Outdoor Guide Magazine March-April 2021

OUTDOOR

GUIDE

March - April 2021

MAGAZINE

Rabbit gumbo.........Page 11

Five great places.....Page 16

Carp for bait...........Page 18

Shooting lessons?....Page 20

Video crappie..........Page 25

HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL Missouri, Illinois and Other Exciting Outdoor Destinations!

Outdoor Guide

Page 2

March-April 2021

Over and Outdoors

Spring still king for best fishing

Photos and Text

By JOHN WINKELMAN Associate Editor

One of the unwritten rules of periodical print journalism is, “Don’t write about the weather.”

If you mention a drought, it’s likely to start a flood before the next edition gets to the newsstands. When you begin to cheer about a mild winter, you can almost guarantee a blizzard before the ink is dry.

But I’m going to risk it because I am too excited about warmer, longer days raising the water temperatures in the places I like to go fishing. I may have just jinxed us into a relapse of winter, but spring has sprung and the bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish all are getting amped up for action.

No matter what you hope to catch, fish are going to begin getting more predictable and aggressive than in any other time of the year. They are going to be moving to shallower water for their annual spawning activities, they are going to be more concentrated and in many

cases easier to find because you can often see them or the nests they are building and protecting.

The main trigger for that activity will be higher water temperatures, but fish are also influenced by the length of day.

While the weather may seemingly be influenced by wishful thinking, there is nothing short of apocalyptic that is going to affect getting a little extra sunlight each day between now and late June.

LONG DAY’S SPAWN The amount and intensity of daylight has a direct impact on fish spawning, as does their move to shallow water. Sunlight that shines through the surface to the bottom of the lake or pond heats that mud, sand and rocks, and the eggs that will be laid there.

While it can be detrimental to reproduction, fish are easier to catch when you can see them guarding their nests. Very often they will take the bait-not because they are looking for something to eat, but to protect the territory and eggs or fry that are there. A fish that is quickly

Fishing for all species, including bluegill, will begin to get better and peak as the season changes from winter to spring.

released can and will return to its sentry location.

Other fish that hang out in the neighborhood of the nesting area before or after spawning are also good targets. They will take an easy meal as they wait their turn, so fishing in transitional water levels between the deep and the shallow can also be effective without the guilt of stealing from the cradle.

Pre-spawn and post-spawn both provide good fishing opportunities as fish prepare for the duty of nesting by gorging

themselves ahead of the activity when they will be less likely to eat. Afterward, when the fry are left to fend for themselves, the starved parents have to make up for all those missed meals of the past week or so.

CRAPPIE GO FIRST Fortunately all that action doesn’t take place in the same small window for all species of fish. Crappie are usually first to spawn in the spring, once water temperatures reach at least 55 degrees. Their colonies

are going to be concentrated in areas with protection from wind, waves and strong currents. Underwater vegetation or woody structure is also a major attractant near the nesting areas.

Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass are next to join the queue. They will begin in earnest once water temperatures are maintained above 60 degrees. Their nests will be located above rockier surfaces with limited silt and can be found in water between one and 15 feet deep, depending on water clarity.

Bluegill and other members of the sunfish family will wait until May to get started. Water surface temperatures of 70 degrees are generally required.

Their nests are usually in less than two feet of water and are often grouped together to look like a big collection of round elephant footprints on the bottom of the pond or lake.

CATFISH ARE LATER Catfish may not begin their spawning activity until the water reaches 75 degrees, and it may last until late July. They

are going to find nesting cavities along stream banks and around rootwads, log jams and driftwood piles. Catfish do not naturally reproduce well in small impoundments.

Rivers offer particular challenges for spawning fish, so black bass are protected in most Missouri streams from March 1 through the Saturday before Memorial Day in May. All largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass must be returned immediately and unharmed when caught during the spring spawning season.

No matter what the weather might dish up in the coming weeks, fishing prospects are good from mid-April through June as long as you know what you’re looking for and what their most natural instincts have them doing.

John J. Winkelman is sales and marketing director at Liguori Publications in Barnhart, Mo. If you have news for Outdoor Guide Magazine, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com and you can follow John on Twitter at @ johnjwink99.

MEET THE

2021 Also stop and check out our

HUGE SELECTION OF SIDE-BY-SIDES.

5935 S. LINDBERGH BLVD., ST. LOUIS, MO 63123 MUNGENASTMOTORSPORTS.COM | (314) 649-1200 BE A RESPONSIBLE RIDER Remember, Multipurpose Utility Vehicles (Side-by-Sides) can be hazardous to operate. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection, and clothing appropriate to the driving situation. Keep doors and side nets closed. Never carry a passenger in the cargo bed, stay off public roads, obey cargo limits and guidelines, and never drink and drive. ALL MUV DRIVERS SHOULD WATCH THE SAFETY VIDEO “MULTIPURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES: A GUIDE TO SAFE OPERATION.” Be sure to follow the Owner’s Manual directions when carrying cargo or towing a trailer. Avoid excessive speeds, and never drive faster than conditions permit. All Pioneer models are recommended for drivers 16 years of age and older, and tall enough to wear the seat belt properly and reach all the controls. The passenger(s) should also be tall enough for the seat belt to fit properly and brace themselves, if needed, by placing both feet firmly on the floor while firmly grasping a hand hold. Whenever you drive off-road, make sure you follow all the “TREAD LIGHTLY” guidelines, and always stay on established trails in approved areas. Keep your off-road area clean, use common sense, and respect the rights of others. We strongly recommend that you use only Honda approved accessories that have been specifically designed and tested for your vehicle and do not remove any original equipment or modify your Honda in any way that would change its design or operation. Operating your Side-by-Side vehicle with a modified engine, emissions control system, or noise-control system may be illegal. Always obtain written permission before driving on private lands, and obey all the laws and regulations governing your off-road areas. Specifications, programs and availability subject to change without notice. All specifications in this brochure—including colors, etc.— apply only to models sold and registered in the United States. Some models shown with optional accessories. Pioneer,™ Unicam,® Honda Phantom Camo,® QuickFlip,® are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. FOX® is a registered trademark of Fox Factory, Inc. ©2017 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. A3909

March-April 2021

Outdoor Guide

NATURE is

Healthy Feeling tired?

Spending just 20 minutes outside can give your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.

Spending time in nature, conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.

Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.

Taking a nature walk may increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.

Exposure to nature contributes to physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

® Serving nature and you

Nature is good for you! Learn more about getting your daily dose of “Vitamin N” by checking out season two of MDC’s podcast, Nature Boost, available wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

Nature is good for you! Learn more about getting your daily dose of “Vitamin N” by checking out season two of MDC’s podcast, Nature Boost,

Page 3

Outdoor Guide

Page 4

March-April 2021

Spring fishing gives the boot to a long winter

Photo and Text

By BRENT FRAZEE When spring arrives, I feel like a grumpy ol’bear emerging from hibernation.

With the first few warm days of late February, my soul stirs

and I start to climb out of my depression. “It’s almost over,” I think.

The clutches of winter are torture to me. In my younger days, the bitterly cold temperatures, snow and ice wouldn’t stop me from fishing, hiking

or hunting. But as I near age 70, winter amounts to one long waiting period – a waiting period for spring.

I count down the days until March 1, my unofficial first day of spring. That’s the fishing opener at Missouri’s four trout parks, a day when I join thousands of others to throw a going-away party for winter.

It’s about tradition more

than anything else. Fishermen usually abhor crowds, but they gladly stand elbow-to-elbow with other trout fishermen on opening day of the trout season.

This day isn’t so much about fishing; it’s about beginnings.

It’s the first chance of the year to set the hook and feel the tug of a fish. It’s also a chance to get together with old friends, exchange fish stories

It’s Time for the Shooting Range!

Let our expert sales staff help equip you with everything you will need for the range.

MidAmericaArms.com

8205 Gravois Road • 314-631-3130 Tues.-Fri. 11 AM - 6 PM • Sat. 9 AM - 4 PM • Closed Sun. & Mon.

Trout fishermen join in the going-away party to winter.

and reminisce.

THAT FIRST TRIP I always look forward to that first trip of the year to the Ozarks. The hills are awakening from their winter slumber, and in years when warm weather has arrived early, the bright yellow from blooming forsythias breaks the drab landscape.

It’s as if Mother Nature is advertising her coming attractions, and that never fails to excite me.

I know I will be back many times in the coming months, fishing for everything from crappies to bass to walleyes to white bass.

Little towns that seemed almost deserted in the middle of winter spring back to life.

Resorts reopen after a winter break and flash signs that read, “Welcome back, fishermen.”

And a steady stream of boats towed by anglers ramble down the city streets.

Bulletin boards in small markets will start to fill with pictures of fishermen who have caught big fish. And bait and tackle shops will do booming business, with a mix of customers standing in line to fill their minnow buckets or buy the latest lure that is slaying the bass.

Yeah, the Ozarks are Americana for fishermen in the spring. There is nowhere I would rather be.

BUSTER AND BILL Every time I cross a bubbling creek, I slow to take in the scene and sometimes even stop to scan the water to see if a pool by the road contains fish.

For me, it’s a sentimental homecoming. My mind races back to other early trips to the Ozarks and I bask in the memories.

I think about the March day I went fishing with guides Buster Loving and Bill Babler on a warm, cloudy day below Powersite Dam on Bull Shoals Lake.

Buster was known for his prowess in catching big walleyes, but he outdid himself that day. Using suspending stickbaits, we cast into the swirling current and quickly found that the fish were home.

We experienced a day that would make fishermen in the North Country envious, each of us catching a limit, with several fish over five pounds.

OUT WITH J.D. March was also the start of a tradition in which I would fish with my all-time favorite guide, J.D. Fletcher. He was a self-professed hillbilly who was as quick with his wit as he was with his hookset. On those early-spring trips, we would go up the White River arm of Table Rock, not far from where his rustic resort was located, and we would fish for huge white bass.

J.D. is gone now, but those memories will last forever.

I also recall the days when I fished for bass or crappies at the base of hillsides that were splashed with the color of blooming dogwoods or redbuds. If that wasn’t enough to remind me that it was spring, the sound of gobbling turkeys often carried across the water.

Of course, spring has some drawbacks. In recent years, frequent rain has created widespread flooding at many reservoirs in the Ozarks. And rollercoaster weather can cause the fish to get lockjaw.

But I often view that as a minor price to pay. Spring is my favorite time of the year, and I can’t wait to embrace it like a long-lost friend.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 5

Order the RV of Your Dreams

YEARS Redefining the RV Experience One Trip at a Time®

Your Backyard Can Be Anywhere Inventory is moving fast, here today, camping tomorrow.

Leader to the Great Outdoors.

All Wheel Drive

Sales, Service, Consignment, and we pay top dollar for used RVs !

Stop in Van City RV and see what everybody is going crazy over!!

3100 Telegraph Rd., St. Louis, MO 63125 • 314.894.3905 or 800.467.3905

www.vancityrv.com

4 locations across the US to serve you! • Kalispell, MT • Las Vegas, NV • Colorado Springs, CO

Outdoor Guide

Page 6

March-April 2021

Deer hunt never ends in Texas

Photo and Text

By TED NUGENT

South Texas is certainly a deer hunting paradise. My annual whitetail winter safari around the Uvalde, Knippa, Sabinal and Hondo region southwest of San Antonio is beyond any bow hunting dream this old Michigan deer hunter could have ever imagined.

Being blessed and beyond fortunate to be invited onto the 8,000-acre Mosing family 4M Ranch all these years has brought me so much joy I can hardly stand it. Managed for nearly 50 years for optimal healthy, thriving wildlife habitat through balanced deer numbers has created a deer herd that you would have to see and hunt to believe.

Minimizing hunting pressure while maximizing natural sustaining habitat,

augmented with beneficial agriculture, the sheer number of mature bucks we see on any given weekend is truly unbelievable.

This famous part of the Texas brush country has always been celebrated as nothing short of phenomenal deer country, with a history of amazing genetics and ultra-nutritious natural vegetation. When kept in well-managed balance and given a decent annual rainfall, it produces big, old mature record-book bucks each year.

THE DEER FACTORY With the creation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Managed Land Deer Permit program, landowners keep close tabs on the deer numbers, predator impacts, range conditions and improvements to determine our own sci-

ence-based harvest limits, and you can well imagine just how many buck and doe tags an 8,000-acre deer factory can accommodate.

I genuflect on bended knee at the buckpole!

With the extended deer season going from around Oct. 1 all the way to March 1, we are talking deer hunter heaven here folks!

