Sportsman's News January 2018 Digital Edition

FREE January 2018 | Volume 14 | Issue 1

Where The Yentna Merges With Lake Creek

Enter To Win A New Zealand Red Stag Hunt

With Every DVD Purchase See Pg. 35 for details

Steve McGrath displays a beauty he brought to the net while bouncing a jig on the upper stretches of Lake Creek at McDougall Lodge.

Gary Lewis

Kilchis Steelheads Muley Destination

Colorado Hunting Expeditions Page 8

Chad LaChance

Prep Now!

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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 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGERS Sam Staudt sam@sportsmansnews.com Andrew Saullo andrew@sportsmansnews.com Subscribers should contact Managing Editor for changes of address.

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January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Michael Deming

H

ere we go with the start of another year. It is hard to believe that we have been doing Sportsman’s News for 15 years now. We have been filming hunting and fishing adventures for the SNTV series for a dozen years and the Pro Membership Sweepstakes will start its 4th year this April. This will be a major milestone for this program because we will top over one million dollars’ worth of trips, guns, and gear that we have given away to some lucky winners. This threshold will be achieved in late June of 2018.

If you aren’t familiar with the Pro Membership Sweepstakes, check out the center page spread of this issue of Sportsman’s News and see what we will be giving away over the next 12 months. You can log onto the website at www.promembershipsweepstakes.com to see what is coming up, as well as to register to become a lucky winner. Just $27 a month or $297 dollars for a full year will give you five tickets in every single drawing for a full calendar year. We do a drawing the 10th, 20th, and 30th (February 28th) of each and every month of the year. We video each and every one of these drawings and post them soon after the draws so that everyone can see the process. It is extremely exciting and everyone I talk with raves about having something this big and special to look forward to every ten days.

I just returned from Texas where I was along with two of our groups of winners.

The first trip was to DaVine Springs Ranch just north of Austin. The lucky winner decided to harvest a world class whitetail. Lane Wolff who is one of the co-owners of this great operation informed me that they had changed the pricing structure for this hunt and instead of being able to harvest a buck up to 200”, we would now be able to harvest any one of the biggest bucks on the ranch. We were fortunate enough to put the hammer down on a deer that would have enough bone on his head to be a terrific elk and is shown above in my photo with the winner. We are going to give away this trip again in 2018 and it will take place in early December.

We followed that trip up with another Texas extravaganza at the 777 Ranch just south of Hondo, Texas. This place is five-star all the way and the owner, Jeff Rann, is on site to make sure the staff keeps up his tradition of high quality. Once you are on the ranch, you would think that you are in Africa, except for the pastures that have huge Texas whitetails. Our lucky winner for this trip chose to take his brother along as it allowed for a guest to be included. Being from Alaska, he was happy to leave the short days and cold temperatures to arrive in San Antonio to high seventy-degree days and a first class four-day safari. He chose to use his $12,000 credit towards some various exotic animals found around the world. Derick and his brother Jeff enjoyed the experience of a lifetime and it was all possible because of the Pro Membership Sweepstakes. He said that he would have never done this type of hunt without winning it and it was a world class experience he will never forget. He said that he is a member for life.

I share these snapshots of these trips because each one of these trips is exciting to me. To get to be along with our members and see them experience a trip of a lifetime delivers to me the excitement I wanted to share when we started the Pro Membership Sweepstakes. We are usually along to film the adventure and we do our very best to just let it happen as things go. This allows our winners to see a finished show about their adventure, which will last for a lifetime. The Pro Membership Sweepstakes is truly one of the greatest programs we have ever developed. I look forward to 2018 and getting to be on the road with a bunch more of our lucky winners.

I hope each and every one of you have a happy and prosperous New Year.

WHAT’S INSIDE

4 Where the Yentna Merges With Lake Creek Alaska kings come out to play at McDougall Lodge.

Colorado Mulie Destination 8 Giant trophy mule deer with Colorado Hunting Expeditions.

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14Choose a Sportsman's News Endorsed Guide for your next trip.

Platinum Approved Outfitters

18 Henry All-Weather Rifles

A work of art gets a practical makeover.

Pro Member Sweepstakes 20 Over $300,000 In Giveaways. Drawing Every 10 Days.

23 Fishful Thinker: Prep Now!

20

Using your downtime to prepare for your uptime.

24 PacWest Outdoors: Steelhead Are Biters, Dude!

Tackling steelhead on the Kilchis.

28 Pro Member Update: Alaska Kingfishers King Salmon on the Nushagak.

31 Pro's Tip: Fall Planning for Success Creating your own luck through proper planning.

35 Business Directory 36 Pro's Pick: Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 An upgrade to an already great concealed carry gun.

36 Wild Game Recipe: Venison Meatballs A classic take on your wild game.

On A Budget: The South Dakota Kayak 42 Adventures Challenge A 72 mile river race from Yankton to Sioux City, IA.

44 Outdoor Writing Contest: Texas PubliC Land Aoudad

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chad LaChance Gary Lewis Steve Mayer Michelle Scheuermann John Burnside

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Where The Yentna Merges With Lake Creek - McDougall Lodge

By Kent Danjanovich

A

laska offers plenty of waters to soak a line. Yes, it is pretty much surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, but much of the fishing is done on lakes and especially rivers and streams throughout its vast expanses.

Both large and small, glacial and clear, these ‘tributaries’ are truly the life blood for fish of all species; especially salmon.

Now for those of you that have not been to Alaska, not all of its waters are crystal clear like you may envision. In fact, the majority of its rivers are glacial with little to no visibility. You might think that these waters are useless, but in reality, they are very important to the overall Alaska waterways picture. They are the artery in which millions of adult salmon migrate through each summer in seeking natal streams; their birthplace, the place in which they will spawn, die and complete one of the most amazing cycles in all of nature.

The Yentna River (“Yentna” actually means the ‘backbone river,’ in the local native Dena’ina tongue) runs mostly northwest to southeast from the Yentna Glacier in the Alaska mountain range to its confluence of the Susitna River. Many clear streams intersect the Yentna throughout its length. These streams support nutrientrich habitats for aquatic invertebrates, small minnows, salmon smolt, native rainbow trout, arctic grayling, not to mention a few feathered, fury and toothy friends.

One of the largest and most dynamic tributaries of the Yentna River drainage is clear flowing Lake Creek, who’s waters are like very few in Alaska. Although many clear-water river systems dot the state, very few are the perfect balance of diversity, creating a masterpiece. Literally, the numerous gravel bars, mid-stream islands, pinched-off oxbow backwaters, sandy-bottom eddies, pea gravel riffles and deep water runs offer the ideal bottom content spawning salmon long for. Lake Creek and its gorgeous river valley is definitely a work of natural art. To see the prevalence of salmon and trout that abound and the other birdlife and mammals that depend on the local rivers is truly a spectacle.

