Sportsman's News September 2016 Digital Edition

SportsmansNews.com

September 2016

Volume 12 Issue 9

Giant Bruins Of The ABC Islands

O

By James Dansie ne of my favorite things about being a part of the Sportsman’s News team is meeting the outfitters that make up our Platinum Approved Program.

We vet each one of these outfitters to make sure they are the best in the industry. Another great thing about Sportsman’s News is the ProMembership Program, as it allows us to give our members a chance at a trip of a lifetime, with many worth tens of thousands of dollars. Even if you don’t win right away, being a Pro-Member gives you a five percent discount with most of our Platinum Approved Outfitters, which can end up saving you hundreds of dollars depending on the type of hunt or fishing trip you are booking.

We welcomed Alaska Raven Guides as a Platinum Approved Outfitter after CEO Michael Deming, had a great time fishcontinued on page 2

After five days of glassing hard for bears, Mike Schafer takes a brute of a brown bear with the help of Alaska Raven Guides out of Sitka, Alaska.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

SITKA BRUINS continued from cover

ing with Scott McLeod and the rest of the crew a couple of years ago.

During that trip, Scott talked about the type of bears that they hunt and that peaked Mike’s interest enough to shell out over $18,000 to make it a part of the giveaway line up.

Joining me on this hunt was our winner, Jeff Sposito from Montana and Mike Schafer, from California.

We were able to help book Mike on the hunt with us and because he is a Pro-Membership member, he took full advantage of his five percent discount, saving himself an extra $900 on the hunt.

The unique thing about the way Alaska Raven Guides hunt brown bear is that they utilize their fishing vessel, “The Western Profit”. Being able to move on the water and glass from the ship greatly increased the amount of bears we saw and it was an extremely effective way to hunt.

I’ve been on three other brown bear hunts and had only seen a total of

six brown bears from those other trips and by the end of this hunt, we had seen over sixty. The Profit had ample room for our large hunting party, with the top deck housing the kitchen and dining area and down below three estate rooms with bunks as well as a bathroom with a shower. Alaska is famous for being cold and wet, so having the opportunity to dry off every night and sleep in a bed made for a really comfortable trip.

The plan of attack was to anchor the big boat in a bay or sound and leave on smaller skiffs. From the skiffs, we would glass and putt around looking for the perfect bear to put a stalk on. Scott and his son Dustin, were the guides for this expedition and they both have high standards in determining what makes a shooter and what to pass up. Our focus was to find a bear that was a boar, over eight and a half feet and had no rubs on the hide. Even though we were seeing a large number of bears, it was challenging to find the one that met all

The Western Profit was our new home for the next ten days during our hunt. of the requirements. Jeff was able to rain, we were able to glass a dark bring his own camera guy, so I was bear that was a couple hundred with Scott and Mike Schaffer and I yards away. Because my spotting could tell from the moment we left scope was basically useless, we dethe Western Profit on our skiff the cided to load up in the skiff to get a first day that it was going to be an closer look. Mike had never hunted interesting hunt. brown bear and was excited to put Saying that Scott McLeod is a a stalk on a bear on day one. As we large man would be an understate- got closer, the bear was still looking ment. He is a work horse of a man good and we decided to dock the and his quick wit and sense of skiff and walk up for a closer look. humor is equally as large. Mike We got to about two hundred yards Schaffer is as down to earth as you and picked the bear apart with our can be and has a great sense of hu- binoculars. We decided that he mor too. Witty banter also makes wasn’t quite good enough to punch glassing more enjoyable and there our tag on the first day. was never a dull moment with these Another great thing about being two. In typical Sitka, Alaska fashion, on a boat is that when you’re not there was a constant misting of hunting, you can spend your day rain which made it difficult to see continued on page 5 through our optics. In spite of the

This smaller brown bear boar walked within twenty yards of where we were glassing before we had to scare it off.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Words From The Publisher

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By Michael Deming s I sit down to write this column, I think about fall and what is ahead for myself and the team here at Sportsman’s News. This is the time when all of our preparation and hard work become a reality. Over the next four months, we will spend 500 man-days in the field. We will be evaluating products, outfitters, new hunt units, fishing new waters and everything you can imagine outdoor related. I hope to run into many of our valued readers and supporters in the field and as well as in the Sportsman’s Warehouse stores.

If you see me or anyone on my team, please make sure you say hello. We love hearing about your upcoming trips as well as good and bad experiences along the way. Our big network of friends and supporters allows us to share the good and the bad so others don’t have to suffer through those bad experiences.

We are a small team of people and can only do so many things, so we value each and every one of you.

If you are upgrading gear for the fall, make sure you check out our YouTube channel for video product

reviews on these items. These are items we have put to the test and are happy to share with you. We don’t do videos on everything, so feel free to call us or email us with questions you may have about a major purchase. If we have experience with the product you are considering, we are happy to share that information.

When you check out at the register, one of those great cashiers at Sportsman’s Warehouse will probably encourage you to purchase a Sportsman’s News Television DVD for $2.99. There is a lot of great information in these shows and most importantly, NO COMMERCIALS. They are a great thing when you don’t have access to the internet or your cable television.

One additional benefit headed your way is the available entry into a “Premium Utah Trophy Elk Hunt” with each purchase. Every DVD you purchase will get you an entry into a drawing for a private land elk hunt during the 2017 hunting season. We will do the drawing in May of 2017 and the winner will be hunting during the prime of the rut in September of 2017. Official rules and registration process will

be available on w w w. s p o r t s mansnews. com once the contest starts on September 15th. This is a $15,000 elk hunt which will be filmed for an episode of SNTV and I will be along on the hunt to enjoy the experience with one lucky winner.

Another benefit of the SNTV DVD series is that it can be donated to our troops.

We have partnered with a major nonprofit organization called ‘Operation Gratitude’ out of Chatsworth, California. Carolyn Blashek started this organization to give back to those that give so much for us as Americans. On page 28 of this Sportsman’s News issue there is an overview about this great organization and how it came about.

We are so happy and thankful to be able to support our troops with the support of the Sportsman’s Warehouse customers. And you might just win a trophy elk hunt while you’re supporting our great hero’s as well.

I hope that everyone has a great and successful fall and I want to wish all of you good luck.

WHAT’S INSIDE

3 Words From The Publisher 6 Leupold Mojave Pro Guide HD Outdoors: Gear Up 8 PacWest For Deer 10 Platinum Approved Outfitters 18 Backpack Roundup 24 ATN BinoX-HD 26 Pro Member Sweepstakes 28 Operation Gratitude 30 Pro’s Pick: Sitka Gear Fusion Ammo 32 Federal Pro Member Update: Dove

34 Island Lodge 38 Fishful Thinker: Cast & Blast 40 Video Product Reviews 48 Business Directory X-Bolt Hell’s 50 Browning Canyon Speed Game Recipe: Dove 52 Wild Schnitzel Sagas: Victim of 54 Barebow!

His Own Habits 60 Pro’s Tip: Using Shooting Sticks SKB iSeries Pistol Case 61

On A Budget: DIY 62 Adventures Elk For Under A Grand 63 Silky Folding Saws Contest: You Can Hear 64 Writer’s Them Grow Up

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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Dave Domin Gary Lewis Eric Christensen Raymon Kemper Chad LaChance Steve Mayer Dennis Dunn Randy Newberg Steve Scaramastro

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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

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

SENIOR EDITOR Kent Danjanovich 801-231-9838 kdanjanovich@sportsmansnews.com MANAGING EDITOR Dan Kidder 435-865-1680 dkidder@sportsmansnews.com NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Shane Chuning 435-592-6106 schuning@sportsmansnews.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com PRODUCTION MANAGER James Dansie jdansie@sportsmansnews.com Subscribers should contact Managing Editor for changes of address.

Sportsman’s News is published monthly.

The entire content of this newspaper is Copyright 2016 © All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the Managing Editor.

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

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

SITKA BRUINS continued from page 2

fishing and crabbing. It seemed like we put the crab pots out every day and always had a couple when we pulled them up. We had a couple of excellent crab boils and even got creative and had a crab scramble for breakfast one morning. Scott really knows his way around the kitchen and there was no shortage of good food. We would start off the day with a hearty breakfast and after a couple hours of glassing, we would come back to the boat to have our big meal of the day. We would then glass and hunt until after dark and when we got back, we would warm up with a bowl of soup. It was amazing that Scott could come up with a new soup for each day and each one was delicious.

After a couple of days of seeing nothing but sows, we finally spotted a giant bear. It was a bear that I consider a no-brainer, meaning that you only need to look at it for a couple of seconds to know that it was something that you need to quickly pursue. Scott’s excitement level also made it really apparent that it truly had to be a monster.

As we were closing the distance in the skiff, the big bruin must have smelled another bear because he sprinted into the woods. We took advantage of his absence and set up at the edge of an opening and waited for him to come back out.

The wind was in our favor, so all we had to do was wait. After about half an hour, we could see something beginning to emerge out of the

brush into the open. To our disappointment, it was a smaller young boar. We watched the boar for about an hour as he slowly fed his way in our direction. He made it within twenty yards of us and would have walked right over us, if Scott hadn’t waved at him to scare him off. Even though he wasn’t a shooter, it made for some awesome footage.

With only an hour of light left, we decide to change locations so we would be able to see into another opening and sure enough, we could see two bears feeding, a boar and a sow. The boar looked good enough to start a stalk on, but we needed to get closer to really size him up.

We put ourselves in front of the two bears and again the wind was blowing the direction we needed. There was a downed tree in between us and the bear, making it impossible to see what he was. Scott had Mike set up his sticks and get ready to take the shot, but only if he gave him the green light.

After what seemed like forever, the boar finally came around the tree and as he turned the corner, he stopped and stared right at us, giving us a perfect shot. It only took Scott a couple of seconds to see that the bear in front of us was really big and he immediately told Mike to take the shot. Mike fired and made a perfect double-lung shot that only allowed the boar to travel about fifty yards. Mike was shaking because he was so full of excitement. As we walked up to the bear there was definitely no ground shrinkage and Mike was in awe at how massive brown bears really are.

One of the many crab boil dinners we were able to enjoy while onboard the Western Profit.

All of us had a great time with Scott and Dustin McLeod and there is no question that this brown bear hunt will be one that we give away year after year as part of the Pro-Membership Sweepstakes. If you want more information about the Sportsman’s News Pro-Mem-

bership Sweepstakes, go to www.

PromembershipSweepstakes.com.

And for more information about Alaska Raven Guides, visit them on the web at www.alaskaravenguides.com or give them a call at 907-747-6405.

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Mike Schaffer glassing hard for a giant brown bear.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Let Confidence Be Your Guide: The Leupold Mojave Pro Guide HD Binoculars

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By Dave Domin inoculars aren’t just for hunters. Bird watchers, security teams, and outdoor enthusiasts of all types find them beneficial as well. Binoculars come in many shapes and sizes. Feature sets vary widely due to specific user needs and budgets. It has long been thought that “you get what you pay for” when it comes to buying observation optics. While this saying has merit, technological advancements in optical production have been bridging the gap between price and performance.

Let’s begin with understanding the terms that are associated with the features and benefits of today’s most common binoculars.

Prisms Prisms are the optical glass that will correctly orient the image when looking through binoculars. The most common prisms used in binoculars today are Porro and Roof.

The quality of glass used in prisms and how finely it is ground can affect the sharpness of images. The two more common types are BK-7 and BAK-4. Generally, BAK-4 is more expensive, but considered better than BK-7 for several reasons. One such reason is that BAK-4 gives a nice round exit pupil, which produces edge sharpness, while BK-7 can produce distortion around the edge of the exit pupil.

Porro prism binoculars can be identified by their offset body design, meaning that the eye piece lenses are not in line with the objective lenses.

Due to the relative ease in manufacturing, porro prism binoculars tend

to be more economically priced than their roof prism counterparts and offer a superior image when compared to roof prism binoculars in the same price point. Porro prism binoculars also offer better depth of field, meaning the image will have a more “3D like” appearance.

Roof prism binoculars have a straight body design, where the eyepiece lenses are in line with the objective lenses. This design makes them more compact and generally lighter in weight. However, due to the complexities in building roof prisms that deliver a superior image, these binoculars are typically more expensive.

Lens coatings Lens coatings help reduce glare and improve contrast and overall image quality. There are several different levels of coatings. “Coated” means a single layer of antireflection coating has been applied on at least one lens, usually it will be applied to the exterior ones. “Fully Coated” means that all air to glass surfaces are coated.

“Multi-Coated” means that some lens surfaces have multiple layers of antireflection coatings. Finally “Fully MultiCoated” means that all glass to air surfaces have multiple layers of antireflection coatings applied.

Collimation Collimation is the mechanical and optical alignment of the binoculars.

Binoculars that are not properly collimated will cause eye strain and possibly headaches.

Exit pupil The diameter of the binocular objective lens divided by the magnification determines the size of the exit pupil. This is relevant because the size of the exit pupil determines how much light is being delivered to the users pupil. This is not very critical when glassing in the middle of the day. However,

if the binoculars will be used mostly in low light conditions, a 5-7mm exit pupil is recommended.

Field of view The field of view is the area that can be seen through binoculars. This can be expressed in two ways, linear field of view or angular field of view.

Linear field of view will tell you how much of an area can be seen at a given distance, for example, 425 feet at 1000 yards. Angular field of view is shaped like a cone and is defined in terms of degrees.

Twilight factor Twilight factor is a calculation that claims to reveal how much detail can be seen through binoculars in twilight conditions, the higher the number, the better the image. However, today’s advanced lens coatings have made binoculars brighter than their twilight factor would indicate.

Now that we have an understanding of binocular lingo, let’s take a look at Leupold’s Mojave Pro Guide HD binoculars. Just because they were designed with the professional guide in mind, doesn’t mean that the Leupold Mojave Pro Guide’s are just for hunters.

That said, Leupold has taken their extremely popular Mojave roof prism binocular and given them an HD boost. The Mojave Pro Guide HD’s are available with 8x, 10x, and 12x magnification and 42mm and 50mm objective sizes.

All Mojave Pro Guide HD binoculars feature a tactile center focus wheel with a lockable pop-up diopter adjustment which makes focusing a breeze. They are also available with three finish options, Kryptek® Typhon™ and Highlander™, as well as traditional black. Weighing in at 23-28.5 ounces, depending on model, the well balanced, open-hinge body design makes them comfortable and easy to hold, even for extended periods of time or even with a single hand.

The fully multi-coated, high-definition, extra-low dispersion lenses

of the Mojave Pro Guide HD’s help reduce glare, as well as, improve contrast and overall image quality, while the innovative BAK4 cold mirror coated prisms take performance further by improving reflectiveness for exceptional color reproduction, resolution, and clarity. Regardless of the conditions, the Mojave Pro Guide HD’s deliver a razor-sharp image to easily pick out game in heavy brush or in the deep shadows. 100% waterproof and fog proof, and backed by the Leupold Gold Ring Full Lifetime Guarantee, the BX-3 Mojave Pro Guide HD is a must-have addition to any pack.

