional or super bright FireDot illumination. The 1-button low- profile design allows users to choose between 12 intensity settings. Proprietary motion sensor technology automatically deactivates illumination after five minutes of inactivity, yet re-activates as

soon as any movement is detected. The 34mm main tube is extremely rugged, but unbelievably lightweight. It comes with a twin bias spring erector system and pop-up re-zero finger click adjustments assuring 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. The CDS System works by laserinscribing 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. Truly one of the best and lightest high end scopes on the market today. Grizzly 75 Cooler The Sportsman’s News team has been using Grizzly coolers for half a dozen years now. Whenever we have done a field test on coolers, they always perform better than all of their competitors. It is one thing to sponsor lots of television shows and claim you are the best, but it’s another to just be the best and Grizzly is that company. The new Grizzly 75 is one of the newest coolers in the line. They have taken years of experience and what we considered to be the best cooler on the market and made it even better. This 75 quart cooler is ideal for long weekend getaways and keeps ice for over ten days in our testing. It continued on page 26

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CHRISTMAS GUIDE continued from page 24

measures 33.25 inches wide by 18 inches deep and stands 18 inches high. This hard core unit is made from rotomolded plastic which insures that the wall thickness is consistent throughout, making it extremely tough. It is injected with environmentally friendly insulation that truly will keep ice longer than any other cooler on the market. The 2” drain plug

allows for quick draining and the full length drain channels on the bottom of the cooler complete this process. It comes with non-slip and non-marking rubber feet which will keep the unit in place on the deck of your boat or bed of the truck. Handles are molded in, but also comes with rope handles with a nylon sleeve and heavy duty rubber handles. There is a 2” tie down slot on each side which allows you to not only tie it down, but even lock it to your vehicle. There is an embossed 30” ruler on the lid of the unit to measure your catch. The internal molding in this cooler is designed to hold the Grizzly frozen dividers which are powered by Arctic Ice. Each cooler will hold up to three dividers and there are several to choose from, depending on your desires. Whether you are looking to keep your beer at near freezing temperatures or would like to keep your frozen goods frozen for extended trips, there is a frozen divider to fit your needs. It also eliminates the need for ice which will eventually melt and get your contents wet. If you will be camping in bear country,

this cooler is also Grizzly Bear compliant. Each cooler has a lifetime warranty and is made right here in the U.S.A. The Worksharp Knife and Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Edition From your home to the great outdoors and everything in between, the Worksharp Knife and Tool Sharpener Ken Onion Editions have you covered. This product will effortlessly put razor sharp edges on anything with a blade, including light duty tools. Sharpening your pocket and hunting knives along with your household knives and scissors has never been so quick and easy. It comes with a variety of premium flexible abrasive belts to help you get a sharp blade on all your different knives and tools. The fully adjustable sharpening guide will ensure you are keeping a correct and consistent angle, which is needed to achieve a perfect edge. Worksharp was engineered with Ken Onion, a professional blade maker, to design the ultimate knife and tool sharpener; giving you razor sharp edges every time. Stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and demo one for yourself today.

Wilson Electronics: Sleek 4G Cell Phone Signal Booster Wilson Electronics is an innovative company that manufactures products to improve cell phone coverage. Anyone that spends time in the great outdoors has more than likely had trouble getting cell phone service at one time or another. Wilson Electronics can help solve that problem with their new Sleek 4G cell phone booster. This product is a must for anyone that has ever had a problem with bad reception or dropped calls. While testing the Sleek 4G cell phone

booster, I discovered those locations where I had once dropped calls or only had enough service to send a text, didn’t exist anymore. The Sleek 4G can also help with weak signals in your home or office with their optional home kit that can be purchased separately, making this product extremely versatile and easily moved from your home to vehicles as well. Stop by your local Sportsman’s Warehouse today and get all the facts for yourself. Waterworks / Lamson Liquid Fly Reel Waterworks/Lamson makes outstanding fly reels for fishermen who demand performance and reliability. With the release of the latest Liquid fly reel, fishermen looking for a durable product under $100 will find this new reel is in a class of its own. Full radius compound curves and near zero radius inside corners give the Liquid fly reel high-end performance at an affordable price. For those fishermen who like to personalize their gear, there are three different anodized continued on page 28

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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

Any perceived advantage of an inertia-driven autoloader dies the instant you shoulder a VERSA MAX ®. Its new VersaPort ® gas system cycles every load, from light 2 ¾" to heavy 3 ½" magnums, with flawless consistency, dramatically less recoil and less maintenance than any other autoloader out there. For a devastating combination, choose Hypersonic Steel.® At 1,700 fps, it’s the world’s fastest, hardest-hitting steel.

