SPRING 2014
EARLY SPRING
FLATHEADS FISHING SOUTH DAKOTA THE SEASON THAT NEVER CLOSES
Be Prepared withTed Takasaki
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 1
Page 2 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 3
Fishing Early Spring
6 8
Flathead Catfishing Catfish Baits Made Simple How to Hold a Catfish
9
Without Getting Hurt How to Release a Fish
10
Catch & Release Does Work Fishing South Dakota
12
Fishing Lake Oahe SwifterSifter Track2Trail First Ride in the 2014 Arctic Cat Wild…Kitten?
18 31 38 40
Preparing for the Hunt of a Lifetime
Teeth and Ears
Magazine Team
CEO/PRESIDENT: K.A. Lesnar OPERATIONS MANAGER: Hosea Bennett COMPOSITION MANAGER: Catherine Krause Compositon: Dan Brauer, Jesse Bierman, Rosti Voznyuk
Advertising
EDITOR/SALES MANAGER: Jim Rogers SALES: Adryanna Rogers
Pro Staff Contributors Mark Strand Sean Evenson Tim Brown Josh Sowada Michael Brinkman Adam Justinger Karl Kenner Nick Surma Andrew Richwalski
Abhishek Agarwal Tim Forge Ed Hammond Jeffery Jefferson Paul N. Jensen Dale Mazurek Ken Mcbroom
Scott Richardson Jim Rogers Bob D. Russell John Stacks Ted Takasaki Kara Wattunen
The opinions expressed within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Dakota Hunting Guide. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher.
Page 4 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
20
Fishing Minnesota
22
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is Waiting
25
Fishing North Dakota The Fishing Adventure of a Lifetime?
30
Proper Preparation
Hunting
Articles
Caring for Your Hunting Dog’s
Some of the Best Fishing Destinations in the Midwest
Good Time for
A Fishing Season That Never Closes
From the Loading Bench
Fishing Iowa
44
Black Bear Hunting
32
Sit & Wait or Run through the Woods? Turkey Hunting
Become a FANatic Shotgun Shooting Anyone? Good Shooting Skills Give an Edge Hunting Spring
Snow Geese
34 36 42
Distribution
Covering the Midwest Region Dakota Hunting & Fishing Guide free circulation will average 87,900 direct to home distribution, 10,000 available on racks in Game, FIsh & Parks, Visitor Bureaus, and high traffic areas in all four states. Based on a rate of 2.8 persons per household, annual readership totals more than 1,000,000 readers in the four state region of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. Total Circulation per issue: 97,900+ 4005 S. Western Ave - PO Box 5184 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5184 Sales: 605-274-2640 - Fax: 605-335-6873 sales@huntdhg.com • www.huntdhg.com
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 5
By Ken Mcbroom Spring is just around the corner and so is good fishing. There is a growing number of catfish anglers around the country and many enjoy chasing big flatheads when the water starts to warm up. These tips will help you this spring put more and bigger catfish in the boat but remember—keep the small ones to eat and release those big mommas so they can continue the cycle. These are just a few tips on catching more flatheads during the early spring season. I hope this helps you think outside the box when it comes to hunting flatheads. These tips are just a starting point for you to help you think about the possibilities you might not have thought of before. I love to hunt flathead catfish and it took these tips from much better anglers than me to help me extend my flathead season. Good luck this spring and get out there a little sooner this year and let me know how you did. Check out my website www.RamblingAngler.com for more down home fishing information. Page 6 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
Ken McBroom is an accomplished outdoor writer and photographer. Growing up in Lynchburg Tennessee allowed him many opportunities afield as a boy and young man. Later in life his wanderlust took him all over our great country to include the oceans, rivers and mountains of Alaska. Married now with two beautiful children, Ken calls Indiana home and finds himself learning yet another region and enjoying every minute. Ken is an avid hunter and angler and hopes, as an outdoor communicator, he can share his adventures and help others pursue their outdoor dreams. Ken’s adventures, writings and photos can be seen at his website Rambling Angler Outdoors. Huntdhg.com
SMALL WATERS FIRST:
You can extend your flathead catfish fun if you focus on small bodies of water first. The smaller lakes and streams will warm up a lot faster than larger bodies of water. Keep track of water temps on your area waters and when the surface temps reach the 50’s catfish begins to feed-up for the upcoming spawn. These small waters are your best bet early and they can warm up weeks before larger catfish waters. Extend your flathead cat-fishing fun with this tip and remember as the small water flatheads begin to spawn and refuse to bite those larger catfish waters are just getting warm enough for some more flathead catfish action.
AMBUSH POINTS:
Flathead catfish are known to be buried in thick cover but during early spring flathead catfish love ambush points to gorge on baitfish and worms and any other food that washes by. Look for flathead catfish to position themselves in current breaks behind boulders or around channel swings in the creek, river or stream. A real good spot to find early spring flatheads is at the mouth of incoming creeks. Flathead catfish will hang in the slack water next to this moving water waiting to engulf any type of food that washes by.
SMALLER BAITS:
During the early spring fish have much slower metabolism. Flathead catfish, like other fish, know from instincts how much energy it will use to first catch the prey and then to also digest that prey. You can increase your bites during the early spring by downsizing your bait. Cut-bait can also be more effective during early spring. It seems that the best way to present cutbait to flathead catfish is throwing into moving water allowing the bait to wash into slack water where the flathead lies in wait to ambush its prey. Flathead catfish, that are in these ambush spots, will engulf the cut-bait without knowing it is dead so take advantage of this during your early spring hunts.
UP THE CREEKS:
Flathead catfish, more than any of the other species, seek calm water. If you hunt catfish on big rivers they will migrate up smaller tributaries to get out of the turbulent flow from the snow melt and early spring rains. These tributaries may be flowing strong but they will have less turbulent water and more ambush points to hide behind. There have been many big flathead catfish caught in very small tributaries during early spring. They are there you just have to believe and search for them and it is great fun pulling a 30 pounder out of a creek 50 feet across. 40”, 40 lb. flattie caught with a white spinner bait iowadnr, flickr.com
Derek Heyerdahl’s Minnesota Flathead alfcfishing, flickr.com
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 7
By Jeremy Jefferson
Y
ou are at liberty to choose from a variety of catfishing baits when it comes to catching catfish. By nature, catfish tend to feed themselves as omnivores. We want to learn what we can feed them to catch them. The point here is how correct is your application of the baits, especially in catching the larger catfish. The environment is more crucial than the catfishing baits used. There’s absolutely no reason why you have to employ the trial and error method when it comes to catching catfish. Sitting on the same spot will not attract the fish to you. They are masters of camouflaging and love to stay in various hideouts. Therefore, it is necessary that you inspect the water first and know the tricks of the catfish. Mobility with the rod and heel is important when using catfishing baits. Pay attention to the water and note the slightest moves. Throw in a head and see what happens. Check out eddy currents as well as you never know when you will get very lucky. You do not have to spend the whole day before you detect the presence of catfish. Try another fishing site if you are not successful after twenty minutes. It is noteworthy that the bait used is to be kept still. Moving the catfishing baits around is not the best method to incorporate. What you need at this point is to get the right tips, skills, proper bait and equipment. You are bound to get lucky and catch the large fish. A very nice time to go catfishing is when the water level of lakes has increased after floods. This is because the catfish will be attracted to the abundant amount of food, and naturally will want to eat as much as possible. Use small bits of Bluegill and fresh shad heads to serve as the catfishing baits. Additionally, the ideal time to go catfishing happens to be the early hours of the morning or the late evening. However, that does not mean that you cannot decide to do it at any time of the day. Catfish tend to aggregate at the lower parts of the water in the afternoon. They move up towards the surface and scout for food after sunset. Another nice period is when it rains and also cloudy days are brilliant. The best season for fishing channel catfish happens to be during spring and the beginning of fall. This is because the water level is higher and the activity of catfish increases during this time period. You must be ready to exert yourself in trying to catch large types of catfish. You may have to keep trying several areas for fishing. Try another area if you have spent up to half an hour using different kinds of baits ranging from chicken liver to perch. It’s time to move downwind where you will have a better chance when you observe gulls moving over an area. Please do not forget about the eddy currents. These fish move back and forth in the water while looking for food. You should go after the catfish instead of waiting for them to come to you. Attractive catfishing baits should definitely be utilized in a proper manner to further enhance your catfishing experience. Jeremy Jefferson is a catfishing expert. For more great tips on catfishing baits, visit www.catfishinggenius.com. Page 8 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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DRAYTON, North Dakota Catfi tfish tfi sh Capital Capiital of the North th
Grasp here
Dorsal fin -
Hand on top
Pectoral fin -
watch for spines here
Flathead Catfish
watch for spines here
Q. How do you hold a catfish so you don’t get stung? A. Catfish whiskers don’t “Sting” So where is all the confusion coming from? What to look out for are the dorsal and pectoral fins. These fins are located behind the head on each side and on the top of the fish behind the head. A hard spine runs the length of the fin in the front toward the head. On smaller catfish, and channel cats, the tip of these spines are pointed and very sharp and can puncture your skin. These spines contain a venom that causes edema (swelling) and is also hemolytic (causes increased blood flow in the area of the injury). Hold the fish from the top. Place your hand in front of the dorsal fin and behind the pectoral fins. For larger fish, use a lip grip.