To compliment and protect the Mojave Pro Guide HD’s, Leupold has introduced the “GO” Afield Binocular Harness, as part of the new “GO” Series Pro Gear line. This well thought out harness is constructed out of highly water resistant and durable 500d nylon with laminated backing and non-elastic harness straps to keep the binocular pouch secure to the chest. The harness features 4-way adjustable harness straps, a front zippered cell phone pocket, mesh side pockets, an overlap lashing system to attach a rangefinder, and a tension free, quick release tether system. Instant access to the binocular is simple with the use of the one-handed shock cord/hook closure.

So there you have it. The next time you are in your local Sportsman’s Warehouse looking for a new pair of binoculars, ask to see the Leupold Mojave Pro Guide HD’s, the bino’s that guides demanded and Leupold delivered.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

BX-3 MOJAVE PRO GUIDE HD BINOCULAR

At critical moments, you can’t risk missing a single thing. Our BX-3 Mojave® Pro Guide binoculars feature Extra Low Dispersion objective lenses for excelled color rendition, razor sharp resolution, and HD quality image. Whether you’re on a game drive or walking safari, you can be confident that you’ll see every detail with perfect clarity.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Gear Up For Deer Season “

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get 10 years out of a box of ammo,” he said. “I bought a box of 20 rounds on sale back in twenty-ought-nine and I haven’t shot more than two bullets a season since – one to sight it in and one if I see a deer.”

Heard that one?

That’s a guy who is a) afraid of his rifle or b) a cheapskate - Either way, he hasn’t practiced for the last decade and it is likely that, presented a shot at 200 yards or more, he couldn’t tell you where the bullet will hit.

“I don’t use that expensive stuff. I go down and buy a box of whatever is on sale. That’s how my daddy

By Gary Lewis did it and that’s good enough for With a month before the season me.”

Sound familiar? to get ready, here is a look at That’s a guy who hasn’t taken the rifle prep and what to take along time to learn about bullet construcfor hunting blacktails, mule deer tion and doesn’t know that some and western whitetails. bullets will perform better in some 16-sportsmansNews-september-mountainBoot.pdf 2 8/3/2016 7:51:11 AM guns and worse in others.

“I just bought this new rifle. continued on page 14 They laser bore-sighted it for me at the shop, so I’m Photo by Gary Lewis good to go.”

That guy is the one you meet at the range after the season. He wants to figu re o u t w h y the big buck got away from him. Don’t be that guy.

Never before have good rifles and rifle scopes been so afford- Gary Lewis at the COSSA Range, sighting-in a able. Today’s Montana Rifle with a Leupold scope and Nosler Achunter can buy cuBonds. Sight-in with the ammunition you will use premium, off- on the hunt. Don’t bring bargain-basement bullets the-shelf am- to the range when you plan to use premium projecmunition that tiles in the field. Use the cheap stuff in practice if is capable of ac- you want, but to establish accuracy, use the huntcuracy worthy ing bullet to sight-in.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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GEAR UP

Consider sighting three inches high at 100 yards. With a 50 yard continued from page 8 shot, the bullet will strike about 1.5 of the best shooter. But, manufac- inches above the crosshair. At 300 turing advancements are no sub- yards, the bullet will strike about stitute for that pre-hunt ritual we three inches low. Hold a bit low at call sighting-in. distances less than 200 yards. If a Part of the problem is that bore- buck’s vitals are about six inches sighting isn’t good enough. A in diameter, any well-aimed shot hunter can buy a new rifle and have is going to put the deer down. If a it bore-sighted at the gun counter. 400-yard shot must be taken, hold a What happens is that a technician bit more than 14 inches high of the uses his eye or a laser to align the heart/lung area, just above the line barrel with the scope. That gets it of the buck’s back and that will arc close, but close could still be three the bullet into the vitals. Learn the inches or three feet off at 100 yards. mechanics of bullet performance That’s not close enough when a and understand the way the rifle buck steps into a clearing 200 yards and hunting load performs at difaway. ferent distances.

Part of our pre-season ritual A grasp of fundamentals is imis taking a trip to the range. We portant. Practice hones the skills in have a good place to shoot where I the brain and muscles. live, in Central Oregon. It’s called Shooting is athletics. Prepare for the COSSA Park and we have the that last second shot when the game capability to shoot to 600 yards is on the line. in one bay and out to 1,000 yards Gear 4 Deer with supervision. We sight-in at 100 Trips to the range or out to the yards and then shoot at steel plates desert and an early season coyote at 200, 300, 400 yards and beyond hunt or two are my favorite ways with someone watching through to get ready for deer season. That the spotting scope. takes care of the fundamentals of Out in open country, a hunter accuracy. The other thing we need might stalk a buck or be presented to do is get our gear ready for the with a shot out to 300 yards or be- hunt. This is the time of year to put yond. This hunter is likely to carry equipment in totes and look at what a rangefinder. It makes sense to is necessary, what can be left behind tape the load data or holdovers on and what needs to be replaced. For the stock of your gun for shots out optics, a high desert hunter is best to 500 yards. served with a binocular (on a chest harness), a spotting Photo by Gary Lewis scope, a rifle scope and a rangefinder. Optics, rifle and ammo aside, I group the gear into three different types: a day pack, a truck kit and camping equipment.

I have two day packs.

One for short jaunts and one for backcountry when heavy optics will be employed or For western hunting, consider sighting-in when there might be to put the bullet two or three inches high at a need to overnight 100 yards. Set a target at 25 yards and fire beneath the stars. The three rounds. Adjust the scope for windage contents? A Whistles and elevation to center the group around for Life safety whistle, the bulls-eye. This may take several adjusta Brunton compass, ments. Next, set a target at 100 yards and latex gloves, a Cliff fire three rounds. Bring the bullets into the bulls-eye by making adjustments in windage continued on page 16 and elevation.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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GEAR UP

or a filter), a Garmin GPS unit, a Nightstick Tac light, a COAST continued from page 14 headlamp and extra batteries.

Bar, hand warmers, a small first Note I have two navigating aid kit, a lighter, matches, fire- devices, two fire-starting devices starting material, ear plugs, a lens and three lights. cloth, a water bottle, an Aquamira Thus equipped and minus water filter straw, surveyor’s flag- lunch, the ALPS day pack weighs ging, a small LED light, a map, 5.5 pounds. With a sleeping bag Tenacious Tape, a Camovat Cra- and pad or a spotting scope vat (to use as a bandana or a sling and tripod, I employ the larger pack. The day Photo by Gary Lewis pack goes everywhere and I never take it off except to use it as a pillow.

In September, the truck is stocked with a come-along (for pulling people out of ditches and trees out of roads) and a A spotting scope is a necessary piece to bring tow strap (I’ve along on a high-country mule deer hunt. used it way

too much), a fire extinguisher what else is on the calendar, my and a shovel (I get stuck a lot). Oregon deer hunt is the main And backcountry roads being event. Getting ready starts at what they are, it’s a good idea to the range where I’ll burn a lot of check the spare tire and jack. ammo.

It’s a good idea to carry extra To contact Gary Lewis, visit www. water and an MRE, which stands GaryLewisOutdoors.com for Meal-Ready-to-Eat and it’s a bad day if I have to eat it. In a small cooler, I keep MTLPs (meals which take longer to prepare, but taste better).

In the truck there’s a first aid kit, gloves, a sleeping bag and game bags. Because I often find myself in poison oak coun- Photo by Gary Lewis try, I pack a bottle of Tec- This buck was spotted across a canyon and ranged nu Extreme to at 252 yards. The author used a Partition bullet and wash up with. an old Model 70 Winchester that used to belong to N o m a t t e r John Nosler.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Backpacks: An Important Piece Of Equipment

W

By Eric Christensen hen I start to plan a trip that will be taking me into the wilderness, three common questions always pop into my mind: Where am I going, what type of terrain will I be hiking into and what gear am I going to need.

All three are important, but the last one just may be the most essential.

Each piece of gear can make the trip more enjoyable and nothing is more vital than a good hunting pack to get you and your gear from start to finish.

All the gadgets and equipment are meaningless without something to transport them in, depending on your situation. I have had the opportunity to test all these packs in the last few months, loading them with the same gear I would need for a full day of hunting. My gear with spotting scope, tripod, gun, ammo and essentials weighed in at 34 lbs.

Extreme Commander X ALPS Outdoorz makes one of the most comfortable packs I have used to date. The Extreme Commander X pack is a full size pack to cover almost any need while hunting.

With up to 4000 cubic inches, you have plenty of room for your gear and also room for your meat and cape after a successful walk-about.

You can detach the main compartment from the frame for an exclusive frame pack or expand it out to haul your cape or meat between the

main pack and the frame. The toploading, main section of the pack is separate from the bottom and really helps the load carry steady while hiking. This feature helps to keep your heavy gear from swinging to the bottom of the pack and increasing the weight on your shoulders.

It also has horizontal compression straps to keep the load from swaying. The spotter pocket accepts my 80 mm spotting scope easily and is fleece lined to help nestle and protect my valuable equipment.

The Extreme Commander X pack easily adjusts to your torso. It rides very well for a large pack and has a gun pocket to hold your firearm while hiking. It also has a rain cover in a small pocket to keep your gear dry in downpours. I really like this pack for comfort, size, storage and versatility.

Sitka Bivy 30 The Sitka Bivy 30 pack was next on my list to test out. This 3000 cubic inch pack is fairly lightweight and is kept pretty simple with some helpful features for a day of hunting. The Bivy 30 is made for a full day of hunting. It has one large main compartment, which held all of my gear with some room to spare. The pack is made from the same polyester stretch weave that is used in their pants, which is a very soft, yet rugged material that will hold up to the conditions and also dry quickly if it gets wet. The pack has horizontal straps to carry some gear like a jacket on the outside so you can access it quickly.

The pack rode very well and did not dig into my shoulders like I thought the smaller shoulders straps would do.

Surprisingly, they felt great when hiking with a full load. The front accessory pouch held my 80 mm spotter easy and gave me room

for my gloves and hat. To save on weight, there is no side pouches for a tripod, but the horizontal straps worked out for me to secure it to the pack. The Bivy 30 features an aluminum brace for supporting heavy loads and uses an outward arch to allow airflow between your back and the pack. Sitka stores a Bivy sleep pad inside the main compartment, a very welcomed feature as this is a great accessory for a long day of glassing. I also enjoyed sleeping on the pad for a catnap and it also kept dirt from getting all over my clothes. Overall, the Sitka Bivy 30 rode well with all my gear and easily adjusted to my body. One suggestion that I would make is that they might incorporate a place for a tripod and maybe a gun sling pocket to round it out.

Eberlostock Just One The name says it all. The Eberlstock Just One pack has evolved into a jack-ofall-trades for a daypack. The pack is like a transformer; it looks medium sized at 2300 cubic inches, but expands out to 4600 cubic inches using Eberlestocks built-in cam extension system. One of the first things you notice with this pack is the padding.

You might think this is needless extra weight, but when you load the pack and start hiking, you will fall in love with the teddy bear hugging your back. It was extremely comfortable and adjustable to my style of hiking. The Just One has two wings to hold your spotting scope and tripod. The center section also has two more compartments that held my 80mm spotter easily.

There is ample webbing to hold small clip-on gear. I was able to fit all my day gear easily into the 2300 cubic inch version and when you open the packs expansion system, you have double the space for hauling out quarters, hides and other gear. I first tried the Just One when it came out years ago, but the new improvements are ingenious. Eberlestock builds one of the toughest user-friendly packs out there. They also believe in a system of accessories that can be used with the pack, like the super spike duffel that will increase the pack to an amazing 7500 cubic inches if you’re man enough to handle it. The easy access, open gun scabbard that is built into the pack is awesome. You can grab or store

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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your rifle without taking off the pack in a matter of seconds. It also lets your rifle ride protected and secure. I didn’t find any complaints with this pack on any of my hikes.

Under Armour 1800 Day Pack Under Armour is well-known for making quality athletic gear.

They have now brought the same mentality with their designs and products for the hunting minded consumer. The 1800 was the smallest pack I used during my testing, but offers plenty of features. The size of the pack would not hold all of my normal gear, but that wasn’t entirely disappointing. It actually made me think about some gear I could do without, making the pack a few pounds lighter. Under Armour uses a rip stop fabric for their shell, which was actually quieter than I anticipated. The large main pouch allowed for my water hydration system and storing the bulk of my gear. The smaller outside pouch stored my smaller items like headlamps, food, knives, etc. The waist belt has shell holders sown

into the belt, which I really liked for storing extra ammo. Its small size will easily allow you to raise your weapon and shoot with the pack on your back and grab some extra bullets without taking the pack off, if needed. The side expansion pockets held my 80 mm spotter, but without a secure top strap I had to store it inside the pack, which took up some valuable real estate. The 1800 also

has a built-in blaze orange water jacket and drop down weapon pocket. The pack rode very well, even though I had it maxed-out with gear. Even though it would serve the purpose for a full-day hunting pack, I would like to see Under Armour expand this pack into a 2800 or larger daypack.

Slumberjack 2500 Carbine Slumberjack has been making terrific outdoor gear for many years now.

I had the chance to take their Carbine 2500 daypack for a test run this summer. The Carbine held all 34 lbs. of my gear. The smaller, outside pouches, held my small gear securely and organized. What I like about these pouches is they double as a gun or bow holder for handsfree hunting. It also offers some protection for your weapon when

hiking through brush. The Carbine also has two side pouches that will hold your spotter and tripod.

They are versatile and also have small storage pouches for extra gear. There is plenty of webbing to attach gear with and the waist belt offers room for your handgun in bear country. The 2500 Carbine handles your gear comfortably. It is hydration compatible and the

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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harness adjusted easily to where I like to carry my load. The pack is big enough and tough enough to handle an elk quarter, while still getting your gear back to camp. The polyester shell is very rugged, but seemed to be a little loud when a dry branch would scrap across the shell. Not a big complaint, but could pose problems for an early season archery hunt while putting the stalk on an animal with your pack on.

Overall, Slumberjack’s 2500 Carbine rode pretty good with the weight, was easy to adjust and can handle a full day of hunting.

Kings Camo Mountain Top 2200 Kings Camo, based out of Utah, has been making western camouflage clothing for many successful years now. They also make some great day hunting backpacks to compliment their lineup. The 2200 is a good looking pack that held all of my gear very comfortably. The rolltop main compartment has a wide mouth to access or stow your gear easily and incorporates a magnetic seal and double side clips to secure-

ly close off the pack. Side pouches held my 80 mm spotting scope very tight to the pack with nice padded protection directly in front of the placement of your scope. This is a very thoughtful accessory, as

most spotting scopes are very expensive. The large, main compartment has a 180-degree zipper to access your gear rapidly without going through the top. The smaller organizer pouches are perfect for organizing your small gear. The Mountain Top also comes with a water bladder to keep you cool and hydrated on your hunt. The pack has great support and padding with a mesh webbing to allow airflow against your back.

The shoulder straps have some convenient pouches for elk calls or ammo, another thought-out placement for quick access without removing your pack. The shell is made from rip-stop and has a stowaway shelf to take on extra game meat on your way back to camp. The Mountain Top is hard to beat, as it handled my gear perfectly and also offers a drop down weapons pocket for my bow or rifle.