But never, ever forget, that deer hunting, no matter the conditions, no matter the smartest management and clever strategizing, has always been and will forever be based on the inevitable reality of “right place at the right time”!

And so it was on my first highly anticipated December afternoon hunt at the mighty 4M that SpiritWild VidCamDude Bob Bohannon and I settled into a double ladder stand that ranch manager

OUTDOOR

GUIDE

March-April 2021

MAGAZINE

HUNTING • FISHING • CAMPING • BOATING • SHOOTING • TRAVEL Volume 29, No. 2 • Published six times a year Office: 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103 News department — 618-972-3744

www.outdoorguidemagazine.com e-mail: news@outdoor-guide.com COVER created by Kathy Crowe, graphic designer.

Carl Green, editor – carl@labortribune.com John Winkelman, associate editor — ogmjohnw@aol.com Bob Whitehead, editor emer. – ogmbobw@aol.com Lynn Fowler, circulation manager Kathy Crowe, graphic designer — Account executives — Dan Braun, marketing director 314-256-4136 Lauren Marshall 314-614-5175 — Regional and specialty editors — Darrell Taylor Ray Eye Brent Frazee Brandon Butler

Curt Hicken Bill Cooper Thayne Smith Steve Jones

Bill Seibel John Neporadny Jr. Rick Story T. J. Mullin

Larry Whiteley Ted Nugent Ron Bice

– In Memoriam —

Joel Vance • Ron Henry Strait • Jared Billings • Charlie Farmer • Richard Engelke • Mark Hubbard • Spence Turner • Hank Reifeiss Kay Hively • Bill Harmon • Barbara Perry Lawton • Danny Hicks • Ron Kruger • TJ Stallings • John Sloan

Scott Pauley Tim Huffman John Meacham Bob Holzhei Jeannie Farmer Jerry Pabst Ryan Miloshewski

— Staff writers —

Claudette Roper Brad Wiegmann Mike Roux Craig Alderman Randall Davis Jo Schaper Jed Nadler

Kenneth Kieser Gerald Scott Russell Hively Roxanne Wilson Gretchen Steele Larry Potterfield Tom Watson

Don Gasaway Terry Wilson Bill Keaton Charlie Slovensky Michael Wardlaw Tyler Mahoney

Will had cleverly set up for us, and with my zebra GoldTip arrow nocked on my Mathews VXR bowstring, I could already taste the tender backstraps a grillin’!

THE ETERNAL GONZO The wind was perfect, the overcast skies beneficial, and even though the moon phase was not our friend, after three hours of excited anticipation with nary an animal to be seen, we knew all too well that right place right time ruled the day.

After another long wait, by dark a few does and two yearling bucks had moved through, but we called it a day and began planning on the morning strategy.

Returning to the same ladder stands we settled in with high hopes and eager anticipation that this could be it.

Being the eternal gonzo optimist, I still tend to get rather antsy sitting on-stand for extended periods, continually dreaming and envisioning in my mind that some big old beasto buck is just around the corner and it is about to happen.

Really crazy deer hunters like me may very well have the patience of Job, for hour after hour, day after day, oftentimes week after week with no action at all, we still persist and sit statuesque, motionless, hoping beyond hope that the moment of truth is imminent.

THE BIRDS PERK Being entertained by an orgy of birdlife all around us is one of the genuine perks of tree-stand hunting. As four does browsed through our little honey hole, squadrons of the beautiful Texas green jays dive-bombed in and out, here and there, hither and yon, to and fro all morning long, when joy of joys, a big, fat, beautiful emerald feather-bomber landed square onto my nocked GoldTip arrow and stared me right in the eyeballs from mere inches away.

As I celebrated another magical spirit of the wild

There’s nothing like hunting deer in south Texas.

– Deer and Deer Hunting photo

moment for all it is worth, the jay launched off my arrow, and a handsome butterball basket-rack 8-point buck sauntered into view below us. I immediately went from my James Audubon mindset into Geronimo kill mode. It was Game On! SPIRIT OF THE WILD As always, my spirit totally escaped the not-so pleasant current world and went directly into the all-is-beautiful spirit world.

Such pure primal moments truly are out-of-body ascensions. All that existed was me, my arrow and the buck’s pump station. That’s it. Nothing more. Pure. Oneness. Spirit of the wild.

When he offered me his foreleg crease, I gave it to him.

The glowing arrow nock lit up my life. The buck turned inside out and vapor trailed into the ether.

A far-away train whistle blew. I heard a distant dog

View Past Issues on our Website at

outdoorguidemagazine.com

barking. A slight breeze kissed my left cheek. Birds flitted back. I exhaled, closed my eyes and released my spiritual prayer for the wild things in an instant.

My eyes penetrated beyond the SpiritWild camera lens, my mouth moved and words came out articulating the far reaches of my love for creation.

After a surprisingly long and extremely challenging and equally gratifying blood trail, we rejoiced at the recovery of my prize, sharing the magic moment with the whole world on Spirit of the Wild TV footage.

GOIN’ BACK FOR MORE Certainly such a powerful experience is all a guy could ever want, but addicted to living life to the fullest, and with a pocket full of surplus buck and doe tags, we fulfilled our daily chores and camp duties and headed out for the afternoon hunt with hopes and dreams of more of the same magic.

There is no such thing as too much fun!

Keep that hunting spirit alive with all you’ve got.

Planned and prioritized intelligently, the hunt never ends.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 7

NEW YEAR!

New Adventures!

Benton County, MO Cole Camp, Lincoln, Warsaw

Fishing • Boating • Camping • Hiking • Biking Trails for Horseback Riding • Golfing • Bird Watching • Museums

Truman Lake and the Osage Arm of The Lake of the Ozarks offer excellent fishing for

• Bass • Crappie • White Bass • Striper • Bluegill • Catfish • Spoonbill The great outdoors are open to the public. Benton County is a fisherman’s paradise for Truman Lake fishing and Lake of the Ozarks fishing in Benton County!

Independent fishing and hunting guides available year-round.

Benton County really does have it all!

SHOPPING • DINING • ATV TRAILS • EVENTS/FESTIVALS FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.VISITBENTONCOMO.COM AND “LIKE” BENTON COUNTY TOURISM AND RECREATION ON FACEBOOK

660-438-2090 • lstokes@visitbentoncomo.com

#LoveMyBentonCoMo #BentonCoMoCares

Outdoor Guide

Page 8

Wetlands are critical to our entire planet Photo and Text

By BRANDON BUTLER Being a waterfowl hunter, one comes to understand and appreciate the importance of wetlands. They are key to the health of waterfowl populations.

Wetlands are home to much more than waterfowl, though. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s species live and breed in wetlands, and about 200 new fish species are discovered in freshwater wetlands in each year. Each Feb. 2, conservationists across the planet celebrate World Wetlands Day (WWD) to recognize the importance of these valuable ecosystems to people, wildlife and the planet.

Wetlands are critical to the overall wellbeing of our planet. They provide habitat for countless fish and wildlife species and help guard us against natural disasters like droughts and floods. World Wetlands Day helps to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and how the decline of wetlands and biodiversity can be addressed.

This year marked the 50th anniversary of the creation of World Wetlands Day. It began with the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on Feb. 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran.

Now the date is recognized as an opportunity for government agencies, non-governmental organizations, corporations and citizens to raise public awareness of wetland values.

This year’s World Wetlands Day theme was “Wetlands and Water.”

DUCKS UNLIMITED I have been a member of Ducks Unlimited for many years because I believe in the work the organization does to save and restore critical wildlife habitat, especially wetlands.

Many people may think of Ducks Unlimited as a hunting organization. While it is true that many hunters make up the membership of the organization, the mission is much more about conservation than hunting.

“Ducks Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s

Editorial

waterfowl,” said Ducks Unlimited Chief Conservation Officer Karen Waldrop.

“These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. When you enjoy a refreshing glass of water on a hot summer day, wetlands likely helped make that water suitable for drinking. Scientists refer to wetlands as ‘nature’s kidneys’ because they filter and purify water as it passes through them.”

10 BILLION TONS Worldwide, we use 10 billion tons of water every day. The majority, 70 percent, is used for food cultivation. Another 22 percent is consumed by industry and energy. Water use has increased sixfold over the last 100 years and continues to rise by 1 percent annually.

Yet only 2.5 percent of the water on Earth is fresh water and less than 1 percent of all fresh water is usable, since most of it is stored in glaciers, ice caps and underground aquifers.

We need wetlands to purify and produce clean, fresh water.

“World Wetlands Day is an annual opportunity to make people aware of the threats wetlands face and how they are important to wildlife and people,” Waldrop said. “At Ducks Unlimited, we work for North America’s wetlands every day of the year. Without the support of great, conservation-minded partners, our work would certainly be limited.”

According to World Wetlands Day materials, five key actions are needed to save our wetlands. Those are: • Stop destroying and start restoring wetlands.

• Don’t dam rivers or over-extract from aquifers.

• Address pollution and clean up freshwater sources.

• Increase water efficiency; use wetlands wisely.

• Integrate water and wetlands into development plans and resource management.

Wetlands are a critical habitat across the planet. As a worldwide community, we need to do a better job of protecting our precious wetland resources. For more information about World Wetlands Day, visit www.worldwetlandsday.org.

For more from Brendan Butler, check out the podcast at www.driftwoodoutdoors. com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

Wetlands provide habitat for countless species and guard against natural disasters.

March-April 2021

Great memories from a small woodlot

Photo and Text

By RICHARD AITES

It was 20 years ago when I first received permission to hunt a property in southern Lincoln County, Missouri. A neglected, grassy field, thick with briars and red brush, hid the 20-acre woodlot from the gravel and dirt road on which I parked.

After carefully avoiding the thorny vines of the field, I stepped over a rusty and tattered barbwire fence before crossing a nameless little creek. I then climbed a steep ridge that was home to dozens of ancient oak and maple trees.

The foliage from the magnificent trees shaded the soggy creek bottom below.

Several hundred yards to the west, the ridge descended into a small grove of persimmon and cedar. Just beyond the cedars was another fence line that marked the end of my landowner’s property. The adjacent properties (all private) consisted of large, grassy fields and tiny woodlots.

While exploring the property for the first time in 2001, I was a little disappointed in the lack of deer sign I was finding. But my disappointment didn’t last long when I spooked a beautiful 10-point buck from his bed while making my way back out of the woods.

A NATURAL BLIND Shortly before that first deer season, I began locating bedding areas among the cedars. I quickly set my 15-foot ladder stand near the aromatic little Christmas trees. A couple of hundred yards to the east, on the face of the ridge just above the creek, I constructed a natural ground blind using two giant oaks that stood side-by-side about 10 feet apart from one another. The stand and blind would stay in place for the next two decades and account for nearly two dozen deer.

During the youth hunts, my sons harvested three really nice bucks (two with 10 points and one with eight). I harvested two or three decent bucks myself along with numerous does. I will never forget the excitement on their faces when they harvested their first bucks. Now they both serve in the U.S. Army.

Because the woods below the ridge were thick with the invasive Japanese honeysuckle, shots were usually limited to 30 or 40 yards.

Therefore, I spent many a morning and evening with a handgun strapped to my side. An old Smith and Wesson 686 .357 magnum accounted for four or five deer, while my Uberti Colt Walker replica, loaded with a lead ball and full charge of black powder, accounted for a handsome 6-point buck.

FOX AND RABBITT Most days spent in my little neck of the woods were relatively uneventful (unless you enjoy watching squirrels and woodpeckers), but there were instances when I felt like I was in an old National Geographic rerun.

One evening, while sitting on the deer stand, I watched a cottontail rabbit approach from the direction of the overgrown field.

The rabbit hopped its way toward a spindly briar bush about 10 yards from my stand.

Then the little critter climbed its way inside and nestled within the thick stalks at the base of the thorny bush.

Moments later, a large gray fox, with nose to the ground, came trotting in. Unaware of my presence above, the fox trotted right below my stand before disappearing into the cedars beyond. With the fox now out of sight, the rabbit made a mad dash for the creek below.

An immediate and loud ruckus of dried leaves near the cedars announced the return of the fox. A fraction of a second later, the fox was in hot pursuit of the cottontail. Both quickly disappeared into the shadowy, thick, brush of the creek bottom. I will never know whether the rabbit escaped or became dinner for the fox, but it sure was entertaining watching a real-life game of critter hide-and-seek.