Dan
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 9
By Dale Mazurek If you want to know how to fish then it is a must that you also know how to release fish, Bottom line is learning at this point is where you need to put your focus. The focus needs to be so that you know every single step of catch and release. If you take the time to understand everything about catch and release you are ensuring that future fisher people will be able to enjoy the sport as much as you. I fish a lot and unfortunately I run into a lot of people who don’t know how to release a fish without hurting it most of the time. The thing is with the rules always changing it seems more and more people are asking to learn how to release a fish. Keep reading and you should find all the tips you will need to make this process easier and painless. Time is the most important thing you will ever need to deal with; you need to take it very seriously. If you will be practicing catch and release I can’t stress enough how much time is of vital importance. The chance of a fish making a recovery if it’s been out of water too long is slim. It may seem to have recovered but before you know it you will be trying to fish a dead fish out of the lake. You do have to get it back in the water but you also need to be gentle about it. Page 10 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
The best case scenario is keeping the fish in the water as much as possible while releasing it. Be sure to avoid hurting the fish but at the same time you need to get the hook out as fast as you can. Single barbless hooks are what you should be using if you want catch and release to work to its best capability. By using the barbless hooks you will need almost no effort to get the fish off and swimming away. When it comes to learning how to release fish this is something that is high on the importance list. You have to always remember that you need to be gentle with your catch. The best thing you can do for the fish is hold it around the belly and never, ever get rough with it. I know sometimes we see some things on television but it really is important that you keep your fingers out of the eye sockets and gills when holding the fish. Be sure that you never squeeze the fish; you will certainly end up killing it. Sometimes after a long battle the fish you catch may go unconscious. Panic shouldn’t set in because if treated right you can and will bring the fish back. The first thing you want to do is hold the fish in the water. Make sure you are holding it upwards. Then you can move the fish very slowly back and Huntdhg.com
forth letting the water flow slowly through the gills. You want to take as much time that is needed and keep the fish moving back and forth. It may seem like it is taking a long time, but eventually the fish will start to struggle, at this point you need to let the fish go. The fish will make things quite clear and let you know exactly when to let go. I know you may also want to snap off some pictures, it really is important that you do this as quickly as possible. Keep the fish held horizontal. Do everything in your power to not squeeze the fish. Stay away from holding the fish in an up or down position and be sure it is returned to the water as quickly as possible. No matter what you do, the one thing you need to remember is keep the fishing fun. Fishing is fun and should be for everyone who lifts a rod. All you need to do is follow a few steps and you will be well on your way. As long as we all do our share we will be able to continue enjoying our love of fishing for many years to come. Take a few minutes to make sure you understand how to release a fish. Fishing is one true passion of Dale’s, it really is great to help people and lead them in the right direction for something as great as fishing. While fishing is the single most greatest sport and hobby in the world there is a lot to know and no matter how much you study you will never learn it all. Dale wants to write, write and write some more to make sure people keep having fun in the greatest sport in the world. Don’t hesitate and head on over to his blog right now at www.fishingfuntimes.blogspot.com.
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 11
By Jim Rogers More than 1,100 square miles of water and a fishing season that never closes await you in South Dakota. Whether you fly fish for trout in a Black Hills stream, reel in trophy walleye from a Missouri River reservoir, or land bass or crappie from a glacial lake, South Dakota has fishing opportunities for everyone from the pro angler to the weekend enthusiast. Obtaining a South Dakota fishing license can be as easy as visiting a local gas station where you may also find the bait and fishing gear you’ll need.
Central - Great Lakes Region The Other Great Lakes - Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, Lewis and Clark Lake The Missouri River dominates the landscape of central South Dakota, cutting across endless prairies. It’s a land of untouched nature, sparsely inhabited but passionately loved by anyone who has ever had the good fortune to experience it. Beginning in the late 1940s, the Missouri River was dammed to create four massive reservoirs - Oahe, Sharpe, Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark. These shimmering waters make up South Dakota’s Great Lakes. Together, they provide 440-plus miles of waterway for boating, fishing, sailing, swimming and windsurfing. Lined with 3,000 miles of shore, these reservoirs have inviting sandy beaches, gentle prairie bluffs and impressive chalk cliffs. Fishing today’s Missouri River is far from the muddy, winding waterway Lewis and Clark traveled some 200 years ago. Four massive dams, completed in the early 1960s, mitigated the river and created more than 900 square miles of open water and 3,000 miles of shoreline. In addition, the dams created a world-class freshwater fishery. If large waters intimidate you, a trip to a prairie stock dam may be more to your liking. From one to 100 acres, these small ponds were built to water livestock and conserve soil and water. Stock dams can be easily fished from shore or with the aid of a small boat, canoe or float tube. With lakes like these, it’s no wonder that South Dakota’s Great Lakes have become a fishing mecca. Walleye reign supreme in these waters, but anglers catch everything from catfish to white bass. Homey resorts and lodges located all along the lakes cater to fishermen and hunters. Anglers aren’t the only ones who enjoy the lakes. Lake Oahe might be dotted with pleasure boaters. At Lewis and Clark Lake, the horizon might be filled with colorful sailboats. That enjoyment extends onto the prairies surrounding the river. Hunters frequently refer to this region as “God’s Country.” They relish the solitude of nature as they pursue pheasants, waterfowl, predators and big-game animals.
Page 12 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
Northern Pike
Photo courtesy of TravelSD
• Flickr
Walleye Walleye are the most abundant and popular fish in the four Missouri River reservoirs. River anglers fish depths from 5 to 20 feet using jigs and minnows in the spring and night crawler/spinner combinations and crankbaits in the summer. Reservoir anglers use similar baits, but spring fishing depths range to 25 feet. Summer depths may extend to 45 feet or more. Chinook Salmon For Lake Oahe Chinook Salmon, spring and summer fishing depths range from 50 to more than 100 feet. Most salmon fishing is done with the aid of downriggers or side planers. Flashers, squids, spoons, deep diving plugs and crankbaits work well with chartreuse and silver being predominant colors. The best salmon lures imitate rainbow smelt, salmon’s primary prey. Anglers catch the majority of salmon in an area from the face of Oahe Dam northward to the Cheyenne River. During the fall, salmon move into the shallows to spawn and can be caught by casting from shore with spoons and crankbaits. Spawning salmon can be caught in most creeks from the face of the dam to the North Dakota border. The Whitlock Bay area, near Gettysburg, is especially good since salmon return to a spawning station located there. Northern Pike Lake Oahe’s back bays begin to warm by late March or early April, creating perfect northern pike fishing conditions. During ice-out, big fish usually prefer dead bait rigs, which consist of treble hooks tipped with smelt. As the water warms and pike become more active, spoons and crankbaits also catch pike. From mid-October on, anglers also have a good chance at a trophy pike. Huntdhg.com
Smallmouth Bass Found in all four reservoirs, smallmouth bass offer anglers a choice when other species may not be biting. Smallmouth habitat is characterized by boulder piles, tree snags and riprap on dam faces. May and June are traditionally the most successful periods for smallmouth fishing during the prespawn and spawn. As summer heats up, smallmouth move deeper, and fishermen use deep diving lures for success. Lake Francis Case and Lewis and Clark Lake are premier smallmouth fisheries in South Dakota. In addition to these popular fish, anglers also pursue white bass, channel catfish, tiger muskie and the prehistoric paddlefish.
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14 Mountain Lakes, More Than 400 Miles of Meandering Streams, and Over 50,000 Stock Dams Fishing comprises nearly a third of the state, this region features the famous Black Hills. Named by the Lakota, the mountainous Black Hills extend 100 miles, are 50 miles wide, and reach heights of more than 7,000 feet. Within the Black Hills are 14 mountain lakes and more than 400 miles of meandering streams containing brook, brown and rainbow trout. On the surrounding prairie, reservoirs and ranch stock dams also provide angling fun. More than 50,000 stock dams, brimming with largemouth bass, northern pike and a variety of panfish, dot the western half of the state. Since many are found on private land, permission is needed before fishing. Rainbow Trout For the Black Hills angler, trout is the main quarry and are found in two primary habitats: small streams and mountain lakes. Rainbow trout are the most abundant and can be found throughout the Black Hills. Most waters are regularly stocked, but in about half of the streams, quality habitat has allowed wild trout to thrive. Refer to the SDGFP Fishing Handbook for these management areas. A slow and stealthy approach is needed for fishing small stream trout. Keeping a low profile and using brush and boulders to conceal your approach assists in success. A life-like presentation is also key when fishing for these wild Black Hills trout. Local fly fishing shops and country stores can be helpful to determine which flies and baits are working during a particular season.
Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills • MarilynM • Huntdhg.com
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Flickr Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 13
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Shovelnose Sturgeon on the Missouri River • Sam Stukel • Flickr
Ice Fishing Ice fishing has become very popular in western South Dakota in recent years. The amazing scenery, abundant wildlife and fantastic fishing have fisherman flocking to western South Dakota during the winter months. Unlike other popular game fish like perch, which are often found directly on the bottom of a lake, or bluegills, which can be found suspended over cover in shallow water, trout are scavengers and can be found at a variety of depths. Even when fishing in 25 feet of water, there may be trout swimming just a few feet below the ice. In order to increase your chances of catching fish, put out multiple rods at varying depths. Small jigs, ice flies and jigging spoons tipped with wax/meal worms are the most commonly used baits while ice fishing in the Black Hills. Night crawlers are also popular, but keep in mind that trout are more prone to swallowing night crawlers whole, making them difficult to release. If you practice catch and release, do not use night crawlers.
Northeast - Glacial Lakes and Prairie Region Blue Dog, Enemy Swim, Thompson, Lynn, Roy, Rush and Waubay Lakes Approximately 20,000 years ago, the last of a series of glaciers moved across northeastern South Dakota. Their scouring and scraping created glacial bowls, which quickly filled with clear blue water upon retreat of the massive ice formations. Today, more than 120 glacial lakes dot the northeastern part of the state. Anglers who travel to this rolling farm and ranch country will find the lakes range in size from several acres to more than 17,000 acres. There are 16 state parks and recreation areas, plus several municipal and private campgrounds in the region. Resorts can be found on several of the larger lakes, but many of the glacial lakes remain undeveloped and may be surrounded by private land. Huntdhg.com
Since glacial lakes were created by scraping and scouring, most are bowl-shaped with little structure and maximum depths of 20 feet. Finding concentrations of fish requires time to locate suspended schools or reviewing contour maps to locate available structure, usually in the form of rock piles or emergent vegetation. Lakes that are fished frequently throughout the year include Blue Dog, Enemy Swim, Lake Thompson, Lynn, Roy, Rush and Waubay Lakes.
Walleyes on Lake Thompson, SD
Walleye Walleye dominate the fishing scene in the northeast. Most are caught by trolling crankbaits or night crawler/spinner rigs over hard gravel or sand bottoms during the late summer months, while spring and fall are reserved for jig and minnow combinations and lindy rig fishing. Walleye night fishing is also successful, especially in the spring and fall. This is a great opportunity to fish from shore casting jerkbaits and swim baits near rocks and off points. Many large fish are caught from shore after the sun goes down.