I would recommend this pack for

anyone considering an affordable and versatile daypack for almost any hunting situation.

It seems like no one really produces a daypack that is made to fail these days. I was eager to try out these packs for my fall hunts and as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I would recommend you really think about what you are trying to accomplish with your pack, what type of hunt you are taking it on and what demands you are going to place on it when you are making your buying decision. Don’t be afraid to try on these packs at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and even though they are empty, this can give you a base to start with as you envision using the pack on your next outdoor adventure.

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BinoX-HD 4-16 Smart Glass

M

By Eric Christensen y deep love for spending time in the outdoors has become part of my life and is now being passed down to my children.

Watching them stare at a beautiful creature walking around a mountain meadow is very fulfilling as a parent. It’s a bond that brings us closer together, for a lifetime of memories.

And with today’s technology, we can share images and video with friends and family like never before.

American Technology Network or ATN, is bringing some very cool tech to the optical world. Their BinoX-HD is rich and overflowing with technology. They are very lightweight, which surprised me when you think of all that is going on inside of them. The BinoX-HD might seem overwhelming at first use, but like any electronic device, gets easier to use once you’ve broken ground. Their eye cups slide horizontally to fit a variety of users and the diopters are easy to focus (Make sure they are adjusted correctly for your eyes or the image will not appear correctly inside the housing). Also, the interface is simple to scroll between menu options. The digital zoom works great to draw closer to your image.

One aspect the BinoX-HD brings to the table is a free app you can use with the system. After you download and sync it, you can let others view your image through a Wi-Fi connection. Having small children as I do and trying to get them to see an animal through magnified optics takes loads of time. We had a blast on our last trip to the mountain looking at elk. My boys could watch my phone and see the exact image I was looking at. The BinoX-HD will also allow you to record the image on a micro SD card, so you can share on social media platforms and keep them for later

use. I also used them on my daughters last softball game. It seemed to flow better as I was recording her playing rather than trying to watch a small LCD screen on my camcorder.

One of the coolest features that the BinoX-HD comes with is night vision. I fully expected the image to be blurred out or only work with at least a little light. I was blown away with how well the night vision capability worked. We went on a scout camping trip where I let several 14-year-olds try their hand with the night vision.

It was awesome. It was a pitch black night with no moon and the images were clear and rich. The boys experimented with them late into the night, capturing all kinds of images.

You can also capture still images rather than just recording in full HD. The image stabilizer helped with hand-shake when zoomed in tight, making for better video. Users can also geotag and the onboard electronic compass was handy to know what direction we were looking. The BinoX-HD made me a believer in Smart Optics!

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圀圀圀⸀匀倀伀刀吀匀䴀䄀一匀圀䄀刀䔀䠀伀唀匀䔀⸀䌀伀䴀

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

䌀䠀䄀䴀倀䤀伀一吀䄀刀䜀䔀吀⸀䌀伀䴀

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

The Story Of Operation Gratitude

I

n March 2003, Carolyn Blashek met a Soldier returning to war after having been on Emergency Leave to bury his mother. Years earlier, his wife had left him, and his only child had died as an infant.

He had no one in his life.

The soldier told Carolyn, “I’m going back over there; I don’t think I’ll make it back this time, but it doesn’t matter because no one would even care.”

Immediately, Carolyn knew she wanted to do something for this service member, and all others, to remind them there are grateful people here at home who care about them and appreciate their service to our country.

But what would convey that message to someone fighting overseas?

Carolyn thought about her own children. She had sent daily letters and weekly care packages to them when they were away at summer camp.

It clicked. Carolyn decided to send care packages to remind our heroes that someone back home cares and to

express her support and gratitude for their service.

Operation Gratitude was born that night.

Since that day, more than 1.5 Million Troops in harm’s way, their children waiting at home, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Heroes and their Caregivers have received an Operation Gratitude Care Package.

What started out as a grassroots organization in Carolyn Blashek’s

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living room, is now a thriving 501(c)(3) nonprofit housed in a 35,000 square foot warehouse in Chatsworth, California. This space, referred to as Forward Operating Base: Operation Gratitude (aka “The FOB”), is the nerve-center for tens of thousands of individuals, groups, businesses and corporations nationwide who donate items, raise funds, make scarves and paracord bracelets, write letters and show up at the facility to assemble the care packages month after month!

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our loyal, enthusiastic, pride-filled, and beloved Operation Gratitude supporters. They are the reason Operation Gratitude will be able to send the 2 Millionth care package early in 2018.

The “Operation Gratitude Story” is actually millions of different stories and experiences--of the care package recipients and the volunteers who fill those packages.

But it is also more than just a story.

It is the collective individual actions of proud Americans, and it is a movement of many, joined in common cause to say “Thank You” to all who serve.

Gratitude is something everyone can do.

Operation Gratitude seeks to provide hands-on opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation for our deserving Heroes through volunteerism.

Hundreds of thousands of handmade scarves, hats, and paracord “survival” bracelets are lovingly crafted by creative individuals and knitting groups.

Children and adults nation-

wide write heartfelt letters to their heroes, expressing their feelings through the handwritten word.

Thousands of supporters spend countless hours collecting individual snack, toiletry and entertainment items from family, friends, co-workers and community members. Those items help fill 200,000+ boxes annually.

Scout troops and corporations send pallets of products. Some groups even join hundreds of individual local volunteers as they stand side-by-side to walk every box through the assembly line, carefully placing each item into the care packages.

Every one of our volunteers, donors, and care package recipients has a beautiful and meaningful story.

What will be your Operation Gratitude story?

For more information about a specific program, or to find out how you can get involved, please visit: www.

OperationGratitude.com Or, do you already have a unique idea of how you’d like to get involved?

We’d love to hear from you! You can email us at: Info@OperationGratitude. com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

So all of you wonderful supporters of Sportsman’s Warehouse that stop in each month and purchase a DVD and then donate it back to the store can give yourselves a little pat on the back, knowing that your generosity is going a long way to help put a smile on the faces of brave men and women still deployed overseas in harsh and remote areas, to their families anxiously awaiting their return and to Veterans, New Recruits, First Responders, Wounded Heroes and their Care Givers across our great country.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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*Subject to change. · ATVs shown are recommended for use only by riders age 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. · For SxS: Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. · Specifications subject to change without notice. Professional riders depicted on a closed course. Models shown with optional Genuine Yamaha Accessories. ©2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation.

U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Sitka Gear; When Nothing But The Best Will Do

I

By Mike Deming n 2004, we launched the very first issue of Sportsman’s News.

This was the very same timeframe that Sitka Gear was being launched out of Napa, California.

Founder, Jonathon Hart, had a sincere desire to develop a line of athletic style camo clothing for the hard-core hunter - the guys that would go to any extreme to put a tag on their trophy. Until this time, the extreme hunters used mountaineering types of clothing to meet their needs.

Sitka Gear would launch the first of its’ kind layering system for the hard-core hunter. It was obvious that the hunting community was starved for high end performance gear, because soon the cover of every major outdoor magazine was graced with someone wearing a full setup of Sitka Gear. They touted that they were the best in the business and they were proving it in the field.

I’ve now had the opportunity to watch this company’s brand de-

velop over the past decade and they just keep getting better and better.

A company that was once a small group of friends and hard-core hunters themselves has evolved into one of the most respected and recognizable brands in the outdoor world. There have been numerous other companies which have attempted to duplicate the efforts of this brand. Some of the biggest names in the business have also launched their own form of performance apparel. However, they are all still playing catch up.

When it comes to evaluating competitor’s products, we here at Sportsman’s News always use Sitka Gear as a benchmark for performance. I also know that other people in the outdoor industry say that they do the same. So, my philosophy is and has been, when your life could possibly depend on your gear, don’t take a chance. Only pick the best because, your life is worth it.

After wearing Sitka Gear for the past decade and in some of the worst climates imaginable, I can say that it has never let me down. I personally spend over a hundred and eighty days in the field every year and my team spends nearly a thousand man days and we have all had the same results. It is a comfortable feeling to know whatever Mother Nature throws your way, you will be prepared when you have your Sitka Gear with you.

Every piece of Sitka Gear is built with a specific job in mind. The products that you see on the shelves today were an idea on paper three to four years before. They have had numerous test models put through the ringer by their athletes and taken feedback from them, Having the right gear for the right scenario only to go through the is essential to spending the needed time in process again. Only afthe backcountry to achieve success. ter the material, cut and

overall performance is acceptable will it be considered for production to the public and have the opportunity to have the Sitka Gear brand attached to it. More ideas make it to the trash can than ever get to the shelves for the consumers to purchase.

Because of this rigorous testing, the products have a higher price tag than just your everyday run of the mill clothing. However, you also don’t put yourself in a position to need to test the product in the field for yourself. If you use the product for what is was designed for, it will perform and it will last. Nothing will cut a quality trip short or make it more miserable than being wet or cold or possibly both. I will guarantee that you will never regret paying the extra money for quality gear when you find yourself in one of those ‘extreme’ situations.

Sportsman’s Warehouse carries a full line of Sitka Gear, however a visit to the Sitka website at www. sitkagear.com will help you build a system of clothing designed around the type of hunting you do. You can develop a base layer all the way through your insulation and weather protection needs. Whether you are a sheep hunter, elk hunter,

waterfowl hunter or spend your time in a tree stand for the elusive whitetail, Sitka Gear has not only the clothing, but the camo that is best suited for the situation. Their camo is built around science and the animals eyes. What does it take to blend in and deceive the animal’s eye and allow you to get as close as possible to close the deal? The video on their website will give you much more information about what goes into developing and making these different patterns. I’m not going to profess to be an expert at the science of camo, but I have been able to fill years and years of tags with some pretty impressive trophies. So, I can definitely vouch for its ability to deceive their eyes.

Knowing that Sitka Gear goes to such extreme levels of testing and developing in their gear, as well as the knowledge of over a full decade of field use with tremendous success, I’m proud to endorse this company as one of our Pro’s Picks.

If you are looking for the best performance clothing and gear, look no further than Sitka Gear.

In the early days of Sitka Gear, Mothwing was a pattern they used, but the OptiFade pattern became the new standard as the company grew.

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Federal Fusion Ammunition

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor onded bullets are nothing new. Melding lead and copper together to create a jacket that is bonded to its core can be done through a variety of means, but ultimately provides a bullet that is generally more accurate and hits harder with better expansion.

Bonded bullets can be more expensive to produce than standard cup and core non- bonded bullets.

This is where the Fusion bullet from Federal comes into play. Featuring a molecularly fused copper jacket over a core of pressure formed lead, the Fusion provides a thick coating of copper bonded to its core for maximum expansion with minimal weight loss. On top of that, or I should say on the bottom of that, is a specially configured boattail for better flight performance.

This combination makes for exceptional accuracy. In our Browning A-Bolt 7MM Remington Magnum, we were seeing one-inch groups out to 100 yards off a rest. This is MOA accuracy out of a mass produced factory bullet. We saw even better performance with our .270 Winchester fired out of a Weatherby Vanguard.

Part of the reason for these great groups was the consistency of the loads, with muzzle velocities very close to those printed on the boxes, and with only minimal deviation.

The way this bullet is built, provides exceptional expansion and

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weight retention. The tip is skived, or scored with small lines, to ensure maximum expansion. Additionally, the lead core peeks out of the tip to give the bullet a soft lead face wrapped in thick copper. The end result is a bullet that expands beautifully, but holds together to deliver maximum mass on target for deeper penetration. All without spraying the inside tissue with bits of lead and copper.

Not only is the bullet an innovative offering, but it tops Federal brass with sealed primers. Coupled with a tight crimp on an ogived bullet, these cartridges are waterproof and reliable.

For big game that needs maximum penetration, or smaller game that needs maximum expansion, the Fusion bullet with a skived tip, molecular bonded jacket, pressure formed core, and optimized boattail provides excellent terminal performance from a factory cartridge at the price of a non-bonded round.

They come in a variety of weights and calibers, so you can find the offering your gun likes best.

In the box, the shells are loaded in strips of ten, in belt loop cartridge holders, so you can easily slip them onto your sling or belt for easy access.

Try the Fusion cartridges from Federal with your rifle system, and see if they might be a good fit for you; performance and value in one package.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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Dove Island Lodge

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By Raymon Kemper s the plane dropped in altitude and the clouds parted, we could see Sitka, Alaska, and what seemed to be about 50 islands around the mainland. I never imagined that it would be so breathtaking.

I realized that the Sportsmen’s News

Pro-Membership Sweepstakes Winners of the Dove Island Lodge trip were about to experience something that would be burnt into their memories for the rest of their lives.

As the plane banked to the right, I noticed that the airport was on an island with a beautiful bridge con-

necting it to the mainland. We landed on what seemed to be a very narrow runway, right beside the water. When I walked out of the airport, the smell of saltwater was in the air. The shuttle was there to pick us up and take us to the hotel in Sitka for the night.

That evening I met up with the Sportsmen’s New Sweepstakes winner Dennis Alger and his son Scott and walked around Sitka. I did not realize that Sitka was so rich in history and how it played a pivotal role in making Alaska our 49th state. I walked down to the dock, the water was as blue as the sky, a light breeze blowing off the ocean. I looked up and saw about 10 Bald Eagles flying overhead. I had to stop and take in the moment. As I walked back to the hotel, I thought to myself, am I really here?

That night I was so excited for Dennis and Scott to experience Dove

Island Lodge. In the morning, we had breakfast together in downtown Sitka and went over the schedule. We had five days of fishing in one of the world’s best fisheries, while staying at the most prestige lodge in Sitka. The shuttle picked us up at 3 p.m. and took us to the dock. Before we knew it, we were going across the bay and pulling up to the dock on the island.

The lodge manager, Nicole Bilinski, was there to meet us and welcome us to Dove Island Lodge. While Nicole was briefing us, the staff quickly unloaded our bags and took them straight to our rooms. We then walked up a wooden walkway to the bar and activity room. We filled out our paperwork for our fishing license then we walked up the path to the lodge.

Nicole then led us to the sauna area. It was very unique, as its shape is in an oval. She also informed us that they

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

had a massage therapist available.

From there, we worked our way up to the main lodge. The only way to express our thoughts was “shock and awe”! We were standing in one of the most beautiful lodges that I had ever seen.

The dining room table set below

wooden beams running the length of the room. At one end, a very nice bar area and beside that a cobblestone fireplace with a huge steelhead, a true world record. To the left, a wooden staircase. We went upstairs to our luxurious rooms with huge beds, a lounge area and did I mention the hot tub on the deck!

At 6 p.m., we went downstairs for dinner. A five-course meal, prepared by two of the most talented chefs that I have ever seen. If you love food, you will love Dove Island Lodge.

After dinner, Duane Lambeth, the owner, showed me his wine cellar. It had to be one of the biggest in Alaska. It was mind blowing!