A CLOSE CALL On another evening during deer season, I was sitting on my stand when a large flock of turkeys mustered into the area. The cackling, bumbling birds spent the next hour feeding on the abundant acorns and berries that littered the forest floor. Shortly before dark, the 20-plus flock of hens, jakes and toms decided to call it a day and flew into the surrounding trees to roost for the night.

I was amused to find that one of the birds, a large gobbler, decided to pick my tree for his nightly slumber. He perched on a limb about 20 feet directly above me. The amusement subsided quickly when I realized I was directly below the wrong end of the turkey.

Over the course of the next half-hour, I hoped, probably even prayed, that the 25-pound bird wouldn’t relieve itself, as I could only imagine the deluge that was about to rain down upon me. Shortly after dark, I was fortunate to escape with both my pride and my blaze-orange knit hat in place.

‘ALL THINGS MERGE’ The 2020 deer season was pretty quiet (except for the distant vehicle traffic from old Hwy. 47) in my little neck of the woods.

I did have a five-point buck trot within 20 yards of my blind during opening weekend but because of the point restrictions, all I could do was watch him disappear into the sunset.

I also watched a tiny doe, probably a fawn, make her way toward the blind, where I got to admire her for a while before she turned and moseyed off toward the far end of the property.

Though it was an uneventful season and probably my last for this piece of property (the owner has put it up for sale), I will always have memories of the place.

While making my way out of those woods for possibly the last time, I halted atop the ridge above the meandering, nameless, little creek. I watched as the icy water gushed through breaks in the ice and around fallen snags before continuing on with its journey to the Cuivre River several miles away.

While taking in the sounds of the turbulent water, I recalled a wonderful quote from Norman Maclean’s story, “A River Runs Through It.” He suggested that, “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 9

Tips, Tricks and Thoughts for the Great Outdoors

A turkey hunter until the end

By LARRY WHITELEY

The old gobbler is searching for me. I’ve done a good job of making him think I’m a hen.

He’s literally tripping over his beard as he comes in looking for love. His bronze feathers shine in the light of the early morning sun, and the red, white and blue of his head stands out against the emerging spring greenery.

I give a soft “putt” with my mouth call and he comes in a little closer. To show me how handsome he is, he puffs out his body and spreads his tail feathers. My heart is pounding out of my chest as I stare down the barrel of my 12-gauge and slowly move to click off the safety.

Suddenly there is a buzzing in my ear. What is that? The biggest gobbler I have ever seen disappears as I reach across my body to shut off the alarm clock. My feet hit the floor, and I’m ready to start another year of turkey hunting.

I’ve spent a lot of years waiting for the sun to come up and the woods to come alive with the sounds of flapping turkey wings and gobbles. I’d like to have a dollar for every yelp and cluck I’ve made on my calls.

More times than I’d like to count, I do everything right and the gobbler wouldn’t respond or come in. There are the times when I do everything right but then scratch an itch or blink an eye – and the gobbler catches me.

Then there are those magical times when my calls are answered by a gobble from close by. My neck hairs bristle, my heart rate cranks up, and the ache in my butt disappears. I point my gun where I expect the gobbler to appear. A crinkly head appears, the gun goes off

and God smiles down on me. I look up and say, “Thank you for my time in the turkey woods.”

What will this turkey season be like? I have no idea, and I really don’t care. At my age, I don’t know how many more years I have left to turkey hunt.

I plan on enjoying my turkey hunting as long as I can, though, until God calls me home.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT “The first turkey that ever came to me on the ground did it a long time ago. I sat there with my hands shaking and my breath short and my heart hammering so hard, I could not understand why he could not hear it. The last turkey that came to me last spring had exactly the same effect, and the day that this does not happen to me is the day that I quit.”

– Tom Kelly IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE It’s time to clean, inventory and organize your tackle box, and replace or add the latest have-to-have piece of fishing gear. It’s time to de-winterize the boat and make sure everything is running properly, plus put in the latest electronics and get used to it.

It’s time to practice your turkey calls, pattern your shotgun and go scouting. It’s time to air out your camping gear and get it organized. It’s time to put on your hiking shoes and go hunt for deer sheds. It’s time to get outdoors and say goodbye to winter. I don’t know about you but I am glad to see it go!

A FISH TIP Crappie make multiple trips to the shallows before they finally get down to spawning.

Consecutive days of warm,

sunny weather before the water reaches spawning temperature will drive them to the bank, and you need to be there.

WHY I FISH I fish to watch the sunrise or sunset over the water. I fish to see deer or turkey at the water’s edge. I fish to hear the sound of an eagle in a bright blue sky who, like me, is out fishing, too.

I fish to feel the cool wind in

my face and the warm sun on my back.

I fish because it has created lifelong friendships. I fish sometimes just to be alone and escape this crazy world today of politics and pandemics for just a little while. The fishing itself is good for my heart and my soul.

I fish because of the opportunity to feed my family and enjoy a special moment in time

LARRY L. WHITELEY is the host of the internationally syndicated Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Radio and nationally syndicated Outdoor World newspaper and magazine tips.

with them as we make memories that will last forever. All of these reasons are why I fish.

NATIVE AMERICAN QUOTE “In truth, we depend on all of the creatures in this world.

For in order to survive, we

humans must consume plants and animals – life must be taken so that we may live. It is only with this awareness that we learn humility and find balance. Our lives need to be in a circle, not in a square, nor a straight line.”

– Black Elk

1965 - 2021

Celebrating 56 years serving St. Louis RV commuity!

NEW • USED

btcamper.com

101 Thomas RV Way • Wentzville, MO 63385 The old gobbler comes in, looking for love.

– Outdoor Living photo

(636) 327-5900 • Sales and Service

Page 10

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Plan a Lake Michigan outing now

Photo and Text

By JERRY PABST

One of my favorite pieces of pragmatic advice is, “Shoot the ducks when they are flying.”

Its simplicity is readily apparent; you can’t shoot a duck that has flown away.

Likewise, you can’t book your preferred date on a Lake Michigan charter fishing boat after that date has been reserved by another angler. Most charter captains’ date books are still fairly open, now, but with the arrival of spring weather and the COVID-19 vaccine, those preferred dates will start disappearing faster than snow piles in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

If you act now, you may get your first choice, but if not, almost surely the next best thing will be there.

UNIQUE OUTING Now, this article will not be instructive to those anglers

who have already discovered the magic of fishing on the Big Lake. Whether they are boat owners, or crewmen on a friend’s vessel, a full season of deep water action awaits them.

Go get ‘em, guys. (And, gals.)

“Fish on!”

But if you have never experienced the unique qualities of an outing trolling for salmon and trout on the Great Lakes, read on.

The Coho and Chinook salmon, along with rainbow, brown and lake trout, have been swimming around Lake Michigan in great numbers since 1966 and even earlier in some cases. For many readers, that is longer than you have been on the planet. And you have never been out there to enjoy it.

Why not? Well, there are a group of “fishermen” who like to talk about it on “Hickory Ridge”, which is the bar rail

These anglers fished with Jack’s Charter Service, operating out of Milwaukee and Racine, WI.

in the local pub, but they never seem to summon up the energy to actually do it. Maybe we can motivate them.

Then there are the specialists – musky, crappie, bass, walleye, etc. anglers who only fish for one or another of the piscatorial species. To me, that is akin to eating hamburgers but spurning pork chops simply because they are not

hamburgers. You may prefer one over the other, but they are both delicious, and both deserve your attention.

WHY A GUIDE? I have run across some fellows who professed to be such fine anglers they had no need of the services of a professional guide. I will dismiss this claim by pointing out that

nobody is perfect – fishermen included.

And there are many who have never been infected by the fishing bug, and who will never read this article. There is a place for them, too, on the Big Lake.

Starting from the top, let’s see what we can do to convince those doubters mentioned above to get in on the action.

First of all, aside from a fishing license and a salmon stamp, your only expense is going to be the charter boat fee. That can vary from boat to boat, but let’s settle on $150 per person for a 6-hour trip, just as an average.

This cost is based on your six-person group, since most captains charge a flat boat fee and do not try to put parties together. Compare that to a trip to Wrigley Field, where a ticket could run $50 to $100, plus another $45 for parking,

a few beers at $10 per cup, and $12.50 for a lukewarm hot dog, and you will find the charter fee is a bargain.

On board a spacious boat, you will be provided with a full array of terminal tackle, and the latest electronic marvels ever designed for fish detection and navigation.

Everything will be handled by an experienced Coast Guard licensed captain and a mate.

You don’t have to set lines, clean fish, or try to figure out where the finny critters are today. Just sit back and wait for a rod to pop. And it will.

The charter captain provides two critical pieces of information to his guests. The first concerns the weather. Is it safe to go out on the Big Lake?

The weather is not judged on safety alone but mostly on the probability of having an enjoyable experience. If the See LAKE MICHIGAN page 15

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 11

Wild Wine Life

Smoked rabbit ‘smokin!’ in gumbo

Photo and Text

By RAY MAXWELL

I consider gumbo a comfort food that is just wonderful to eat year-round.

It seems that you will find as many gumbo recipes as you will find people who enjoy eating gumbo.

You can find many people in Louisiana using wild game in their gumbo, and it goes beyond just using chicken or seafood.

Smoked rabbit gumbo combines our love for smoked food, wild game and Cajun dishes into one dish. If you have some extra rabbits in the freezer from rabbit season or wish to buy some farm-raised rabbits, you will find the dish easy, tasty and healthy.

You can adjust things to your personal taste, and there are two things that I learned in New Orleans about gumbo.

First, use a good stock. Second, don’t burn your roux (flour and fat cooked together to thicken sauces). I have added a third – “Have Fun!” PREPARING THE STOCK Cut open your rabbit across the rib cage and add a few cuts in the leg area so the rabbit will lie flat on the smoker. Smoke the rabbit around 275 to 325 degrees for 2½ to 3 hours.

Allow the rabbit to cool and then pull the meat off the bones.

The meat should break into bitesized pieces. Place the rabbit meat in one container with the bones and the skin in a separate container to save for the stock.

STOCK INGREDIENTS • 1 cup white wine , dry, non-oaky and something you will enjoy drinking the remaining portion of after using some for the stock.

• 1 onion, chopped • 4 stalks of celery, chopped • 1 cup of parsley, chopped • Salt and pepper to taste • Ginger to taste Place the rabbit bones and skins along with the wine into the pot with just enough water to cover the contents and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Skim off any film from the fat that might be on top. Cook the contents for an additional hour.

Add the onion, parsley, celery and spices, and cook for an additional 2 to 2½ hours. Af-

terwards, allow the contents to cool and then strain it into a pot.

I place the stock into containers measured out into 4-cup amounts. This allows extra to be frozen for later use.

SMOKED RABBIT GUMBO Ingredients: • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 1 cup canola oil • 6 cups rabbit, de-boned and

chopped (If you wish to use less rabbit, you can add andouille sausage. I prefer to use all rabbit. It keeps my wife happy.)

• 4 cups onion, chopped • 2 cups celery, chopped • 2 cups green pepper , chopped • 1 cup green onions, chopped • 4 cups okra, sliced (frozen is the easiest to use) • 1 cup parsley, minced • 4 cups rabbit stock (rabbit stock is best but you can use chicken stock as a substitute)

very tasty red Cote du Rhone.

The wine is a red blend that offers aromatics of spice and smoke, and berry and red fruit components. You will love how the spice and the hint of smoke on the finish complement well with this dish. You can find this wine for under $13 a bottle.

If you enjoy adding heat to your gumbo, consider Adam Puchta Desire White, a blend of Missouri white grapes that offers wonderful tropical com-

ponents including kiwi and lime with hints of apple on the nose.

The wine is semi-dry but offers those same fruits that you notice on the nose with a long finish.

The very slight hint of sweetness is perfect for neutralizing the heat in the gumbo if you are adding hot sauce. You can find this wine for under $18 a bottle.

To see the video version on how to make each step of the dish, visit Wild Wine Life on Facebook and Youtube.

Rabbit goes great in a traditional, Louisiana-style gumbo.

• 8 cups water • 3 bay leaves • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (less if you want to cut back

on the heat)

• 2 tablespoons paprika • 1 tablespoon salt • 2 teaspoons basil • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

For best results, use a Dutch oven, combine the flour and oil and stir until smooth. Using a timer for each step, cook at high heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking another 10 minutes and stir constantly until you see a reddish brown color. If you burn your roux, start over.

After you finish the roux, add the onion, celery and green pepper (what some call the Trinity), cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Then add the rabbit stock, water, okra, green onions, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, basil, Cajun spices and black pepper. Raise the heat to bring the contents to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer with the cover on for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the rabbit and parsley. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and serve with rice. The rice-togumbo ratio is a matter of personal preference.