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

CHRISTMAS GUIDE

2,000 pictures and only used a quarter of battery. Overall, these are a great gift for any outdoorsman that is looking for quality and ruggedness in a product that will last for years to come.

continued from page 26

color sleeves to customize your reels. The sleeves fit over the existing cassette and are available in burnt orange, coral blue and salsa green. The Liquid fly reel is perfect for the beginner and the expert fisherman who wants a product to rely on that won’t break the bank. The advantage being that you will have extra gas money to get out and enjoy your favorite fishing hole more often! Stealth Cams G42NG No Glow Scouting Camera The New Trail camera from Stealth Cam offers simplicity, unmatched quality and durability with their new G series trail cams. The G42NG has multiple settings to help you customize your camera according to your needs. With four (4) resolution settings of 10mp/8mp/4mp/2mp along with a burst mode of 1 to 9 images per triggering and a settable recovery time of 5 seconds to 59 minutes, all help to ensure that stealth cam will have you

covered for all your scouting needs. The G42NG Stealth Cam also gives you the ability to record HD video of 5- to 180-seconds with audio. These trail cameras will provide good battery life, so you can keep an eye on your game. Using these trail cams all summer on the 10mp setting with a three picture burst mode and 5-second delay, I had over

Motorola MS355R Two-Way Radios Motorola’s Talkabout MS355 is by no means a fair weather radio. On the contrary, it is a high performance, ultra-durable waterproof radio that’s right for the extreme outdoors. Features include: Wa t e rproof design – survives water dunks and heavy d o w n pours, it floats – making for easy recovery, headset connector

– for use with your favorite Motorola audio accessories, earbud with push-to-talk microphone for unrestricted communication, ergonomic design – functional but sleek, repeater function – improves your coverage beyond the horizon and can connect to NOAA weather channels. With a range of up to 35 miles and packed with every possible radio feature, it’s hard to believe such value is available at such competitive pricing. Ronny Fisher Life Jacket With the Ronny Fisher Life Jacket, Astral turns its renowned life jacket design expertise to fishing. All the bells and whistles the fisherman needs, plus a thin back that accommodates any kind of kayak, raft or boat seat. Durable and functional, the Ronny Fisher utilizes a 500d CORDURA shell and offers an abundance of storage with large zippered pockets and accessory compartments. The two large fold down pockets in the front are sized perfectly to fit up to a 6.5” x 4.25” tackle box. Safety features continued on page 30

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

Fred Eichler Fred is the host of Easton Bowhunting TV and Predator Nation and the owner of Fulldraw Outfitters and is the first person to take all 29 North American Big Game species with a recurve bow to complete the Super Slam.

Grizzly Coolers are the perfect solution for serious hunters like Fred that need to be able to securely preserve freshness of the game until it reaches its final destination. With the ability to retain ice for 19 days, hunters don’t feel limited on where their hunt will take them. Currently offered in four sizes, the Grizzly 16, Grizzly 60, Grizzly 150 and Grizzly 400 are offered in a vast variety of colors and come with a lifetime warranty. The Grizzly 400, 150, 60 & 16 are certified bear resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. The favorite color of the Eichler’s is Sandstone and Tan.

For a Lifetime.

www.grizzlycoolers.com

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December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

THE RUGER

LC380 ™

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

It features a dovetailed, high visibility 3-dot sight system, 7-round magazine and finger grip extension floorplate, manual safety, loaded chamber indicator and light recoil spring for an easy-to-manipulate slide. The LC380™ is the same size as the LC9™, yet offers reduced recoil making it Ruger’s lightest recoiling personal protection centerfire pistol yet.

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

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

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

WWW.RUGER.COM/LC380

Dovetailed, High-Visibility 3-Dot Sight System

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

CHRISTMAS GUIDE continued from page 28

include reflective accents on the front and back. Additional features include a zinger and tool organizer with Velcro closure, a zippered beverage holder, stowable rain hood in neck collar, additional attachment points for all tools and gadgets and plenty of pockets to hold a fishing license, phone or other accessories. Like all Astral PFDs, the Ronny Fisher is articulated to wrap the torso while the large arm openings provide a natural and unrestricted range of motion.

Camp Chef Sherpa Table & Organizer Having the Sherpa Camp Table & Organizer is like having kitchen cupboards at the campsite. When the legs are compressed and pouches zipped, the carry handles make it easy to grab and go. The four padded bags keep everything organized during storage and transport but as an added feature, the blue organizer bag is lined and can be used as a cooler or even a kitchen sink. A rollout aluminum tabletop attaches to the frame and is stowed away when not in use. Internal zipping storage dividers can be adjusted