I then walked down to the bar and entertainment building,

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had a night cap then turned in for the evening. Early the next morning, we went down to the dock to meet our captain. Captain Eric gave us a quick rundown of the boat and what to expect for the day. We shoved off and headed towards the open water. After about a two- hour ride, we were in fishing waters. They put out the rods and within five minutes, the first rod bent over “FISH ON!” A big king salmon on the end of the line! Dennis grabbed the rod with a smile on his face with the big king streaking the starboard side.

Dennis moved quickly to stay with the fish. They quickly netted the fish and had it in the boat within a blink of an eye. A few minutes later, his son was fighting another king. You could feel the excitement in the air. Two big kings in the boat in 20 minutes. We then went a little farther and started picking up some nice silvers, then we were off to the halibut area where we limited out.

An amazing first day! The next day, the owner Duane, flew us out in his plane to the backcountry. I was very impressed with the way that he handled the float plane. You could tell that

he was a true, seasoned pilot. When we docked on the island, we unloaded the plane and had a quick safety briefing by the Head Freshwater Guide, Patrick.

He then took us to an area where they had some OHVs stored. We loaded them up and 20 minutes later, we were at a nice size river. Stopping on the bridge, you could see fish holding in deep pools. All I could think was, “here we go!”, with a smile on my face.

As we grabbed the rods and walked down to the river, I knew right away it was going to be a good day. On the second cast, Dennis hollered “FISH ON!” A big Dolly! Then another and another!

We moved up river and even picked up some cutthroats. It was another great day! By the time we flew back to Dove Island Lodge, it was dinnertime. It was an amazing meal, some of the best food that I have ever had.

The next few days played out just like the first two. The fishing, food and Dove Island Lodge are truly world class. This is a place that everyone should experience once in their lifetime.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Cast & Blast

Chad LaChance

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eing at the top of the food chain comes with some great benefits. One of them is getting to choose what you eat. Some days, veggies sound good. Other days have fish sounding pretty good and still other days have us craving a nice elk loin or possibly some duck. Sure, you could go buy

food, but being a well-rounded outdoorsmen sure ups the feeling of accomplishment when putting food on the table; to say self-harvested food is more rewarding to consume would be a major understatement.

We often joke about there being two kinds of outdoors enthusiasts - fishermen that hunt and hunters that fish. While that is not entirely true - there may be a few anglers that don’t hunt and vice versa. It is true that, statistically speaking, many folks will buy both licenses at some point if they buy either one. I hope you are one of them because the rewards are great and tasty.

As we head into fall, preparing for some of my fishing trips involves guns. A little later in the fall, preparing for hunting trips often involves fishing tackle. Yes, I believe the good ol’ “cast-n-blast” outing is a fine way to spend a day afield. Even better, it’s a great way to feed yourself a variety of protein

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and that speaks volumes to Paleo types like me.

My favorite combo trips occur when the timing is good. That is to say that the “bite” is seasonally hot and coincides with established hunting seasons. For instance, white bass love to plunder schools of shad on the surface in early fall which makes for some really fun fishing and the timing coincides perfectly with dove season. So fish all morning, fillet your white bass mid-day and then shoot doves all afternoon.

Yahtzee! At several State Wildlife Areas in my home state of Colorado, this is a very solid option. Another fun cast-n-blast a little later in fall is walleye and teal. The walleyes are on their own fall feed-up, while the teal are flapping their way south.

Perhaps you’re more of an ice fishing guy? No problem, you too have cast-n-blast options. One we did last winter was shooting ducks on the South Platte River while they were flying strong in the morning and then swapping the shotguns out for ice rods to target panfish on neighboring reclaimed gravel quarry ponds in the warm part of the day. Colorado is dotted with gravel quarries along the major drainages and most offer decent fishing, especially on winter’s ice.

I’ve known guys that hunt Canada geese on a couple of our frozen reservoirs and then drill and fish.

Geez, you could probably do both simultaneously if the action was

slow for either.

Another winter option is coyote hunting. While the food value is lost, the sporting and conservation value is not. Mid-winter coyotes are often responsive to calls on ice or around the lake edges and even congregate around some popular ice fishing areas to mooch or otherwise scavenge scraps. This cast-nblast can occur in many areas and perhaps you can make a coyote skin cap to wear on your next ice outing.

Spring turkey hunting is all the rage these days and the seasons typically occur during prime-time fishing for crappie, walleye, white bass and many other species. I don’t know about you, but calls and camo in the morning and Jon boats and spin poles in the afternoon seems like a good plan. Have I mentioned the food value?

So far, we’ve only talked small game or birds, but sometimes we need to consider bigger chunks of protein, like elk for instance.

Everybody loves elk steaks and it just so happens that elk commonly live in prime trout fishing country. How about a pan full of fresh brook trout sizzling over a fire in elk camp? Sounds righteous to me. In my home state of Colorado, non-resident big game tags automatically include a fishing license good during the established dates of the big game season, so you continued on page 48

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Sitka Timberline Jacket

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By Shane Chuning popular Timberline Pants; the new have been wearing the Sitka line Timberline Jacket. of clothing for the better part of This is a light weight jacket made the last eight years. Their du- to withstand whatever nature rability, comfort and performance throws at it during mid to late seahave shined over that period of son hunts. The stream-lined fitted time. I find myself never looking for hood gives you exceptional field of something better. It keeps flat-out view and will not impede your view performing each and every year and while drawing a bow—all while we are not talking about easy hunt- keeping the wind and cold at bay. ing environment situations. These The reinforced construction in the have been long hard backcountry shoulder and sleeves are great for hunts that require the best of gear those times when the terrain is far and through these times, the Sitka less forgiving. Throw in the bombline has never let me down. proof, seam-taped WINDSTOPPER Could they improve upon the construction and you really have a wear-ability and versatility and jacket that will withstand the elemake it better? Can it ments. compete with the gnarly The Timberline Jacket weather conditions a comes in at 18.3oz - makhunter could encounter ing it a great weight for without compromising the a very rugged and packfunctionality? My answer able jacket that will get is “YES” and for 2016, Scan this QR Code with your you through those rough phone to view the they are introducing a new smart times. With the added Sportsman's News YouTube Channel. piece to go with the ever so Body Mapped Micro Grid

Fleece in the areas where it counts most, your core will stay warm and comfy when those passing thunderstorms push through.

This makes the Timberline Jacket lighter than the Jet Stream, while still offering you the essential benefits when wanting to go with something a little lighter.

All in all, Sitka comes through again by adding the new Timberline Jacket. This makes for another great piece to have in your arsenal for a well thought out line of layering choices. With all the in-depth options in the Sitka line, I am sure the new Timberline Jacket will be a mainstay in many hunting packs for years to come. This is going to be one jacket that is hard to

pass up and I look forward to using it a lot more this upcoming season.

Swarovski Z5 and Z3 Riflescopes

S

By James Dansie warovski has been a leader in the optics market for years and they are known for having some of the best glass and design in their products. The Z5 and Z3 riflescopes are no different. They both are extremely lightweight and have 50mm objective lenses which lax adjustment to focus the reticle provide a wide field of view. They over your target. The parallax adhave a one-inch tube design, keeping justs to coincide with the distance the scope slim and compact while you are from your target. Both cutting down on weight. The reticle scopes feature a couple of different is set in its own plane and I love reticle options to guarantee that having a second focal plane scope you can find the proper reticle for because the reticle won’t get bigger your shooting style.

On our Z3 test model, when you’re in those high we had the 4w(I) retipower settings. This is cle which is prefect for important because when shooters who are used you’re shooting longer to using horizontal hash distances, the smaller or marks to adjust for windthinner the reticle is, the age. The hash marks are more accurate your shot Scan this QR Code with your placed in 2-MOA (minute placement will be. smart phone to view the The Z5 features a paral- Sportsman's News YouTube of angle) increments and Channel.

by using the Swarovski Optik Ballistic Calculator, you’ll know exactly how many MOA to adjust for.

The ballistic calculator inputs the velocity and ballistic coefficient of the cartridge you’re using in conjunction with wind speed and direction to tell you how many MOA to compensate for. It’s important to note that because of its second focal plane design, the scope must be on its maximum magnification to properly compensate for wind.

Both scopes feature a ballistic elevation turret. The different colored dots allow you to set your own individual distances

and makes adjusting to those distances quick and easy. They also both come with a see-through lens cover, which helps to protect your lenses from scratches when walking through thick brush in pursuit of that trophy animal. It’s also nice that they are see-through because if you only have a couple of seconds to shoot, you can make the shot without worrying about taking it off. Swarovski is a leader for a reason and either one of these great scopes will work hard to get it done for you this hunting season.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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2016 New Video Product Reviews

Camp Chef Outdoor Big Screens

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amily night just got a whole lot better with the addition of the Outdoor Big Screens from Camp Chef.

Currently, these jumbo movie screens are just available online at www.SportsmansWarehouse.com and are available in two sizes, 92-inch and 144-inch.

They easily assemble by just sliding the poles together and then snapping the plastic hooks on the screen to the frame. The hooks feature friction buckles that allow the screen to be tightened to keep it from flapping in the breeze.

The screen itself is made of a 600 Denier weight Oxford nylon with a silver reflective surface for sharp images with deep color saturation.

The 92-inch screen stands 80 inches high by 92 inches wide with a 45-inch

high viewing area. It folds down into ability to place pegs through the wide its included carrying bag and weighs legs for additional stability and even 16 pounds. It can be used both in- have guy lines and stakes for use in doors and outdoors for classes, pres- windy environments. entations, seminars and watching The one-inch steel poles are shock your favorite films on the big screen. chained together and easily marked The 144-inch screen is the big boy. for quick assembly. Instructions for With 126 x 71 inches of viewing area setup and takedown are stitched to with a 16:9 aspect ratio and stand- the inside of the carrying bags so you ing at 9.5 feet high, this one is best can’t lose them. set up outside, unless you have very With no noisy motors tall ceilings. It collapses down in or fans, light weight and minutes into its included carry bag large viewing area, these and weighs 38 pounds. The screens are a 144-inch model also feagreat way to get tures a blackout drape that the whole famattaches to the rear with ily together for hook and loop attachments. movie nights, It can be folded down to without any of allow the screen to be used Scan this QR Code with your the drawbacks for rear projection. of other outsmart phone to view the News YouTube Both screens feature the Sportsman's door screens.

Channel.

So make the popcorn, fire up the projector and surround sound system and view your favorite movies in the comfort of your own back yard. With what you will save on movie tickets and expensive concessions, these screens will pay for themselves in no time.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

ELECTRO-OPTICS

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Updating at 4x per second in HyperScan mode, the Kilo2000 rangefinder with patented LightWave DSP™ technology is amazingly fast. Couple that with the ability to range targets at over 2000 yards, for simple, intuitive long distance ranging. The built in inclinometer calculates AMR™ Angle Modified Range for angled shots. Our proprietary Lumatic OLED Display™, automatically adjusts display intensity to match ambient light conditions, bright in bright conditions and dim in twilight to protect your eye.

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ANGLE MODIFIED RANGE (AMR) (AMR)™ Ranging technology using an on board inclinometer that reads incline/ decline angle and modifies the effective ballistic shooting range to the target. AMR is the equivalent horizontal range and integrates perfectly when used in combination with SBT Dials.

SEE THE FULL LINE AT SIGOP TICS. COM SIG SAUER ELECTRO-OPTICS, PORTLAND, OREGON, USA | ©2016 SIG SAUER, INC

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

2016 New Video Product Reviews

Nikon Prostaff 7 4-12x42 SF

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or a great value scope with planescope, the BDC reticle easily loads of performance, look allows elevation compensation for no further than the Nikon various ranges without adjusting PROSTAFF 7. Featuring multicoated the turrets. The side focus feature optics you expect from higher priced quickly allows you to compensate scopes, the PROSTAFF 7 is housed for parallax as well as estimate in an aircraft aluminum, 30 mm tube range, based upon when your target is in clear focus. Further focus for a wider range of adjustability.

The PROSTAFF 7 is a perfect all adjustment can be made with the around optic for hunters who may Fast Focus Eyepiece to compensate take a variety of game with the for diminished eyesight or glasses.

With 3.6- to 4-inches of eye relief, same rifle and various loads. When coupled with the Nikon Spot On the nitrogen purged 30mm tube Technology, adjustments for chang- provides plenty of room for getting ing loads can be quickly computed. comfortable in a variety of shooting positions. The goldThe quick adjust target colored reticle reflects a turrets allow easy windage certain amount of light, and elevation adjustments creating color gradations and a quick zero reset by on the reticle. This prosimply pulling up on the vides amazing contrast turret and rotating, without engaging the subten- Scan this QR Code with your against targets of multiple smart phone to view the colors, helping the reticle sions.

Sportsman's News YouTube to easily stand out from the Being a second-focal Channel.

background clutter.

The multicoated lenses are resistant to dust, fog and weather and the entire scope is waterproof down to 1-meter for 10 minutes, so a sudden downpour won’t have you running to the truck with your rifle under your jacket. The coatings also provide crystal clear viewing, even in low light, to extend your legal and ethical shooting time as well as help you better identify a great trophy animal.

For the hunter on a budget who demands high performance and the ability to accomplish multiple tasks, the Nikon PROSTAFF 7 meets your requirements, including affordability.

To see which loads are a fit for the

Browning Pet Products

PROSTAFF 7, go to NikonSportOptics.com/SpotOn and see if your particular caliber and load is there.

Then check out the versatility of the Nikon PROSTAFF 7 at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

I

f you are a fan of Browning, spots for two bowls. showing off your Buckmark is The non-skid matea way to let others know of your rial is topped with an Browning pride. Your best friend easy clean material can show his love of Browning as printed with Mossy well with these great pet products Oak Blades camo and from Signature Products Group. textured with a subtle Stainless Steel Pet Dish diamond plate patFeed Fido in style with a pair tern. of these stainless steel pet dishes. B r o w n i n g C h e w Wrapped in Mossy Oak Blades Toys camo, these deep food and water Besides being dishes are stamped in the center walked and fed, the with the Browning Buckmark. surest way to keep Available in two sizes, the 9-inch your dog happy is to give him toys features a 24 ounce volume, and to gnaw on. Made of tough nylon the 11-inch has 45 ounces for your material, the Buckmark Chew Toy dog’s favorite food and clean wa- and the Squirrel Chew Toy will ter. A rubber ring on the bottom provide hours of entertainment prevents slipping while for your hunting comyour pet eagerly gobbles panion. The Buckmark his grub.

Chew Toy is a black rePet Dish Mat lief cutout of the famous To further prevent your Buckmark with yellow acpet from making a mess cents. The Squirrel Chew on your floor, Brown- Scan this QR Code with your Toy features a detailed smart phone to view the ing also offers a heavy Sportsman's News YouTube squirrel design in tough duty rubber mat with Channel. nylon with a large faux

fur bushy tail. Heavy duty stitching make them tough, but soft fiber filling make them soft enough for your pal to sleep with.

Classic Leash and Collar With heavy duty 1-inch nylon webbing with high visibility yellow and reflective silver accents, the Classic Leash and Collar provide subtle Browning Buckmark branding for your pooch. The leash is 6 feet long and provides heavy steel snaps on both ends. A stitched loop handle with a clip lets you quickly connect the leash to your belt or

wrap it around a tree with the sliding D-Ring.