WHICH WINE? Ferme de Gicon Cote is a

Order now for Summer fun!

Located at Hwy 44 & 109 in Eureka

636-938-2000 www.byerlyrv.com

Page 12

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Catching largemouths with plastic

Photo and Text

By DON GASAWAY

Whenever tournament pros gather, there is common agreement that the master of fishing a plastic worm is Harold Allen. Harold parlayed worm fishing into nearly a half-million dollars in prize money on the BASS and FLW tournament trails.

Never having been very good at worm fishing, I sat down with Harold in his bass

boat to receive some lessons.

Harold explained it is important to get a sense of feel with a plastic worm in order to be successful. To get the optimum feel, he recommends a graphite rod of 6 to 7 feet in length. It should be a medium to medium-heavy one. The heavy style rod aids in setting the hook. With a Texas style rig the point must not only go through the fish’s jaw but also through the plastic worm.

ON YOUR TOES! Before setting the hook, Harold drops the rod and takes up any slack line. “It pays to be on your toes, as far as feeling the strike,” he said.

He rigs plastic worms either Texas-style or Carolina-rigged. You can use both with or without a weight. Allen likes the lighter rig since the twitching in shallow water makes the lure appear more lifelike.

As for color selection,

Harold sticks to four or five basics everywhere he travels on tour. It has resulted in his qualifying for 15 BASS Master Classics.

“Too many times people get caught up in color and shades,” he said. “In low water conditions, I like a solid color that is darker. In water with a lot of clarity, I use worms that are a bit more transparent.”

SLOW? SLOW DOWN Harold’s theory is that in

Quality Breading & Batters Seasoned to Perfection The master of the plastic worm is Harold Allen, who has won big money in competitions and taught many a pro how to work the lure.

New Look, Same Great Product

Cook it Your Way! For more information or recipe ideas:

andysseasoning.com • 1-800-305-3004

clear water, one does not get that vivid contrast that might spook fish. If the worm is somewhat transparent it does not project a distinct silhouette on the bottom to scare the fish.

Allen likes June Bug, Red Bug and pumpkinseed colors.

As for line size, Allen recommends you let the conditions dictate the choice. He uses a camouflage line. The size is dictated by water depth, clarity of the water and the amount of cover around where his fish are located. Normally he prefers a 14-pound test.

Allen’s final tip may be his most important one: “When you think you are fishing too slowly, slow down,” he says.

He believes that one cannot fish a worm too slowly. By fishing a worm slowly, he begins to feel things that might be missed with faster retrieves.

“If you get to the point where you cannot feel the worm, then go to a slightly heavier weight,” he said, quickly adding that one should add just enough weight to be

able to feel the worm.

MOST VERSATILE Working a worm requires that one use short strokes of a foot or two at a time. It attracts the attention of less aggressive fish that would not move very far to strike.

To Allen, the plastic worm is the most versatile type of artificial lure. You can work in it all types of conditions and any body of water. It can be customized with a slip sinker. Most importantly it is inexpensive. The cost of hooks, weights and worms often is about the same as a single crankbait.

Fishing a worm helped Harold to build a lifetime career in professional fishing. More than a few big bass have been taken by Allen using these simple tips.

Don Gasaway is an outdoor writer from Marion, IL. The author of over 1,000 magazine articles, he can also be found at www.facebook. com//DonGasawayfishing.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 13

Cold weather’s effects on ammo

Photo and Text

By TJ MULLIN

Ammunition pressure is, of course, central to the proper functioning of your weapon.

Too high and the weapon will blow up. Too low and it will not function the weapon correctly, if a self-loading action.

The manufacturers of ammunition meant to be sold commercially in the U.S. typically load their ammunition to safety standards established by SAAMI as regards pressure for a given cartridge. Often these are quite low to accommodate the issue of old weapons made of poor-quality steel, maintained poorly, or manufactured during war-time rush periods.

Most modern weapons made, say, in the past 50 years, will clearly hold more pressure.

In fact for most cartridges, it is the brass case that is the weak point, not the steel weapon.

HIGHER PRESSURE Many times, in an attempt to get more power in a given cartridge, especially when self-defense or military applications are involved, cartridges will

be loaded to higher pressure to gain more velocity from a given projectile and thus hopefully create stopping power.

Additionally, high-pressure ammunition (within limits, of course) will make weapons function better. This is especially true with open-bolt weapons that tend to the problem of runaway guns – the bolt not going back forward to pick up the sear and hence continuing to fire until out of ammunition.

Police departments often seek greater pressure ammunition to allow them to use older weapons yet get the greater stopping power that new cartridges would bring while at the same time avoiding public controversy over “high-powered weapons in the hands of the police.” For instance, some .38 Special ammunition loaded to specifications beyond standard will reach the bottom end of the power specifications for lowend .357 Magnum ammunition.

A department seeking greater stopping power can then stay with their traditional .38 Special revolvers, saving substantially on both weapons and retraining as well as avoiding

out your weapon sooner. But given the cost of ammunition, the amount you will have to shoot to do so will cost many times the cost of your weapon.

I view that matter as irrelevant.

Much ammunition is designed for higher pressure, which can help in the cold.

public outcry.

EVEN GREATER PRESSURE These higher-than-normal pressure cartridges are noted as being “+P” meaning more powerful. Of course it is the bullet that counts and some “+P” cartridges may be less useful for self-defense than standard pressure loads, depending on the bullet.

Even greater pressure loads are often seen, and these are called “+P+”. Most of these are

sold only to law enforcement agencies that want them and will immunize the manufacturers from liability that such loads may cause to their weapons.

Most of these loads are seen in .38 Special and 9x19mm loadings. While developed for law enforcement agencies, these loads are perfectly lawful for anyone to own and shoot in their weapons. You must recognize, of course, that report and recoil will be greater than standard loads, and a steady diet of such ammunition will wear

WHEN IT’S COLD One of the benefits of using such “+P” or “+P+” ammunition is that it will help assure functioning of your self-loading ammunition when dirty. Now, no sensible person will carry a dirty weapon for self-defense, and in a typical civil setting, no one is going to shoot enough rounds to cause a weapon to get dirty enough to create functioning issues.

But with so many of us now keeping weapons in our vehicles (hopefully in some type of locked container that also allows rapid access), what can happen is that such weapons will get quite cold. The weapon’s lubrication will also thicken. Then again, since smokeless powder ideally burns at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and your ammunition will be equally cold, the burn rate will be lower, yielding lower pressure (admittedly not much but some).

If you use “+P” or “+P+” loads in the cold weapon, you will find that the extra pressure such loads utilize to help functioning in dirty military weapons will do the same thing for your cold “car gun.”

An example might suffice. The Beretta M92 is well known for its reliability. Yet a quite chilled Beretta M92 that worked to perfection when warm and using standard pressure loads would not function with those loads when cold. Putting “+P+” plus loads in the weapon got it back to working perfectly.

THICK LUBRICANT If you have a car gun, as you should, consider the problem of cold weapon and thickened lubricants. Loading your weapon with the higher-pressure loads may well be a good idea to assure proper functioning as well as yielding greater power impacting the target of your weapon.

In the summer heat, that lubrication may well run off the weapon, likewise inducing malfunction, so again the extra pressure loads will assure proper functioning.

Be Ready for the Season!

We sell and service all Honda power equipment.

5935 S. LINDBERGH BLVD., ST. LOUIS, MO 63123 MUNGENASTMOTORSPORTS.COM | (314) 649-1200 For optimum performance and safety we recommend you read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment. Specifications subject to change without notice. All images contained herein are either owned by American Honda Lawn Mower Co., Inc., or used under a valid license. It is a violation of federal law to reproduce these imags without express written permission from American Honda Motor Co., Inc., or the individual copyright owner of such images. All rights reserved. Honda, Honda Lawn Mower model names and their trade dress are trademarks of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. used under license from American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Many Honda engine, trimmer, lawn mower, power equipment and veicle model names, and associated trade dress may be seen at ww.honda.com © 2108 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. C0579 Please read the owner’s manual before operating your Honda Power Equipment and never use in an enclosed or partially enclosed area where you could be exposed to odorless, poisonous carbon monoxide. Connection of a generator to house power requires a transfer device to avoid possible injury to power company personnel. Consult a qualified electrician. Specifications subject to change without notice.

Outdoor Guide

Page 14

March-April 2021

Your Guide to

Adjustable cargo rack fits almost any bike

GREAT GEAR

People are taking to the roads on their bikes more than ever, and they often need somewhere to put their stuff. One solution is Comingfit, an adjustable and adaptable bicycle cargo rack that holds up to 110 pounds of gear.

Its makers describe it as “almost universal” because it fits most bikes, including road bikes and mountain bikes, with either V-style or disc brakes.

It’s made of an aluminum alloy and has a 22” shelf and 6” in width, with great adjusting capabilities.

It also comes with a red rear-reflector lamp that makes you more visible at night. The side-protecting frame protects your gear from being scratched by the wheel or spokes.

Comingfit’s adjustable bike rack sells for $33.99 at amazon.com.

How about a trash system for your boat? It’s Caddycan!

Tired of finishing that first drink but struggling to find somewhere to store your trash without it flying around and getting in the way?

The Caddycan portable boat trash solves that problem. It’s a multi-purpose storage bag for any adventurer’s waste, good for collecting trash or storing gear. It’s designed to make your trip more practical, efficient – and cleaner!

Caddycan is made of heavy-duty, water-resistant nylon fabric reinforced by tough stitching. Its no-mess rubber lid with automatic close keeps trash from blowing out. It straps to any rail or pipe with rugged Velcro and adjustable clips.

The design is like a laundry hamper – stable when in use, and quick to collapse for storage. It’s 13” wide, 13.5” deep and 14” tall.

CaddyCan can be seen at boatoutfittersusa.com, amazon. com or its own website at caddycan.com. priced about $40 in standard size or junior, and in black or blue colors.

Jebs Choke Tubes has new model for turkey hunting Jebs Choke Tubes designed the new Head Hunter turkey choke for both the seasoned veteran and the novice, and it’s now the National Wild Turkey Federation world record-holder.

The Head Hunter delivers extreme patterns down-range at further distances, making it the perfect choke for increased success in the turkey woods.

It was developed with Jebs’ multi-stage interior bore designs to allow for better “shot and wad cup” separation. That makes patterns more precise and dense on the intended target.

All models of the Head Hunter list for $100 available in the original matte grey or black nitride, at .410, 10 gauge, 12 gauge or 20 gauge.

For more information on the Head Hunter or any of Jebs’ choke tubes, go online to www.jebschokes,com.

New Buck Knives are introduced

Buck Knives introduces its 2021 Legacy Collection, with an upgrade to the famous 110 classic and an ebony 124 Frontiersman. To become available in March, they include: • 124 Frontiersman, a classic with genuine ebony handles.

The wood grains make each handle unique. The straight-back bowie blade is 420HC steel, while the guard and pommel are aluminum – $275 list.

• 401 Kalinga, with a satin finish S35VN blade, brown burlap handle and classic brass guard. – $400 list.

• 898 Impact, Buck’s first automatic model, with S35VN steel and instantly opens with a copper launch button. The safety slide is copper, and the handle is twill carbon fiber. – $280 list.

• 110 Folding Hunter, high-tech materials, S45VN stainless steel blade with dual, coated thumb studs. Handle sides are anodized aluminum instead of brass, with marbled carbon fiber inlays, thus weighing only 4.8 pounces instead of the standard 7.2. One-hand opening. $250 list.

• 055 The 55, “little brother to the 110, a gentlemen’s knife with S30V stainless steel blade, nickel silver handle with marbled cabond fiber inlays. $175.list

Yaktrax are easy-on, easy-off traction cleats in all sizes

Burris Optics has three new thermal sights Predators and hogs can’t hide from Burris Optics’ new thermal sights, the handheld BTH, the clip-on BTC or the riflescope BTS, available in either 35mm or 50mm. They offer color palettes, brightness controls, hot tracking, picture-in-picture and can sync to mobile devices to record the action.

The handheld unit, $2,462 at 35mm, has a 4X zoom to hottrack targets past 750 yards, perfect for pre-dawn scouting or locating blood trails and animals downed at last light.

The clip-on sight, $4,862 at 35 mm, can be a handheld device for added mobility or be fitted to a mounted riflescope using an adaptor to go from standard to thermal with 1X, 2X or 4X zoom.