The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe is an excellent fishing destination on our scenic Reservation adjacent Lake Sharpe on the Missouri River
Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass To catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, cast lures toward shore near clumps of vegetation or along rocky shorelines. Mouths of creeks and sloughs also host bass, particularly near rushes. Most white bass are located trolling in open water or casting over rocks with a medium spoon, spinner or jig and grub combination. Perch, Bass, Bullheads, Bluegills and Pike For the most part, yellow perch, rock bass and bullheads respond to still-fishing with live bait. In June, fishing small jigs in shallow nesting cover is effective for bluegills; as is fly fishing with wet flies or small poppers. Northern pike fishing also reigns in the northeast. A standard way to catch pike is to cast a diving plug, spoon or spinnerbait along weed lines. Ice Fishing Wintertime fishing enthusiasts don’t quit when the water freezes. They just drill holes to reach the water! Jigging spoons, teardrop hooks and spearing all account for a variety of cold-season fishing. Pike, walleye, bluegill and perch are favorites. Concentrations of trucks and ice houses on a lake will usually indicate where the bite is taking place. Huntdhg.com
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 15
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600 S. Burr, Mitchell SD 57301 1-800-753-5508 1-605-996-5683
www.iversonchrysler.com Page 16 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
Southeast - Prairie Region Big Sioux, James, and Missouri Rivers, Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Madison, Lake Mitchell Characterized by sweeping corn and soybean fields, southeastern South Dakota has more than 175 fishing lakes ranging in size from three to 29,000 acres. Glacial lakes exist in this region in addition to numerous manmade lakes constructed for water conservation and irrigation. Three major rivers course through the region as well: the Big Sioux River, James River and Missouri River, which includes Lewis and Clark Lake, a 30-mile-long Missouri River reservoir. Along with private and city campgrounds, 16 state parks and recreation areas provide more than 1,140 campsites for visitors. Walleye and Bass Walleye and bass compete for top honors in this region. Lewis and Clark Lake, with more than 29,000 acres of surface water, draws anglers from across the nation with its alluring combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Backwater bays, sandbar drop-offs, creeks and stands of rushes provide the habitat for both species. Casting toward structure with various crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are popular methods, along with jigging during the heat of the summer. Don’t be surprised, however, if a large northern pike takes the bait as well. Walleye, sauger and catfish are a few other species that make up the catches for Lewis and Clark anglers. Walleye anglers in this region troll crankbaits to locate schools of feeding fish in the flat-bottom lakes. Panfishermen will want to look for shallow weed beds during the spring and drop-offs during the summer. Still-fishing with a small jig or fly fishing with wet flies or small poppers is effective for bluegills. Northern Pike Northern pike tend to be on the edges of weeds, rocks or other structure, which may hold the prey fish they are hunting. Lures imitating wounded prey fish work well to entice waiting pike. Bullheads For young and old alike, nothing keeps fishing attention longer than bullheads. These scrappy fish are found in most waters. A simple hook-and-worm combination will keep most anglers busy throughout the day. Good bullhead waters include most lakes and the Big Sioux and James Rivers. Ice Fishing Ice fishing in the Southeast Region can be very effective when using jigging spoons or teardrop hooks tipped with a minnow or wax/meal worms. Pike, walleye, bluegill and perch are favorites. Concentrations of trucks and ice houses on a lake will usually indicate where the bite is taking place. How about Paddlefishing? There are three options: a summer archery season and a fall snagging season on the Missouri River, downstream from Gavins Point Dam, near Yankton. Or there’s a spring snagging season on Lake Francis Case. Anglers must apply for a paddlefish tag of which there is a limited number. Want more information on Fishing South Dakota? Visit www.TravelSD.com for tons of links and information. Go to www.gfp.sd.gov for fees and more information or simply call South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks at 605-2237660. Source: www.travelsd.com, South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks Huntdhg.com
Based out of South Whitlock Resort Owners: Randy & Pat Harer
Whatever type of fishing experience you are looking for we have it at Whitlock Bay on Lake Oahe. Nestled in one of the greatest fishing spots in the country is Lake Oahe. It gives way to some amazing fishing. Record Northern Pike, world class walleye, catfish, small mouth bass and salmon (in the fall) are just some of the different kinds of fish we catch. I can accommodate all types of fishing groups. So if you’re looking for a variety of fishing, look no further! Book your reservation today.
Day Trip Services Provided: • Boat • Tackle • Bait • Fish Cleaning • Transportation to the River (if needed) • A GREAT TIME FISHING! Call 605.769.1113 or visit www.curtislaganguiding.com for rates.
www.curtislaganguiding.com
Curtis Lagan Guiding Gettysburg SD 57442 605.769.1113 curtislagan@gmail.com
Fishing for Some Fun? • Fishing for Bluegills, Crappie, Northern Pike, Perch & Walleye • Lake Herman State Park & Walker’s Point Recreation Area • Outstanding Spring Goose Hunting • 18-hole & 9-hole Golf Course • Variety of lodging, great restaurants & unique shops!
Madison has what you need to make your getaway a success! Image courtesy of Green’s Art Studio
www.chamberofmadisonsd.com • 605-256-2454 Huntdhg.com
Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 17
The fishing on Lake Oahe is, simply put, out of this world! The Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass fishing will amaze even the most jaded angler.
By Jim Rogers Lake Oahe (oh-WAH’-hee), named for the 1874 Oahe Indian Mission, is behind Oahe Dam on the Missouri River beginning in central South Dakota and continuing north into North Dakota. The lake is huge covering over area 600 square miles and reaches a maximum depth of 205 ft. By volume alone, it is the fourth-largest reservoir in America. Lake Oahe has a length of approximately 231 mi. and has a shoreline of 2,250 mi. There are over 50 recreation areas along the 2,250 miles of the lakes shoreline. The lake enjoys over 1.5 million visitors every year. Lake Oahe begins just north of Pierre, South Dakota and extends nearly as far north as Bismarck, North Dakota. Mobridge, South Dakota is located on the eastern shore of the central portion of the lake. A map centered around Mobridge probably gives the best view of the extent of the lake. Bridges over Lake Oahe include US Route 212 west of Gettysburg, South Dakota and US Route 12 at Mobridge. The former town of Forest City is now beneath Lake Oahe, about 9 miles west of Gettysburg. Both the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
Sam Stukel • Flickr.com
and the Standing Rock Indian Reservation cover much of the western shoreline of Lake Oahe. Two possible burial sites of Sitting Bull, a Sioux leader, are located along Lake Oahe. One is near Fort Yates, North Dakota, while the other is near Mobridge. The fishing on Lake Oahe is, simply put, out of this world! The Walleye, Northern Pike, Crappie, Channel Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass fishing will amaze even the most jaded angler. Walleye seems to be the most popular and the main target of most anglers. The new limit of 8 walleye per day along with an increase to a 3 day possession will allow you to pack your freezer with fillets! But wait! There’s more! Chinook Salmon! Native to the Pacific Northwest, are artificially maintained in the lake and are becoming very popular catch. Chinook salmon are becoming very popular on the lake
The lake also supports populations of the endangered pallid sturgeon
Page 18 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
The most anglers target walleye on the lake
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The All Inclusive Fishing g Resort LAKE OAHE • GLENHAM, SD No camper or RV? No Problem there’s a 12 unit motel and a rental cabin!
New Evarts Resort Your All-Inclusive Fishing Destination on Lake Oahe If you’re planning to take a trip to Lake Oahe we recommend staying at New Evarts Resort. They know how to experience the beauty of Lake Oahe, a reservoir of magnificent proportions, at its best. New Evarts Resort’s location on Lake Oahe offers exceptional fishing for walleye, northern pike, catfish, smallmouth bass, crappie, and many other species. They have everything you need right here on their property including a bait shop with tackle, boat supplies, snacks, off sale beer, and other needs and wants. They also have a newly remodeled 12 unit motel and even a rental cabin. They also just remodeled their steakhouse and lounge as well. It features some delicious signature steaks along with a full bar and extensive wine list. Feel like fish for Dinner? Bring in your catch of the day and their chef will prepare it for you any way you want it! Located 13 miles southeast of Mobridge, SD, along State Hwy 1804, the Resort is easy to find. It’s also just two miles from the Walth bay boat ramp and new GFP cleaning station. Are you ready for a world class fishing experience? Well, look no further! Not only do they have stellar fishing. They have some of top fishing guides in the business, including world famous walleye tournament fishing pro Dan Stier!! We found that their guides have unmatched knowledge of the Lake Oahe fishery in the area and will provide you with the trip of a lifetime! Many of their guides have residences at New Evarts and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. When some of the top walleye pros in the industry are calling New Evarts home, it’s not because they are looking for the challenge of slow fishing, it’s because they have some of the best walleye fishing on the planet!! Their guides fish from top of the line fishing boats with all of the latest electronics and equipment to help ensure a safe and productive experience. What we liked most is that safety and fun were the two main focuses of all their guided trips. A livewell packed with meat is just an added bonus!!! New Evarts Resort Contact: Gabe Outrim 13467 Hwy 1804 Glenham, SD 57361 605-762-3256
• Cabin • Mobile Home Lots • Motel Under New • Camper Lots Ownership • Bar Newly • Restaurant Remodeled • Bait Shop • Boat Storage Two miles to Walth Bay
Guided fishing packages available Come visit our new w website: eb bsit ite: www www.newevartsresort.com newevartsresort t t co Phone: 605-762-3256 | 13467 Hwy 1804 • Glenham, SD 57361
Fishing Lake Oahe “Your fishing trip of a lifetime!”
3rd largest man-made reservoir in the USA with a huge diversity of species!
• Walleye • Perch • Northern Pike • Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass • Chinook Salmon • Channel Catfish • Bull Carp
Visit mobridgeoutdoors.com for more information or to enter our 4th Annual Denny Palmer Walleye Classic Tournament on June 14!
New Evarts has everything you need with 61 camping lots with full hookups, a 78 lot Mobile Home Community with annual lot rent of only $800/year. 100 storage units and a full service bait shop!