The Classic Collar comes in lengths of 14-20 inches and 18-28 inches in diameter, so it will fit even the largest breeds of dog. An innovative locking snap buckle makes it easy to put on and remove and also to easily adjust for a growing dog.

Check out the full line of Browning Pet Products at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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2016 New Video Product Reviews

The New 2016 Vortex Razor HD

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By Shane Chuning ith a very competitive market in quality glass, Vortex Optics continues to up their game at producing one of the finest spotting scopes on the market today. The new Razor HD is setting a new standard in high-end optical technology, precision craftsmanship and ultra-sleek functionality. They look to shine as one of the top choices in the market today.

So what’s different about the new 2016 Vortex Razor HD vs. last year’s Razor HD? Definitely a valid question, since the name remains the same. Well, the answer is practically everything. Here are a couple key features to make note of about the changes in 2016.

Available in 22-48x65 and 27-60x85 models, these spotters boast an allnew wide angle design that serves

up a much greater field of view throughout the zoom range. To give an example, at 27X, this year’s Razor 85mm spotter has the same field of view as its predecessor on 20X. This is really an area of improvement for me personally. This is huge, so you really are not missing out on the low end magnification. Anything lower HD for finer viewing quality. They than that, you might as well use your have upped their game there as well, bringing you even better, brilliant, binos.

Another item to note is the smooth- true-to-life views. It has remarkable as-silk and ultra-sleek helical-style clarity, resolution and color accuracy, all while keeping great distortion-free focus. You will easily dial images with unmatched in on subjects with razor edge-to-edge sharpness. sharp focus for optimal Throw in the superb viewing, while keeping the quality features from last body of the spotter trim for year’s Razor HD like the XR easy packing.

Plus coatings for maximum The glass and prisms are improved on this year’s Scan this QR Code with your light transmission, Plasma smart phone to view the model with the edge go- Sportsman's News YouTube Tech, ArmorTek, Argon Gas and Dielectric Coatings and ing to the new 2016 Razor Channel.

you have the new and improved 2016 Vortex Razor HD. Don’t let the same name fool you, this new and improved Vortex Razor HD is well worth the look. This is one spotter that will definitely be in many packs in the years to come.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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have no excuse for not packing an ultra-light or fly rod for your hunt. If you haven’t seen brook trout in their fall colors, you’ll be amazed and they commonly overpopulate, making them a prime food source. By the way, they are easy to catch, too.

Deer and antelope hunters, especially with doe tags which are often much quicker to fill, can do unbelievably well on fall brown trout in lots of areas of the west.

Geez, the last time I drove up to Delaney Buttes (a well-known State Wildlife Area in North Park)

to fish fall browns, we had to literally dodge doe mule deer and antelope in my Tundra and they were all on public ground during rifle season surrounding the lakes we fished with great success. Along the same lines, much of the land surrounding western rivers is also public and offers the option of great trout fishing and big game hunting in the same day Everybody loves choices and that’s true whether we’re talking about the menu or the sporting means of building said menu. Experiencing a successful cast-n-blast day has become one of my favorite ways to be outdoors and I’d bet a seared elk tenderloin it will become yours as well.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Browning’s X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon SPEED

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he bolt-action rifle was forever changed with the introduction of the Browning X-Bolt. The X-Bolt builds on the proven successes of past Browning rifles and adds numerous improvements that place the X-Bolt at the top of any side by side comparison.

And you know what, the best factory bolt-action hunting rifle just got better. The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon SPEED rifle is built to exceed your accuracy expectations, straight from the box. The action and stiff, fluted barrel are bedded and free floated to ensure straight shooting. The muzzle brake reduces felt recoil and is easily removed and replaced with an included thread protector.

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Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish was chosen. Not only does it look great, the flat finish aids in concealment as well. Cerakote is also tougher than other firearm finishes to keep this rifle looking its best for years to come.

For precise shooting in the field or off the bench, there’s absolutely no substitute for a good, predictable trigger. The X-Bolt’s new threelever Feather Trigger provides a clean, crisp pull with no take-up or creep and minimal overtravel. The trigger is screw adjustable from 3 to 5 lbs. and factory pre-set at approximately 3 1/2 lbs. An alloy trigger housing contains the hard chromed steel components that are highly polished on all critical contact surfaces. Precise engagement angles

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Unlike competitors’ triggers with secondary fingerpiece levers, the Feather Trigger is designed right, from the very start. Without a great trigger, a rifle’s accuracy is no more than luck.

The lightweight composite stock makes this rifle easy to carry and the A-TACS AU camo is versatile enough to blend into nearly every background. An Inflex recoil pad tames the recoil of even the most savage magnums by redirecting recoil down and away from your cheek. Carry an extra magazine in your pocket for easy reloading unlike many production rifles, the

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

Digital Edition Only Special Content

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

Dove Schnitzel

D

ove hunting usually heralds the beginning of hunting season. Unless you are archery hunting deer, doves are the first season to open up. In fact more Americans shoot a gun on opening day of dove season than any other day of the year. It is a great sport for the whole family. The weather is still warm and there is not a whole lot of specialized gear needed. Doves can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour, and on a windy day can make for some really challenging targets.

Mourning doves are the most common type of dove. They are in fact the most frequently hunted species in North America. They are found in almost every state I n America. The Eurasian collared dove is a larger bird and will really enhance the amount of meat your hunt can provide. They are consid-

ered an invasive species, are highly dispersive, and are rapidly spreading around North America. There is no limit on this variety of dove and they can be taken all year around in many states. As with any type of hunting activity, check your local hunting regulations before heading into the field.

This recipe is tailored for dove, but will work equally as well with quail, pheasant, or even teal. Brining the doves overnight is a must, as it really keeps them moist and tender.

Try this recipe and your shot-gun shooting out this season on some quick flying “grey demons”.

Ingredients Brine • • •

4 cups water ¼ cup kosher salt ¼ cup brown sugar

•

10 dove breasts

Recipe

• • • • • • •

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour Kosher salt and black pepper 2 large eggs ½ cup milk 4 cups bread crumbs Canola oil Butter

Preparation Method

Put the salt, brown sugar, and water into a medium bowl, and stir until fully dissolved. Transfer the liquid to a gallon zip-lock plastic bag and add the doves. Brine the dove breasts in the refrigerator, for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally overnight. Remove from the brine and pat dry. With a sharp knife separate the two breast lobes from the breastbone. Place each lobe between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound them GENTLY with a meat tenderizer (mallet). Do not tear the flesh, and work toward achieving a nice ¼ inch thick medallion.

Next you need to set up your breading station. You will need 3 shallow bowls. In the first one put the flour and season with salt and pepper. (I also like to add some garlic powder and paprika for additional flavor.) The second bowl is for the wet ingredients, so add the eggs and milk, and whisk together well. The breadcrumbs go into the third bowl. (I prefer the seasoned Italian variety, but use any breading you like.)

Dip each medallion into the seasoned flour, and then shake off the excess and into the egg bath. Flip over until fully coated and transfer to the breadcrumbs. Cover fully with the breadcrumbs and press them onto the meat to evenly coat.

Heat a mixture of half oil and half butter in a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add some of the coated breast to the pan and cook until golden brown (about 2 minutes) and flip to cook the other side. Cook them in small batches to keep the heat in the pan constant, assuring a nice even doneness.

The dove meat adds an extraordinary richness to these cutlets. They are really exceptional in this recipe.

Accompany them with some garlic mashed potatoes and steamed green beans. The meal pairs well with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a nice chilled India Pale Ale. This is a great way to break away from the traditional bacon wrapped doves, and well worthy of a full limit to prepare for your family and friends.

Cheers!

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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A Victim Of His Own Habits

F

or a couple of years, Dwight Schuh (of Bowhunter Magazine) and I had been kicking around the idea of possibly doing a hunt together for Mountain Caribou in the Northwest Territories. It finally all came together for the first hunt of the 2005 season with outfitter Eric Mikkelson, in his gorgeous section of the wild and remote Mackenzie Mountains. It was the first time Dwight and I had shared a camp and the experience turned what had been a casual acquaintanceship into a solid, lasting friendship. Hunting has a way of doing that for people.

Dwight is one of the humblest, most down-to-earth people you could ever hope to meet and I will

always cherish the memories of that 10 days spent with him. Besides our passion for bowhunting, we found we had much in common — including a penchant for yodeling when we weren’t worried about scaring off caribou. When one has many long miles to hike in a day, it’s a great technique for reducing the chances of sudden, unexpected grizzly encounters along the way.

It was a tough hunt, however. The weather alternated between very hot and very wet and there seemed to be very few caribou around in that early part of August. Later in the season, more animals were bound to move into the area, but the pickings were pretty slim while Dwight and I were there. Eric Mikkelson’s territory was chock-full of ragged, rugged peaks. At that time of year, hunting Mountain Caribou is much like hunting Dall’s or Stone’s Sheep.

You usually have to elevate yourself well above the tree-line just to find any.

When we booked the hunt, Dwight had asked me if I minded his bringing along a professional video-cam for the purpose of trying to film me putting the sneak on a bull caribou and (hopefully) arrowing one. I told him that sounded just fine, as long as he’d agree to teach me how to use it so I could return the favor and film him shooting one. He assured me there would be no problem there and that — if the

Courtesy of Hayden Lambson; Last Days of Summer, a color painting of several bulls in the lazy haze of their summer range.

hunt went well and provided us with some good footage — our adventure might well end up on the Bowhunter Mag TV Show (which it later did, in 2006).

The idea had certainly appealed to me and the dog days of sum- Part of Base Camp at June Lake. mer passed with glacial slowness until I finally the opposite direction. Dwight and I boarded the first of three flights that were more than ready for a full day landed me two days later in Norman of serious hunting and the serious Wells, NWT. The bush-flight from exercise that would be required to there into June Lake was in marginal get us up into the alpine. I knew I weather and lasted over an hour wasn’t yet in the best of shape, but — scaring me half to death, as mo- there’s nothing like actual hunting to mentary glimpses of nearby, vertical get you in shape. Especially, mounrock faces kept appearing through tain hunting!

Our base-camp lay right between keyholes in the clouds at eye-level with my little window. When we June Lake and a nearby range of finally came down below the cloud- mountains which Craig told us often cover and landed on the surface of held caribou in the early season. A the lake, I stopped praying for our hunters/game-trail — of sorts — survival and began to look forward led us up into the high country, but when we reached the tree-line, a bit to the adventure ahead.

Day 1 saw us and our guide, Craig of bushwhacking was still necesWalls, off to a slow start. Leaving sary to get us into the true alpine. camp around 11:30 am, we only It had taken two-and-a-half hours hiked to the top of a knob about a of steady climbing to gain 2,000 mile from camp and spent the rest of vertical feet and the high saddle we the day, into early evening, glassing had targeted on the backbone of the for caribou from there. Although we main mountain ridge.

Once there, the scenery was insoon spotted a lone grizzly feeding on the blueberries 300 yards distant, credible and we found ourselves the only two caribou we managed to looking nearly straight down into find before dark were miles away, a beautiful, very green alpine valacross a broad river valley and sev- ley that had a sizable creek flowing eral thousand feet closer to heaven through it, coming from somewhere than we were. Not only were they up in the distant yonder. The valley way above the timberline, but they floor right below us had only a modseemed to be standing — vertically est incline and was covered with asleep — on a steep, barren scree- lush grasses, wildflowers, mosses, slope well above the highest spot of a few willow bushes and the ocvegetation. For perhaps two hours, casional thick clump of mountain we could detect no motion. It would alders scattered here and there. have been an all-day trek just to get Within minutes, we had the spotting to where they were, assuming we scope set up and were all glassing could have gotten across the big for ‘bous. I must say, as the older of the two grandpas in the group, river between us.

Day 2 dawned with the promise of it did feel awfully grand just to sit excellent weather. Craig was eager and rest a while.

Upon initial inspection, the long, to get an early start and take us off in

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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“Where did he come from?” was the instant chorus on all our lips. “Maybe he was bedded the whole time on the far side of that one big clump of alders,” ventured Dwight.

“Must have been!” Craig chimed in.

“I don’t see Dwight Schuh and June Lake. anything else around big narrow valley appeared to be com- enough to hide him.” pletely devoid of caribou. There Utterly fascinated, we watched seemed no point in descending the bull continue his unhurried jaunt down into it unless we could first across the creek and then take a jagfind a bull worth going after. The right onto the very-well-used gameplan was simply to remain in the trail that ran straight up the valley saddle all afternoon until something bottom only yards away from the showed up — somewhere — that flowing water. His trot was steady. dictated a different strategy. A full Though he wasn’t wasting any time, hour went by with nothing spotted. neither did he seem in a hurry to get Then, suddenly — materializing out somewhere. After traveling a good of thin air — he was there: a won- 250 yards upstream, the bull — derful bull, straight down below us, without slackening his pace — quite trotting toward the stream in our unexpectedly turned around and direction and sporting large antlers trotted right back down the valley covered in dark-chocolate velvet. to where he’d come from.

“Looks like he’s just out taking his daily jog,” I remarked to Dwight.

“Just your typical fairweather jogger,” he replied.

When the bull arrived at the point where he’d crossed the creek earlier, he swerved to his left, jogged back across the water and then vanished behind the big alder clump. Five minutes later, he still had not reappeared.

“Craig,” I said, “he must have a wellused bed on Author in awe of his surroundings. the back side of

those alders. Do you suppose he’s or which of us was the better-lookliving down there and we just wit- ing. The brief stalk was over and nessed his daily exercise routine?” the very handsome bull wasted no “I dunno, Dennis. Maybe so. I time putting some serious distance have to say, I’ve never seen any- between us. thing like that before,” was Craig’s Our minimal consolation was that response. “I do think, though,” our Dwight had perhaps gotten a bit of guide continued, “that if he is in his usable footage with his video-cam bed right now, you’ve got a good — plus the certain knowledge that chance of being able to run down we had at least forced the afternoon there and shoot him at close range. jogger to double his cardiovascular You may catch him napping and that output for the day. What I’ll never stream should give you excellent forget about the long, steep climb sound-cover.” back up to where Craig was waiting Well, I certainly needed no second for us in the saddle, was Dwight’s urging. It looked like a great oppor- kindly insistence that I let him tunity, indeed and Dwight was just shoulder my pack and carry it for as eager to try to film the final stalk me. In deference to his junior years, from a few yards behind me. Care- I finally acquiesced — grudgingly, ful not to dislodge any rocks on the of course — but, as a result of his way down, we completed the 700 carrying a heavier load, I was able feet or so of vertical descent in about to reach Craig almost as quickly as 15 minutes. So far, so good — as the Dwight did. bull still remained entirely hidden We spent the rest of the afternoon from view. Crossing the shallow hiking along the crest of our high stream proved no great obstacle, ridge, glassing for caribou as we either and now the dense grove of went. A single cow was all we disalders lay only 30 yards beyond. Our covered, but the spectacular views trophy bull just had to be directly on and the forthcoming sunset more the other side of it! than compensated for all the effort After wading the babbling brook, it took to get off the mountain and however, Dwight and I immedi- back down to June Lake before dark. ately began worrying about what It had been quite a day! And quite the wind was doing. I had already a typical day of bowhunting: i.e., placed an arrow on the string. My “Close, but no cigar!” bow in my right hand, my whiteThe simple fact was, however, that powder puff-bottle in the left one, I we just weren’t seeing the numbers was testing the air movements every of caribou around that we should few seconds. The trouble was, I have been seeing. Eric Mikkelson could hardly get the same result two proposed a change of strategy that squeezes in a row. About ten yards night. Ten miles by old horse-trail closer to the alders, all of a sudden I from June Lake was a spike-camp distinctly felt a breeze at the back of which some of Eric’s hunters had my neck. I turned to look at Dwight used in years past. The outfitter and the sour expression on his face was no longer using horses in his told me he had felt it, too. operation, however. With no horses Within mere seconds, we heard the sounds of an animal departing and — a few seconds later — we saw him pop into view some 50 yards beyond his cover. He had caught our scent and had not waited around to see what we were Dwight glassing for mountain “bou”.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

available, the change of location for a four-day “spike-out” meant a long trek with heavy packs on our backs and I knew — at age 65 — that a 50-pound pack and 10 miles on foot in one day were going to test my mettle, not to mention my aging body.