The thermal rifle sight, $3,838, has dedicated night-hunting optics with 10 reticles and five color palettes to fit each hunter’s preferences, and up to 4X zoom.

Users can operate all devices with one hand without leaving the field of view. Prices are higher for 50mm models.

For more information on all of Burris’ products, go to BurrisOptics.com or on Facebook.

Leather fishing or hunting log helps keep track

Yaktrax is a collection of handy, stretch-on traction cleats for walking on snow and ice that are easy to use, very effective and come at a nice price. Slip ‘em on so you won’t slip off.

The lightweight cleats reduce the risk of falls when walking on ice or snow and are made of 1.2 mm steel coils with zinc coating to prevent rust and are secured to shoes with a highly elastic outer band. The traction goes 360 degrees for all-direction stability.

The outer band uses heel tab slips to easily come on and off, for professionals, pedestrians or the elderly.

Yaktrax sells for about $20 a pair at retailers including Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and L.L. Bean, among others. For heavier-duty traction, look for Yaktrax’ Icetrekkers boot chains.

You’d hate to have a great fishing or hunting trip and when somebody asks you about it later, you d o n ’ t remember enough of the details to explain why it was so great.

So Rustico is here to offer you something you didn’t know you needed – its Leather Fishing Log or its Leather Hunting Log. They’re not that different, both 3.75” wide with 96 pages of rough-cut, cream-colored paper 7.5” tall in a pouch of top-grain cowhide in a range of finishes, with a buckle closure. So you can really keep good notes of what transpired in your adventuring.

Aging and chemicals will just make the cover more ruggedly appealing over time, and it can handle a scuff or skin oils. If you leave it out in the sun too long, Rustico offers its leather cleaner and conditioner.

Rustico’s Fishing Log and Hunting Log also come in gift sets with a leather ammo case that might come in handy.

Check them all out at rustico.com for $39, and some are offered by amazon.com.

CTR Mistral Tubes come in Mossy Oak turkey patterns

Clenzoil keeps up with demand for Field & Range solution

CTR, the leading provider in technical headwear, has launched a series of Mossy Oak Mistral Tubes, including some of Mossy Oak’s most preferred turkey patterns such as Bottomland, Breakup Country and Obsession.

This is no ordinary neck tube. With its four-way stretch straight bottom, superior wicking properties and treatment with Silvadur 900 anti-microbial silver ions, it’s the perfect tube when out in the woods.

For more information, check them out at www.ctrtechnical. com or look in sporting goods stores nationwide.

Clenzoil reports that in recent months, it has seen a large increase in demand for its original Field & Range CLP solution, but unlike some competitors, has been able to turn out orders every day and kept up with demand, in part because of its dedicated staff and in-house production of all products.

Because of customer demand, Clenzoil now offers its original Field & Range solution in 1-gallon and 5-gallon sizes to make sure customers can keep their firearms clean, lubricated and functioning perfectly.

For more information or to order products, go online to www.clenzoil.com.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 15

Rural Ramblings

March and April are that special time

By RUSSELL HIVELY March and April are special months when the outdoors wakes up from winter. The skies are clear, the mornings cool, the crows are talking to each other, and the plants and trees are bursting, first with leaves and then flowers.

The poet William Wordsworth is given credit for the following phrase, which could easily describe these early months in the year and the abundance of beautiful flowers: I wandered lonely as a cloud, That floats on high o’er vales and hills.

When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden daffodils. *** Did you ever notice that one of your hunting or fishing buddies always needs to be first?

I bet his grandmother was the first to have her washing on the line on Monday morning. *** Did you realize a river otter takes about one hour to digest its food? *** A spring turkey hunter always looks for morels. Sometimes he is surprised when he/she spots a honey tree. It is hard to realize that ancient

man depicted honeybees on a Spanish cave painting over 8,000 years ago. *** Generally, the darker the honey, the greater the anti-oxidant punch and a better remedy for any household.

Local honey is believed to help a person fight spring allergies. *** A wise man once said, “Clouds are like spirits of the mind.” He may be the same gentleman who prefers a hand-cranked ice cream maker because it teaches youth that hard work has its rewards. *** The average life span of a wild turkey is from three to four years. *** Have you noticed that early morning brings out the special smells that are not apparent in the daytime. Maybe these smells are why we don’t mind getting an early start on a fishing or turkey hunting trip? *** The old-timers claim that the right time to plant a garden is when oriole babies are getting too large for the nest. *** Lilacs usually bloom in April or May. A beautiful sight

• Lake Michigan captain knows that while lake conditions may be safe, they certainly won’t be fun to fish under, take his advice and reschedule for another day.

The second determination the captain makes is where, on that enormous body of water, to set his lines. He knows that the huge schools of baitfish are constantly on the move, and the trout and salmon go right with them. You are either on fish, or you are not.

There is virtually no way to accurately anticipate the fish movements from day to day, and often from hour to hour.

Reliable information spread among the professional anglers is the surest method to track the fish, and the charter boats are in constant communication for this purpose.

from page 10

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED While all this effort is going on, the fishermen comfortably remain interested observers.

It is an adventure that can be enjoyed by all; men, women, and even children. They need no experience, as the boat crew is ready to provide whatever coaching is needed to land even the most rambunctious fish.

All you need do is get a recommendation from a friend or go online to find a good charter boat and schedule a convenient day. Then pack a cooler with plenty of lunch and beverages, dress for the weather (it may be a little cooler on the lake), and be sure to bring your camera.

And follow my advice about shooting the ducks!

is a red cock cardinal sitting on a branch of a blooming lilac bush or a fully bloomed red bud tree. *** Today’s fishermen could take a “patience” lesson from the great blue heron as it stands perfectly still in the water waiting for a fish or crawdad to wander by. ***

Once, a person could be sure the water was pure if it had watercress growing in it. *** What is the real reason for early spring fishing? Is it listening to the spring peepers singing in the swamps or catching that first perch of the year? Why is it that the first time you hear the spring peepers, you get excited?

*** Lake of the Ozarks has been a favorite fishing lake for many years. It has 54,000 acres of water, is 92 miles from end to end and has 1,150 miles of shoreline. *** Red cedar trees are super pollen producers. On some days a red cedar tree will release so much pollen, it looks

like it is on fire with smoke coming off in clouds. *** Although we give credit to March and April, being spring months, for leaves bursting and flowers blooming, it is also a time for people to get outside for walking, running, bicycling, fishing or turkey hunting. Anyway, that is what this rural rambler thinks.

bullseyebaitandtackle.net

Bullseye Bait & Tackle • • • • •

Large Selection of Zoom Plastics Live Bait - Rods - Reels Full Line Of Tackle Custom Spinner Baits & Jigs Components — Over 60 Varieties Of Blades

• 160 Colors Of Silicone Skirts For Spinner Baits & Jigs • Fishing Books • Large Selection of Crank Baits • Full Line Of Yamamoto Baits & Worms

Expert Reel Repair and Cleaning

266 Fort Zumwalt Square, O’Fallon, MO •

(636) 281-3524

Located 1/4 mile west of K on Veterans Memorial Parkway

Outdoor Guide

Page 16

March-April 2021

Five great places to visit right now

By BRANDON BUTLER Driftwood Outdoors

If 2020 gave us anything, it was extra time. Many used this time to reconnect with the outdoors. As we move further into this new year, and many people are burning through vacation days, consider taking a trip to explore an unknown outdoor destination. Here are five of my favorite places to visit right now.

BROWN COUNTY STATE PARK Nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because of the region’s resemblance to the Smoky Mountain National Park, Nashville Indiana’s Brown County State Park offers visitors a chance to spread out among the hills, hollers and ridgetops many wouldn’t expect to find in southern Indiana.

Encompassing nearly 16,000 acres, you can find true solitude in the park’s wilderness. Taking a cold-weather hike along one of the many trails is a great way to experience wildlife and natural scenes without the crowds of summer.

The park offers numerous cabin options and is home to the beautifulAbe Martin Lodge.

There is great dining onsite.

Trust me when I tell you to order the fried chicken. You’ll want to climb the 90-foot-tall fire tower for a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. And you’ll want to spend time exploring Nashville. This quaint little hamlet is Indiana’s arts colony.

Have a biscuit at the Hobnob.

STOCKTON LAKE FLY FISHING Winter may not seem like the time to take off on a fishing trip, but if you want to stock your freezer with crappie filets, now is the time to visit Stockton Lake to fish with Kris Nelson of Tandem Fly Outfitters. You don’t need to worry about anything.

Kris has great lodging onsite and supplies all the gear you need in his outfitted guide boat.

You’ll leave with your crappie fileted and ready for the freezer.

This trip will put you just an hour north of Springfield, MO, where Bass Pro Shops is located. If there are anglers in your life who have never visited the original Bass Pro location,

FISHING

Beach fishing at Sanibel Island is a great way to explore the outdoors during winter – Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau

you should take them there to watch them turn into kids again.

Be sure to tour the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium for an experience you’ll never forget.

WHITE SAND AT SANIBEL ISLAND In the future, I’ll spend every winter somewhere warm. Sanibel Island, on the southeast coast of Florida, is near the top of my potential snowbird locations.

The island is surrounded by fish-filled, beautiful aqua-col-

near Gaylord, MI, during the winter. But for me, this beautiful destination offers close proximity to excellent trout fishing on the Pigeon River and Sturgeon River.

Standing among snow-covered pines, casting dry flies to trout in silence is life perfected.

The accommodations at Treetop are top notch and put you close to everything.

Gaylord is an Alpine village.

No, really. The whole town is designed to look like you’re in a village in the Swiss Alps. It’s incredibly charming. It’s also home to many great restaurants. The Big Buck Brewery is the place to grab a local pint and burger. No trip up north is complete for me without a plate of lake perch, and the Alpine Tavern will satisfy that craving. Be sure to visit Jay’s Sporting Goods. This gigantic, independent outdoor retailer has everything you could ever need for hunting and fishing in the area.

For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast at www.driftwoodoutdoors. com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.

HUNTING

• Firearms • accessories

DON’T DREAM IT! LIVE IT!

Best Family Owned and Operated Gun Shop In Town!

with Quetico Park’s World Class Fishing and Hunting

Smith & Wesson Law Enforcement Class 3/SOT Dealer (suppressor/silencer)

We Buy Collector Guns.

Call Today 877-597-6418 Home of Monster Smallmouth, Walleye & Northern Pike!

Black Bear and Moose Hunts!

Fly In

Drive In

only

1,150

$

ored water. The white sand beaches are some of the best in the country.

The food and nightlife is perfect for my tastes of casual sandwiches and world-class seafood. I’ve had key lime pie there that’s never been beat.

Another big draw to Sanibel Island is the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the best bird-watching destinations I know of. Named after the father of the Duck Stamp, this refuge is a great place to explore nature in the

warmth of Florida during the winter.

CHICO HOT SPRINGS, MONTANA If I had to choose my one favorite place in the world, Chico Hot Springs, at Pray, Montana, would be in contention. Nestled in the heart of the Paradise Valley about halfway between Livingston and the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park, this hot springs resort has been catering to travelers since 1900.

The outdoor pool filled with natural hot spring water is the draw, but the on-site restaurant may be the best in the state.

Being just 40 miles north of Yellowstone, you should plan to take advantage of the special winter opportunities of snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing during a time when the only crowds you’ll deal with are herds of animals. Hike out to the Boiling River an TREETOPS RESORT, MICHIGAN Downhill skiing and cross-country skiing both are main draws at Treetops Resort,

only

725

$

JEREMY DICKSON, Owner/Manager

300 O’Brien Street, P.O. Box 1810, Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0 • Office 807-597-6418 www.canoecanada.com • email: canoecanada@nwon.com

BUY, SELL, & TRADE

Over 200 Different Firearms in Stock New & Used FFL 90 Day New Hours: Transfers Layaway Sun-Mon: CLOSED for $25 Tues-Fri: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

9422 Gravois • St Louis, MO 63123 • 314.833.6695 triplethreatarmory.com • Email: sales@triplethreatarmmory.com

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Poker game led to life of fly fishing

By LEN PATTON This love affair did not start in any normal way. It all began in a poker game in a college dorm in 1959.

A young participant from California could not cover his bet. I told him that the fly rod in his room would be enough to make up the difference. He never realized that his pair of fours was going to bluff this Illinois farm boy. So I had a fly rod!

Being from Illinois, I had never had a fly rod in my hand.

If my lure did not have at least two large treble hooks on it, I didn’t fish it. Some serious learning was in my future.