Call today for your free visitor’s packet
888-614-3474 Huntdhg.com
B R I D G E
C I T Y
103 Main St., Mobridge, SD 57601 info@mobridge.org www.mobridge.org Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 19
By Jim Rogers
Mississippi River in Iowa
The state of Iowa is a diverse region, providing unique angling opportunities across the state. From the Border Rivers of the Mississippi to the Missouri, through farmponds, natural and manmade lakes, and interior rivers and streams, a rich fish population provides nearly every angler with the chance for an enjoyable outing. Iowa’s lakes and ponds number in the thousands. Many are stocked and managed by the Iowa DNR, offering abundant fishing, especially of Panfish like Crappie and Bluegill. Several lakes are fishing destination choices for Muskie, Northern Pike and Walleye. Iowa’s rivers and streams continue to be popular destinations for anglers, with thousands of miles of rivers fishable across the entire state. Stream fishing has a particular fascination to people who enjoy Iowa’s natural landscapes and a unique angling challenge around every bend. Iowa’s interior rivers are known for growing large-sized fish, and lots of them. In one trip an angler could catch a dozen or more different species, including trophy-size Catfish, Walleye and Smallmouth Bass. Northeast Iowa is a regional destination for exceptional trout fishing. Both stocked and naturally occurring trout can be found in the breathtaking forests and streams of this part of the state. Iowa’s eastern border river is nationally known for backwater fishing of Bass, Catfish, Panfish, Northern Pike and Walleye. It is the best fishery in Iowa for abundance and diversity of fish species. Dozens of access points are available for boaters and anglers. On the western border, the Missouri River offers excellent fishing for Catfish and Sauger. The southern part of the river is one of the only places in Iowa to catch Blue Catfish. Iowa has many locations throughout the state that provide excellent areas to catch fish. Mississippi River The Mississippi River borders Iowa for more than 300 miles, fast-flowing water fish species, such as Smallmouth Bass, declined in abundance, and fishes that preferred more pond-like habitat, such as Crappie, Bluegill, Walleye, Carp and freshwater Drum increased in abundance. The new channel dams also changed favorite locations for fishing. Best fishing for species such as Walleye, Sauger, and Paddlefish is directly in the tailrace of the navigation dams, especially in late spring and autumn. Missouri River The Missouri River is known for its channelized riverbanks and fast currents, and therefore can be a little intimidating for some anglers. But if Catfish is your species of choice, the Missouri River offers some of the best fishing in the state. Fishing for Channel and Flathead Catfish has historically been best along the main channel and in backwater areas. In April and May, anglers do well catching Shovelnose Sturgeon behind wing dams and along sand bars using night crawlers fished on the bottom. During the fall and winter, anglers have the best time catching Sauger and Walleye up and down the river. Backwater areas like Middle Decatur and California at times produce Panfish like Bluegill and Crappie. Smallmouth Bass fishing can be excellent in the area around Sioux City, downstream to Monona County, especially when the river is low. Catfish and Bullheads Ten species of catfish inhabit Iowa waters, including Iowa’s most popular gamefish the Channel Catfish. The other large Catfish sought after are the Flathead and the Blue. All of which often reach weights of more than 20 pounds. There are also Bullheads, including black, yellow, and brown, which rarely exceed 4 pounds in weight. Sunfish - Bass and Panfish These are some of the most popular sport fishing species, such as the Bass, Bluegill, and Crappies. Twelve species of sunfish inhabit Iowa waters, including three black bass species, six sunfish species, and three crappie-like members. Smallmouth Bass are most abundant in streams, Largemouth Bass prefer quiet waters of lakes and large rivers. While Black and White Crappie are found in both moderate to largesized lakes and streams. Green Sunfish and Orange-Spotted Sunfish are found nearly Orangespotted everywhere. Bluegills prefer Iowa’s lakes, ponds and the backwaters of large rivers. Page 20 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 Huntdhg.com Sunfish
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Now a dealer for Ever-Lite trailers, Sun Valley travel trailers & Alfa Gold 5th wheels.
Mike • Flickr
Welcome to Trout Country! Iowa boasts some of the most beautiful and plentiful trout streams in the Upper Midwest. A true angler’s paradise, the northeast region of Iowa is dotted with hundreds of miles of trout streams. Some are easily accessible in state or county parks, and others are located in some of Iowa most wild and remote natural spaces. Iowa trout streams offer rainbow, brown and brook trout, both naturally reproducing and stocked. Iowa’s trout program consists of 50 catchable rainbow and brook trout fisheries, seven special trout fisheries, seven urban trout fisheries, and 26 putand-grow trout fisheries. Most of these must be maintained by stocking because successful natural reproduction of trout occurs in a few Iowa waters. Six trout fisheries, however, offer excellent angling opportunities for catching wild, naturally-sustaining brown or brook trout populations. These various types of trout fisheries have been developed to enable the trout angler to select the types of trout fishing preferred. Temperate Bass Two native species are the White Bass and Yellow Bass, and the hybrid Striped Bass is an exotic species. This hybrid, also known as the Palmetto Bass, is the cross of a female ocean striped bass and a male White Bass. This fish, which does not occur in natural populations, was originally hybridized in southern United States as a rapid growing fish adaptable to freshwater environments. Hybrid Striped Bass also provide a trophy fishery, with the current state record weighing nearly 20 pounds. Hybrid striped bass have been stocked recently in urban lakes such as Lake Manawa, Gray’s Lake, Blue Heron Lake and Ada Hayden Lake, to improve the quality of these urban fisheries. Perch – Walleye and Sauger The popular gamefish Walleye, Sauger and Yellow Perch are some of the 20 representatives of the perch family in the state, with the remaining members all being various species of darters. Pike Respected, coveted, and cursed by anglers, you’ll find Northern Pike, Muskellunge, and Grass Pickerel all over the State. Go to www.iowadnr.gov for more information. Huntdhg.com
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By John Stacks Minnesota, known as the Land of 10,000 lakes, and it truly lives up to the name with a wide variety of year round water activities. Minnesota arguably offers the best fresh water fishing in the country. It starts with the wide variety of water, from small gems to big lakes. The lakes are famous for exceptional Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskie, Bass, and Panfish fishing. Fishing is a statewide pastime. It is the home of the classic “Up North” experience with amazing Twin Cities of the Southeast. Some of the lakes that are angler favorites are Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Mille Lacs, Lake Vermilion, Leech Lake, Upper Red Lake, and Lake of the Woods. Lake Winnibigoshish is one of the Minnesota’s premier world-class Walleye fishing lakes. It has great numbers of Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Muskie, Perch and Pan fish. Walleye Minnesota is very popular for its exceptional walleye fisheries. There are number of lakes like Mille Lacs Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnibigoshish, Lake Vermilion, etc. in Minnesota and the one thing that remains unchanged throughout most of the lakes is that various walleye are found swimming in them. Mille Lacs Lake has tons of walleye in the 2 to 3 lb. range. The other lakes that are mentioned above are also good places to plan a walleye-fishing trip.
Big ‘Ol Muskie at Lake Verm
illion, MN.
Northern Pike Northern Pike are the most aggressive and one of the strongest fish that you can fish for. They can grow extremely big with some fish longer than 40 inches and weighing approximately 15 to 20 pounds. The Northern Pike is one of the most exciting and believe it or not, one of the easiest to catch. It has light markings on a dark body background and it lives in nearly all of the Minnesota’s lakes. A Northern Pike fishing trip is planned by many anglers every year. Some of the best lakes in Minnesota for Northern Pike fishing are Leech Lake, Red Lake, Lake of the Woods, etc. Leech Lake has a good population of northern pike. You can catch some pike by finding the weed edges. Red Lake is an excellent drive-in lake for catching huge northern pike. Lake of the Woods offer tremendous fishing with number of resorts and is a good lake for catching a trophy fish.
Walleye Page 22 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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Relax and Enjoy the Sunsets on Ten Mile Lake.
T housands of acres of public land right off the doorstep! • Ten Mile Lake is a spring fed 5000 Acre big fish producer. • Nightly camping, seasonal camping and three rental cabins. • 900 feet of shoreline amongst mature pines and hardwoods. • Boat Launch on site, docks, swimming beach, playground • Cypress Cay, 21Ft. Pontoon w/ 50 Horse Mercury Outboard
Make Your Reservations Now For 2014!
(218) 675-6240
quietwoodsresort@arvig.net quietwoodsresort.blogspot.com
Hackensack, Minnesota
Lake Vermilion LAKESIDE LODGING FOR EVERY STYLE & BUDGET
LAKE VERMILION, MINNESOTA WELCOMES YOU! Discover why Lake Vermilion has been a favorite destination for fishermen and family vacations for more than 100 years! A Prime Minnesota Fishing Destination For: Walleye, Musky, Northern Bass A Lake Vermilion Vacation Means... Unique Attractions Family Vacation Fun Relaxing Getaway Nature & Public Lands Biking/Hiking Championship Golf Year Round Fishing Great Fall Hunting A Wilderness Experience With All the Comforts of a Minnesota Resort Vacation Resorts • Cabins • Hotels • Campgrounds • Houseboats Lake Vermilion Resort & Tourism Association
www.FishVermilion.com 800-648-5897 Huntdhg.com
Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 23
Muskellunge Muskies are the largest member of the pike family, with reported lengths in excess of 6 feet, and weights approaching 100 pounds. These fish are one of the biggest and hardest to catch fish species in Minnesota. A Muskellunge is as elusive as it is mysterious. Lakes in the east central portion of Minnesota, which includes the Mille Lacs Lake, are home to a pair of Muskellunge species, the true Muskies and Tiger Muskies, which are a sterile hybrid of muskies and northern pikes. Minnesota Muskie season usually opens in late May or early June. Bass Bass are agile and aggressive feeders to chase down and catch their favorite foods. They are predator by nature and can strike at anything that comes to their world. Minnesota is the right place for bass fishing, especially smallmouth bass. The largemouth bass has a mouth that opens wide enough being capable of swallowing its own head. The smallmouth bass grows only half a size of largemouth bass. The Minnesota state record smallmouth bass came from West Battle Lake and the state record largemouth bass was caught from Lake Tetonka. Thousands of lakes have healthy populations of bass. Bass fishing usually takes place in shallow water; however, anglers will fish in deep water as well. Check out the tips, guides, etc. online if you wish to have a bass fishing trip to learn the best times to fish. Spring and fall are the best times for bass fishing. If you are planning for trout fishing trip as an entertaining and fun trip then remember that they can put up a powerful fight if caught in the hook of your lure, as they are strong fish. Crappies & Bluegills Crappies and Bluegills are two of the most popular types of Minnesota pan fish. These fish have always provided local anglers
Page 24 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
great enjoyment in Minnesota. They’re also a great way to get the family, especially kids into fishing. Crappie and Bluegill fishing is an excellent choice for the family as they do not require lot of exotic equipment and are easy to catch. Regardless of when you are fishing, bluegills are just plain fun fishing. You just need a small tackle box with some lightweight lures and small jigs for bluegill fishing. To plan a perfect serious, family, or just a fun weekend fishing trip, there is a great resource called “LakeFinder” provided by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (www.dnr.state. mn.us) that presents a variety of data for any particular lake. You can also try a guided Minnesota fishing trip this year. It’s an excellent way to experience Minnesota fishing at its best. The guides will take care of everything including lodgings, licenses, meals, rods and reels, tackle, bait, and fish cleaning. Either way Minnesota fishing is some of the best, most exciting fishing in the country. A young Walleye fisherman proudly displays his catch!