Many Alaska salmon streams are wide, sandy and slow moving in flat, open tundra. These rivers are born from wetlands near sea-level. Most mountain-fed rivers in Alaska are glacial and Lake Creek would be a glacial river as well if it weren’t for Lake Chelatna at the border of south Denali National Park. Glacial streams from the surrounding mountains drain into Chelatna, which acts as a giant settling pond for all glacial sediment, clarifying the water as it runs clear and becomes Lake Creek at the outflow. Numerous other spring-fed tributaries also join Lake Creek

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January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The clear waters of Lake Creek are not only home to a good king salmon run, but also a great silver run in late July through early September as well, using the same techniques.

June through the middle of July is the prime time for puttin’ the hurt on big king salmon at McDougall Lodge. along the way at various points downriver. This perfect architecture leads to the clear, gravel-bottom stream that supports such a wealth of fish and wildlife.

Just below the entrance of Lake Creek as it merges with the Yentna is McDougall Lodge, perfectly perched along its sandy banks. The main lodge and adjacent cabins comfortably accommodate 20 to 30 guests per week without stretching itself and the staff to its seams. The large dining area has plenty of room, as not only lodge guests, but day trippers are able to enjoy freshly prepared meals, morning, noon and night.

A typical day at the lodge starts early as breakfast is served by 5:15am. Then it’s back to your room to grab your gear and head out to your boat and awaiting guide.

Fishing for king salmon is open from 6am to 11pm daily, with the season ending on July 13th. It is important to be on the water early to grab one of the best stretches on the river, as this popular location can get a little bit crowded at times because the fishing can be so good!

The primary technique used at McDougall Lodge is back-trolling, whether it be by slowly backing down the deep runs with your guide kicking the motor in and out of gear against the current or by anchoring up at the top of the trough, along the seam of the clear water of Lake Creek and the silty water of the Yentna. Both preferences are very effective, depending on the number of fish coming up river and the number of boats jockeying for position. Another great technique is to bounce a jig out of the back of the boat or from the shore in the current while aggressively jerking up and then allowing it to return to the bottom for repeated jigs through the desired area you are targeting.

Our first morning found myself and fellow Pro-Staffer, Steve McGrath, loading into our boat with guide, Ben Matthews and Kay and Annette Adamson from Lehi, Utah.

Ben gave us a quick tutorial on the boat and equipment and then we were off to one of his favorite stretches. We each then grabbed a G-Loomis salmon rod, tipped with a medium sized Quik Fish and slowly let our lines out to their designated distances to avoid the chance of getting tangled with each other as we back-trolled through the stretch.

It didn’t take long for the action to begin, as Annette’s rod suddenly bent down only 15 minutes into our first drift. The rest of us quickly reeled in our lines and got out of Annette’s way as she battled her first king salmon. Ten minutes later, Ben was releasing a beautiful 35-pound king at the side of the boat (regulations in the area restrict retention of kings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays). We released two more fish before lunch and after a quick bite, we decided to try our luck at a few rainbows on a side channel along Lake Creek to finish up our first day.

Day two found all of us grabbing a good helping of scrambled eggs and bacon before hitting the water in search of more big kings. We were able to hook into a couple of 18 pounders, but we each decided to release them in hopes of landing something a little bit bigger, maybe even in the range of the one Annette had let go the day before!

Ben made the decision after lunch to head up river and do a little jigging. The four of us would be joined by Dennis Schoonover, one of the lodge owners and three of his guests. Our guides, Ben and Chase, set up our rods and we each found a place along the bank. On my second cast, I directed my jig at about a 45-degree angle up river and as soon as it nestled on the bottom, I started my jigging motion. As I raised for the third jerk, I felt resistance and set the hook. My line started ‘zinging’ off of my reel and I was off to the races. Everyone started hooting and hollering as I began my battle. It was obvious that this fish was going to be a hand full, so Ben told me to jump into the boat and we would be prepared to chase him downstream if needed.

Steve grabbed the camera in hopes of capturing the fight for an upcoming edition of SNTV and also made his way onto the boat. The next 15 minutes was full of excitement as my first big king of the trip continued to peel line off of my reel as I kept trying to keep up with him. A half-dozen tail dancing explosions later, Ben turned to me and said, “He’s a nice fish, probably about 35-pounds, what do you want to do”? My mind started racing, as I had to quickly make a decision on whether to end my day on this fish on my second cast or let him go and take the chance of hooking into another monster. Seconds later, my big king made the decision for me and threw the hook!

The rest of the afternoon found Steve and I hooking into more great fish, with Steve really having the hot hand and finally deciding to keep a nice 26-pounder to fill his limit for the day. Since this was my first of three king salmon trips of the year, I had to kind of pace myself with my yearly, statewide freshwater limit of five kings hovering over me, so I decided to keep releasing to pile up some more footage for the show.

Even with the king run being a bit slower than normal, all of the fishermen on our trip were able to show off their catch.

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Day three again found us back up river to do a little more jigging. Kay and Annette decided to stay downriver and do some back-trolling, so Ben shuttled Steve and I back up to our new favorite spot. Steve didn’t waste much time again, hooking into his first fish of the day on his fourth cast. He then hooked a couple more, with the first one throwing the hook, but the third filling his tag for the day, resulting in another great 25+ pounder in the fish box.

I was feeling a little left out, so Ben decided to change my luck and switch us over to the other side of the river. I slowly started working my way along the trough and as I neared the bottom of the run, my line suddenly stopped and then headed back up stream. Because of the subtle take, I didn’t really give it a good hook set, but never the less, I had hooked into a whopper!

The fun began as my big king first went on a screaming run up river and then after three water-clearing explosions, he turned and headed quickly down river, almost spooling me in the process. Ben could see I was in trouble this time and quickly headed downstream to see if he could get to the fish before I ran out of line. As he got into position, I was finally able to curtail the fish’s momentum and Ben grabbed my line to assist in the fight. But low and behold, on one of the king’s aerial flights, he had thrown the hook and it was now lodged in the back of his head. With restrictions in Alaska of keeping snagged fish, Ben jerked the hook out of the big fish and watched him quickly disappear downstream. What a battle, one I will remember for a long time from my first trip to Lake Creek.

That afternoon, we ventured to a series of lakes on Fish Creek, about five miles upriver from the lodge in search of northern pike. We didn’t land any monsters, but about 25 toothy pike, from 15 to 30 inches came to the boat using both spin cast and fly rods. What a way to cap off a great day of fishing in some of the most beautiful surroundings you can possibly imagine.

Day four found us again back-trolling the seams just upstream from the lodge as we were able to land a couple of nice fish in the morning session for Kay and Annette. Steve and I went back out in the afternoon and were able to hook-up on four more nice fish as well.