Yet adventure was beckoning! For the wilderness hunter, the grass is always presumed to be greenest in the next alpine basin beyond the farthest one he can see. That’s where the biggest ram or bull is bound to be hiding. It works much the same way for the wilderness fisherman.

His or her imagination just assumes that the biggest fish of all are waiting to be caught in that last lake in the chain — just beyond the farthest one he’s ever visited.

Eric assured us we would find at the spike-camp a sealed drum full of foodstuffs and other survival gear. He also promised to make an airdrop of additional food and supplies at the site, including salt for any capes obtained during the spikeout. It was a hot day for hiking, but the insect harassment was negligible and the grade of incline up the river bottom was pretty gentle most of the way. What made the trek that day a hard one was not so much its length, but the fact that the old horse-trail crossed the very substantial river four different times.

So thick was the brush along the riverbanks that leaving the trail and bushwhacking was hardly a viable

option. There was really no choice but to wade the river on the slippery rocks against the very strong current, hope you didn’t go down and then — once safely across — remove your soaking-wet boots, wring out your socks, put everything back on again and soldier on to the next crossing. Dwight had had the foresight to pack a pair of collapsible walking-sticks. They proved a big help in the stability department and — by hurling them across the water like javelins — we were both able to make use of them on multiple occasions during the hunt.

As the sun marshalled its energies for another fiery assault on the western horizon, slate-colored storm clouds were gathering in the east and to the north. A churlish wind was on the rise. Craig suggested we quicken our pace, to increase our chances of reaching the spike-camp before the rains hit. By the time we arrived in the vicinity of the old wall-tent and managed to locate its plywood floor and wooden, skeletal frame, the first heavy raindrops were starting to fall. While Craig opened up the big drum to access the hammer and nails, Dwight and I — thankful to be free of our heavy packs — went looking for the airdrop. Luckily, it was located with little searching.

We were clearly in a race against time and water. Rebuilding the roof of the structure and getting the big tarps we had carried with us nailed in place — those were the primary challenges, made all the more difficult by the pelting rain that soon reached downpour proportions. The howling wind only compounded problems and by the time the task was done and we could move our packs “inside,” the inside of our shelter was every bit as wet as the outside.

Yet at least we now had a home away from home — away from home.

Author with trophy bull where he fell.

A place where, for

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three nights, we could sleep, cook, take meals and keep our heads dry.

The “fun” would begin the next morning, with much-improved weather in store for us.

The steep climb into the high country began only 300 yards from our new camp. Day 4 brought mostly cloud-cover, but at least the rain had ceased by the time the three of us shouldered our daypacks and headed for the alpine. Before long, a spidery mountainside cascade allowed us to refill our several water bottles — making us fully ready for a long day above timberline. Another hour of climbing brought us to our first new sighting of caribou: four bachelor bulls on the move, with a deep, nasty canyon between us.

It was Dwight’s turn to make the stalk and mine to film — if only we could get close enough without first being spotted or winded. Most of the day was spent in the attempt, but, in the end, the bulls somehow managed to pull off quite a vanishing act.

What I remember most about the trip back to camp that evening was how treacherous the footing was on a steep, unstable rockslide we were forced to cross on a long, side-hill traverse. It was not a shale slide, by any means. The rocks ranged from very large to boulder-size and a high percentage of them seemed to take a perverse pleasure in moving on you the instant you committed your weight to them. When one rock moved, the one above it usually did also.

Halfway across the intimidating traverse, one boulder suddenly started shifting onto my uphill ankle. Had I not instantly hopped straight upward off that same uphill foot I had just set down, I would likely have been pinned forever in that spot with a fractured ankle. The lightning-like maneuver sent me sprawling forward over the rocks, but nothing else moved — grâce à Dieu — and I regained my feet with a huge sigh of relief and a prayer of thanksgiving.

Day 5 saw our threesome strike out from camp on a different vector. Shortly before noon, there came into view (at least two miles distant) another group of four bulls — way high up in a tiny, “hanging” basin which marked the extreme uppermost margin of green below the

barren rock summit dominating that part of the range. A long, two-hour climb brought us, sight-unseen, to within 150 yards of where our quarry just had to be. Though we hadn’t seen them for nearly two hours, we knew they couldn’t have exited the small basin without our spotting them.

The final bit of slope was very steep and — as we crawled on all fours up the last few yards in order to ease our eyes, ever-so-slowly, above the sharp lip of the basin — our grass-parting gaze settled on a sea of velvet antlers. No two racks were quite the same color, but the darkest two seemed to be by far the most impressive.

Sliding back down the slope a few feet, Dwight handed me his video-cam and proceeded to get his archery gear ready for action. We then slithered back up to the lip for a second peek, only to find the bulls no longer bedded, but milling about rather nervously. We had realized ahead of time that we might be vulnerable to the afternoon thermals, but it was a chance we’d had to take.

Would our scent be wafted right up and over the heads of the bulls or would the air currents betray us by curling over the basin’s rim and sliding back down into the bachelors’ boudoir? It appeared as if the latter had occurred. If, indeed, it was a smell brand-new to their nostrils (which I thought likely), then their natural curiosity could yet yield Dwight a shot opportunity.

For his part, he was trying to decide what to do. He already had an arrow on the string, but his rangefinder had given him a reading of 56 yards to the nearer of the two largest bulls. Either one looked to be a 375-class animal or even better, but Dwight had told me at the start of the hunt that, because of old shoulder injuries, he was not shooting a very strong bow and would not allow himself to take a shot at more than 50 yards.

Two of the animals were now staring in our direction, having no doubt spotted some slight motion of the tops of our heads. It seemed that a couple minutes went by before the group could develop any clear consensus in favor of relocation.

Not feeling that either trophy bull was within his comfortable range,

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Dwight displayed his professionalism and personal code of ethics by refusing to chance the marginal shot.

His judgment and self-discipline were typical of what usually distinguishes the experienced hunter from the eager novitiate.

Unfortunately, the bulls never rewarded Dwight’s patience with the shot opportunity he deserved.

As they ambled nervously out of the basin and up onto the high shoulder of the mountain, Dwight tried to keep up with them and I managed to get some halfway-decent video footage of him trying to mount a successful sneak-attack. After threequarters of an hour, however, with no cover available to him, he finally abandoned the effort — realizing that to continue was futile. By then, the bulls had nearly reached the very summit of the peak above us.

Once again, it had been “Close, but no cigar.”

Day 6 greeted us with successive sheets of liquid sunshine — plus the rumbling promise of much more to come. Our food supply was running low and this was the day we were scheduled to return to June Lake.

The only thing worse than setting up camp in a driving rainstorm is taking one down in the same conditions. Or perhaps they’re on a par.

The first six hours of the hike back to base-camp constituted the wettest, most miserable forced-march of my life. The old horse-trail was deeply incised into the ground and much of it on our return was a flowing rivulet of muddy water up to 10 inches deep. We couldn’t see through to the bottom of the trail, so we often found the hidden rocks by means of a slip or a trip. Going down with your pack on your back didn’t happen often, but it was always disconcerting and getting back up was never easy, yet always messy!

Just breaking the suction-grip which the underwater-mud kept clamping around each boot on every stride soon became exhausting!

And the four river-crossings were something else again! The water level was significantly higher, the current swifter, the bottom less visible and the overall experience — for each of the four traverses — even more intimidating than on our trip upriver. Thank God for Dwight’s walking sticks! Without them, I’m

not sure I would have made it back to June Lake alive.

Once the last crossing had been accomplished safely, Dwight metamorphosed into a “horse headed for the barn” and quickly left me in his mud (there being no dust around).

His patience with my graduallyslowing pace had finally worn thin and he knew Craig would lag behind enough to keep me from turning into a grizzly’s quick supper, should one of those sudden, nasty trail-encounters occur.

That last mile or so, my 65-yearold tail felt like it was dragging 65 feet behind me. As I slowly made the last few uphill steps into the base-camp compound, my stagger changed into a swagger — a sense of pride suddenly suffusing my ego with the thought of what I’d actually managed to survive that day!

Day 7 (for me, anyway) was a day of rest. I really needed to recharge my batteries. Dwight and Craig went off hiking in a new direction out of camp, but returned that evening having sighted nothing worth pursuing. Over supper that night, Eric made an important decision.

Since the available animals were proving so scarce at the moment, Dwight and I should split up and hunt separately in different locations.

A successful sheep hunter from Colorado named Carl Hansen, had returned to base-camp that day with his guide, Clint. With Carl having filled his tag, Clint was assigned to me and we started making plans for the next day. Carl asked if he might tag along, just for the adventure of it and I told him he was most welcome.

It was, in fact, Day 8 which provided the victory we were all hoping for. Dwight, unfortunately, was not to be a part of it. He and Craig, who was an accomplished pilot, flew out to another lake that morning to hunt a totally different area for the last three days of our scheduled hunt.

Overnight, I had been thinking a lot about the “jogger.” I had developed a powerful intuition that he was truly living in that high valley where we had first found him six days earlier. My feeling was that Dwight and I had dislodged him temporarily, but that we would find him there once again, if we were

willing to climb the same tall mountain and take another look.

Clint was skeptical, pointing out that caribou are extremely nomadic by nature. I felt pretty certain, however, that my conviction was wellgrounded. After spooking the handsome bull early in the hunt, Dwight and I had examined his bed, which gave evidence of having been used for many days on end. Ten feet from the bed was a spring and a wellused wallow. I had seen enough to convince me that this particular bull was a loner and had “set up shop” there for the summer. Since it was still early August and the rut was yet a ways off, I just somehow “knew” we would find him again in that same beautiful alpine valley.

“Clint,” I said, with great optimism in both my voice and countenance, “even if my hunch is wrong, maybe some other nomads will have wandered into that valley since I was last there.”

Clint smiled and replied, “Well, let’s go find out! With the return of the good weather, we’re bound to have a fine day in the high country, regardless.”

By 9am, our trio was “on the trail,” and by 11:30am we had gained the high saddle once again. At first glance, the valley appeared the same as it had before — empty and devoid of life. Nonetheless, we all sat down to wait and watch. I pointed out to Clint and Carl the big clump of alders and told them I was betting that my bull was bedded behind it there, even as I spoke. I thought I detected a bit of skepticism in their faces, but they were too polite to say anything and before long we were all glassing up and down the valley — trying to find a nomad somewhere.

I don’t think 30 minutes had passed before I said to my new companions, “There he is! See him right below us, feeding on the front, left-hand fringe of that same alder clump?” My binoculars told me instantly that this was the same bull we had seen on Day 2.

“By golly, that’s amazing!” Clint piped up. “He’s just where you said he’d be!”

“I’ll be doggoned!” Carl chipped in. “Now all we have to do is wait till he beds down again!”

“You’re right,” I responded. “But he hasn’t yet taken his afternoon

spin around the jogging track. We may have to wait a while.”

“Are you pulling our legs, friend?”

Carl queried, with a quizzical look on his face.

“You wait! You’ll see!” I said, with more conviction than I really felt. “If he does what he did six days ago, his exercise regimen should start in the next 20 minutes.” Clint and Carl looked at each other and I’m pretty certain I saw Carl wink.

Roughly 15 minutes later, as if on cue, the bull stopped feeding, broke into his familiar trot, crossed the brook and headed up the well-worn valley-trail.

“Well, I’ll go to hell!” muttered Carl under his breath, as he followed the jogger through his binos.

“Boy, have you got a crystal ball!” added Clint.

Even to my own amazement, this “bull of destiny” retraced almost exactly the same course I had seen him run on the second day of the hunt. At the upper end of his jogging track, he stopped briefly to sniff the ground, then turned down-valley, resuming his steady trot and finishing up his lap by disappearing behind the big alder clump once again.

Then nothing. No part of him was visible. Several minutes went by, but nothing more.

With more bravado and confidence than I really felt, I finally said, “Guys, I think it’s time to go down there and kill that big dude! What do you think?” They agreed, of course, and as we donned our daypacks again, I asked Carl if he’d be willing to use my camcorder to film the upcoming action. He replied that he’d be happy to. After descending to a small hummock about 70 yards shy of the creek, we decided to make that our staging area for the stalk and I proceeded to show Carl the basics of using my video camera.

It took me a few minutes to dig out my green camo-shirt, my matching camo headnet and my squeezebottle for testing the wind, but I was soon ready to tackle the challenge that lay below me, just a hundred yards away. Clint and Carl stretched out prone on the hummock, ready to film whatever action I might produce. I hustled down the last of the slope to the creek, crossed it as quietly as I could and began testing the air movements every few seconds.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

The big decision I had to make was whether to try to move around the broad alder clump to the left or to the right. The puff-bottle was giving me mixed smoke-signals. The air couldn’t seem to make up its mind what it wanted to do. First it was drifting upstream, then downstream - back and forth, back and forth. I finally decided to attempt circling the right side of the alders. My arrow was nocked now and I was ready to draw at a moment’s notice.

The dense “wall” of little alder trunks was less than 10 yards away.

I was still not hearing or seeing anything. I lifted my binos to my eyes and tried to see “through” the base of the alders — looking to spot some recognizable form or motion. Once I got the glasses properly focused at such close range, I suddenly realized I was staring at a leg: a thick, vertical, immobile, lower portion of a caribou leg — perhaps eight or nine yards from me through the heavy vegetation. He was there, all right, within spitting distance, but was he oblivious to my presence? I had to think so. Since I’d already dropped my puff-bottle into a pocket, I was now at the mercy of the fickle air currents.

Now that it was too late to change direction, I suddenly discovered I’d really handicapped myself. Being left-handed (and needing, therefore, to shoot off the right side of my body) meant I could only continue to circle to my right by walking (more-or-less-blindly) backwards!