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By Jim Rogers For those who share a passion for fishing, North Dakota offers a variety of great fishing opportunities at some of the most scenic places in America. You can try your hand at fly fishing for Trout or jig for river Walleyes. From the beginner to the most advanced, there are great fishing opportunities all over the State. Anglers will find thrilling opportunities to pursue their passion fishing for Perch, Pike, Muskie, Bass, Salmon, Trout, Catfish, or Walleye. From the Missouri River System, the Red River to Devils Lake, the fishing is simply awesome. The Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea are favorite destinations for Walleye. The amazing Devils Lake is a year round go to for Perch and Walleye. The Red River is the most under recognized giant trophy Catfish water in the United States. Keith Baer with a
Devils Lake
Devils Lake is North Dakota’s largest natural lake. Currently the lake is over 210,000 acres and more than 90% undeveloped. Fishing is outstanding year-round for a number of species which includes walleye, perch, northern pike and white bass. Devils Lake has been named the Perch capital of the world, for good reason. The lake itself is relatively shallow with and excellent forage base that quickly produces large fish. The opportunity defiantly exists here to land the trophy of a lifetime. Northern pike of 12 plus pounds, 9 pound Walleye, huge yellow perch and knuckle busting white bass of 3-4 pounds are not uncommon when fishing Devils Lake. If you want to catch huge perch, big walleyes, northern pike or jumbo white bass, North Dakota’s premier Devils Lake is the place to be.
Northern on Lake
Sakakawea • Flic
kr
Lake Oahe
This lake stretches from Pierre, SD into extreme and rural south-central North Dakota. Anglers can find walleye and northern pike in this area, but there’s also crappie, catfish and white bass swimming around. Lake Oahe is well known as one of the premiere walleye fishing lakes in the United States. The miles of shoreline, multitude of structure under the water, abundance of bait fish, constant flow and other factors lead to an environment favorable for producing abundant numbers and sizes of walleyes. Other fish found here include Sauger, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Bass, Chinook salmon, a variety of panfish, and the elusive Tiger Muskie.
Lake Sakakawea
Lake Sakakawea is North Dakota’s largest lake. This man-made Lake has become one of the United States’ top destinations when it comes to quality fisheries. Right in the heart of Sakakawea Country, the big lake is quickly gaining the reputation of being one of the top fisheries anywhere. Named for the American Indian woman who helped guide Lewis & Clark 200 years ago, this lake is filled by the Missouri River and contained by the Garrison Dam. The huge lake covers more shoreline than the state of California and is home to Walleye, Northern Pike, Bass, Sauger, and Chinook Salmon, to name a few. Sakakawea Country also offers smaller bodies of water like Lake Audubon, Lake Darling and others for that avid angler who just can’t get enough.
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River Catfish
National Guard Youth camp on Lake Sakakawea Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 25
Lake Metigoshe
Tucked within the scenic Turtle Mountains and straddling the U.S.-Canadian border, Lake Metigoshe is one of the cleanest natural fresh-water lakes in North Dakota. It’s also one of the most popular year-round vacation spots in North Dakota. The rolling hills, aspen forests and small lakes attract sportsman and vacationers alike. Its many surrounding small bodies of water are perfect for an afternoon on the water chasing Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch and Bluegills.
Dakota Waters Resort
www.dakotawatersresort.com
“We make it our priority to give you a great camping and fishing experience.“
• RV
Park/Campground resort on Lake Sakakawea • Water and electricity • Off-sale, kayak rentals and tackle shop • Fishing Licenses • Boat rental • Fish Cleaning Station • Slip rental • Playground • Convenience store • Live bait and gasoline sales • Restaurant with Full Bar • Full-service
Father & daughter fishing
• NDPR • Flickr
The Missouri River
The Missouri River enters North Dakota from Montana just west of Williston. The free-flowing river offers a good setting for Sauger in the spring and fall. And at the western reaches of the river in North Dakota, anglers can find one of the better spots in the country to snag a giant paddlefish in late spring. The central stretch of the river is home to nationally renowned walleye fishing. And just south of Garrison Dam is an area known as the Tailrace, which is home to state records for Chinook Salmon, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Cutthroat Trout that were caught within 20 miles downstream of the dam.
5803 Beulah Bay Road, Beulah, ND. (701) 873-5800 www.facebook.com/DakotaWatersResort
Fishbasket Camps is located 315 miles north of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada on beautiful Mameigwess Lake, a pristine lake where anglers will enjoy unparalleled “Catch & Release” fishing for Walleye and Northern Pike.
TROPHY WALLEYE & NORTHERN PIKE FISHING • Propane B.B.Q • All kitchen utensils supplied • Fish cleaning house • Ice house • Solar & generator powered electricity • Hot & cold running shower • Access to satellite phone • Portable trail radio’s • Satellite T.V. • Deep V Lund boats powered by 15-HP 4 stroke Mercury motors. • Experienced guides are available upon request. • Wide range of packages from small groups to large & just a few nights stay up to a week or more. Don Sofea (Fishbasket Camps)
MENTION DAKOTA HUNTING GUIDE FOR $100 OFF YOUR TRIP!
Summer Beaver, ON P.O. Box 12, P0T 3B0, CANADA Phone: 807-593-2146 Cell: 1-807-627-5862 E-mail: dsofea15@gmail.com | www.fishbasketcamps.com | www.wasayawildadventures.com
Page 26 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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The finest in Marine Products! “SNO BEAR” Guided Trips Available
Open 365 24/7 • Guides For Fishing Call For Pricing • Group Rates • 4 brand new, 800 square foot, 2 bedroom cabins • Rooms will sleep 2 to 6 comfortably. • TV and high speed wireless internet in each unit, outdoor porch and a grill. • Access to a private boat ramp, fish cleaning station and beach area. • 24-hour gas station is located nearby.
www.haybaleheights.com Shop Entire Inventory on-line at www.northcountrymarine.com Phone 701-463-BOAT (2628) 4034 Hwy 37 bypass, Garrison, ND 58540
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4355 87th Ave NE | Devils Lake, ND 58301 701.351.3130
Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 27
When you think of trophy fishing, you should be thinking of Eagle West Resort. • Outstanding numbers of trophy musky, lake trout, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike • Five spacious, immaculate and fully equipped cabins, all of which offer a spectacular view of the lake. • Propane BBQ, fridge, coffee maker, toaster, dishes and cutlery • KingFisher boats in a 16 or 18 foot size, outfitted with 4 stroke fuel efficient 25 or 50 horsepower YAMAHA motors. • Canoes, paddles, life jackets • Complimentary boat tour of the West Arm for first-time customers • Guides are also available upon request • Dock service, fuel service at current pump prices • Freezer fish wrap and wharfage. • Brand new fish-cleaning house which is attached to the resort office and bait room.
8 hours from Sioux Falls • 4 hours from Fargo
Eagle West Resort
Page 28 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
website for great package deals! PO Box 570 Vemillion Bay, ON, Canada Ph: (807) 227-5292 info@eaglewestresort.com www.eaglewestresort.com
Visit Grand Forks Red River, ND Flickr
Red River of the North
The Red River of the North is quietly one of the state’s best fisheries. It’s one of the country’s best location to target big catfish; and some would argue holds the next state record walleye. One thing if for sure though, there’s a lot of big fish in this river! Forming the boundary between Minnesota and North Dakota, this river serves as one long recreational playground for canoeing, boating and fishing opportunities year-round. The Red River of the North is one of North America’s premier catfish fisheries for giant catfish that top out over twenty pounds. There are also trophy size Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Fresh-water drum, Sauger, Channel Catfish, Bullheads, Walleye, Goldeye, Mooneye, Carp, and Lake Sturgeon to be found in this incredible river. The Communities of Fargo and Moorehead (located on each side of the Red River) offer numerous motels, shopping venues and restaurants for visiting anglers and tourists.
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Bow Buddy
Camp & Play in
Looking for a way to protect your investment? Don’t be fooled by imitations! The original Bow Buddy protects your boat & trailer from rock chips while you travel! The combination of tough screen & heavy duty rubber will protect even the lower sections of your boat & trailer.
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Bow Buddy is made of PVC coated polyester mesh. The easy to clean Comes in 4 Colors: Screens come with spring Black, Gray, Green, Navy Blue. locks for quick removal. Other colors are available upon request. Stainless Steel Frame, Sizes for trailer beam width 4-bolt mounting system 3”, 3.5”, 4” and 4.5” installs with no drilling. Includes bungee cords.
Gibbons
Fiberglass & Aluminum Boat Repair
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Good Time for
Photo: Ted Takasaki
Proper Preparation Prepare your boat well, do off-the-water research on places you want to fish, ready your tackle, then hit the water with confidence this year. Time well spent!
By Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson
With spring weather coming, now is the best time to heed the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared.” Try to avoid last-minute trouble with a little advanced planning. Take the time to check out your boat and your tackle. In addition, try spending a few hours reviewing maps and notes for places you plan on fishing this coming season. Schedule a few weekends for sport shows where you’ll talk to resort owners and game/fish officers on the status of pending lakes you plan to head to this summer.
Da Boat
There’s nothing more frustrating or embarrassing than getting stranded at the ramp on opening day. First, check your batteries. Electrical problems are the number one cause behind an outboard that won’t start. Put a battery tester on them and make sure they are fully charged. Check battery terminal connections to make sure they’re tight and corrosion free. If you didn’t do it during winterizing, check your gear oil. Debris or metal grindings from the gear case can cause serious lower-unit damage if you don’t. Check the propeller. Remove the prop to see if there’s fishing line wrapped on the inside that can break seals and allow water in the lower unit. Tighten prop nuts with a torque wrench. The right torque for your motor is listed in your operator’s manual. Apply lube to the prop shaft at regular intervals to protect the propeller hub from corrosion. A corroded shaft may seize up. Use quality gasoline and check the levels on your motor oil if you’re running a 2-stroke engine. Always carry extra oil onboard to get you back to the dock if your reserve runs dry. If you are running a 4-stroke, change your oil during the winter months if you Page 30 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
hadn’t already done so recently. Make sure you have an emergency repair kit onboard. Have a set of jumper cables to connect your trolling battery to the starting battery. Carry your motor manual in a zip lock bag to refer to. In addition to a good selection of tools, your tool box should have a spark plug wrench and spare plugs, fuses, tie wraps, and electrical tape. Keep spare props for your trolling motor and your big motor (with a wrench that will fit the propeller nut). Also carry pliers and a spare nut. You may want to keep a spare power trim relay, which is a small module that costs about $150 and plugs into the rear of the powerhead. It’s good insurance; if yours goes out with the motor in the up position, you’ll be glad you can make the repair fast. Make sure that all mandatory safety gear and life jackets are onboard.