Our last morning landed on a Tuesday, so everyone took the opportunity to sleep in a little and we finally hit the water at about 9am. Ben took Steve and I back up Lake Creek to one of our most productive stretches of the week and we were again able to land a couple of nice fish as well as securing some awesome drone footage of the river and incredible surroundings.

The author with one of the biggest kings of the week, a nice 35+ pounder that put up quite a fight on the third morning of the trip.

So, as you can see, it is hard for us to not find great things to say about our visit to Lake Creek and McDougall Lodge. Even with the 2017 king salmon run a little on the slow side, we were able to hook into plenty of great fish, while throwing in a little trout fishing and northern pike for good measure. And I hear the silver and sockeye fishing is nothing short of fantastic as well, so we are working on another visit to the lodge in 2019 and this time a lucky winner and their guest will be joining me for a week of unforgettable fishing as part of our Pro Membership Sweepstakes. So, if you aren’t a member yet, you had better get signed up! McDougall Lodge has it all and we are proud to welcome them as one of our newest Platinum Approved Outfitters and Lodges. Check them out on the web at www.mcdougalllodge.com or give them a call at 907-733-2818.

An aerial view of the rustic lodge nestled on the banks of the merging waters of the Yentna River and Lake Creek.

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January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Colorado’s Trophy Mule Deer Destination

By Michael Deming

A

glance through the record book will reveal that Colorado is the king when it comes to harvesting trophy mule deer. They range from the tops of the fourteen thousand foot peaks to the plains, and a trophy buck can come from any one of those places or somewhere in between. The world record typical was harvested back in 1972 in Delores County which is the Southwestern corner of the state and at 227” it is quite the spectacle. It’s safe to say that this area of the country definitely has the right genetics to deliver the kind of buck most of us dream about. To kill big bucks, you need to hunt where they live.

Colorado Hunting Expeditions is owned by Bob and Terri Luna and is located right in the heart of this country. They are part of the Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved Outfitters, one that we highly endorse. Every year, we purchase one of the coveted 4th season landowner vouchers and a fully guided hunt from them to give away with our Pro Membership Sweepstakes. The 4th season vouchers are very limited because they are the very last hunt of the year on the western slope with mid-November hunt dates. This gives you the opportunity to chase those elusive giants when they are the most susceptible to harvest.

Ryann Booth of Salt Lake City, Utah was our lucky 2017 hunt winner and would be in for the trip of his lifetime. Growing up in the Utah area had him well aware of big bucks and what it was all about. However, due to a career that had him out of the state as well as out of the country for the better part of fifteen years, the biggest buck of his life only provided enough bone to build a small set of steak knives. So, needless to say, we were pretty excited to arrive in Delores to start our hunt on November 16th.

We arrived on the 15th of November to see a dozen excited hunters at the lodge, however, the weather seemed more fitting to be mid-September. The forecast looked to be predicting temps in the mid-sixties every day with the nights in the low 30s. Not exactly what you want for a November rut hunt, but you have to deal with the hand you are dealt. I had gotten the same weather in 2016 on this exact same hunt and was able to connect on a big mature buck on the last day of the hunt. I assured Ryann that we would have a great time and see no shortage of deer, but we would probably have to look at a bunch of deer to find one we really wanted to put a tag on. We got assigned a guide by the name of Colton Hanson who is a local and grew up in the area which is always a plus in my book.

Terri and the staff put on a dinner presentation which was truly fit for a king as is every meal at Colorado Hunting Expeditions. We conversed with our guide and set a plan for the following morning. Since every day this time of year can bring on a new suiter, our plan would be to cover as much ground in the trucks as possible and look at as many herds of does as we could find.

As the golden glow to the east started to light up the fields, Colton and I were able to start picking out deer in the fields. The majority of this part of Col-

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January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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orado is what I call ranchettes, which are smaller tracts of land which could range from 150-1,000 acres.

Colorado Hunting Expeditions has many of these tracts leased up as well as some larger ranches, but it isn’t uncommon to be hunting a small parcel of land or looking onto neighboring properties of deer feeding which bed on ground we can hunt.

By the time it was legal shooting light, we had already counted over 80 deer and about fifteen of them were bucks. We were fortunate to be hunting a pretty good-sized parcel which was just about fifteen hundred acres and if we got lucky enough to see a shooter buck, we could get on him pretty quickly and close the deal or at least make an attempt. I was snapping pictures of good four points with my PhoneSkope and showing them to Ryann. He assured me that he would be happy with any of these great bucks we were looking at, but they were all only in that 150” to 165” range and we really wanted something much bigger.

The morning sun heated up pretty quickly and by 9 am, all the deer had retired to

10 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

the canyons and bedding area for shade.

Colton had a unique place to take us on the first afternoon. It was only about 100 acres, but it was where all the resident deer would come to feed at night as well as rut. These small tracts of land with impossible access allows many of these giant deer to get to be very old. Age and genetics are truly the key to growing big deer and we were hoping this little piece would deliver. It didn’t hurt that Colton had seen a whopper here two nights ago which he felt would top that magical 200” mark.

As we sat next to the truck with our spotters out, the deer started to pour out of the trees and head towards our sanctuary. First there were eight and then twenty and then thirty. They just kept coming and coming as if someone rang the dinner bell. A few 3- and 4-year-old bucks were in the mix and one 5X5 with eyeguards caught our eye, but the fact that he was only 3 years old and had tremendous potential had me just snapping photos and taking video while Ryann shook his head in disbelief that we would pass on such an amazing buck. There was a small roll in the hill to the north which kept about 30 acres out of our vision. Colton said he would walk over and take a look while we stayed by the truck. Just as Colton got into position, nearly thirty deer bolted back to the canyon and in tow was a giant buck. He was only 250 yards away and on the move and with the naked eye, I could see unbelievable mass as well as height on this buck. I grabbed the camera and yelled for Ryann to get his rifle out of the truck. None of the deer were slowing down and would soon be out of sight. I was able to get my spotting scope swung around on him as well as the video camera just in time to realize that he was missing his entire right side. He appeared to have 8-inch bases and carried his mass all the way to the ends. I called Ryann off on the shot and we both sat amazed at the buck we had just witnessed. We immediately wondered if this was the buck that Colton had seen a few days before. However, who could have possibly been able to break that right side off unless he had a late-night run in with a truck. Needless to say, we were committed to targeting the unknown buck that might have been able to snap this old warriors antler only six inches up from the petical.

This was the kind of buck you come to Southwest Colorado to kill and the Colorado Hunting Expeditions lodge is loaded with mounts like this. We talked about this buck all evening long and we knew where we were headed in the morning.