to customize storage options and open up enough room for a Mtn. Series stove or Portable Outdoor Oven. With legs collapsed measures 15.75” x 27” x 18.25”. Pick one up for a great additions to your next campsite. Browning Bird’n Lite Strap Vest The Bird’n Lite upland hunting vest from Browning is a true game changer. Upland hunters are immersed in tradition. It’s all about being afield with a good dog, a well-traveled shotgun and feeling the heft of shells and birds swinging in your favorite vest. Well, now’s the time to upgrade your upland gear and check out Browning’s Bird’n Lite series. Bird’n Lite vests feature an integrated load-bearing system that lifts the load higher and balances it between your shoulders and hips for more comfort and stability, all without sacrificing the look of tradi-

tional upland hunting gear. With Bird’n Lite, you can carry more, with less effort, for far longer than you would ever have wanted to with your old hunting vest. Browning’s Bird’n Lite Technology weight distribution system secures your load • Rugged, lightweight cotton/polyester shell fabric • Padded blaze shoulder straps • Frontloading blood proof game bag with load stabilizing strap • Oversized shell pockets with internal shell loops and snap closures • Built-in rucksack with elastic top • Adjustable belt • Lined hand warmer pockets behind shell pockets • Water bottle pockets • D-rings for accessories • License tab. The Sportsman’s News Team absolutely loves this vest! continued on page 32

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December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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CHRISTMAS GUIDE continued from page 30

PEET Advantage Dryer Studies show Americans’ are some of the most active outdoor enthusiasts on the planet. Hiking, fishing, running and camping are among the most popular recreations, but the list of activities

researchers monitor includes over 30 outdoor pursuits. Add them all up and it’s estimated that Americans enjoy over 10 billion outdoor outings a year. Human-powered outdoor adventures that traverse land depend on feet and the footwear surrounding them. That’s where the Advantage PEET footwear dryer comes in. PEET AirCare Technology uses slightly warmed ambient air. It rises through DryPorts designed to maximize the airflow throughout the gear. In addition to effectively drying wet and sweat, this circulating air works to neutralize odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew. After the day’s journey, this device becomes the resting place for boots, shoes, skates and cleats. Overnight it uses patented ideas to transform soggy, sweaty and smelly – into dry, fresh and responsive footgear. It’s that good start every outdoor pursuit should have. Whatever your motivation, doing one simple thing before you go to bed – putting your footwear on a PEET – will get you off to the best start possible.

Daisy Air Guns When you ask someone to name an airgun company, chances are that the first name that comes to mind will be Daisy. For over 125 years, more Americans have taken their first shot with a Daisy BB gun than any other brand. Daisy still dominates the airgun category with tried and true models like the legendary Red Ryder as well as innovative PowerLine air rifles, air pistols and a line of Avanti air rifles and pistols for training and match competition. The PowerLine Model 901 features a black advancedcomposite stock and forearm. This sleek, multi-pump air rifle shoots either BBs or pellets. Target shooters will be in the black with the adjustable rear sight, the fiber optic front sight and the rifled steel barrel. With a maximum muzzle velocity of 750 fps and a dovetail feature for mounting optics, this gun also fits the bill

for small game hunting. Load up to 50 BBs in the magazine. Every time you pull back the bolt and push it forward, you’ll load another BB. Or single-load any style of .177 caliber pellets. Daisy’s PowerLine Model 901 is appropriate those ‘youngat-heart adults’ and of course youngsters under adult supervision. Zippo Outdoor 4-in1 Woodsman Lightweight gear that serves more than a single purpose is always welcome on my outdoor excursions. The 4-in-1 Woodsman from Zippo combines the cutting power of a full-sized axe with versatility of a bow saw. Top it off with a hammer head for driving stakes and a metal loop for pulling them back out again that make this tool uber useful in camp. The 4-in-1 Woodsman features a continued on page 34

PEACE OF MIND FOR WHEREVER THE GAME TAKES YOU The only satellite communicator with built-in navigation

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December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown ®

™

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

WWW.RUGER.COM/1022TAKEDOWN

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

CHRISTMAS GUIDE continued from page 32

broad and bearded 5-inch axe blade with an included plastic cover to protect the blade and also serve as a saw handle. The 20-inch handle is long enough to fully provide the functionality of an axe, but also provide the small footprint of a hatchet. Inside the sturdy polymer handle are two 15-inch wood cutting saw blades that attach to the axe head cover and the bottom of the axe handle to give you a quick and easy bow saw. All-in, the Woodsman contains four vital camping tools in a single 2.3-pound package.