Tackle Check
Now’s the time to check on your tackle if you haven’t opened the tackle boxes since you put them away last fall. Take inventory of what you have and make a list of what you need. Make sure you have a variety of jigheads in various colors/sizes and a few sinkers/bottom bouncers in different weights to cover the depths you are likely to fish. Do you have plenty of livebait hooks, snells, floaters, beads and swivels? Replace rusted treble hooks, hooks on crankbaits and sharpen the rest. Check for nicks on rod guides with cotton swabs. Replace any that are showing Huntdhg.com
wear, because they could cut your line – and if it’s going to happen, it’ll happen while you’re fighting a big fish. Change your line and oil reels. Save time on the water. Rig up a few rods with presentations you’re likely to use to begin. Check your fishing licenses to be sure they’re current.
Take a Look
Scouting begins before you reach the water. Get maps of the lake or river you plan to fish and apply what you know about early-season walleye movements and your own experience to locate spots you think might hold fish on opening day. Take into consideration that this spring’s high water may dirty rivers and spots near where they empty into lakes. Make a game plan, but stay open-minded. Be willing to fine-tune the strategy when given new input. Share ideas with friends.
Try taking a boat ride as soon as possible. There’s a lot of water to cover on your own, so divide spots with your buddies. Run from location to location. Watch for baitfish or hooks on your sonar that may signal walleye. Make S-turns over points and bars to check a variety of depths. Once fish are spotted, lower an underwater camera to identify the species. Record the waypoints of walleye schools on your GPS. Meet your friends at a restaurant or bait shop to compare notes. In just one afternoon, you’ve eliminated lots of unproductive water and saved precious time for fishing when opener comes. Lastly, pick up a current copy of the state’s fishing regulations published by the Department of Natural Resources to update yourself on any rule changes on the body of water you plan to fish. For example, some slot limits may have changed. Be prepared to have a great opening day by being prepared!
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Wouldn’t you rather fish in this!
Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 31
By Bob D. Russell
B
lack bear hunting is one of the most rewarding hunts available to the avid hunter amongst us. With healthy populations ranging from coast-to-coast and from Canada to Mexico, almost everyone has an opportunity to pursue these bruins. How you go about your black bear hunt is a totally different question. There are several different methods for hunting black bears including:
1. Hunting over Bait:
This method is very popular in portions of Canada and the eastern United States. It requires a hunter to be patient and be familiar with the size of black bear that they are after as you are likely to see several black bears every day. Typically, there is a “king of the hill” at most bait sites if you are patient enough to wait for him. You will know he is close when the other bears at the site become anxious and may leave for no apparent reason. Get ready, your chance to harvest a monster bear may be just minutes away! Page 32 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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2. Spot and Stalk:
Like any spot and stalk method, the secret to success in bear hunting using this method is to find a high vantage point where you can glass a potential feeding area for black bears. Typical areas you want to glass are grassy meadows, open clear cuts or cut blocks, berry patches and south facing slopes in general. Early in the year, black bear will mostly be grazing on grassy meadows as they come out of hibernation and are looking to replenish their lost fat reserves. Concentrate in these areas early in the year for your best success.
3. Hound Hunting:
Black bear hunting behind a well-trained pack of hounds is one of the most exciting, and physical, methods of hunting bruins. From the first bay of the hound, indicating they are on the scent, to the final treeing of the bear, this method of hunting black bear is an adrenaline filled rush. Unfortunately, due to the anti-hunting crowd, this method of hunting has been outlawed in some states. If you are interested in this type of hunting, remember you must be in top physical condition. Once the hounds are on the scent, there is very little time for breaks or resting. Try it and you will be hooked for life.
4. Still Hunting:
Like any still hunting, this can be a very challenging method of bear hunting, but can still produce success in those areas that are brushy and offer only small openings to glass. Use this method when you are hunting in timbered regions. This method can be effective during the spring seasons when bear are busy replenishing fat reserves and not quite as wary as other times of the year.
5. Calling:
Use predator calls in conjunction with either your spot and stalk hunt or your still hunting. During deer and elk calving season, black bear are especially susceptible to fawn calls. Calling is most effective once you have located a bear and are trying to get him in to range. There are several good electronic calls on the market. Or be brave and get a predator call from any sporting good shop and let’er rip! The best part of this type of bear hunting, is you may have an opportunity to harvest other predators including coyotes, fox, bobcats, and cougars. Keep an eye open, as most of these predators will sneak in on you and be closer than you expect when you first spot them. If you are interested in a black bear hunt, check out our top quality bear outfitters. You will never regret the decision to add a bruin to your trophy room. Remember, time in the field is a gift...savor it! Until next time, Happy Hunting.
Bob is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Father to three children, he is passing on the hunting heritage to the next generation.
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E
very hunter will tell you that their favorite type of hunting is the best hunting around. Deer hunters are about the antlers, waterfowl hunters are about the illusive bands, but turkey hunters are all about the fans. Two years ago I had to extreme pleasure to introduce my mom into the work of Turkey hunting. Now, one thing you’ll have to understand about my mom is that, well, she hates birds. So for her, the challenge was not only the hunt, but also overcoming her fear of what can be a very “ugly big bird” staring you down before the trigger is pulled. As with every hunt, we wanted to make sure that the right gear was being used. The location of your hunt plays a pivotal role in the type of hunt and tactics you are going to use. We were faced with my favorite type of land to hunt, hardwoods framed with water sources that were also divided by low grassy fields. Not only were we in prime turkey territory, there were multiple farming lands all around the area with great reports of lots of toms in full strut. Due to our hunt being very late into the month of May, we also knew that we would be very mobile, rather than just a sit and wait. Knowing what we were up against the gear all started to fall into place. There is so much talk about what type of camouflage is the best, but it really depends on where you are. Realtree APG seemed to be the best for our surroundings. It gave us a great variety to find outwear that would be conducive to staying mobile, dry, and covered while out in the woods. We also knew footwear would be critical. The river waters were very high due to heavy rainfall, which meant the low areas of marsh would be flooded as well. LaCrosse Boots carries a huge range of footwear that we found would be helpful for our needs. I chose a pair of knee high waterproof boots, with some light insulation, as my mom chose more of a hiking style seeing as she was more comfortable in those. Seeing as turkeys have incredible eyesight, you have to remember that even wearing full camouflage, the trick is to minimize movement. “Limit your motion when set up. A wild turkey has excellent vision but motion is what they key in on. A well camouflaged hunter, that moves slightly, will alert a turkey before a non-camouflaged hunter, that remains motionless will,” states Shane Simpson from Calling All Turkeys. Shane was able to join us as a mentor on this hunt to help out with calling and capturing the fun on film.
By Kara Wattunen
Kara hunkers down to wait for the elusive turkey.
Page 34 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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Calling is also a crucial part of the hunt. My mom and I were lucky to have Shane and another member of NWTF, who were proficient in many different types of turkey calls to be hunting this us. Shane says, “Learn to make realistic turkey sounds. A good caller will often have better success than a mediocre caller. Listen to actual sounds of wild turkeys and learn what each sound means.” My mom was very partial to using a box call, which is a great way for beginners to learn the sounds and different notes to use, where as I was using a slate call by Eric Rice of Shine Box Turkey Calls. If you are comfortable at using a mouth call, they are particularly helpful while in the field because they take out all the movement that other calls require. There are so many different calls on shelves, it can be quite overwhelming to try and choose. Do your research and stick with the calls and call companies that are reputable and have a proven track record. Now one thing that is incredibly important is to know your weapon, and to make sure you’ve patterned it. Each brand of shells shoots differently out of each firearm so it is very important to make sure to pattern on a target. For my own 12 gauge, I have found that Federal Ammunition was dead on the money for me; however my mom’s Benelli was more accurate with Remmington. When patterning your gun, make sure you are using the choke tube you plan on hunting with, otherwise you are rendering your patterning session pretty much pointless. Most turkey hunters tend to use an extended specific turkey choke tube, which are relatively inexpensive and can be found at local sporting good stores. Once all the pre-hunt preparations were complete, the morning of the hunt could not come soon enough. That May morning was a bit chilly but as the day progressed, the heat went up. Not only did the heat prove to be a bit of a nuisance, the mosquitos were a force to be reckoned with. Hunting in Minnesota, mosquitos are always present, but being in an area with still low laying water close by proved to be right in their war zone. Trying to stay still with a swarm of bloodsuckers around is made possible with the help of a ThermaCell. It was literally like sitting inside a bubble with no bugs of buzzing so we could sit still and hunt in peace. The day ended with no turkeys in the truck, but my mom and her hunting guide were able to try and crawl towards a Tom in full strut to try and get into position. Seeing the excitement as she told us about her adventure, I knew a passion had been ignited. There is something special about seeing a big turkey gobble in response to your calling, and move closer to you as he presents his fan and beard for you. Later that year, I had to drive her vehicle and when I turned on her CD player a gobble met my ears. Little did I know that she was practicing calling with a mouth call when she was driving and really becoming a FANatic.
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 35
One thing’s for sure, you can have all of the top notch equipment available; the best waders, the most decoys, the newest spinners, flappers, splashers, dippers, flippers, doohickeys, widgets, a necklace full of calls and a thousand dollar shotgun but the birds don’t shoot themselves! That would be suicidal. Nothing can give you more of an edge than good shooting skills which can only be learned by practice. Now since we don’t live in “Argentina” where you can get a thousand shots a day at live birds, you have to do something else to get the practice, namely at the local shooting range; five stand, skeet, trap or sporting clays. So let me get this straight, trap is where you stand behind a clay bird thrower that flings the clays basically out away from you at various slight angles which mimics birds of the field or upland game taking off in front of you after your trusted pointer sniffs them out. Even though this is the easiest place to start, these shots can be deceptively difficult because although the clay looks like its flying straight away from you, it’s actually rising and moving to the right or left just enough to miss. And once the clay reaches maximum elevation it begins to sink at a downward angle which complicates it even more. Five stand is when you start at the first position on the left and take a single and then two doubles at any one of about nine different clay bird throwing stations positioned out in front, to the left and right and above your head. There’s even one that rolls along the ground like a
speeding rabbit. After your first five shots you move one position to the right and begin again. There are five different positions. It can be quite challenging and humiliating if you are shooting with people who are pretty good when you’re not. “Is this your first time?” “What makes you think that, because I just missed fifteen in a row?” Skeet is when you shoot at clays fired out from two towers, one to the left and one to the right. One is high and the other is low. You move in a semi-circle around the different stations. This is great practice for those speeding teal that soar past your decoys when you’re never ready. Depending on where you’re standing you can get a quick passing shot from right to left or left to right, or if you are over next to one of the towers the clay bird from the opposite tower will be coming somewhat right at you. Then we have the gentlemen’s version of clay shooting called sporting clays. Ah yes, you sit leisurely in your golf cart and drive to each station around a beautiful picturesque setting not unlike a golf course that will feature pretty much all of the aforementioned shots
By Tim Forge
Page 36 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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involved. There are two different at each stop. Then you get back in your golf cart, pop a beverage from your cooler, prop your feet up and drive past the poor slobs on a budget like me who are hoofing it to the next station. Think of it as part of the regimen for getting in shape for the season. Like duck hunters need to be physically fit. Hey, I sometimes have to walk a half a mile to my spot with all my gear and then slog through chest deep marsh. That requires some kind of conditioning. But the beauty of some of these places if they’re not crowded is that you can go at your own pace. That means if you really suck at a certain shot, you can practice it over and over. That’s what happened to me on the skeet range. My son and I were the only ones there and the time before I missed something like twenty in a row. I was ready to get tracers. It was ridiculous. It was the high left to right shot. I just couldn’t hit it. Then I stood in one position in the center and shot over and over, varying my lead. About the tenth one I connected. And then I shattered another one, and another one for something like four in a row. I shot a whole box at that one shot. I did the same thing on the sporting clays course. I kept increasing my lead on the high overhead right to left until I discovered how much lead I needed. It was a lot more than I was originally shooting. Now I hit that shot fairly consistently. I shot for a year at the North County Federal five stand range where you didn’t have a choice as to where your clay birds were coming from, and I never increased my proficiency as much as concentrating on one shot at a time. I don’t even shoot doubles yet. If I can’t hit one, how am I supposed to hit two? I’m just wasting my shells.