It ended up taking us a couple of days of waiting to get another glimpse of our one antlered warrior. When we did, we were able to determine that it wasn’t a break, but it had grown this way. With a matching right side, this deer would have been very close to that 200” B&C mark. The good news is that the buck Colton had seen a couple days before season was still in the area, hopefully with both sides intact.

We decided to split up the last couple of days of the season to cover more ground.

The unseasonably hot temperatures were not working in our favor and only getting to see deer for the first couple hours of the day were making these already short days a little pressing. We were looking at several hundred deer a day and new bucks out with each siting, but unfortunately nothing worthy of this special tag.

We spent all day in the field on day four hoping that maybe the deer might move with some of the overcast skies. We were pretty far west of the lodge and Colton

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

11

had committed to sitting the smaller parcel in hopes of seeing either the one antlered buck or hopefully the big boy.

The wind was picking up pretty bad where we were at and the deer were just not moving. A phone call to Colton confirmed that the wind wasn’t hitting his location and the plan was we would show up over there for the last thirty minutes of daylight.

As we rolled in, I could see deer everywhere. There were numerous new bucks and lots of rutting activity. I could see Colton’s truck and as we were rolling up the road to park behind him, I saw several deer in the blind spot the big buck used on the first evening. "Wow, that’s a good four point," I whispered to Ryann. I threw my spotter on the window mount and gave him a good once over. He was bedded and looking away, but I could see good mass as well as the tine length we were looking for. I looked at Ryann with a grin and told him, “we need to shoot that buck”. I saw the look of sheer panic come over his face. He went from calm and collected to a bit of a mess. We rolled up behind Colton and I showed him the photo of that buck I had just taken and said “let’s go get that buck”.

Colton went into guide mode and I grabbed all the necessary camera gear for the task at hand. In a matter of minutes, Ryann was on a dirt mound in the prone position and the buck of his life was bedded in the open, 285 yards away. After a few minutes, the buck stood and turned broadside. Being a true sportsman, Ryann gave the buck a warning shot over his back to let him know that now would be a good time to get out of the country. However, the buck didn’t take heed of Ryann’s courtesy shot and, so he put him down with a well placed second shot. Ryann apologized for the miss, but Colton and I just chuckled. It’s exciting to see someone get so rattled when they get their first big buck in the crosshairs.

As we walked up to the buck, it was obvious that Ryann had achieved a lifetime goal of harvesting a big mature buck. After a photo session and some well-deserved high fives, we loaded the buck in the truck to show everyone at the lodge and get him prepped for a trophy room. Colorado Hunting Expeditions had delivered another hunt of a lifetime to one of our lucky winners.

The Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes will give this great hunt away again in early 2018. Become a member for your chance at winning this great hunt at www.promembershipsweepstakes.com. With two consecutive years of unseasonably warm weather during this hunt, the year that delivers normal snow and cold November temperatures is going to be one for the ages. We will be guaranteed to have a tag every year until it does.

Book your hunt with Colorado Hunting Expeditions by logging onto www.coloradohuntingexpeditions.com or call Bob Luna at 970-882-5400.

12 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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17

Henry All-Weather Rifles Big Boy All-Weather .357Mag/.38 Spcl

All-Weather Lever Action .45-70 Govt.

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

I

f you have ever held a Henry Rifle, you have been impressed with the quality American craftsmanship, attention to detail, and stunning beauty married to supremely practical usability. Even though I love to shoot my Henry Big Boy in .357 Magnum, it is just too pretty to carry it around and worry about moisture damage, scratches on the soft polished brass receiver, and gouges in the gorgeously stained American walnut wood. As a result, this super smooth and excellent shooting rifle spends the majority of its life hanging in my living room as more of an art piece than a useable rifle.

Henry has recognized that for some, their rifles are too beautiful for everyday use, so they have introduced their All-Weather rifles to fill the gap. Featuring the same smooth American-made artisanship as their brass receiver rifles, the All-Weather rifles provide gorgeous black stained hardwood furniture mated to stainless steel coated with a matte hard chrome coating, molecularly bonded to the underlying metal.

The hard chrome provides a stronger than stainless durable protective coating that resists corrosion, scratching, and rust. It is a matte silver color to avoid visibility to game and just looks cool. All of the metal surfaces in the gun, with the exception of the sights and springs, are coated with this protective and slick material to increase the smoothness of the action and extend the protective attributes to the internals.

The dark black-stained hardwood furniture is also coated with an industrial grade material to increase resistance to scratching and gouging. So even though this rifle is built as a work tool, it will hold up to increased abuse and maintain its appearance longer, even with rough use.

These rifles can be tossed behind the seat of the truck, shoved in a saddle scabbard, or laid in the bottom of a canoe, and you won’t worry about scratches or rusting if you don’t get it dried off right away. The fit and finish of these guns is superb, as is expected from Henry, and the action is as smooth as softened butter. If you have ever wanted the reliability and performance of a Henry Rifle, but were worried about marring the finish, this is the workhorse for you.

I tested the All-Weather in the .45-70 Government All-Weather Action and in the .357 Magnum Big Boy All-Weather and was very impressed in their performance.

The .45-70 comes with a pistol grip stock wrist that makes the hard-hitting beast easier to control. A perforated spongy stock pad tames some of the heavy recoil of this cannon, and it is actually a lot of fun to shoot, provided you have a decent shoulder and cheek weld to the stock. While the big buffalo cartridge still packs a wallop, the lines of the rifle and the weight of the system provides ample inertia, making the recoil manageable. The .45-70 has room for four cartridges in the tubular magazine mounted under the barrel. Henry also makes the All-Weather Lever Action in .30-30 with a five round magazine and a straight wrist.

The .357 Big Boy All-Weather is the exact clone of my Big Boy Classic in shape and function. They have the same stock shape and length, and the All-Weather, at just 7 pounds, is just over a pound lighter than the Classic with the same 10-round capacity. The most noticeable visual difference, aside from the colors, is the round barrel on

18 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

the All-Weather compared to the iconic octagonal barrel on the Classic. In Addition to .357 Mag/.38 Special, the Big Boy All-Weather is also available in .44 Mag/Special and .45 Colt, so it can be paired with your favorite revolver.

All of the All-Weather rifles feature the Henry V-notch rear sight with a diamond shaped insert and the bright and easy to see brass bead front sight. This aiming system is very instinctive to use and gives you a very quick sight picture. Paired with the natural point of aim of the Henry Rifles, these are some of the quickest iron sights to shoot on the market. Both the classic and the All-Weather have an elevation adjustment wedge on the rear sights for quick modification in the field. They are also drilled and tapped on the receiver for mounting a scope.