Pat’s Backcountry Beverages Carbonator Bottle Sometimes having a cold frosty soda on the trail is a refreshing departure, but the weight and bulk of carrying a six pack of your favorite root beer leaves you doing without. With the Carbonator Bottle from Pat’s Backcountry Beverages, you can swap out your standard Nalgene water bottle with this little carbonation station. It uses regular water, a carbonation activator envelope and small and lightweight flavor syrup pouches to give you your favorite soda, soft drink or pop, depending upon how you say it. With the ability to whip up a six-pack of soft drinks for less than a pound of weight, the Carbonator Bottle lets you bring the comfort of an ice cold fizzy beverage along with you on any hike. Even better yet, the beverage mixes from Pat’s are all natural and feature pure sugar cane juice, real cinnamon and natural fruit juices to provide you a healthy alternative to sodas flavored with high-fructose corn syrup. And for the grown ups, the same Carbonator Bottle can be used for creating either a pale ale or a dark amber beer with their Pale Rail or Black Hopps brew concentrates, available at your local liquor store. ThermaCELL HeatedInsoles ProFLEX As the cold weather and icy ground start to grip the country, heavy boots and wool socks may help keep cold feet at bay for the short term, but for those who need to spend hours at a stretch standing on cold ground, eventually the frigid Earth will overcome even the toastiest of socks. To combat the cold on your dogs, ThermaCELL has created wireless and rechargeable heated insoles that can be easily adjusted without the need to remove your boots. The ProFLEX Heated Insoles feature dual rechargeable battery packs, with the ability to swap them out with spares. These slim removable batteries are a huge improvement over other insoles that have internal batteries and require the entire insole to be removed and recharged. Each ProFLEX battery will work for up to 5-hours, but once they have drained, it is possible to simply remove the depleted battery and quickly swap it out

with a freshly charged spare. The charger operates on any powered USB jack and comes with a charger, wall plug, and micro USB cord, as well as a nylon storage bag to keep it all organized. The insoles themselves are very comfortable while still providing the foot forming support you expect from an insole. The battery is foam covered and flush fitting, (so when it is in place and the insole is in your boot) you don’t even know it is there. You don’t know it is there until you press the button on the wireless remote control and it starts to get warm, that is. The ProFLEX Heated Insoles will keep your tootsies toasty at a temperature of 100 degrees on medium and 111 degrees on high. Just enough to keep them warm, but without getting your feet too hot. They can also be turned off so the insulative properties of the foam can keep the cold at bay while not overheating your feet. The ProFLEX Heated Insoles are available in five sizes, small, medium, large, extra-large and extra extra-large continued on page 36

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

FISH WITH CONFIDENCE WWW.LAMIGLAS.COM FOR OUR NEW CATALOG CALL 1.800.325.9436

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

CHRISTMAS GUIDE and will accommodate shoe sizes from men’s 3.5 to 13 and women’s 4.5 to 14 and can also be trimmed for a more exact fit. If you are going to spend hours tromping through snow, standing in a tree stand with cold air blowing on your feet or even working in the wet and icy ground of a construction site, these insoles will provide hours of toasty toes. And experience has taught us that if our feet are warm, the rest of us will take less insulation to keep warm.

dozens of individual pieces to help you build the ideal clothing combination for your hunt. Each piece, sold exclusively at Sportsman’s Warehouse, has a hangtag that provides a detailed description of how to best utilize each garment in your overall system. This makes it easy to quickly assemble your wardrobe to best maximize the clothing for your intended purpose. From gaiters to gloves, to head coverings, to rain gear, Killik will give you the same quality technical clothing that you could once only dream about, at a price you can now afford.

Killik Gear Pairing cutting edge technical clothing with the innovative camouflage concept of Kryptek Highlander, at a price that is a third or less of other high end hunting clothing, Killik Gear offers everyman affordability for mountaineering quality that was once reserved for only the professional hunter. Each piece of the multi-level layering system has been painstakingly engineered to provide superior breathability and wicking, as well as comfort, flexibility

Tetra Gear Cleaning Pack Containing four of their most commonly used gun cleaning products in a single package, Tetra Gun has made gun cleaning and lubrication easypeasy and even includes a DVD with professional gun cleaning tips. The Pack contains a 3.75 ounce can of Tetra Gun Spray cleaner and lubricant, a 1-ounce bottle of Tetra Gun Lubricant penetrating conditioner, a 1-ounce tube of Tetra Gun Grease and a 4-ounce bottle of Tetra Gun Copper Solvent all in a single

continued from page 34

and ruggedness. The Kryptek Highlander camo pattern is designed for areas with a variety of elevations and features and is the most versatile pattern in the Kryptek line. Killik has licensed this pattern and built it into a rugged layering system with innovative features to give every outdoorsman the features he has only dreamed of. The entire Killik system consists of

package. These gun cleaning supplies are the preferred choice of professional shooters and gunsmiths for the excellent cleaning, lubrication and protection capabilities they provide. Their synthetic lubricants won’t break down or turn gummy like some other lubrication products on the market and they penetrate the metal and when wiped down leaves a silky sheen that won’t collect dust and grime. Their copper solvent is industrial strength for dissolving fouling, copper, lead and brass and plastics, without damaging your guns finish or etching the metals.

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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5-20 x 56 SHV

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Side parallax control, adjustable from 25 yards to infinity without moving from shooter-ready position

Our IHR™ (International Hunting Reticle), one of several available in SHV™ riflescopes.