This love affair has now gone on for 60 years. Little did I know that I was entering a whole new world of fishing – a world with its own language.

Fly fishers talk about midges, nymphs, buggers, poppers, droppers and the list goes on. I learned very early that a fish-

ing fly does not have feathers, it has hackle. And a cork is not a cork, it is a strike indicator.

KNOW THE TERRITORY In the classic musical “The Music Man,” traveling salesmen say in a song, “You’ve got to know the territory.” In fly fishing, you’ve got to know the lingo. If you happened on two fly fishermen talking about their day on the stream, you would surely believe that they were not speaking English.

Like many sports one might take up, getting some good instruction in the beginning is very important. Fly casting and fly fishing are not that hard. It is very realistic for a person, with some help, to be casting a fly over water within 30 minutes. He may even catch a fish.

There are many people who would like to fly fish but express some common fears of failure.

“It is way too hard for me to learn,” says one. Another goes, “Fly fishing is only for trout.”

Fishing with a fly rod is very versatile. One can go for warm-water fish like bluegill, bass, pike and yes, even some hillbilly salmon (catfish).

Cold-water species like trout, salmon and even ocean fish can also be caught.

Fly fishing has encouraged me to visit some areas of our country that I’m sure I would have never experienced except

they had wonderful fishing water.

LISTEN TO THE FONZ I also have met many people who have left a lasting memory with me. I agree with Henry “the Fonz” Winkler in his book about fly fishing. He said he had never met a fly fisher he didn’t like.

So stay out of poker games.

It may change your life forever.

Fly fishing on the Aux Sable River in Michigan – Pure Michigan photo

“It’s better to see

something once than to hear about it a

thousand times”

Morris plans big bass tournament

Bass Pro Shops head Johnny Morris announced a new bass fishing tournament with a guaranteed purse of $4.3 million, with the winners taking home $1 million, the largest cash payout for any freshwater fishing tournament, to be held Nov. 19 on Table Rock Lake.

Called the Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open National Bass Fishing Amateur Team Championships, the tournament is open to amateur anglers who own Tracker, Ranger, Nitro, Triton, Sun Tracker, Tahoe or MAKO brand boats, which all are part of Morris’s White River Marine Group. Anglers will compete in teams of two.

“Without our loyal customers and industry-leading independent boat dealers, we simply wouldn’t be here today,” Morris said. “This tournament is our way of giving thanks and rewarding our customers with the chance to land the catch of a lifetime. Beyond offering the ultimate prize in fishing, we’re excited to celebrate our heritage, raise funds for conservation, and have some big fun with people who love fishing as much as we do.”

THREE WAYS TO ENTER Teams can qualify for the event in three ways: • Finish in the top 40 at one of eight regional qualifier events to be hosted around the country.

• Win one of several established fishing competitions in the U.S. and around the world organized by dealers for the boat brands.

• Be on a winning team from the three major collegiate championships.

Morris said the tournaments will benefit local fish habitat with proceeds, matched by Toyota and Bass Pro Shops, supporting the National Fish Habitat Initiative – possibly more than $1 million for conservation.

“Fishing in the first national BASS tournament on Table Rock Lake in 1970 rewarded me with friends for life and served as my inspiration to start Bass Pro Shops,” Morris said.

“Fishing on the BASS Tournament Circuit also helped keep us abreast of the latest emerging trends in fishing and enabled me to stay closely connected to our customers.”

For more information, go online to www.basspro.com/ shop/en/usopen.

Connect with the Area’s Most TRUSTED Family-Owned Dealers.

47 West Trailer Sales

Colman’s Country Campers

636.528.4301

618.254.1180

26 Dream Hollow • Troy, MO 63379

#2 Fun Street • Hartford, IL 62048

Apache Village

M.B. Thomas RV Sales & Rental

877.665.4449

314.631.5600

9001 Dunn Rd. • Hazelwood, MO 63042

275 Lemay Ferry Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63125

Bill Thomas Camper Sales

Middleton’s RV

101 Thomas RV Way • Wentzville, MO 63385

3441 US-67 • Festus, MO 63028

636.327.5900

Bourbon RV Center

I-44 • Exit 218 • Bourbon, MO 65441

573.732.5100

Byerly RV Center

295 E. 5th St. • Eureka, MO 63025

800.878.3325

Page 17

866.583.7600

Midwest RV Center

6200 Heimos Industrial Park Dr • St. Louis, MO 63129

314.487.8000

Van City RV

3100 Telegraph Rd. • St. Louis, MO 63125

800.467.3905

StlRV.com

Outdoor Guide

Page 18

March-April 2021

MDC proposes catching carp for bait

The Missouri Conservation Commission has agreed to regulation changes proposed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) that would add to personal and commercial uses of grass carp and common carp.

The new regulations follow requests from the public to be allowed to catch and use common carp and grass carp as live bait.

A related regulation became effective last August and since then, MDC staff have received comments from anglers, bait dealers, the Missouri Aquaculture Association and others about the regulation change.

The additional proposed regulations would allow for both common carp and grass carp to be used for live bait once the regulations become effective on Aug. 30.

The proposed regulations would also allow limited

commercial capture and sale of common and grass carp to commercial establishments by contractors participating in an MDC-contracted invasive fish removal project.

INVASIVE SPECIES Grass carp and common carp are currently listed as invasive fish species in Missouri, along with bighead, black and silver carp. These invasive species pose threats to Missouri aquatic ecosystems by outcompeting native species and damaging water quality and habitat.

The proposed regulation changes would not apply to bighead and silver carp, which would remain on the Missouri invasive species list, nor to black carp, which would remain on the Missouri prohibited species list.

The proposed regulations

would:

• Remove common carp and grass carp from the definition of invasive fish.

• Re-establish sport seasons, plus methods and limits

for taking common carp and grass carp and allowing their use as live bait.

• Re-establish commercial

fishing seasons, methods and limits for taking common carp and grass carp in certain streams and establishing restrictions on the use of commercial fishing gear to catch them.

• Authorize the sale of common carp and grass carp to commercial establishments by contractors participating in an MDC-contracted invasive fish removal project.

TIME TO COMMENT Public comments will be accepted from March 2

Grass carp is sometimes used to reduce vegetation but is also an invasive species in Missouri.

through March 31 at mdc. mo.gov/about-regulations/ wildlife-code-missouri/proposed-regulation-changes.

Comments may also be mailed to: Regulations Committee Chairman, Depart-

ment of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

MDC will review all comments and present a final proposal for a vote by the Commission at its May 21 meeting. If

approved, the regulation change will become effective Aug. 30.

Learn more about carp in Missouri from MDC’s online Field Guide online at mdc. mo.gov/discover-nature/fieldguide.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 19

Wildlife Wrangling and Outdoor Ramblings

He just can’t find the balance

Photo and Text

By RANDALL P. DAVIS

Winter just doesn’t seem as fun nowadays.

Winter used to mean wild sled rides down ice-packed county roads at ridiculously dangerous velocities. Or impromptu hockey games on small, frozen ponds with lengths of hickory branches for sticks (or clubs) and a metal coffee can for a puck.

Of course, this often led to a little blood on the ice, but it was always fun.

Or hunting rabbits in deep snow. Then building a fire and cooking the quarry, just like the mountain men did. But I never really understood the purpose of a fire.

The meat was always raw on the inside.

Winter also meant great muskrat trapping through the ice. Those prime pelts would come from the cold water and be dried within minutes of rolling the critter in the snow. To me, there’s no more beautiful fur than that of a muskrat.

But since I’ve gotten older and slower, winter weather seems to have shown little quarter allowing for my persistent accumulation of

decades, and has seized the opportunity to rub these invariable facts in my face ... literally.

It was these same facts that came to me as I was sliding head-first down a densely frosted pond bank attempting to wrangle a trapped muskrat.

TOO MUCH MUSKRAT My client had a substantial muskrat problem. Den holes pocked the bank. Vegetation was shorn close to the water’s edge. The banks were steep. And I had forgotten my hip boots.

Not relishing the thought of ice water pouring into my knee boots, I thought I was 30 years old again and lay on my belly to retrieve the trapped furbearer.

But gravity, the substantial incline and my girth – comparable to a market hog – somehow messed with Newton’s Law, and I ended up barreling toward the thin ice, arms stretched forward like some superhero.

The impact wasn’t as bad as I expected. My arms, covered by shoulder-length gauntlets, absorbed the crash. As I broke through

the ice, like any seasoned moron in this position, the momentum caused me to turn slightly and load up one of those gauntlets with frigid pond water.

After flaying to a sitting posture and allowing the three gallons of water to drain away, I really couldn’t see any difference between me and that drowned muskrat.

DAY NOT OVER But that day, winter wasn’t yet through with me. I returned home, changed into dry duds, and proceeded to get on with kennel chores, preparing for the next day’s deep cold.

It seemed like a simple, routine endeavor. Heavy bedding was in place. Heated water buckets were full.

Plenty of feed. Good to go.

Now, I’ll quickly admit I’m not the smartest guy in Elkhorn, MO. In fact, I might make a good run at being the village idiot, as even though we’d had sleet and snow, then a thaw, then more snow, one would think I could remember it might be slick.

Perhaps it was that aging thing winter doesn’t let me forget, or that I was still

numb from the earlier polar bear plunge, but I forgot about the polished glacier underneath two inches of snow. And while I was carrying two 5-gallon buckets of water, I put a heel right on that little land mine. In an instant, I was sitting in 10 gallons of slush.

There was colorful language. And if NFL talent See RAMBLINGS page 21

N

SOO G N I COM

Powersports Repair

ATV’s UTV’s

(check website for details and updates)

You Can Still Depend on for your RV needs.

Major or Minor Repairs – No job too big or small!

Huge Selection of Parts & Accessories!

Inside ~ Outside ~ Top to Bottom We Do It ALL!

• Complete Roof Installation • Bearings Packed • Generator Maintenance • Appliance Repairs • Electrical & Plumbing • Body & Paint Work • Insurance & Extended Warranty Claims If the open hours don’t fit your schedule, Call us.

We can make arrangements for drop off & pick up.

Bring Ad in

for

10% off

All In Stock Parts for all Military, Fire and Police.

Past & prese nt

In Business for 16 years!

Davis demonstrates poor listening skills after his wife tells him they need more ‘balance’ in their lives.

HOURS: Mon-Fri 8 am - 6 pm • Sat 8 am - 12 pm

Office 636.583.2244 | 3rrv.com

7819 HIGHWAY 47 SOUTH | UNION, MO 63084 44 West – Exit 240 – Go North – 1.5 Miles On Left

Outdoor Guide

Page 20

March-April 2021

Do I need a shooting instructor?

By LEN PATTON

To the question, “Do I need a shooting instructor?” Todd Bender would say YES! He should know – he is a world champion skeet shooter and conducts classes and individual lessons all over the country and also has published several CDs about skeet shooting.

Todd, as good as he is, still has a shooting coach. A coach will notice little things that make a difference in winning or losing a match.

He points out that one doesn’t have to be a good shot to be a good teacher. A teacher does have to be able to communicate and diagnose shooting problems.

HOW TO FIND ONE Here are some suggestions that may be helpful in finding an instructor. First, get some

Todd Bender with legendary Olympics shooter Kim Rhode.

recommendations and then set up a meeting, or at least a telephone conference with that individual.

Tell the coach why you feel professional instruction would be helpful. Perhaps you are seeking help, not for yourself, but for a youngster

or a female shooter.

During this conference, it is appropriate for the client to ask the instructor about his or her background, including instructing professionally, and also hunting and shooting.

If the intent is to just learn how to shoot skeet or trap,

Relax!

then fine, but in some cases, learning how to prepare for an upcoming hunting experience is what is needed. Then perhaps another instructor would be better.

Sometime in this conference, the instructor and the student need to discuss the length of time and when and where the instruction would take place. Instructors have to arrange for use of a range and how long they may need to use it.

This is also the time to discuss cost. Instructors will vary as to how much they charge. The student may be expected to furnish his or her own shells and gun and perhaps even pay for range time. Shotgun shooting is not an inexpensive sport.

THE ANSWER Should I still get shooting instruction? The answer is

yes. I mentored with three different instructors for two years before I ever taught a class, and I still seek help from time to time.

I never charge for instruction. This is my way of encouraging people to learn how to shoot and hunt. I must confess that as an instructor, I truly enjoy sharing in the moment when a student breaks

his first target or reports the success he has had on his first hunting experience. When this happens, I know I have done my job.