Whether you are hoping to capture the nostalgia of your ancestors on a North American bison, or just want to be prepared for a sudden encounter with a massive Kodiak bear in the wet and wooly environs of Alaska, the All-Weather Lever Action in .45-70 will withstand the elements and deliver the power you need for some of America’s largest game. For a song dog encounter or to put a rabbit in the pot when the opportunity presents itself, the Big Boy All-Weather will be the gun you want to tote with you on horseback or in your side by side OHV, and you won’t worry about it getting a little character from wear and tear. Both of these rifles have one thing in common and that is shared by all Henry rifles. They are made in America of American materials, with American craftsmanship, and they will never let you down.

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22 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Prep Now! “

T

he will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win‚" is a quote that is commonly associated with coach Bobby Knight. While Mr. Knight didn't pen the line (actually it was Bud Wilkinsin), he is in fact a fisherman and would probably agree with me that the wisdom is as equally at home in a boat as Chad LaChance on the court. In most fishing, winning can be defined in many ways, but preparing to win is paramount to all of them. Maybe you are super-casual weekender who defines winning as spending some time outdoors with family and chasing fish is a good excuse.

You could be an avid angler with thousands of dollars in tackle and a really cool boat in the garage whose idea of winning is catching something that will ultimately prove your spot in the food chain. Or maybe you are a genuine‚ "mine's bigger'n your'n" kind of guy fishing derbies in clubs who has a clear winning definition of catching more fish than everyone else on a given day. For all these anglers, preparing for the season or individual trip is a key to success. Now is the time to do it.

What you do to prepare depends on your specific fishing endeavors, but some preparations are good in all cases. For instance, a new calendar year has rolled in; did you get a new license? Waiting until you are actually going fishing will invariably lead you to scrambling around looking for a place that's open really early or late. Worse yet, maybe you'll forget altogether and have a run-in with The Man. That's surely no way to win.

And while you are getting your new license, check out the new regulations. Usually changes are noted in the beginning of the literature and it will pay to know them. Who knows, the changes could be in your favor. Look for newly opened ponds, lakes, or access areas as these are often great places to have winning days by any definition.

Another good preparation tip is buying maps of any lakes you are thinking of fishing in the coming season. Check them out carefully during the cold winter months so you can apply early season reports or patterns as you hear them. Same holds true for pond fishers; get familiar with the locations, characteristics, and species during the off season so you are ready for those first spring days in March.

If you make only one preparation before you angle for the first time this season, change your line. It doesn't matter if it was brand new the last time you fished, monofilament line does not age well. If it sits on your reel in the garage all winter one of two things will happen the next time you use it. Either it will have so much memory that it will tangle in minutes, or it will be brittle and break at the wrong time. Braided lines are better about this, but check them carefully to be sure. This is also a good time to check your guides for spurs or abrasion that will damage line and limit casting. I use a Q-tip to

check and clean them. Check for loose inserts, too. I also check reel seats and generally clean and inspect the entire rod. If you are a fly guy, pull your line off the reel, check you backing knot for damage, and reel the line back in while running it through a cleaning patch. Install a new leader and check out the rod for the same reasons as above.

Your reels should also get some love. I lightly clean my reels with WD-40 before re-spooling. I also put one drop of high quality oil on any bearings I can get to. Check spool edges for rough spots and re-line your spare spools, too. Generally make sure the reel is smooth, clean, and serviceable before you embark on your first get away.

Now is also the time to do some shopping. How many flies, lures, or soft plastics did you lose last year? Replace them. Many of the ones left in your tackle box are there because you didn't use them last year. Do you want to start the season without your favorite lures? Speaking of favorites, check the hooks and split rings on the ones you have left. Check your terminal tackle as well. Make sure you have pliers, nippers, floatant, hookfiles ‚ or whatever paraphernalia you use. Do the pliers need oil? Are the cutters sharp enough to handle your braid? Can you still see through your polarized shades?

Again, fix or replace it now and you will have a better chance at success.

Lastly, check your clothes. This sounds stupid, but your outerwear is the first thing you'll use in spring. Boots, too. Make sure they are up to the task of keeping you both warm and dry. Being cold and wet is a losing proposition. Bottom line; spending a little time preparing for the coming season while it is freezing outside is not only a great way to increase your success by whatever definition applies, but it can be an enjoyable way to extend your season. A bonus lies in that it is an excellent way to get youngsters excited about fishing. Try it and be prepared to win when the opportunity arises this season.

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Steelhead Are Biters, Dude!

Pick a day, put it on the calendar and watch the forecast. Pray for a day when the river is high, green and on the drop.

Photo by Gary Lewis

By Gary Lewis

W

hen the river is high, green and dropping, when the pressure rises, when the moon is waxing, when there are fish in the river.

That’s when I want to fish.

My grandpa used to point me to the barometer and tell me when the fishing was good and when it wasn’t. It didn’t make a lot of sense then, but I watch the barometer before every trip now.

We picked the day months before, hoping to maximize our chances of tangling with big, wild steelhead.

The solunar tables said the first day of spring would be a poor day for fishing, but there was a window in the morning when fish would bite best. The forecast called for one low pressure cell after another, but between storms there would be a bump in the pressure. I always think back to what a friend of mine told me on a day not unlike this one.

“Steelhead are biters, dude!” I remind myself of that when the rainwater is dripping around the brim of my hat. As mantras go, this is a good one.

Dan Cardot and I made the drive the night before, ate too much too late and checked into one of those motel rooms you can still find on Highway 101, with paper-thin walls, moldy carpets and dirty blankets. We saved three dollars over the next more expensive motel. I would have paid $50 more to stay a mile away, if I’d had any inking of what an active pair our motel room neighbors were.

That fresh ocean air can be invigorating.

After an hour of sleep, and breakfast at Denny’s, Brad Hanson met us in a pool of metal halogen light in the parking lot at Tillamook Sporting Goods. Only one river was in decent condition - the Kilchis. The night was still in full Stygian blackness as we drove up the narrow road.

Dan Cardot and guide Brad Hanson with a chrome-bright winter-run.

I parked the Ford at the lower end of the first float and we drove five miles upstream, sipping at our coffees.

In the dark we pushed Hanson’s Clackacraft off the trailer, tugged on waders, and, as the first sliver of light broke over the tops of the cedars, Hanson sat down at the sticks. We floated into the current.

Fourteen river miles from her forks to the mouth, the Kilchis is one of five rivers that drain the coastal mountains into Tillamook Bay. Her brief run to the sea makes the Kilchis one of the first North Coast rivers to clear after a storm. Because there is not much likelihood of catching a hatchery fish, the Kilchis is often overlooked. Works for me.

With a couple of other drift boats in the river, we traded first water for a few runs then

Photo by Gary Lewis

Photo by Gary Lewis A winter steelhead on the first day of spring. Gary Lewis fished a Tillamook-area river with guide Brad Hanson (right). Steelhead fishing stays strong on the North Coast well into April.