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Nightforce ZeroSet™ technology allows a rapid return to your chosen zero point, even after multiple elevation adjustments (5-20 x 56)

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Starting at $995*, our SHV™ series includes the most affordable—and some of the most versatile—riflescopes we’ve ever built. We kept costs down by limiting options, simplifying controls, and using a less complex manufacturing process… not by reducing the quality of their components. They will outperform any riflescopes in their price range. And many that cost much, much more.

Nightforce Optics, Inc. • 336 Hazen Lane • Orofino, ID 83544 208.476.9814 • NightforceOptics.com *Pricing subject to change without notice Visit www.NightforceOptics.com to see in-depth videos on the capabilities of our SHV™ riflescopes.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

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December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

2014 New Video Product Reviews

Remington 783 Rifle

tarting from scratch, the designers stock contains a high at Remington sought to design an nylon fiber content, entirely new rifle system from the which gives the stock ground up. The result is the Remington superior strength and Model 783. Everything about this rifle is rigidity. Also helping new and improved over previous rifle deliver those inhersystems. The majority of bolt-action ently tight groups is rifles on the market today are based a precision buttonon the World War II Mauser. The en- rifled barrel. For shot gineers at Remington threw away the control, it’s equipped design specs and created a new action. with the crisp new The rifle is even built difCrossFire ferently than any rifle has trigger sysbeen manufactured before. tem that’s user adjustable Built in Remington’s new from 2.5- to 5-pounds to state of the art factory with suit your preference. The proprietary methods that 783 features a steel detachgive it tighter tolerances for able magazine with a steel improved accuracy. Scan this QR Code with your latch. Standard calibers The dual-pillar bedding smart phone to view the have a four round capacity Sportsman's News YouTube platform free-floats the Channel. Video Available and magnum calibers hold barrel to increase consis- after December 6th. three rounds. Like with all tency. The black synthetic Remington bolt actions, ex-

pect a lifetime of rock-solid reliability. Even the stock has been redesigned to give you better ergonomics and a superior repeatable cheek weld every time. The M783 is available in two 20-inch barrel offerings, in .243 Win. and .308 Win.; four offerings in a 22-inch barrel in .243 Win., .270 Win., .30-06 and .308 Win. and in two 24-inch magnum offerings in 7MM

Remington Mag. and .300 Win. Mag. The overall weight is just around seven pounds, depending upon the caliber and barrel length you get. Because of these innovations, virtually every hunter has access to a custom grade rifle at a factory rifle price. The Remington Model 783 is poised to change the paradigm of what shooters expect from a rifle.

realize this will easily become your only oven. The porcelain cooking insert not only is removable for easy cleanup, but its coated surface aids in the resistance of scratches. The sleek exterior woodland birch camouflage pattern

makes the outdoor ambience right at home in deer country. So whether it is lasagna or chili or a massive elk roast to a chocolaty cheesecake, the 18-quart roaster from Open Country has you and your dinner covered.

Open Country 18 Qt. Camo Roaster Oven

his isn’t your grandmother ’s portable, it can be used roasting oven. Well, it is, but with optional inserts as a it has been upgraded to your buffet warmer or it can be only oven. No longer just for cooking used for hot or cold side a holiday turkey, the new 18 quart dishes. It cooks up to a roaster from Open Country does ev- 22-pound turkey or, three erything a regular oven can do and 5 pound whole chickens at much more. one time. The portability From roasting Elk or Turducken, allows you to cook anyto baking pies and cakes, the Open where there is a 120 –volt Country Roaster allows you to cook outlet, such as on your everything from ham to brownies, boat, in your RV, in your all in a small and portable package. cabin or campsite or just Because it has a built-in thermostat use it as an extra oven in with temperature adjustments from the house. The included 200-450 degrees, you can roast, bake, chrome rack is perfect brown, slow cook, sear or steam, all for suspending cookies in the porcelain lined insert. or other baked goods in The Circle of Heat technology the oven or for poaching cooks from the sides, not seafood. the bottom, for moist even While the cooking. This same techOpen Country nology also works like a 18 quart Roaster slow cooker at lower temis ideal for those large famperatures providing even ily gatherings, it is small more versatility, so feel and compact enough for free to use any slow cook Scan this QR Code with your everyday use and efficient smart phone to view the recipe passed on from one Sportsman's News YouTube enough to replace your Channel. Video Available regular oven for daily cookgeneration to the next. Because it is small and after December 18th. ing and baking. You’ll soon

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

Reflections Of Fishing Past

Chad LaChance

s a professional angler and lifetime outdoorsman, December is my slowest month in terms of fishing and hunting. Here in my home area of Colorado, fishing in most of our reservoirs has slowed to a crawl as the lakes begin showing ice, but not yet

safe ice. Most of the rivers, tail-waters excepted, have developed a good bit of edge ice making fishing them risky at best and the alpine lakes which are

sporting safe ice are a serious trek to get to. Beyond that, my beloved big game seasons have largely come and gone leaving some bird hunting and possibly