This article is dedicated to my friend, mentor, coach, and teacher Willis Corbet, a member of the American Trap Shooter Association’s Hall of Fame and the Missouri association’s hall of fame as well.

Todd Bender gives a lesson to a young shooter.

You’re On Float Time

Flo

ati

ng

10%

Ra

tes

OFF

wit

h th

is a

d.

Only 1-1/2 Hours from St. Louis

Waynesville, MO • www.rubyslanding.com

Float Trip Destinations

Don’t Miss your opportunity to be a part of the next Float Trip Destinations page.

For Information Contact Dan Braun (314) 256-4136 or dbraun@outdoor-guide.com

• Canoes • Rafts • Kayaks • Tubes • Swimming Pool • Lodging • Group Rates • Catered BBQ’s • Riverfront Camping • Horseback Riding

www.bassresort.com • 573.786.8517 bassriverresort@gmail.com

March-April 2021

Outdoor Guide

Is your boat surviving winter?

By BOAT US Boating boomed in 2020, with thousands of first-time boat buyers desiring respite from the pandemic. Now many of these new boat owners are learning how to maintain and store their vessels for the first time.

A mid- or late-winter visit to check on the boat − no matter if stored ashore in a backyard or a marina parking lot − is a wise thing to do.

Boat Owners Association of the United States (Boat US) offers these tips to ensure there are no surprises at spring commissioning.

WATER IS BAD The number one concern for any boat in long-term winter storage is water. It can’t be allowed in, but if it does get in, the water needs a way out.

Check your boat’s winter cover to ensure it still allows rain and heavy snow loads to easily shed away from the boat. Small boats should have the drain plug removed.

A tight-fitting winter cover will also help keep out critters, including raccoons, feral cats and muskrats, whose

• Ramblings scouts had been watching they would have signed me up immediately as I executed a perfect 50-yard field goal, putting one of those buckets up and out of the running pen. The entire battalion of bird dogs visually tracked the bucket as it cleared the pen. Then they snapped their attention back to me, eager to witness my next trick.

THE GLACIER WINS But the best was when I again challenged the glacier in another part of the kennel and in a flash, performed a couple of high kicks rivaling any New York Rockette.

And again, the glacier won as I found myself in a heap, looking up and admiring just how blue the sky was.

It kind of knocked the breath out of me, and my wife came over, asking if I was all right. I groaned a little, until enough air re-entered my lungs to articulate that nothing was broken.

Finally finishing chores, I hobbled and stumbled to the

damage boat insurance policies generally do not cover.

TAKE IT HOME If you forgot to bring home the life jackets when you put the boat away in the fall, it’s best to do it now.

That includes throwable devices you keep near the helm. They will last longer and stay cleaner. Store them in a dry location at home.

Signal flares can be kept aboard if they are in locations not affected by moisture.

Some handheld air horns can leave a not-easy-to-remove rust ring when stored in their upright position.

Both signal devices can be put into zipper-lock freezer bags. Other common items boaters mistakenly leave on their boat during winter storage are liquid cleaners that can burst open during the freeze/thaw cycle and food, which draw vermin.

AIR IT OUT Try to ventilate the boat, which will help keep mold and mildew at bay. If the boat is closed tightly and doesn’t have ventilation, use desiccants – often sold in bucket-type containers – in

from page 19 house. The last I looked, the bird dogs were still in their attentive sitting position, ears perked, waiting for another performance. Sorry to disappoint them.

I’m slowly accepting the fact that winter isn’t like I remember it. There aren’t a lot of rabbits to hunt. They don’t make metal coffee cans anymore. And the ice and snow is so much slicker now.

WHY NOT THE LOTTERY? I’ve also realized all this vigorous winter activity has settled in my joints. And I can tell every morning, when I can’t even fall out of bed to greet the day, even though falling seems to be a new winter hobby for me.

My wife tells me that this year, we should try to maintain more balance in our lives accepting both trials and triumphs equally.

I just keep hoping to win the lottery. Then let’s see if I slip and fall on some sandy beach closer to the equator.

cuddy cabins or living space below.

Follow the manufacturer instructions and you should be able to keep a fairly dry boat over the long winter storage period, making spring cleanup easier and preserving your boat’s value.

BE SAFE There may be ice and snow this time of year. If you need to use a ladder, make sure it’s firmly planted, always

tie it off at the top, and have a friend hold it while you’re ascending or descending.

Never move or adjust a jack stand – call the yard for assistance. Tying off a winter cover to jack stands is also a very bad idea, as the stands can be yanked out from under the boat during high winds.

BoatUS is the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters with more than 700,000 members, at BoatUS.com.

Page 21

Check that the winter cover is doing its job, unlike this one.

– Michel Istaphanous, BoatUS

Page 22

Outdoor Guide

DIRECTORY Outdoor

LAND & FARM GROUND

WE KNOW LAND. We farm, hunt and raise our families on it.

BRIAN DAVIS SALES AGENT

660-413-2582 MISSOURILANDANDFARM.COM North Missouri Hunting Land For Sale!

CAMP AND FLOAT

FIREARMS

March-April 2021

FLORIDA FISHING GUIDE

Benjamin

Air Rifles and Pistols Rebuilding and Repairs We can restore your old friend to top notch condition. Nearly every lever link design.

Factory authorized Crosman repair station

Clearwater Florida Florida Native Fishing Co. is a well-established nearshore guide service that has been successfully putting fishermen and families on solid rod-bending action, island hopping, sightseeing, and much more.

Half and Full Day Near Shore Charters Fishing targets will be

Fishing Equipmen Live Bait, Water t, Energy Drinks In and cluded!

• Redfish • Flounder • Snook • Spotted Seatrout • Sheepshead • Snapper

Call us at:

618-458-6244

…You’ll be glad you did! www.CanyonFerryGunworks.com

CAMPGROUND & FLOAT TRIPS

Family Friendly Camping and Floating in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks!

• Canoe/Raft/Kayak Rentals • Camp Store/Bait Shop • Tent and RV Camping (20/30/50 AMP) • Walking Trails • Playground • Event Center • Laundry • Lighted Boat Ramp • Camp Grills/Picnic Tables • Deluxe Cabins 18700 Cliff Road, Dixon, Missouri 65459

573-759-7294 • bscoutdoors.com

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS

Advertise Your Business for as $ little as

75

Captain Kyle Howard 727-687-4848 EMAIL: KYLE.FNFC@GMAIL.COM

RADIO SHOW

“Outdoors with Larry Reid”

In The Outdoor Directory 10,000 + Magazines Distributed 6 Times A Year At Over 80 Locations In The Region View Past Issues of the Guide on our website outdoorguidemagazine.com

Call Dan (314) 256-4136 dbraun@outdoor-guide.com

Sundays at noon (Alton, Illinois)

WBGZ Radio 1570 AM 94.3 FM & altondailynews.com for Live Streaming

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 23

Early season crappies a lesson in fishing Photo and Text

By DON GASAWAY

Pre-spawn crappies teach us how to fish for all species. They require stealth, patience, ability to read the water, sound knowledge and in general, provide an apprenticeship for all fishing.

The early season crappie angler needs to pinpoint the hideouts and hone tactics to match the fast-changing conditions present.

Crappies feed according to weather and barometric pressure changes. The changes cause fish to move tight to cover and become inactive. The smart angler looks for warmer water. In doing so he can seek out colored water, a windward shoreline, a dark soft bottom, shallow water, tributary streams and heat-absorbing cover such as wood.

Early season crappies are

found shallower on dark, warm days and deeper on clearer, colder days. High water is common, and the fish often move up into the temporarily flooded vegetation.

Wise anglers check a variety of depth zones and never leave out checking oddball locations.

USING JIGS Jigs are the most popular crappie lures. They have no action of their own. The angler provides all the action with line movement. To enhance action, use a small sinker and tie it on the end of the line. It will allow the jig to move freely and permit it to rest in a semi-vertical position.

In cold water the color of the jig is not that important. White, yellow and black jigs cover all the bases. Use the smallest jigs you can find. Jigs of 1/16th ounce or smaller are

the jig straight down.

• Dabbling requires a long

Early spring crappie anglers can sample all their tackle in search of their go-to choice. It’s time to test those lures they acquired over the winter.

best. Early on it helps to add a minnow to the jig.

For those who want to use plastic lures, a one-inch grub is good. Rig it with the tail down for best action.

As for fishing line, a light, small diameter line is best. You have to be able to feel the tiny bump of a fish or you will miss him. Transparent four-pound test line is best. Good line

ROUBIDOUX CREEK

Today 1:17 PM

“Out all day.

Got a lead on a big one.”

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE. GET TO PULASKI COUNTY, MO!

With over 100 miles of clear-flowing Ozark Mountain rivers and streams, you’re bound to find the perfect fishing hole for smallmouth bass and trout. Plan your trip at pulaskicountyusa.com.

is small in diameter, strong with little stretch and abrasion resistant.

THREE METHODS There are three basic methods to catch crappie – vertical jigging, dabbling and casting/ retrieving jigs.

• Vertical jigging involves parking the boat over a known crappie location and dropping

pole to drop the jig into pockets and holes of heavy brush or flooded cover. Use a short section of line, moving the jig from one spot to the next. It is jigged a bit and then pulled up and moved to the next area.

• Casting a jig involves casting up the shoreline and then retrieving it with a slow swimming motion. The depth at which the jig runs varies by speeding up and slowing down the retrieve. Once fish are located at a specific depth, the angler concentrates on that depth.

Cold water crappies are not usually aggressive feeding fish. Fish slowly. They will not chase bait very far. You have to put it on their nose. Most of the bites come as the lure is on the rise.

If you fish the zone, stay within five feet of that level,

as the fish will concentrate at that depth. You need to keep your jig right among the crappie. You can count down the jig to the desired depth. By counting 1, 2, 3, etc., the jig will fall one foot for each number.

Determine the level of suspended fish. Dropping a jig to the bottom, then cranking or lifting it back up accomplishes the same thing.

THREE KEYS Crappie feed above their location, as that is how they see. Once you start catching fish on the rise, it tells you just how deep the fish are feeding.

In cold water keep your technique simple. Keep an open mind.

There are three keys to catching cold-water crappie. They are, use the right equipment, fish slowly and keep your lure where the fish are. Not a bad philosophy.

Outdoor Guide

Page 24

March-April 2021

Rare white bison joins Branson herd Watching the wildlife at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a great thing to do anytime, but this spring it has become even more special because of the addition of a rare white bison calf.

Named “Takoda,” a Sioux word meaning “friend to everyone,” the male calf was born on a private ranch and brought to live with the herd of bison currently roaming Dogwood Canyon.

Jeremy Hinkle, director of wildlife there, said a white bison birth is exceptionally rare, with some estimates saying only one in 10 million bison are born white.

But it seems likely now because of conservationists’ efforts to save the bison from extinction. Two centuries ago, more than 30 million American bison roamed the plains, but their numbers plummeted to fewer than

2,000 by the 19th century.

Now, with the help of conservationists, about 350,000 bison live in the U.S. “Though still rare, the phenomenon is more common due to crossbreeding with cattle as a result of attempts by ranchers to save the species from extinction after original populations plummeted to only a few hundred between 1830 and 1900,” Hinkle said. Takoda,

A white bison has been spotted at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and named Takoda, a Sioux word meaning ‘friend to everyone.’

– Dogwood Canyon photos

he said, shows the delicate balance of conservation that saved this species from near extinction. Takoda also serves as a visual example of the meaning of white buffalo in native cultures, especially Plains tribes.”

A VIVID REMINDER Bob Ziehmer, senior director of conservation for Bass Pro Shops, which helps operate the park through its own non-profit, said the bison herd reminds us of how the Native Americans revered and relied on them.

“Welcoming a remarkable white bison like this to Dogwood Canyon Nature Park allows us to expand on the important message that Native Americans live out an unwavering conservation ethic,” he said in an interview. “Their wisdom and understanding about the vital balance between land and people inspires our core conservation principles, even today.”

THE GREAT LEGEND Bison are found in North America and Europe, while their close relations the buffalo are native to south Asia and Africa, and there are differences in humps and horn shapes, too.

As Hinkle reports, “According to traditional Native American teachings spanning thousands of years, the white bison is a sacred animal that promotes prayerful communication between indigenous people and the Great Spirit, while also serving as a sign of peace and good fortune.”

The legend is that long ago, during a great famine, a Lakota chief sent two boys to hunt for food. While searching, they came across

a beautiful woman who gave their tribe a white buffalo calf chanupa, or pipe. Before she left, she turned into a white buffalo and told them that when the white buffalo returns, it will be a sign of good fortune and their prayers will be answered.