Three slow, painful steps brought me to a point where the bull’s head, neck and front shoulder were finally in view. The sight gave me greatly renewed confidence because — al-

though he was not bedded and napping, as I had hoped — his head was down close to the ground and he was shaking it for all he was worth, doing battle with several squadrons of whitesox, no-see-ums and other assorted flying insects. One more step backwards was all I would need to give my arrow a clear path to the rib cage.

Alas, it was just not to be! I probably should have drawn my arrow before attempting that last step, but I wanted to see where I was placing my boot so that nothing would snap or go crunch as I lowered my weight onto it. I knew I could not do that if I were at full draw. My luck ran out a second or two too early! Whether the bull heard a faint sound or a fickle air current gave me away, I’ll never be certain. What I do know is that the bull suddenly bolted off his bedding platform like a cruise missile off a naval vessel in the Persian Gulf. Though I did draw, I chose not to release the arrow at the speeding target.

Deeply disappointed, I watched my quarry curve to his right and head down-valley. He soon slowed to a canter, however and then to his familiar trot. Suddenly, 100 yards or so below me, he swung right again, crossed the stream and headed back up the valley in my direction! This was too good to be true! I rushed forward, low to the ground behind a bank of willow bushes and stopped just short of the creek-bed, kneeling down right in front of the last big bush anywhere nearby. Knowing that he would pass directly above me, at something like 30 to 40 yards, I drew back, anchored and waited for the proper moment to arrive. When I released the feathered shaft a few seconds later, the animal was about 35 yards away, perhaps 18 feet above me in elevation and in the process of slowing to a walk.

It turned out to be one of the luckiest shots of Author and Carl measuring rack back in camp. my entire life —

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and for more reasons than one. Angling somewhat forward, the arrow struck the bull amidships - passing through his liver, his diaphragm, his far lung and then exiting the far side, to stick in the grassy tundra. The bull switched direction again and headed back down the valley. I knew instantly it would be a quickly-fatal shot and the blood-sign on the arrow confirmed that.

As I looked uphill to relocate Clint and Carl, it dawned on me, with horror, that they had been right in line with the bull at the moment of my shot! Since the bull had been directly between us, if my arrow had come in high and skitched off the back of the animal, it could very possibly have struck one of my companions!

I broke out in a cold sweat as I trudged up the hill to meet them, but — if, indeed, they had even been aware of the danger — their jubilation certainly masked all of that now.

“Great shot, Dennis!” was the chorus that greeted me. “I think we saw him go down,” said Carl. “Just as he was disappearing from view into the throat of that draw, about 150 yards from here.”

“Did you get the shot on film, Carl?” I asked, starting to feel a tremendous sense of elation.

“You bet I did!” came the reply.

“In that case,” I rejoined, “we ought to be able to see the arrow exiting the rib cage! That would really be cool, since virtually no bowhunting shots ever get filmed from such an angle!”

A two-minute walk took us to the bull which I’m convinced it was my destiny to harvest. There were simply too many details of the strange hunt that had conspired to produce this outcome — and/ or to prevent any other. We found the gorgeous animal lying in some willow bushes on the edge of the stream. He appeared to have died on his feet. Clint went to work immediately with his knife and in just over an hour he had deboned all the meat and somehow stuffed most of it into his oversized packsack. I put the backstraps in my daypack, as well as Clint’s tripod and spotting scope. Carl insisted on carrying my cape, head and antlers back up the mountain and all the way down to June Lake. Did I ever feel lucky! In contrast to six days earlier, I prac-

tically floated back up to the high saddle — so happy was I with my good fortune and the day’s events!

At base-camp that evening, Eric, Lorna, Clint, Carl and I celebrated our success, but I really missed Dwight’s being there. I kept wondering what kind of luck he was having. Sad to say, I found out later that his luck did not take a turn for the better. Although Dwight has taken far more animals in the field with his bow than have I, when the Hunting Gods decide to get involved, all the experience in the world can pass for naught.

Whatever the reason, in early August of 2005, Diana showered her blessings upon my head, rather than Dwight’s — by introducing me to a most peculiar caribou bull.

One that died, ultimately, a victim of his own habits.

Whitetail Deer hunters talk a lot about “patterning” a particular buck: studying his habits, so as to be able, eventually, to take his life. But who ever heard of “patterning” a caribou? Especially a Mountain Caribou? I don’t doubt it can be done with the summertime Woodland bulls of Newfoundland, but a Mountain Caribou? Or even a Barren Ground Caribou? It still boggles my mind every time I think about it!

The BAREBOW! Sagas – Adventure and Misadventure in the Wilds of North America Dennis Dunn doesn’t just tell hunting stories; he shares his dreams, his victories, his disappointments, his wisdom and he teaches from his knowledge and experience. The BAREBOW! Sagas will not only acquaint you with the sweet taste of success and the bitter agony of defeat; they will convince you that well-regulated hunting sustains the use of wildlife and gives the animals increased value to justify their conservation and preservation. In this series, Dennis takes you along on his quest for the North American Big Game 29 Super Slam. A bow, a string, an arrow – no trigger, no peep-sights, no pins – just fingers, guts and instinct. That’s hunting BAREBOW! To learn more about Dunn’s award-winning book (from which the above story was taken), or to order a copy of BAREBOW!, you may visit the author’s website at: www. barebows.com.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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Utilize Shooting Sticks to Increase Your Accuracy

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By Michael Deming good rule of thumb when shooting is; the closer you can get to the ground, the more accurate your shots will be. If you already shoot a lot, you know what I mean. This article is written for those of you who are novice shooters and the folks who are just looking for a tidbit of info they just might not know.

What I mean by getting closer to the ground, is the prone position.

This means laying on your stomach with your knee nearest the rifle to be moved towards the buttstock, which gives your lungs room to expand and contract without affecting your crosshairs. Combine this position with a bipod or with your rifle resting on a pack and you have one of the most stable

positions to shoot from. Military snipers use this position almost exclusively and I use it in every situation I possibly can. I even use it if the shot might be within a hundred yards. It gives me the very best chance of making a humane and accurate kill, which should be the goal of all hunters.

However, the problem with this position in most cases is the topography. With our target animals, they often don’t follow the script and come out in the valley below us where we have a perfect field of view and can make that prone position work. In many cases, you have grass or brush to deal with in your line of site. Downhill shots are another major problem for the prone position. Shooting sticks are the answer to giving you a mo-

Having your sticks readily available makes them much more likely to be used.

bile rest as they can be with you and ready at all times. However, they don’t do a person any good unless you practice with them and become proficient.

I hunted with a person last year who experienced this exact situation. They said that they were really good out to 400 yards. On the first day of the hunt, we had a tremendous bull screaming his head off at us. It was an extreme downhill shot and I provided my shooting sticks for him to make the shot. He couldn’t get comfortable and settled in, even though he had good equipment. The bull was at 375 yards, with the shot for 325 due to the angle. He commenced to unloading his rifle several times without even touching a hair on the bull. The bull was rut-crazed and barely moved during this ordeal, but lived through this unprepared ordeal. The hunte’rs lack of experience with shooting sticks cost him a great bull.

The only way to get used to shooting sticks is to get a set and start shooting with them at the range and in the field. Many states allow you to shoot jack rabbits year around and I find this is a great way

Pro’s Tips to get practice at real game, instead of just shooting at a target. However, follow your states’ regulation.

Regardless of the target you are shooting, you need to spend a lot of time with them. Learning how to quickly set them up on uneven terrain and get a stable platform will enhance your accuracy.

I won’t get into specifics of brands or models of shooting sticks and which ones work best - I’ll let you decide. I’ve used a set built by Crooked Horn for nearly twenty years, but they are no longer available. The Primos Steady Stix are almost identical. The Bog Pod standing sticks work when standing and fold down for seated shots, making them probably the most versatile. Regardless of the model you choose, get proficient with them.

Here are some tips to getting the very most out of your shooting sticks.

First and foremost, figure out a place on your pack where you can easily access them. I built a

Using your pack to support the butt stock and the sticks to support the front is nearly as stable as the prone position.

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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Putting your elbow into the soft portion of the leg helps to keep you steady when setting up for a shot. holster for mine out of cardboard solid rest for the front of your and camo tape which holds them rifle. However, there are several on the bottom of my pack. I utilize additional things you can do to the sleeping bag straps to secure provide more stability in your my holster with the sticks facing shots. Being a right handed shooter, the left. I can easily grab my sticks I like to sit with my left shoulder out of the holster and deploy them pointed towards the target. I sit in seconds. with my legs spread apart and put Once deployed, you have a very my right elbow into the soft tissue

just below my knee. This provides the year, but our initial experience me two very stable points of rest is great. and I’m comfortable taking shots Remember, standing or off-hand at extended ranges with this setup. is the most unstable position and it However, if time is on my side, I is also the one I least recommend. will take it one step further. I like However, there are times when it to remove my pack and put it be- is the only shot you have. If you tween my legs. This allows the rear have standing shooting sticks, it’s portion of the rifle to rest as well. going to improve your chances of This three point of contact system success greatly. You owe it to the gives you the most stability pos- animals we love so much to make sible with this setup. There is also a humane shot. a new set of shooting sticks on the market called the Double Crossed Shooting Sticks, by High and Heavy Outdoors, which has a built-in rear rifle support. They are easy to set up and will be tested more t h o ro u g h l y throughout Close up of elbow in the soft tissue.

SKB iSeries Custom Pistol Case

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor rom guitars to cameras to golf clubs, SKB has been providing high quality, American made molded cases to protect your gear for nearly 40 years.

One of their most popular-selling cases is the iSeries Custom Single Pistol case.

It features a sturdy polypropylene copolymer resin rotomolded case with trigger release latches, a rubber overmolded pivoting handle, and dual locking loops. This case is an ideal companion for those who travel with their firearm and is TSA

F

approved for transporting a firearm on a plane.

The resin from which the case is constructed is oil, solvent, and UV resistant. An internal rubber gasket makes the case absolutely watertight. A pressure equalization valve allows the internal air pressure to match the ambient pressure without allowing moisture inside.

On the inside, two layers of high density foam with square pluckable plugs, allows the protective material to be customized to fit a variety of hand guns and extra magazines for safe transport without damage to your gun.

Even though the case is as tough as nails, it is fairly lightweight, weighing under two and a half pounds, empty. There is ample room inside for small and medium sized

frame semi-auto or revolver. The internal measurements are 10.75 inches long by 6.13 inches wide by 3.25 inches deep and has been tested to specifically fit more than 25 popular models of firearms.

SKB also has TSA approved combination luggage locks that fit in the locking holes. These rugged locks allow the user to easily set their own 4-digit combination and feature a TSA master lock, that can be opened for inspection after the case has been checked in.

As someone who flies with firearms frequently, having the ability to properly transport my pistol in an approved container that doesn’t weigh a ton is important to me. knowing tat I can secure the gun, and protect it during the jostling and banging of the not-so-careful baggage handlers and machinery gives me peace of mind.

All of the iSeries of SKB cases meet stringent military requirements and provide durable and reliable protection for your firearm.

Check out the full selection of pistol, rifle, and bow cases in the hunting department of your local Sportsman’s Warehouse, or get them online at www. sportsmanswarehouse.com.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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Plan Your Own Elk Hunt For $1,000

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By Randy Newberg hear it year-after-year.

“Goin’ elk hunting?”

“Nope, didn’t draw. You?” “Nah, didn’t draw either. Going to save some money and maybe go next year.”

Next year?

Come on. There are plenty of tags, public land and elk to go around.

And by setting aside less than a Benjamin each month, you can hit the road for elk every fall—even at the last minute.

Where? Colorado has unlimited over-the-counter (OTC) bull elk tags for the second and third rifle seasons.

As I write this in early May, Idaho also has a bunch of elk tags remaining. Chances are very good that those tags will be available right up to opening day. OTC tags may not be in your dream unit, but think of it as practice.

Consider how many elk seasons you have missed waiting to draw the miracle tag. Many hunters roll the dice with the lottery-type odds of the hallowed elk states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah or Nevada. After years and years of applying, they might finally draw that cherished tag. These patient hunters now have their tag, but in reality, they are elk novices. So many seasons have passed where knowledge could have been garnered from other elk hunts in areas that are just as much fun to hunt. Do you really want to put a dozen years into drawing a highdemand tag and then show up with little or no elk hunting experience

under your belt? And don’t forget time afield with family and friends that can never be replaced. After all, the experience and memories of great hunting camps is a big reason we hunt.

The tag is going to be your biggest cost, followed by travel expenses.

But don’t fret, there are ways to trim both. As for tags, consider hunting a cow. Cow tags are cheaper and cows are more abundant and provide the finest meat, in my opinion. Colorado tags for bulls or either-sex elk total $564 when you add in the $10 Habitat Stamp. If you want a cow, the price is $200 less. Idaho charges $155 for a license and $417 for the either-sex elk tag—total of $572. If you plan in advance, the $555 New Mexico bull tag or the $345 cow tag is reasonable and within the budget.

Wyoming cow tags are $302 and can be found in hefty supply. For $48 each, you might even pick up a doe antelope or doe mule deer tag.

That adds fun and more meat in the freezer.

In some respects, the tag is the easy part. Just pick one, pay up and you’re done. But with travel expenses, there’s real opportunity to go over-budget on some luxuries like restaurant food and motel rooms.

But you’re going elk hunting, not to Club-Med. To keep the trip under $1,000, try these short-cuts. They may be hard to fathom at first, but bear with me.

Toss the idea that you need any additional equipment. If you hunt deer, you have what you need. I know what you’re thinking.

I don’t own a rifle that can take down an elk.

Wrong! If you have a deer rifle and one box of quality ammo, you’re in. You don’t need some .30-plus caliber magnum chiseled to 5-pounds, topped with an electronic range-finding scope and sporting a deafening muzzle brake. I’ve Forget about motels. That will suck a lot of hunted elk with the cash and waste precious time. Some of the most rudimentary of best memories of my life have been made gear and shot many around the fire at elk camp. bulls with rifles some

would question as being adequate for even deer. Elk are just as dead with a .2 or some other standard deer caliber.

Same goes for bows.

If you have a bow with a 60-pound taking their rig again next year.

Forget about motels. That will suck draw weight that can deliver 60 footpounds of energy—and you can hit a lot of cash and waste precious time.

Take turns driving and resting. It is with it—you can cleanly kill an elk.

Ammo cost is small, but essential. a road trip, right? One guy sleeps, Given the importance of high-quality while two stay awake. You can make ammo, I make sure to budget at least amazing time with this system. If it one box of premium bullets. You may gets too tiring, pull over at a rest stop already be shooting such for your and catch some sleep.

An easy way to gain back all that other hunts. If one box is not enough, I kindly suggest you spend a whole weight you lost in preparing for your out-of-state elk hunt is eating lot more time at the range.

You have a gun and some bullets out on the road. Let’s be honest, are or a bow and some arrows. Now you you really going to order that bowl need two good hunting buddies, of oatmeal or that chicken-fried steak with ‘good’ being paramount. Since with sausage gravy? If you can’t travel will be your second biggest bring it from home, it’s off the list. I cost, divvying up that cost in thirds haven’t budgeted anything for food. helps everyone, as long as everyone Why? You’re going to eat, regardless understands up front that costs will if it’s in elk camp or at home. Eating be split evenly, just like camp chores. on the road or heavy snacking at gas Make sure you have already hunted stations wastes $150 per hunter. This together. The last thing you want is is an elk hunt, not a feast.