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predators, but their pelts aren’t really prime until about New Years or so. As a society we’re all mentally heading into Holiday season and it becomes a time of reflection. Looking back over the previous eleven months in the outdoors, I believe it’s important – at least if you desire to grow as a successful outdoorsman – to look closely at what concepts and techniques worked, possibly to include a mental celebration or at least personal pat on the back. After all, we work hard with a highly variable and dynamic playing field in pursuit of fish and game that has evolved into very worthy quarry and Mother Nature really does do a great job of taking care of her own. That last point means that we lose the game some of, if not a lot of, the time. Fish can’t be found, don’t bite or win the ensuing the battle. Deer bed all day only to be bumped and bound away with the tell-tale flag a wavin’ continued on page 42

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

REFLECTIONS continued from page 40

and pheasants slink down a cut row, preferring to use their brains and legs to elude us and often our dogs, refusing to use their wings once safely out of gun range. If you want to really grow as an outdoorsman, don’t focus on your success for too long. Instead, focus on the days it didn’t work out for you. Bill Gates taught me that in something of his I read and over the years, it has lead to my biggest light bulb-coming-on moments. And if you’re as competitive as I am, finding a way to overcome defeat – especially at the hands of quarry for which you have tremendous respect – becomes all encompassing. Here are a couple of things I’ve learned from studying my skunks and tag soup. Without fail, as soon as I stray from fundamental concepts of locating fish and game, I struggle. To catch or harvest, you must first find said quarry and to do that, the worst thing I can do, at least in terms of consistency, is try to out think it. Whether we like to

admit it or not, our quarry has tiny little brains incapable of logic. Instead, their decisions are made based on instincts developed for thousands of years, complete knowledge of their habitat which may include some learned behavior stemming from negative stimulus and intense focus - typically on one thing at a time. That thing is most often avoiding capture, although breeding sometimes clouds their focus - something I think we can all relate to! Want to be consistent in fishing and hunting? Learn all about edge habitat, travel corridors, intersections, cover concepts and escape routes. That’s where it all starts. An outdoorsman with a firm grasp of these ideas can show up on your pond or neck of the woods having never been there and still be successful because he will quickly narrow down where to locate the quarry – finned, feathered or furred. And as we already said, that is the hardest part. It’s easy to say we understand these ideas, but can you put the knowledge to play in the field? Sure, an escape route is how fish and game eject in the case of danger, but can you predict that with a

high degree of accuracy and therefore extrapolate where they may rest or feed when comfortable, using the idea that the escape route is easily accessible for them from that comfort zone to do so? Fish or game that are actually using that escape route are not likely catchable, but find them while they’re still in the comfort zone adjacent to it and you’re on to something. There may be a lot of feeding or resting areas available, but fish and game, at least the most mature ones, will utilize the ones with the best escape routes back to safety. Most fish and game species are very cover oriented, that is to say they often rest in and around cover. Great, but in a lot of areas there is lots of cover and commonly different types too. Using a basic cover breakdown strategy to predict which cover they may be using is paramount to efficient success. Often it comes down to areas where several cover types come together. For instance, Bass Pond X has loads of flooded willows, some cottonwoods and emergent pond weed. It’s not realistic to fish all of it, so fish where the pond weed buts up to a stand of

willows and make sure to pitch to any of the cottonwood trunks within that mix. These are high percentage spots that will help you quickly define other critical things like depth range. So, in looking back over 2014 and my whole life in the outdoors really, it is obvious to me that my success occurred when I stuck to fundamental location concepts and my failures occurred when I strayed from them. Over the rest of this, my slowest month, I’ll continue to make notes on my maps, study GPS trails on the Lowrance units and refine even farther what makes for a good spot to locate fish and game. I’ll take advantage of the down time to ensure that, as we ramp up for mid winter and beyond, I’m fishing or hunting in high percentage spots rather than trying to hit a home run on random spots or working large areas looking for random game. Very little of animal behavior is random, but neither is it logically thought out. To be successful, apply your logic to their instinctual location concepts. Consider that tidbit my Christmas gift for your outdoor pursuits.

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

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

aterfowl season is finally here! It is time to get up early, put on your cold weather gear and bust up some geese and ducks. This recipe feat u re s b o n e l e s s , s k i n l e s s b re a s t meat. This is a great way to enjoy your harvest and works well with ducks as well as geese. The recipe itself goes together very quickly and really is superb. The sauce is really adaptable to any type of fruit you desire. Just simply swap the preserves (or marmalade) with any flavor you like. Raspberry, currant, apricot and orange are a few that work well. The brining of the birds

Goose Breast With Cherry-Bourbon Sauce

is key, so make sure you add a day for the brining before cooking. The recipe will feed six people, so get your loved ones together for a truly sublime wild game meal.