24 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

The last fish of the day was this bright wild hen that ran a hundred yards back toward the salt. Brad Hanson is a fishing guide who makes his home in Redmond, OR, but spends most of the winter on the North Coast.

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26 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

turned a corner with one boat in front of us.

They pulled anchor to stay ahead.

Here the river made a right turn, broke across a gravel bar on river right and frothed over a ledge with a pocket behind a moss-covered boulder. On the far side, the bank ran jagged into the current. A nice riffle of broken water tumbled through aquamarine then the river browned out over a gravel tail.

At the business end, our baits were steelhead roe with a small yarnie, sweetened up with ProCure Winter Chrome.

Cardot pitched a cast upriver; his bait and float splashed down along the seam and the float tipped up, caught in the current.

Cardot’s bobber zagged upstream and he set the hook into a silver streak of fury. It cartwheeled and tailwalked from the top of the run all the way to the tailout and flashed in the sun.

Bright as a new-minted nickel.

For a few tense minutes we thought we’d have to follow it through the rapids. We didn’t care about first water anymore. We wanted this water. When Cardot took the pressure off, the fish nosed back into the current and came back into the pool. Hanson dropped the anchor and jumped over the side to net the fish over the gravel bar.

Cardot cradled it a moment and let it kick into the green water.

Five casts later, my float plunged and we were fast into another, this one seven pounds, a rainbow-colored male.

Photo by Gary Lewis

Dan Cardot fights a steelhead on a small coastal river near Tillamook, Oregon.

Beneath us the river was clearing and the fish, fresh from the salt kept eating our baits. Cardot’s third fish ran the last 400 yards of our float and Hanson netted it at the takeout. We drove back upstream to get Hanson’s rig and then parked it at the next takeout down, breathing deep of that Tillamook dairy air.

When the rain started, we picked up a 12-pound wild hen, just four miles up from the salt. As wild as the morning of creation, as bright and fueled with the ocean’s bounty as any fish I’ve ever caught. This one I wanted to keep, but I couldn’t, and turned it back to make more wild steelhead.

The rivers begin to swell with winter steelhead in late December and each tide brings in new fish through January and February. Pick a day. Put it on the calendar.

Tie leaders, sharpen hooks and fill spools with fresh line. March is prime for winter runs, but there are still fresh fish on every tide well into April.

If there is rain in the forecast, if the water is high, if a low pressure system is coming in over the beach, it doesn’t matter much.

Soak the baits. Thump the hardware.

Swing those flies deep and slow. Steelhead are biters, dude.

To order a signed copy of Fishing Mount Hood Country, send $24.95 (free S&H) to GLO, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 or visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com

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A

PRO MEMBER UPDATE laska is one of those places that dreams are made of. If you are looking to have a chance to catch, truly a fish of a lifetime, the land called, “The Last Frontier” definitely fills the bill and more.

It is my pleasure to travel each year to many destinations throughout Alaska and I will have to say, I can’t really think of a better place anywhere in the world to take in not only the beauty and splendor of your surroundings, all the while seeking, seemingly endless fishing opportunities along the way.

Of course, Alaska is known for many aquatic species, be it in the ocean, rivers or tiny streams that hold them. But, on nearly every adventure, at least one of the five Pacific salmon species come into play. Now I am usually a numbers guy, not that I am not looking for “The Big One” on some trips, but I would usually much rather catch quantity over what some would call quality. But, when talking about Alaska, the word salmon, with “king” in front of it always catches my interest.

Now there are many great king or Chinook rivers throughout the state, but when you look at the return numbers, there are only a couple of really, really good rivers and the one with by far the best numbers is the Nushagak River in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska.

With an average of over 100,000 kings returning annually, the Nushagak is the place to be if you want to catch kings and plenty of them. It is not unusual to have the chance of catching double-digit numbers on a daily basis from the middle of June through the end of July. And our operation of choice on the ‘Nush” is Alaska Kingfishers, one of our longest standing Platinum Approved Outfitters.

Now when you are only endorsing one operation on a river that is this good, it had better be the best and Rob Fuentes and his staff do the things it takes to support that moniker. They have the best boats, the best equipment and the best guides available and when it comes to knowledge, there is no one better to learn from than the master himself, head guide and former owner, Bob Kratzer. Bob has fished the Nushagak for over 30 years and has the knowledge it takes to train his guides to be the best.

First off, let’s get one thing out of the way before we delve in any further. Alaska Kingfishers is 30 miles upriver from Dillingham and the only way in is by boat or air, being a float plane in most cases. Along with this, almost all of the land throughout the area is owned by native associations, so outfitters must lease the land for their camps on a yearly basis. Because of this, almost all are tent camps, with only the cement slabs left at the end of the season. But, don’t let this deter you from considering a trip with Kingfishers. They have built their camp with their guests in mind and in

Guide, Nick Fernandes is all smiles as he helps Will Kite pose for a few photos with this beautiful king on the banks of the Nushagak River in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska.

28 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

King Salmon on the Nushagak

By Kent Danjanovich my estimation, their tent camp is as good or better than most permanent structure camps that I have visited in Alaska and Canada.

All the comforts of home can be found along the banks of the Nushagak River at Alaska Kingfishers. Each tent houses two people and are complete with twin-sized cots, sleeping bags lined with fresh linens, towels and hanging organizers for your convenience during your stay. There is a centrally located shower tent next to the large main common tent that is used for all meals and to house their small souvenir and apparel offerings. Also, other tents house the cooking area, fish processing and freezing and wader drying areas. Even decent WiFi is available, especially in the early morning hours for those that just have to keep up with what’s going on back home or at the office.

Now let’s talk about the river and its fishing opportunities. The Nushagak River is the third longest river in Alaska, originating from the Kilbuck and Alaska mountain ranges. It twists and turns its way south, where countless spawning ground tributaries join its flow toward Bristol Bay. This region of Alaska is vital to the overall salmon populations, with millions of fish returning each year to do their part in keeping the runs going strong.

Now, although some rivers of Alaska can boast the opportunity of catching periodically bigger fish, the Nushagak River’s average king salmon averages between 18- and 30-pounds. Yes, you will catch a few smaller than this average and a few even bigger, sometimes pushing almost 50-pounds, but the vast majority of the kings will be in that “good eater” average. You are allowed to retain one king salmon of any size per day (four per season) on the Nushagak, with a five-fish season limit in freshwater throughout the waters of Alaska. And the best thing about the regulations on the Nushagak is, you are able to continue to catch and release fish all day long, even after you retain your fish for the day.

Our trip during the 2017 season was a special one, as fellow Pro-Staffers Rick Rosenberg, Brooks Hansen, and close friend Lonne Gubler were all able to join me along with our latest Pro Membership Sweepstakes winner, Will Kite and his guest, Eddy Basulto for their first trip to the Nushagak and boy, would it be a memorable one!