I’m still in favor of being able to use some kind of a tracer in the shells so I can see just what I’m doing wrong but so far the best product out there that isn’t incendiary, meaning you won’t burn your range down, is a product called Fiocchi Cyalume Chemical Tracers. But they don’t show up well in broad daylight, and a lot of ranges don’t let you use them. Whatever style you choose, it’s still shooting. Shooters shoot. Try all three and become a triple threat. It generally costs about eight to twelve dollars a round plus shells, and if it helps bag a few more birds during the season it’s well worth it. Now we come to just how are we going to practice. If you can’t visualize what a lead picture on your bird is than you really don’t know what you’re practicing. Some shooters have a natural ability to make the shot without thinking about what they’re actually doing. I was not gifted with that ability, and finally learned about the three main methods of shotgun shooting; the constant lead, the swing through, and the pull ahead method. The pull ahead is the most forgiving. That’s when you follow the bird with the bead of your gun, and then pull ahead as you squeeze the trigger. The time it takes for your brain to signal your itchy trigger finger to flinch is about the amount of lead needed for shots out to twenty five yards or so. The swing through method is also best used on shorter shots. That’s when you begin behind the bird and swing your shotgun a little faster than the bird, and pull the trigger as your bead intersects with your target. This method as in the others, you follow through with your swing as you shoot instead of stopping suddenly. This also works well for the clays that fire straight up, or are incoming. You fire as the end of your barrel blots out the bird. The constant lead method is the one I probably practice the Huntdhg.com
most. That’s when you swing your gun out in front and maintain a constant lead as you continue swinging and then pull the trigger at the right space between the end of your barrel and the flying bird. This works well on longer shots. How much of a space? That’s why they call it practice. Begin with just a bit of daylight between the end of your muzzle and the target, and increase from there. You can start off at home with an unloaded shotgun and practice mounting your gun up to your cheek without moving your head down, your weight on your forward leg. Your dominant shooting eye should be looking just a hair above the rib, high enough to see the bead at the end. Practice the gun mount over and over until you can do it with your eyes closed, and then open one eye and it should be sighting right down the rib like before. Then practice mounting your gun and swinging it through some target you designated and pull the trigger as you swing through. Then drop and give me twenty just for attitude. It’s probably better to do all this in a room by yourself which can be difficult if you have kids or live with someone. “That crazy bastard’s in there playing with his gun again!” Or if you choose your backyard, make sure your fences are high enough so your nosy neighbor out back doesn’t think you’re hunting squirrels again. “Why can’t you just go buy a hamburger or something?” Not everyone appreciates the enthusiasm of hunters. © 2012 forge For more hunting stories checkout http://www. duckquester.com
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45743 260th St. Humboldt, SD 57035 (605) 363-6489 | (605) 366-8198 | hunterspointesd.com Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 37
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2014 Arctic Cat Wild…Kitten? By Jim Rogers
Ok I’ll be honest, I’m addicted to dirt. It doesn’t matter if it’s two, three, or four wheels; I’ll ride just about anything that goes fast, especially on rough or sandy terrain. I owe my love of offroading to my father, who dropped me on an old Honda 50 mini-bike back when I was 5 years old. One very scared dog, a small tree, and 6’ section of neighbor’s fence later I was on my way to a lifelong addiction. Needless to say I’ve been an obsessed off-roader for going on 40 years. I’ve had many adventures off-road and made some great memories, especially with my kids, who I’ve passed on my addiction.
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www.northernstatessupply.com Page 38 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
Like I said before, I’ve owned or rode just about everything out there off-road, even when it wasn’t designed for it (sorry Dad). I even moved on to racecars and unlimited desert buggies & trucks for a time, but there’s something about the freedom and agility only a motorcycle, UTV or ATV can deliver. Of course, they are also significantly cheaper, making them attractive to anybody without lots of digits in their bank account, like me. With today’s powerful and plush off-road motorcycles, ATVs and UTVs, it’s hard to ignore how much more they can do and offer than just a few years ago. Whether you work, race, trail ride or choose to cruise, there’s plenty of fun and excitement to go around when strapped in behind the wheel of a high-performance UTV, or straddling a thumping dirt bike or ATV. It doesn’t matter what you ride. I’ve always believed, if it calls your name, don’t fight it—ride it. This weekend, I got a chance to spend some time with Travis at Track 2 Trail playing with the new 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat X and Wildcat Trail XT. First I want to say Travis and his team were not only a blast to off-road with, they knew their machines inside and out. And man can they ride! We started out meeting up at Track 2 Trail here in Sioux Falls. Travis spent some time going over each machine, and then we loaded them up. Travis was taking us to one of his favorite stopping grounds. After we arrived, Travis broke out the two machines we would be riding for the day. I immediately dove for the Wildcat X. It’s got “Mean Machine” written all over it. I’ve got to say it definitely did not fail to impress. I could barely contain myself while everyone got settled into their machines. The first thought I had once I launched this bad boy off the line was “Oh boy, this thing is going to get me in all kinds of trouble!” My second thought… “Yup, I want one.” The power and handling was incredible, a perfect match the plush and reactive suspension. Track 2 Trail had this thing dialed in right. The power steering was precise and forgiving. It drove like a dream. You know the dream where you’re an off road Baja 1000 race car driver? Yeah, that dream. I’ve driven older Arctic Cats and have always been impressed. With this new Wildcat, Arctic Cat did themselves proud. This thing ate up the back roads and trails like they were nothing. The thing handles like almost like a off-road race buggy. It’s quick, smooth, agile, and powerful. Although I didn’t have any big hills to climb, there was stuff I could jump. The thing that impressed me the most besides the raw power was how this thing handled the whoops and jumps. The near perfect front to rear weight distribution tied to a low center of gravity made this thing handle rough terrain with ease. With all this power getting her launched into the air was no problem. The “Big Cat” was a sight Huntdhg.com
to see in the air. It was stable, level and landings were simply graceful. I rode this thing for 3 hours straight and I think I had “Woo Hoo!” written all over my face the whole time behind the wheel of this amazing “Big Cat.” At lunch we switched rides. I got to jump in the 2014 Wildcat Trail XT. I have to admit I was not happy, I loved that Wildcat X. I mumbled and complained, and even wondered if a full out tantrum would put me back in the “Big Cat.” I put my helmet on, fired up the “pip-squeak” and rolled out. The thing took off like a rocket and was nimble as all get-out! Sure the cockpit was smaller, but it wasn’t cramped (I’m 5’10) and it was set up right. Everything was there and within reach. After about 30 minutes I forgot about missing the “Big Cat.” In fact, I made it a point to out maneuver the bigger machine every chance I got. While there was no way I could beat it heads up, I gave it a run for its money in the tighter trails. Now, managing the 50” wheelbase takes a little to get used to after spending a few hours in the wide stance of the “Big Cat.” With that said the “Trail” handled great, the suspension was soft and forgiving. Its rack and pinion steering feels light and controlled at each turn and maneuvering over rocky and rough sections of trail inspires tons of confidence. Front and rear sway bars made corners flat and controlled with very little body roll and the Trail’s incredibly low seating position provided the feeling of being inside the cockpit and not on top of it like in a utility. All in all, it felt stable and sure footed, and of course had tons of power on tap. Allowing me to get loose and hit the bumps without losing control. When things got tight on the trail I couldn’t help thinking about taking this thing hunting or fishing. Getting to out of the way places you can only get to with ATV’s. This thing can go just about anywhere an ATV can go, maybe more. Now, at first the little “Cat” did look funny to me after staring down its big brother. The look grows on you though. Don’t get me wrong, it looks great. It has an aggressive stance, great performance and has a lot of great features. Like really sweet looking hinged doors that take the place of cheap clipped on nets. These doors provide a feeling of security when you’re seated in the cockpit and prevent knees and elbows from dangling outside risking injury from tree branches in tighter sections of trail. The seats are soft and well designed to keep the rider safely and comfortably in the seat. There’s even a fully digital gauge package, which is probably the nicest I’ve seen in a while. It can hold up to 300 lbs. of cargo and it even has a 2” hitch with a 1500lb. towing capacity. It’ll even fit nicely in a pickup bed for quick day runs! Everything about this side by side is well thought out and very well made. When I started the day, I knew I wanted the Big Wildcat X. It has Macho written all over it. My initial impression of the smaller Wildcat Trail however was that it was nothing compared to its big brother. That I would feel like a toy, be underpowered, handle like a pig. I’m here to say that it is an outstanding machine, great performance, and will fit quite nicely in places the regular Wildcat could never begin to enter. Plenty of power, a solid suspension and a well-appointed cabin will make this a formidable tight trail machine. And I have to admit when the day was done I had more fun in that Wildcat Trail XT than I did in the bigger Wildcat X. I love them both, hands down over any their competition. At only $10,999, the 2014 Wildcat Trail is simply an awesome machine for the money. I recommend you stop by and talk to Travis at Track 2 Trail and check both of them out.