Ingredients Brine • • • •

1 quart water 1 cup orange juice ¼ cup kosher salt 1/8 cup brown sugar

• • • • • • •

1 ½ tablespoon olive oil 4 goose breasts Kosher salt Fresh cracked black pepper ½ cup Bourbon Whiskey ½ cup Cherry Preserves ½ cup canned sweet cherries

Recipe

Preparation Method

In a large bowl, mix together the water, orange juice, salt and brown sugar. Make sure the brine is blended well and all the solids have dissolved. Place the thawed goose breasts in a large zip-lock bag, add the brine solution, seal the bag and refrigerate overnight. In a large frying pan heat the 1 ½ tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat. Remove the breasts from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Salt and pepper the goose generously on both sides. Add the breasts to the frying pan and sear them on each side until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 3-4 min-

utes per side depending on size. Do not over-cook! They should be pretty rare. If you are using duck breasts you will need only 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to a serving plate and tent with foil. Pour off any grease from pan and turn the burner off. Add the whiskey to the pan. This will create a burst of steam and the alcohol will begin to vaporize. Make sure that there is no flame or you will have a heck of a fire in the pan! Take a large spoon or spatula and scrape all the brown bits off the bottom of the pan to begin the sauce. Crush the ½ cup of cherries and add them and the cherry preserves to the pan. Turn heat back on to medium and stir the sauce until it reaches the thickness you like (about three minutes is great). Slice the breast width wise, diagonally, into pieces about 1/8 to ¼ inch thick. Arrange on the plate and pour the sauce over them. Serve them with a wild rice blend and perhaps some roasted winter squash and a spicy green salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Unbelievable. This recipe pairs well with Merlot, Pinot Noir or a Rhone blend. The perfect wine for this meal and any other wild game can be found in the handy wine pairing guide on my website www.wildgamewine. com. Try out this recipe and enjoy some great wine and time with family over the Holiday Season. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Cheers!

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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SPORTSMAN’S NEWS | December 2014

Into Africa

By Peter E. Popieniuck

hat am I doing here? For that matter, where is here? It’s almost dark. I’m following two near strangers through some thick bush. I can barely see five feet ahead. I’m trying not to snap any twigs or rustle the dry leaves underfoot and sound the “Here I am” alert to any wild beasts within a quarter mile radius. The dense thicket is about 20 feet high. Its canopy makes the already late hour seem even darker. I don’t want to lag behind. Or fall flat on my face either. I’m also trying not to bump into any of the underbrush. Almost everything that grows here seems to be protected by four-inch-long needle-sharp thorns and my hunting clothing is still store-new and rip-free. So is my skin. I want to keep them both that way as long as possible. My P.H., Conroy, is following our tracker, Peter, who says he saw a good nyala while we bounced along the rutted path in the Toyota Hilix truck. Peter speaks only Zulu so I depend on Conroy for the translation. Peter tells Conroy the nyala is a good one. Would I even know a run-ofthe-mill nyala if I bumped into one, never mind a good one? I’d seen photographs,

but never the real thing. We’re emerging from the bush into a small clearing. The grass is four feet high. There’s a stream to cross. Are there crocodiles in it? Predators or poisonous snakes nearby? The opposite embankment is invisible in the dark. The sounds of the evening, whether from insects or beasts, are deafening. The wing beats and cackles of a surprised roost of guinea fowl are more startling than those of any flushed partridge back in New England. My senses have ever been more alert. In reality, I did sort of know where I was, who I was with and just a bit of what I was doing there. I was somewhere in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and I was following my hired professional hunter and his tracker. I was on a plains game safari in Africa, a dream come true.

N is for Nyala I’d already taken a blesbock and a red hartebeest earlier in the hunt. Today I was looking to fill my tag for the one semiexotic animal on my list, the nyala. Nyala are members of the antelope species and have slightly spiral-shaped horns and gorgeous white chevron facial markings. I never saw the animal we were stalking that dark evening, though we did see some other nyala the next morning on a steep hillside, but passed on them. None were of high enough caliber to suit Conroy. Today, Conroy wanted to take another look at that hillside and we soon spotted three nyala near its summit. Two were females, but one was a big male. Conroy pulled the Toyota to a