For breakfast on the road, find a a great elk hunt soured by one lazy guy or the guy who thinks everyone scenic overlook, prop up the stove likes to drink late and sleep in or on the tailgate, boil some water for the guy who is physically unfit for oatmeal, with raisins and brown the demands of a lean and mean sugar. Make coffee and relax while elk camp. A sense of humor doesn’t you watch the sun come up. Lunch can be sandwiches, trail mix and hurt either.

Tags, guns or bows, gear and bud- treats from home. It keeps your tank dies. With those basics, let’s get to and your wallet full.

At my elk camp, dinner is always cutting expenses. I’m a CPA by trade, so naturally I’m a dollar and cents an assortment of pre-cooked meals, sort of guy. Necessities like food which saves us time and money. My and gas will eat up a good chunk wife is kind enough to cook up elk of the budget. I assume most out-of-state elk hunters will travel an average of 1,200 miles each way. A good elk rig might only get 15 mpg.

That’s 160 gallons for the round trip. At $3 per gallon, the total cost is $480 or $160 per hunter.

Also keep in mind, the rig might suffer some abuse, both from three guys sleeping in it and from some mean back- To get your meat out of the field, a half-dozroads. Having the driv- en pillow cases from Goodwill will serve as er pay a little less for gas game bags and a solid external-frame pack might go a long way in is all you need for retrieval.

Adventure On A Budget

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken and dumplings, etc. We divide them up into single-hunter portions, vacuum seal them and freeze. When we’re ready to eat, we drop the sealed bag in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. The more prep you can do at home, the easier it makes camp life, leaving you more time to chase elk.

We drink water in my elk camp.

There’s no real reason for anything else except coffee. Bring plenty of water from home. It is amazing how hard it can be to find potable water while traveling fast. If you have a filtration system, pack it. Just make sure you have a water source near camp. Water is best for the body and best for the budget.

Since I assume you will already have an idea on where you want to hunt ahead of time, pick a spot to camp off a Forest Service or BLM road. Most times, pull-offs on forest roads will have a small clearing to pitch your tent and cost you nothing.

Campgrounds will typically have pit toilets, picnic tables and nominal

C

utting wood for a fire, making shelter, repairing a fence, or for any of a million reasons, is a staple of activity in the outdoors.

Having an excellent saw makes clean cuts, fast work, and saves effort.

Silky provides a variety of saws for the outdoorsman and woman that are as practical on the trail as they are in the garden.

These Japanese saws provide excellent ergonomics, smooth and fast cutting blades, and fold up to save space. The handles are overmolded with rubber for a comfortable, stable grip, and a lanyard hold allows a cord to be threaded and looped over your wrist to prevent the saw from being dropped when used up high, such as on a ladder. This is safer for those below and also prevents you from climbing up and down the ladder to retrieve a dropped tool.

The folding versions feature a heavy-duty steel spring locking mechanism that allows the blade to be locked into two different angles.

The blades can be swapped out easily using a flat head screwdriver or a coin. The high-carbon steel blades

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fees. Do you want to be closer to elk or convenience? On public land, they often don’t go hand-in-hand.

If you’re serious about shooting an elk on this hunt, you need to think about getting the meat out of the field, into the truck and into your home freezer. The costly way to go is have a packer haul it out, take it to a processor and then have them ship it to you. That’s not in the budget. A half-dozen pillow cases from Goodwill will serve as game bags and a solid external-frame pack, which they might also have at the second-hand store, is all you need for retrieval.

Getting the elk home requires dry ice. Preserving the fruits of your labor takes $50 in dry ice, enough to split among four 80- to 120-quart coolers of boned elk meat that has cooled while hanging in game bags.

Who is going to process this elk?

You. Don’t know how? Learn. It seems daunting, but dive in. You’ll save hundreds of dollars. I process my own game whenever possible. It takes time, but I know I end up with

my own meat, in the cuts I want, cleaned free of hair and dirt to my standards. Freezer paper, tape and cling wrap needed for this task is under $30.

When all is said and done, you will have more than 300 pounds of the leanest, organic, free-range protein on the planet with the cost per pound equaling about three dollars. Good luck getting that at the supermarket.

After all this, we’ve not spent much. If the household requires reimbursement for food you take to elk camp, fair enough. Have some

come in a variety of teeth sizes for green wood, dry wood, pruning, and even bone. The smooth cutting technology (MIRAI-ME) is fine enough to use the saw for finish cuts in carpentry. This is accomplished by creating four different cutting angles on each tooth of the blade. This allows smooth cutting on the directional axis and also makes smooth cuts when rip cutting, cross cutting, and on a slant. Non-set teeth are taper ground for faster cutting. Impulse hardening instantly heats the teeth and hardens them to keep them sharp approximately three times longer than nonhardened teeth, and a hard chrome plating is applied to create a durable surface resistant to rust and the effects of sap and resin.

The Silky saws come in variety of sizes to fit your specific needs.

Silky PocketBoy With a 5 or 7-inch curved blade, the folding PocketBoy is small enough to toss into a cargo pants pocket or the outside compartment of a backpack and takes up minimal space. The 130 mm (5-inch) blade saw weighs 6.2 ounces and the 170 mm (7-inch) blade saw weighs 7.5 ounces. It comes with a clear polycarbonate case that can be attached to a belt, and which also protects the saw from dust, debris, and moisture.

Silky Folding Saws

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special needs requiring costs I have overlooked? On the safe side, add $50 per hunter for incidentals. It still adds up to just under a grand.

The reality is that you should be hunting elk every year. Just the costsavings from eating elk you killed versus buying meat in the store should be reason enough. Add in time afield, moments shared with friends and family and you’ll have a fresh set of low-cost memories for every off-season.

Toss the idea that you need any additional equipment. If you hunt deer, you have what you need. I know what you’re thinking, “I don’t own a rifle that can take down an elk”. Wrong!

If you have a deer rifle and one box of ‘quality’ ammo, you’re in.

Silky GomBoy The GomBoy features a straight 8.3inch blade (210 mm) and a textured non-slip rubber overmolded handle.

It weighs 8.8 ounces and comes with a clear polycarbonate case with a rubber locking belt slide. The blade is made of SK4 high carbon steel.

Silky BigBoy 2000 Featuring a massive 14.2-inch curved blade, a with a beefy rubber covered comfort grip capable of a two-handed grip, the BigBoy 2000 is a serious tool for serious work. The first position is a low-angle curve for comfortable overhead cutting and the second position is great for working from above or on smaller round wood. This bad boy makes short work of medium sized trees and larger limbs. When you need to build a cabin in the woods, the BigBoy 2000 is the tool you want in your pack. It weighs in at an even pound, so it is still light enough for packing a long way to where you will need it.

Check out the variety of Silky folding saws at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse store.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

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If You Listen Close You Can Hear Them Grow Up

By Steve Scaramastro

L

ast Saturday evening I was sitting alone in a cold, gray, drizzly swamp in Mississippi.

The only sounds were those of an occasional squirrel or rabbit and the rain lightly pitter-pattering in the woods around me. Suddenly, and with no announcement, the silence was shattered by the sound of my son growing up. How did it come to this?

There are a thousand incremental steps a boy takes on the way to becoming a man. It’s awesome when we are there to watch them take those steps, and even better if we are able to recognize the significance of what we are observing.

Over the years, my son has transitioned from watching me hunt, to hunting on his own with me doing the observing. His first trip to the field was when he was three years old. In those early years, he’d just go and watch. He loved just being out in the woods, and as a new dad, I loved watching him out there. Until that time, I didn’t know that simply jumping up on a log in the woods and walking it like a balance beam could be so entertaining for a child.

I guess I was going to learn as much as he was as these trips took place.

I was hoping in these early years, that he’d grow to like hunting and we’d be out there together every year. If I could have an activity that my kid loves to do with me, then

I’d be guaranteed to have a good connection with him long after he’s grown up and moved away. Time would tell.

As he grew older, he got to go on more trips. Pretty soon, he was going with me almost every weekend.

He learned to safely handle a gun, to shoot well, to track deer, to stalk deer, and more. Basically, he learned everything I had learned over the years; all of my knowledge and ethics were simply passed down to him. Taking game for the dinner table is such a normal thing to him that on his 5th Thanksgiving, when his momma brought the turkey to the table and he leaned in and asked, “ooooh! Who killed it?”

When he was seven or eight years old, he got his very own rifle. I’ll never forget the first time we went out with it. It was a typical cloudy and cold winter day and he had his new rifle cradled in his arms and he looked at me and asked, “where’s your rifle?”

I replied, “I’m not the one hunting; you are.”

The smile that took to his face when he realized he wasn’t in my shadow anymore was priceless.

At that moment he realized that he was the hunter. He wasn’t there to watch, this was his hunt. If a deer came out, he would shoot it. He would be the one putting the meat on the table. That smile was priceless because it was much more than just a smile; it was a moment when

he realized he had just grown up a little. He had worked hard and responsibly and he had earned this moment; and on that occasion, I got to watch him grow up a little bit.

As he started his career with his own rifle, I was always there to answer questions and help guide his decisions. I’d sit right beside him every time. Rather than simply tell him what to do, I wanted the process to foster an analytic approach.

I wanted him to be the one thinking things through and coming up with the answers. I’d ask questions and let him give me the answers. If he had questions for me, I’d walk him through the hints and let him find the conclusion. It’s amazing how quickly kids can learn and even more impressive to see how they put those lessons to work on their own. He killed several deer over the years, with me by his side just watching.

As an observer, I have a great time. It’s always fun to watch a kid try to deal with the sensory overload of a massive adrenaline hit that inevitably arrives the moment you realize success or failure is at hand.

Their hands and legs are a trembling mess as they try to get their brain to focus on the task at hand.

They have the knowledge and they have a target, now they just have to force themselves to settle down and make a good shot. I get a kick out of watching that every single time.

Recently, I started talking about him hunting on his own. The first time I asked him if he wanted to do a solo hunt he thought about it for a moment and then told me, “nah, I like hunting with you. There’s nothing like having your dad cracking jokes for three hours while you’re waiting on a deer to show up.” I smiled when I heard it; my plan was working.

All of this leads us back to today.

It’s been tough to get on the deer this year, so he decided that tonight we’d split up. I dropped him off in his spot on the southern boundary of the property and then I made my way to the swamp on the north end.

I sat in my spot, eager to see not only what my own hunt might deliver, but I was really excited to see if

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

he’d get a shot on one of his first solo hunts. As is always the case with an afternoon hunt, it gets dark far too quickly. You never really want the hunt to end.

As the light faded I was shocked that I hadn’t heard anything from my son. I just knew there would be deer coming to feed in the area where he had chosen to set up.

The evening’s silence was punctuated occasionally by the soft and distant thunder of duck hunters on the river a few miles away. As sunset approached, they were eagerly taking the last few ducks of the day.

My mind alternated from scanning my surroundings and studying every hole in the swampy vegetation, to wondering what my son might be seeing half a mile to my south with the same darkness closing in around him. Was he bored?

Was he unable to move due to too many deer being close to him? Was he currently locked in a struggle with adrenaline? How would he do if a deer emerged without me there for support? Was he even awake? I smiled and shrugged off the thoughts. He is good enough to handle whatever happens. If he wasn’t, then he wouldn’t be allowed to hunt alone. If he messes up and spooks a deer it’s just all part of the learning experience.

With those thoughts out of the way I re-focused on the task at hand.

I resumed scanning the silent landscape around me with no shortage of surprise at the lack of activity. By this time there should be deer trying to travel past me to get to the agricultural fields to my north. This is a dynamite spot and I thought that if they’re not moving here then they must not be moving anywhere until after dark. Now I felt a little disappointed that my son would end this hunt without seen anything at all.

KABOOOOM! When his single shot shattered the late afternoon

September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION

silence and echoed it’s way to me, I immediately recognized that I just heard my son grow up a little bit more. I had no idea what he had shot at, but I knew that whatever transpired on that field to the south had caused him to raise his rifle and fire a single shot. One shot. No follow up.

Half a second later, my own heart started racing with adrenaline. I wanted to jump out of the tree and run down there to get the story. I could hardly contain my excitement. After a moment I calmed down and figured he’d wait at least 20 minutes before he started tracking it and it was dark so he might not even do that until I got there. I decided I’d finish hunting the last 10 minutes of legal light and then head down. Those last minutes were spent trying to picture what had happened on that field. I could picture his hands shaking after the shot; they always do that, so I knew at least that much about his hunt. What had he shot? There is a gigantic rub at the back of that field.

Could he have shot the monster buck that left it? Did he see a coyote and drop the hammer on it? I had no information at all, only a single gun shot from his location.

After waiting perhaps the longest 10 minutes of my life, I began heading that way. Halfway there I met him. I saw his flashlight on the dirt road as he made his way back through the dark woods to meet me at the barn. The moment I stopped the ATV I could hear him telling the story. He talked faster than I thought was possible. He was talking faster than I’d ever heard his momma talk, and that is saying something. It had been nearly 20 minutes and he was still so full of adrenaline that his voice and hands were shaky and he couldn’t quit talking. I was smiling so hard it hurt. My face actually hurt from smiling so long.

After a quick drive back to the scene of the crime I finally got the details on the hunt. He had been surveying the field in front of him when out of the corner of his eye he noticed something to his left. Per-

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haps 40 yards away, a deer was on the edge of a plot of standing corn.

It was actually just inside the first row or two of the cornfield. His first thought when he saw it was, “man that’s a big squirrel!” Then it lifted its head and he got a good look at what it was. It was a single doe. He said he started to shake immediately. Not only was he shaking but he had to reposition to get the angle for the shot. He was worried he’d make noise doing it which caused his shaking to increase even more.

Like a seasoned hunter he slooooowly eased everything into position. You can’t rush that shot, not with a deer that close. There was nothing but open ground and thin air between them. If it sees you or hears you moving, it will be gone before you could get the gun up, and your emotions would crash from the great heights of expectation to the great low spot of failure. Success hinges upon gathering lessons you’ve learned and executing them perfectly on this cold, darkening field, alone and under great pressure.

He said his last thought before pulling the trigger was “I can’t believe how steady these crosshairs are.” BOOM! The shot heard round the county was unleashed. His new 30-06 barked with great ferocity, the familiar recoil pushed back into his shoulder, the cold air smelled of burnt powder and the deer crashed down in a heap right where it stood. He was no longer alone; his new companion was success. With words still flowing from his mouth faster than the speed of sound he told me that he was so excited that he wanted to shout right there on the spot even though he was by himself.

In the end he took all the hunting lessons he had learned, threw in a lot of tenacity and hard work, and put it all together to create success.

Maybe someday he’ll get to hear his own kid take a similar shot; only then will he realize just how great a shot that was.

As for me, I can’t wait to hear him grow up some more on the next trip.

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September 2016 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS DIGITAL EDITION