It is always great to share my travels with others and with our addition of the Pro Membership Sweepstakes, we have

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

Brooks Hansen, from Camp Chef, got in on the action as well with this nice ‘chromer’ on his first trip to the ‘Nush’. opened even more doors to include lucky winners on many of the great adventures that we have had the pleasure of experiencing. So, it was great to meet up with Will and Eddy in Dillingham on our way to the Nush.

Since there were 20 new guests making their way in to the camp and 18 just finishing their stay, we drew lots to see who would get a seat on which plane. Tikchik Airventures would be doing the transporting and Rick, Brooks, Lonne and I were lucky enough to draw the first floatplane seats, so we landed at the lodge first and slipped into our gear and after grabbing a quick sandwich, we headed out for our first day on the river and yes – it was a good one.

Our guide, Conner Taplin had us on fish all afternoon, using what’s called their “Bobber Doggin’” technique (a large float is positioned above a bead stop, above a slinky weight, with about two feet of line tipped with a single hook, complete with an egg loop that harnesses a small glob of roe). Conner would then position the boat sideways in the current along a section of the river where kings were known to follow on their journey up river to their spawning grounds.

No sooner had my line hit the water and I closed the bail, my bobber went under and I set the hook on our first king of the trip. After a great fight, a 25-pound king came to the net and literally 5-minutes into our first day on the water, we had our first fish in the boat. By 5:30pm, we had all filled our limits for the day, while landing and releasing 20 more fish. Now that’s what I call a pretty good start to the trip!

At dinner that night, we found that our other boat, consisting of Kevin Orton, Brad Jefferies, Will and Eddy had just about done as well and after a great meal and a few more introductions, we made plans for the next day before hitting our bunks for a

good night’s sleep.

The next morning, Brooks and I would be joined by Will and Eddy, with guide Nick Fernandes. Nearly 40 kings came to the boat on this day, with both Will and Eddy landing and retaining nice kings over 30-pounds apiece. After dinner, we all headed downstream from camp to do a little fly fishing for chum and sockeye salmon, with the results about a half dozen bonus fish for our fillet pile.

Again, on our fourth day, our last full day at the camp, Will and Eddy joined Brooks and I as we were able to collect plenty of footage for an upcoming edition of SNTV, as Will put on a show in the morning and Eddy hogged most of the takes in the afternoon as we back-trolled Quikfish on a great stretch of the river just below camp. The smiles on their faces were priceless and Eddy couldn’t wait to get home and sign-up for his own membership in the Pro Membership Sweepstakes.

Our latest visit to Alaska Kingfishers was a rousing success and we will again have a trip for two available during the 2019 season on the schedule next year.

So, as they say, “You can’t win if you’re not entered”! Just ask Will Kite, who has already won two major prizes in the past year. And if you are looking for a trip to Alaska, there is no better place to be than Alaska Kingfishers on the Nushagak River. Give Rob Fuentes and his staff a call today to get your trip booked at 907843-1605 and remember to tell them that Sportsman ‘s News sent ya!

Left: Alaska Kingfishers on the Nushagak River is one of our longest running Platinum Approved Outfitters because they deliver on what they advertise – big fish and plenty of them.

Right: Eddy Basulto and our lucky Pro Membership Sweepstakes Winner, Will Kite with two big king salmon after a great day on the river with Alaska Kingfishers.

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

29

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PRO'S TIP

Making The Most Of Your Fall Hunts With Good Planning

By Mike Deming

A

s I scrolled through my trophy photos from the year, the gentleman I was talking to said “wow, you’ve had a really lucky year”! So, I showed him the photos from the year before and his response was the same. I agreed with the man and we parted ways since I didn’t feel I was going to convince him that it was anything more than "I am just the luckiest guy on the planet."

We all need a little bit of luck when it comes to putting our tag on a true monster.

The wind needs to hold for you to get those last few yards, that buck needs to jump the fence to be on the public land you can hunt, or he just needs to stand up while there is still enough daylight to make a good shot. These are those little breaks of luck that get that tag filled. However, finding the trophy and putting yourself in position has a lot less to do with luck and more to do with proper planning and hard work.

To harvest truly giant animals, you need to hunt where they live, which means applying for tags in states and areas known for consistently producing top end animals.

This doesn’t always mean you will need maximum bonus/preference points to get that trophy of a lifetime. As a matter of fact; those units very often deliver a substandard hunt to a person because they felt that waiting ten years to draw was going to make it an easy hunt. Trophy quality animals are usually less than 2-3% of the overall male

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PRO'S TIP population, so you shouldn’t expect one around every tree when you draw those premium tags. These hard-earned points usually have a lot more to do with the amount of public land available to hunt than they do premium trophy quality animals. You are much better off finding a unit you can hunt every year or at least every couple of years and figuring out where all the little haunts are located.

Every year we try to visit one or more of these hard to draw units during prime season dates whether we have a tag or not. We recommend doing this before you burn those hard-earned points instead of taking our word or some other input for it. In many cases, the publications touting these units haven’t put boots in the dirt for years making the information useless. Colorado’s unit 61 was our target unit this year and it was amazing how much information we attained from all the hunters in the unit.

In some cases, it takes more than twenty preference points to draw deer or elk tags in

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this unit and after spending several weeks in the unit, I wouldn’t waste my time on this unit if someone were to give me a tag.

Going to a unit you can draw more frequently will give you the information needed to be successful year in and year out and make the most out of your points. You need to know where these big animals live when it’s hot and where they go when they have human pressure? Where do they travel to when heavy mountain storms kick in and what makes them go nocturnal? Where do they go when the cattlemen run their cows in your honey hole. You are much more likely to learn these traits in a unit you hunt every couple of years than one you will hunt once or twice in a lifetime. This knowledge will get you a long way towards putting that trophy of a lifetime on your wall.

The next step in tagging a trophy animal is by becoming a better hunter. What I mean by this is, study the tactics used by people who consistently get the job done year after year. Finding big animals and getting them killed has a lot more to do with skill than luck. We have hunted units in Colorado and Idaho for many years and consistently turn up mature animal’s worthy of a tag because we have the answers to those questions.

Learning to be better with your optics and being patient is a great way of being a better hunter and making the most of that premium tag. Guys that consistently harvest trophy animals believe there is a monster on that hill, but they just need to find him. Most hunters take a quick glance and don’t believe there is anything there and move on. I watched three bucks through the spotting scope sitting in my truck while in Colorado a few years back. They were bedded at 1,200 yards on a fairly open hillside in the shade of one of the few trees. One buck was 28” wide and pushing the 180” B&C mark, but was not quite what I was looking for. A group of guys pulled up behind me as I was putting my scope away and came up for a chat. They were all deer hunting and just looking for a branch antlered buck this late in the season because they were headed home at the end of the day. I asked them if they had looked the hill over that I knew had three bucks meeting their criteria. They assured me, they had just spent the last hour looking the whole area over and nothing existed on that hill. Their buck was sitting 1,200 yards away and they weren’t good enough hunters to tip that luck in their favor.