Sportsman’s News Outdoor Writing Contest Winner See pg. 4 for entry details. stop as close as possible to the base of the hill. I made a rest of my pack and vest on the truck’s roof and took steady aim. My rifle was zeroed in at 100 yards so even though the distance was about 175 yards, I held the crosshairs exactly on the nyala due to the steep upward angle and slowly squeezed the trigger. The bull hunched up, took a couple steps forward up the hill, backpedaled and then tumbled downhill into some thick scrub trees. The branches moved for a few seconds and then became still. Conroy and I both felt it was a clean kill and we set about driving around the hillside to reach its top from the less-steep backside. First, we picked up several local workers to assist in the nyala’s recovery. We easily drove up the hillside without following a road and arrived at its summit unscathed. We then scrambled down a hundred yards or so to where the nyala lay, resting against the clump of trees that kept him from tumbling farther down the slope. I didn’t know how we were going to get the nyala back up the hill, but I was certain it wasn’t going to be easy. I under-

December 2014 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

estimated the abilities of the workers. In short order they had the animal out of the trees, laid him on a tarp and were pulling him up the steep incline in time with the chorus of their chanting, which was comprised of melodious phases followed by a synchronized pull upward. The process was repeated until the crest of the hill was attained. It all seemed so easy and so appropriate for Africa. The photos wouldn’t have been possible without the help from those happy locals. Tale of the Wildebeest The next day was blue wildebeest day. As far as I was concerned, with the possible exception of the zebra (which I claimed as another prize later in the safari), no animal typifies an African plains game safari more than the blue wildebeest. We headed for some wooded hills with a saddle area between two ridges and spotted a small herd of about 10 wildebeest milling around. There was a nice bull in the group and I set up on the sticks in preparation for the shot. Eventually the bull cleared the cows that had screened it and stood quartering towards me. I took aim and fired. The bull bucked so I was sure I’d hit him, but he didn’t go down. Instead, he ran directly away from us through the tall grass with the rest of the herd. I began to think I might have pulled the shot just a bit to the right to be sure I’d miss the cows. We waited a short time and proceeded to where the animals had stood. No blood or other evidence of a hit was found, though Conroy and I were both certain the bullet connected. After 20 minutes we found one tiny speck of blood on a leaf. Five minutes later we found another and so on, but

no large pool of blood indicating the wildebeest had stopped moving. I was starting to have more serious doubts about my shot. Eventually we found a small splash of blood with some frothiness in it. The consensus was that I had probably nicked one lung and that it was best to wait a bit longer. A hit in one lung would ultimately prove fatal, but would the wildebeest drop close by in an open area or a long way off in some thick and inaccessible spot? We waited an hour and resumed the pursuit. Luckily the wildebeest was sticking to the dirt path and we could see his tracks and the occasional drop of red. We reached a point where it wasn’t clear what direction he’d taken. We spread out to look for more tracks or blood. Conroy spotted both in short order and we were once again hot on the trail. We entered a grassy area with black volcanic rocks scattered about. I caught sight of one rock that seemed oddly shaped and out of place. In their intensity to follow the blood trail, everyone else had passed it by. The rock grew an awesome set of horns and transformed into my wildebeest lying stone dead about 15 feet off the path. He had covered about a mile and a half from where I’d first shot him. In addition to the horns, I was impressed with the animal’s toughness. Gray Ghost finale Only wart hog and kudu (aka: the African gray ghost) remained on my “most wanted” list for my final day on safari. Since wart hogs wait until the warmth of the day to emerge from their dens, we hunted kudu first. We drove

for several hours and eventually stopped for our customary morning tea break. We saw more kudu than on any previous day, but they were all either females or juvenile males. We re s u m e d the hunt and about mid-morning came across a grassy slope where I spotted a herd of kudu among some trees. They were all females except for one lone bull. Conroy said he was a shooter. I set up the shot quickly, aiming just behind the front shoulder. I saw the kudu flinch and heard the bullet strike solidly. The bull charged off behind the trees and out of sight. I thought I might have hit just slightly back from my intended spot so we waited 20 minutes before going after him. We didn’t need to go far. Within five minutes, Conroy turned to me,

smiled and pointed at my trophy-class kudu bull lying under an acacia tree. It was a very respectable kudu, one of the most desired trophy animals of Africa. Ultimately, nine different African plains game animals made their way back to the United States and now reside on my man-cave walls. I never did take a warthog, leaving me no alternative but to plan a future African safari. Both my safari clothing and my skin are still relatively intact. And that most wanted list? It’s growing.

NEWS | December 2014 48 SW MapSPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S Ad_2014 July:Layout 1 7/7/14

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11. Redding, California (530) 222-5500 12. Rocklin, California (916) 782-9900 13. Colorado Springs, Colorado (719) 597-9200 14. Grand Junction, Colorado (970) 243-8100 15. Loveland, Colorado (970) 461-5000 16. Thornton, Colorado (303) 428-6500 17. Idaho Falls, Idaho (208) 542-1900 18. Lewiston, Idaho (208) 743-2000 19. Meridian, Idaho (208) 884-3000 20. Nampa, Idaho (208) 468-7600

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49. Kelso, Washington (360) 423-2600

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55. Casper, Wyoming (307) 233-3700

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56. Cheyenne, Wyoming (307) 635-4500