Track2Trail Arctic Cat Travis DeJong • 1-605-268-0030 track2trail@rocketmail.com Huntdhg.com www.track2trail.net
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 39
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Page 40 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
What is the most important part of any hunt, the gun, your ammo, a compass, maybe a cell phone, or is it something not on the hunting list? The answer is Practice, Practice, and Practice. That is the one detail that so many Hunters overlook for so many reasons one could only wonder. The Hunter saved for many years for his or her Cape Buffalo Hunt. The Hunter just bought a CZ .416 Rigby, his first really big bore rifle. All of his big game hunting, up to now, was done with his trusty .308 Winchester model 88. This fine rifle develops about 16 ft lbs of free recoil and the .416 Rigby comes in at a whopping 58 ft lbs, that’s almost four times the recoil of his sweet Winchester. Our hunter has been using this rifle for twenty five years and never a single hitch. Then the Hunter takes his or her new Darling to the range for the first time and starts to zero in. When the Hunter pulls the trigger for the first time, he realizes there is a brand new gaping gash just over his right eye and it will not stop bleeding. What happened? Our hunter just found out the hard way that recoil kicks like the dickens and now he is wondering what he is going to do with his Darling Monster. Mind you, he is not afraid, but unsure of what to do next. The Hunter doesn’t know it yet, but the next time he or she prepares to fire that rifle, his body’s muscles and nerve endings have a little surprise in store for him. Mr. Flinch is on deck and this bad boy is very difficult to control once the door is opened, so, never give it a chance to control your shooting. The best way to accomplish this is to control the excess recoil your body doesn’t like before it controls you. There are many ways to defeat recoil. The first time I saw a .505 Gibb fired, I could not figure out what on earth the shooter was trying to do. I didn’t really notice the size of the barrel at first when I started to walk over to see what was going on. So on my way there, he fired a 525 gr. Bullet at 2300 fps. Now that doesn’t sound too bad, in fact it is lethargic for most modern rifles, but that bullet is one large projectile at that speed. In a 10 lbs rifle it would generate 104 ft lbs of free recoil, that’s 5 times the normal recoil of a 30.06. The blast from 150grs of powder lit the end of the barrel up and startled the wits out of me. When I recovered my composure, I had to find out what he was doing with this flame thrower. It turns out that he was using two 25 lb bags of # 7 1/2 shot behind the stock to reduce the felt recoil and it did a splendid job of it. Huntdhg.com
By using the bags of shot in that manner, he effectively reduced the 104 lbs down to a mere 17 ft lbs of free recoil. I thought it shear genius on his part. This event occurred back in the early 70’s and made a lasting impression on me to this day. Now that is one way. Another way, today, is the Caldwell lead sled. Genius if ever there was. A third way, is one that I perfected about 7 years ago with extensive testing and trial and error at the beginning. On a fateful day at the end of 2007 at my test range, I started working on reduced velocity loadings for big bore dangerous game rifles. I was in an area that was never explored before. I was traveling down a path never taken before. Everything I tried was brand new. I had no guide lines to work with. At first I was working with cast bullets that I manufactured and with them I had a reference to work by, The Lyman Loading Manual. Then, I found the most versatile powder on the market today. From that point on, I was on my own. I didn’t know what could be done with just one powder from low recoil, low pressure loads, all the way up to intermediate loading and further still. It was like heaven to an experimenter like me. There was no limit on what I could do with that wonderful powder, Accurate 5744. The sky’s the limit with the versatility of this powder, it is so unbelievable. It can be used in calibers like the 22 Hornet, all the way up to 700 Nitro Express. Well, that’s enough background for now, down to taming the monster so it can be shot without any fear of bodily damage. The .416 Rigby is a large volume case, with plenty of room for powder for High Velocity loading. It works well with H4350,IMR 4350,RL-19. Since we will be slowing it down a bit, the powder called for here is the Accurate 5744 and that is the only powder we will be loading with. The primers for this application are standard large rifle primers. I work with Remington 9 1/2, they work great for me. The cases I use, most times, are the Hornady brand, it works great. The bullets that I use most of the time are Barnes, but as of late I have been unable to purchase Solids from anyone, anywhere. Since the powder density is so low, it is absolutely important to check case volume every round. The best way that I found to accomplish this is with a standalone digital scale. The Hornady GS-1500 works fine for me. Now that we have a bunch of loaded rounds, we should start with the 400 gr. Solids at 1,300 fps. This is the perfect combination for 50 yd. informal shooting from the bench, just to see what it will do. After you find its point of aim, then you should move on to shooting with sticks and then some offhand shooting. Most African PH’s would like to know that you have around 300 rounds through your gun months before you show up at their camp. An 8 to 10 inch black bull, at this yardage, should be perfect for shooting the 300gr bullets at 2,000 fps. The recoil will be about the same as a 30.06. You should continue shooting till you feel confident to move onto the full house loads, handling and shooting until the rifle becomes one with you. Your PH will know that they can trust your shooting ability the first time they see you shoot. You can be certain of that. Till the next time, Practice is everything. Huntdhg.com
Caliber Bullet Wt
MV
ME
.416 Rigby 300
2,000
2,664
Powder gr. Gun wt. lbs. Recoil ft. lbs. Recoil Vel. Pdr Dens
50
9
20
12
40.2
TSX 350
2,000
3,108
52
9
27
14
41.8
Solid 400
1,300
1,500
35
9
12
9
28.1
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 41
W
hile fall is typically the season associated with goose, there are some major benefits to getting a crack at the snow goose earlier in the season. The weather and migration can add a whole new level of excitement and challenge to the spring snow goose hunt. While a spring season isn’t available in every state, in the more northern reaches it is a popular occurrence. In some states, such as North Dakota, between the two seasons, snow goose hunting is available for six months of the year. For the hunter looking to get some practice in for the fall season, the spring can be a great time to get out in the field. For many states it is the first hunting season of the year, with opening day typically in mid-February. Knowing the bird’s migration patterns and climate will greatly influence a hunt; the snow geese follow the melting snow line pretty consistently. Hunting the snow goose is ideal where there is still snow on the ground, but also By Abhishek Agarwal
many patches of ground available; this will allow the hunter to better blend in with surroundings. For the best chance at a successful season, the hunter should watch the weather forecasts in his region. While a hunter may expect to be seeing the geese in the next few days, a large spring storm may blow through to the south and the geese may be held up for a while. It’s also really important for a hunter to scout the area he’ll be hunting. Since spring goose hunting is often a messy sport with wet and muddy ground, a hunter should know the roads he’ll be taking and the field he’ll be sitting in. Any pre-dawn mishaps such as a vehicle getting stuck could ruin the entire day’s hunt. Another factor that should be considered with spring snow goose season is the fact that these geese have been hunted in the fall and the winter in the southern states. They will be very weary of decoys and calls as that’s what they’ve just came from. It may be a good idea to avoid the use to these two items so as not to turn the flock away; sitting and waiting the old fashioned way may be the best idea for these spring birds. Since open dates and bag limits change from year to year, be sure to check local rules and regulations of the area you’ll be hunting.
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Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014 • Page 43
By Paul N Jensen Teeth:
Many owners do not understand the value of caring for their dog’s teeth. As a dog gets older the propensity for dental problems increase. The best way to ensure proper dental condition for your dog is to start while he is a pup. Most dogs do not like their mouths touched. It is important for you, as an owner, to get the pup used to being handled at a very young age. At most veterinarian visits the mouth needs to be inspected. You want to make it easy for the vet to perform his examination. The best way for you to get your dog used to having his mouth touched is to begin touching it when you first get your pup. Make sure to handle the jaws, open the mouth, and touch the teeth in a relaxing way for a few minutes every so often until your pup is used to being handled in this way. Also, at the conformation evaluation at NAVHDA tests, the judges will need to see the teeth of your dog and their job will be much easier if you have conditioned your pup to have its mouth examined. Most vets recommend brushing a dog’s teeth weekly. Special toothpaste and brushes for your dog can be purchased at pet stores. Toothpaste for dogs is most often quite tasty to them, so they shouldn’t mind the brushing. You can then try a finger brush, accessible at your vet’s office or pet supply store. Regular brushing will help prevent the buildup of calculus and debris on your dog’s teeth. Giving your dog marrowbones or rawhides to chew on will assist in preventing buildup on your dog’s teeth. Even with proper preventive care, most dogs will eventually need a dental cleaning from your vet. Some owners use a dental tool and scrape the scale off the dog’s teeth. Don’t let your dog’s teeth get so covered that he will need a dental cleaning because your dog will need to be sedated. It is a light anesthesia and using the latest technology it is extremely safe.
For more serious conditions, you should see your veterinarian who may prescribe Panalog or a Panalog Hexamite combination. Panalog has oil that breaks up the hard earwax, an antibiotic to combat bacteria, a fungicide to stop yeast growth and a steroid to decrease the itch and inflammation. Hexamite kills ear mites. To prevent recurrence, a treatment should always be carried out over several consecutive days even after it looks like the ears have been cleaned up. Most treatments are prescribed for about 10 days. Neglecting an ear infection will result in a chronic scarring and narrowing of the ear canal which will result in decreased ventilation, increased wax, moisture, yeast, etc. - a vicious cycle.
Paul Jensen has been involved in raising, training, showing, judging, and breeding bird dogs for more than 30 years. He hunts both birds as well as white tail deer in New England. Mr. Jensen’s passion for cooking has resulted in him writing a Kindle book titled “Got Game? Cook It!” It’s a fantastic illustrated wild game cookbook that is available on Amazon.
Get Your Do og In Top Huntin ng Shape
Ears:
A dog’s ears require regular care. If Buster is scratching his ears against the carpet it is time to take a good look at what is going on. All dogs have bacteria and yeast growing naturally in their ears. The irritation starts when there is an abnormal buildup of earwax or yeast because of an increase in humidity or a lack of ventilation. As with most things, prevention is always the better solution than cure. Inspect your dog’s ears regularly. Look at the ears and smell them. If there are brown deposits (earwax) or the ears smell bad, it’s time to get the ears cleaned. There are several home remedies that you can use for minor irritations. Try pouring vinegar into the ear canal and then rub or massage the ear. Vinegar lowers the PH of the ear, breaks up the wax and kills the yeast. A yeast infection is usually the most serious of the conditions found in dogs. Some owners use hydrogen peroxide that will also break up the wax and allow for the removal of the wax using cotton swaps. We have also tried light mineral oil. It seems to have a soothing effect especially when you massage the ear after you have filled the ear canal. It is best that you do this outdoors because after you release the dog he will shake his head violently and the oil will spread all over. Page 44 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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Page 46 • Dakota Hunting Guide - Spring 2014
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