This must be the time, because in addition to Takoda, white bison have also been spotted in Illinois and Connecticut in recent years.

But if you’re feeling inspired to visit these beautiful creatures, make sure you admire them from afar because bison injure more people than any other animal, and they can run three times faster than humans. The National Park Service recommends keeping a 25-yard distance from them.

Now Takoda becomes the highlight of the park’s twohour guided tour, on which you can safely observe the bison and also the elk and deer herds.

HOW TO SEE THE WHITE BISON Visitors to the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, on Missouri Rte. 86 just west of Branson, can see Takoda and the rest of the bison herd by taking part in a Wildlife Tram Tour ($25 for adults, $15 for children after admission is paid). The two-hour guided ride takes passengers through the canyon and into the ridgetops to see the herds of bison, elk, and deer along the way.

Park hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Admission is $15, with some activities costing extra. Activities including hiking, trout fishing, horseback riding, Segway tours, wildlife tram tours and bike rentals. For more information, go online to dogwoodcanyon.org.

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Page 25

Video cast & catch for crappie

Photos and Text

By TIM HUFFMAN

I’m conservative, old and resistant to change, especially electronics. But the best fishermen in the country aren’t resistant to change.

Garmin was the first company to design LiveScope, a real-time graph showing a fish in action, along with its direction, depth and distance from the boat. Guides, tournament competitors and serious fishermen all across the country have made the change and have proven it’s the best improvement in fishing in many years.

People often call today’s crappie fishing “Video Crappie” because the process includes watching a screen, finding a fish and pitching or casting to it. So how efficient is it for catching crappie?

For several decades, many tournaments have been won by slow trolling (spider rigging).

During 2020 on the major circuits, LiveScope was responsible for about 90 percent of wins and top ten finishes.

THE TECHNIQUE Equipment is simple. A fisherman needs a 12-foot jigging pole, a 6-foot spinning rod, a good trolling motor and LiveScope or equivalent.

Areas and spots are found in traditional ways with maps, side imaging and sonar. After these steps, nothing else looks like normal fishing. A fisherman uses a trolling motor to

guide a transducer back and forth looking at vertical slices of water. When a fish is seen, its distance from the boat and its depth are shown. An experienced LiveScoper can recognize the fish as a crappie and determine its general size.

Bait presentation is with a long jigging pole or by casting.

Pitching is easiest but casting has gained popularity because crappie are spookier than once believed. Casting allows the bait to be presented 30, 40 or more feet from the boat before a crappie has the chance to realize danger. The fisherman can watch the bait and see the reaction of the fish.

WHICH JIGS? Jigs are top pick when casting. Experts often choose 1/32- or 1/16-ounce when casting so the fall is slow and control is best. Heavier jigs fall quickly so they can’t be fished as slowly.

Pitching with a long pole calls for 1/16- or 1/8-ounce to quickly get down to a fish.

Small hair jigs have become more popular because they can entice strikes when plastic won’t. Like other methods, baits are matched to the situation with fish depth, wind, current and water clarity all playing a role in selecting the right weight and look.

CHASING FISH Tournament angler and Truman Lake expert Mark McClure says, “LiveScope helps us pinpoint fish and

chase them down. We’ve gone 150 yards chasing a fish before we caught it. We’ve noticed that as long as a fish doesn’t go down toward the bottom, we’ll catch it.

“Another thing that helps, when seeing a big fish on a stump, is that we stay with it longer,” he adds. “We know it’s there and it’s a big one, so we keep baits on the fish.

Before, if we pitched beside a tree and didn’t get a bite, we would move on.

“Every few years a new product or technique shows up that helps people catch fish,” McClure said. “I believe this technique will be around for a while. I like this style of fishing because we don’t have to mess with eight poles slow trolling. It’s one pole for each fisherman and it’s a lot of fun.”

The first person pitching or casting to a fish has the best opportunity to catch it.

However, having a second fisherman with a different bait, maybe a minnow on a jig head if the partner is using a jig, provides a one-two punch that can entice a fish to bite.

EVIL VS. HERO Negatives about LiveScoping begin with the cost of the unit, starting at around $3,000, but a medium-size display runs $4,000. The learning curve is tough for many, with young, tech-savvy fishermen having an advantage. This technique can teach a fisherman more in a month than what used to take decades to figure out,

so fishing experience means much less than before.

Also, the technique targets big crappie, so the verdict is out if there will be a long-term negative impact by removing the biggest crappie from a lake. It also takes a hit because many fishermen consider it the equivalent of spotlighting deer, with much of the sporting aspect is removed.

There are many advantages.

Fishermen who learn it love it and say it’s fun. There is more interest by younger fishermen to get into the sport because it’s basically a video game.

Fishermen have learned so much about crappie, including how spooky they are from noises and a boat, how they react to bait and how many of the bigger slabs are suspended in open water. A fish can be followed and caught. It’s an efficient technique because a fisherman targets casts directly to fish.

Video cast and catch fishing is here to stay. It’s not inexpensive and it has a steep learning curve, but it is a proven technique that leads to more and bigger crappie.

Video cast and catch are about getting into an area with fish and watching the screen. Bait is presented only when a target fish is within range.

$TOCK UP & $AVE WITH THESE MEAT BUNDLES • SORRY – NO SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED •

MAIN ENTRÉE PACK

$

DINNER FOR 2

$

40

KENRICK'S POULTRY PACK

2 lbs. Roast Beef in Au Jus 2 lbs. Meat Loaf 2 lbs. BBQ Pulled Pork in BBQ Sauce 2 lbs. Roasted Pork & Gravy ½ Roasted Chicken All above items are Fully Cooked & Easy to Heat & Eat

60

VARIETY PACK

2 - 8 oz. Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignons 2 - 8 oz. New York Strip Steaks 2 - 12 oz. Center Cut Pork Steaks 2 - 6 oz. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 2 - 8 oz. Bacon Wrapped Pork Fillets 2 - 10 oz. Top Sirloin Steaks

ALL BEEF ROAST

$

3 lbs. Boneless Chuck Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Rump Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Top Round Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Eye of Round Roast

Call one day in advance to place your order!

(Limited orders taken daily)

92

(314) 631-2440

THRILL THE GRILL STEAK PACK $140

2 - 6 oz. Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignons 2 - 8 oz. Ribeye Steaks 2 - 8 oz. New York Strip Steaks 2 - 16 oz. Porterhouse Steaks 2 - 16 oz. T-Bone Steaks 2 - 8 oz. Bacon Wrapped Sirloin Filets 8 - ¼ lb. Sirloin Steak Burgers

CHICKEN LOVER’S FAVORITE

2 lbs. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast 2 lbs. Kenrick's Chicken Spedini 1 Whole Chicken - Split (2 Halves) 2 lbs. Chicken Wings 2 lbs. Chicken Drumsticks 2 lbs. Chicken Thighs 2 lbs. Chicken Breast Cutlets

4324 Weber Road, St. Louis, MO 63123

50

$

3 lbs. Boneless Chuck Roast 2 lbs. (1 lb. Units) Lean Beef Stew Meat 5 lbs. (1 lb. Units) Lean Ground Chuck 3 ½ lbs. Cut Up Chicken (8 pc.)

2 lbs. (Approx. 4) Pork Cutlets 2 lbs. (Approx. 5) Center Cut Pork Chop 2 lbs. (Approx. 4) Cube Steaks 3 lbs. (Approx. 4) Center Cut Pork Steaks 4-8 oz. Avg. New York Strip Steaks 2 lb. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

145

$

3 lbs. Boneless Chuck Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast 3 lbs. Center Cut Pork Steaks 3 lbs. Sirloin Pork Chops 2-8 oz. Bonelss New York Strip Steaks 2-8 oz. Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignons 2-8 oz. Boneless Rib Eye Steaks 7 lbs. Cut Up Chickens (16 pc.)

1 lb. Sliced Country Slab Bacon 2 lbs. Center Cut Round Steak 5 lbs. (1 lb. Pkgs.) Lean Ground Chuck 2 lbs. (Approx. 4) Pork Cutlets

JUMBO FAMILY PACK

kenricks.com

BALANCED DIET PACK $

$

2 lbs. Kenrick's Chicken Spedini 7 lbs. Cut Up Chicken (16 pcs.)

2 lbs. Chicken Cordon Blue Balls 5 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 2 lbs. Greek Chicken Burgers 5 lbs. Chicken Wings 5 lbs. Chicken Leg Quarters

4 lbs. Pork Cutlets 4 lbs. Stew Meat 8-1 lb. Packages Ground Chuck 4 lbs. Center Cut Rib Chops 4 lbs. Lean Cube Steak 2 lbs. Round Steak 3 lbs. Sirloin Steak 7 lbs. Cut Up Chickens (16 pcs.)

4 lbs. Slab Bacon 4 lbs. Bulk Pork Sausage 3 lbs. Boneless Chuck Roast 3 lbs. Boneless Pork Loin Roast 4 lbs. Center Cut Pork Steaks 3 lbs. Fresh Meatloaf Mix

$

85

170

280

• We Accept Food Stamps •

Proudly Employing Local 88 Union Meat Cutters

Mark McClure swings a fish to the boat as pre-spawn fishing brings fast action and fun.

“Old -Fashioned Butcher Service”

Outdoor Guide

Page 26

March-April 2021

Jase age 12 . e in h S n u F is H d n u o F . s b L .3 2 t a in d e h ig e It W

Central Missourki'ss, Lake of the Ozar ! s e in h S n u F e h t e r e Wh

Request your Lake Vacation Guide today. funlake.com 800-Fun-Lake

Outdoor Guide

March-April 2021

Book Corner

New book details paracord projects

By CARL GREEN Editor From the realm of books you never thought you’d see comes a promising new one called “Paracord Projects for Camping and Outdoor Survival” and sub-titled “Practical and essential uses for the ultimate tool in your pack.”

Its third title is the best one: “Keeping it together when things fall apart.”

A quick check online shows it’s far from the only book about paracord uses, but it will certainly be the newest one when it comes out March 2.

The book has 248 pages, a soft cover and an index in a handy size, and it is the second book written by Bryan Lynch, described as a Midwestern American with a “stunning wife” Nikki and kids.

Says Lynch: “The purpose of this book was to create a travel-size reference for paracord survival projects.” His previous effort was “Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide: 101 Tips, Tricks and Uses.”

So if you’re familiar with the nylon-based paracord, you will know it stretches and wraps around your gear. The author says, “Although I grew up hunting, fishing and camping, it was only about 15 years ago when I first started learning about the wonders of paracord and its many outdoor applications. Paracord is extremely

versatile, easy to work with and affordable. I used it to make bracelets, lanyards, dog leaches, dog collars, monkey fists, water bottle holders, slings, belts and the list goes on.”

LITTLE MIRACLES The book describes two groups of projects – functional items at home, and solutions for survival situations, including shelters and tools. So the book is an illustrated series of little miracles that you can accomplish with the stuff.

The book is being sold by Fox Chapel Publishing for $12.99 in the United State or $14.99 in Canada beginning March 2.

They weren’t kidding. It wasn’t even on the Fox Chapel website yet at this writing.

Lynch’s Swiss Army Knife book was still on the website, also for $12.99. Here is one of the blurbs about it: “The subtitle ‘101 Tips, Tricks & Uses’ may be an understatement for all Lynch’s teachings on first aid, camping, cooking, fishing – basically all the survival skills you hope to never need.” That was from Steve Giordano, writer and photographer for Camping Washington.

To purchase these books and many others about outdoors skills, go online to wwwfoxpublishing.com. To submit books for Book Corner, send them to Carl Green, Outdoor Guide, 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis MO 63103. Or send email to carl@labortribune.com.

Visit Our Website at www.outdoorguidemagazine.com

Page 27

Outdoor Guide

Page 28

March-April 2021

©2021 O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

|

MOSSBERG 500 ® .410 TURKEY

SMALL, BUT PACKS A HEFTY PUNCH.

#50108 500 .410 Turkey X-Full Extended Turkey Choke Drilled & Tapped Receiver

DON’T LET THE SMALL SIZE FOOL YOU. Advancements in hard-hitting .410 tungsten ammo, combined with our extended turkey choke, puts more pellets exactly where they’re needed — delivering stopping power previously considered beyond its weight class.

Mossberg — Makers of dependable, hardworking firearms for more than a century .

SAFETY TIP Store firearms securely, inaccessible to children and unauthorized users.

LEARN MORE AT MOSSBERG.COM