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33

PRO'S TIP and I truly understand this philosophy. It was how I was raised and probably why hunting is so strong in my blood today. The first night at hunting camp tends to be a major party which usually takes several days to recover from and to get back to 100 percent. Others will hunt themselves into shape during a short season, but the majority of hunters aren’t in good enough physical condition to dedicate to trophy hunting.

Being in top physical shape tips the odds in your favor. You need to be able to go hard from hours before daylight until well after dark. When you are spotting animals at several miles away, you have a long way to go when you finally locate your target. Being in good physical condition will give you the needed energy to get there when the opportunity presents itself. This means training and staying in shape year around.

Hunt where trophy animals live, become a better hunter, and be in the best shape of your life is truly the L.U.C.K. (Labor Under Correct Knowledge) which will put more trophy animals on your wall. Good luck and happy hunting.

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35

Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 2.0 PRO'S PICK

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

I

n the world of micro-pistols, the best seller has been the M&P Shield from Smith and Wesson. While the Shield has been a great pistol for concealed carry, the terrible trigger, coupled by a very heavy recoil spring, made the gun a poor fit for those with weaker hands.

In my classes, I will routinely place the Shield in the hands of those with weak hands during weapon manipulation drills, to show how this pistol is not a good fit for everyone. Many students who were considering the pistol decide to go another route because of the difficulty they have hitting the target because of the 8.75+ pound trigger, and because they have difficulty locking back the slide. Those with plenty of hand strength may have trouble with this little pistol as well, but for those who can overcome the recoil spring and the trigger, it is a great carry piece.

As part of Smith & Wesson’s redesign of their entire M&P line, dubbed M&P 2.0, the Shield also received a makeover. One of the major noticeable improvements is the reduction in trigger weight down to 6.5 pounds. This has vastly improved the accuracy of the little gun, especially for those with larger and beefier hands, like me.

Since I have no way of measuring the strength of the recoil spring, I can’t tell you if they have reduced the weight of it, but I can tell you that students have an easier time locking back the slide on the 2.0 than they did the original Shield. Part of this may be the more aggressive grip texture of the polymer frame and part of it may be the addition of scalloped slide serrations on the front edge of the slide, giving a better grip. Even having relatively strong hands, I noticed the difference immediately.

The M&P Shield provides all of the excellent features of the full size and compact M&P, in a thinner single stack configuration. The same low bore axis and 18-degree grip angle provide very little muzzle flip, instead driving recoil straight back, for faster reacquisition of the sights on target. At just under an inch wide and 6.1 inches long, the Shield provides a very concealable pistol in a duty caliber size of either 9mm, .40 SW, or .45 ACP. The 2.0 is not yet available in .45, but I expect that it will soon receive the 2.0 makeover in the near future. Our test

36 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

gun came in 9mm with an integrated Crimson Trace red laser. While our gun came without an external thumb safety, it is available in 16 different caliber and feature configurations, including a thumb safety, integrated red or green laser, or the addition of an external LaserGuard Pro light/green laser attachment in either 9mm or .40 SW. The Shield 2.0 comes standard with a flush fitting 7-round magazine and an 8-rounder with a place to rest your pinky finger. For my big hands, I find that extra little bit of grip surface to be very welcome.

In addition to lightening the trigger, it is much smoother now, and SW has removed the roller inside that produced a false reset. The new trigger breaks crisper and resets audibly for rapid follow up shots.

One word of warning with the new model. While the very aggressive grip is awesome in the hand, if you wear it inside the waistband, make sure there is a rash guard

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America and was a driving force in the comeback of the wild turkey, the most successful wildlife restoration story in the history of North America. The NWTF and its volunteers work closely with state and federal agencies and other partners to improve wildlife habitat, benefiting wild turkeys and countless other wildlife and game species. The NWTF also actively protects our hunting heritage to ensure hunting and wildlife exists for future generations.

When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were estimated to be only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

Come and join in the fun of a local National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage Super Fundraising Banquet. The NWTF banquets are where you can buy exclusive merchandise, participate in live and silent auctions and have a great time with friends and fellow supporters of the "Great Outdoors". All the while, you will be raising vital funds for wild turkey conservation and important programs that introduce the outdoors to men, women, children and the disabled.

Here is a list of banquets for the NWTF Chapters in Utah: January 20th Richfield - Craig Blake, (435-979-6580) Tags - Bull Elk Mt. Dutton (A/W), Southern Turkey

March 30th Roosevelt - Kevin Richens, (435-823-0391) Tags - Bull Elk Book Cliffs Bitter Creek/South (A/W), Buck Deer South Slope Diamond Mountain (Season Choice), Yellowstone Bear, Northeastern Turkey (2)

February 24th Tooele - Collin Smith, (435-241-0188) Tags - Buck Deer West Desert Vernon (Season Choice), Central Turkey

April 6th Heber - Chris Bullock, (435-731-0107) Tags - Buck Deer Book Cliffs (Archery)

March 3rd Nephi - Lynn Worwood, (801-368-5834) Dave Worwood, (435-580-9004) Tags - Wasatch Mountain Bull Elk (A/W), Statewide Turkey, Central Turkey (2)

TBA Spanish Fork – Chris Brittain, (801-472-3623) Tags - Cougar Wasatch Mountain, Currant Creek and Wasatch Mountain West (L/E)

March 3rd Cedar City - Ron MacIntosh, (435-463-0269) Tags - Pantguitch Lake Elk (A/W), La Sal Bear (Multi-Season), Southern Turkey (2)

TBA Logan – Jeramy Ellis, (435-230-4672) Tags - Cougar Chalk Creek/Kamas, East Canyon and Morgan (L/E)

March 23rd St. George - Kent Danjanovich, (801-231-9838) Tags - Bull Elk Beaver East (A/W), Mt. Dutton/Paunsagant Pronghorn Landowner Tag, Southern Turkey

TBA Lehi - Clay Shelton, (801-358-1715) Tags - Buck Deer Book Cliffs North & South (A/W), Central Turkey, Southern Turkey

37

*(A/W) Any weapon **(L/E) Late or early Check out the NWTF website at www.nwtf.org for more information on these banquets and many more from around the country. Regional Director, Rick Brittain (801-722-4885).

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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38 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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PRO'S PICK between the grip and your skin. The rough texture that keeps it from squirting out of your hand will rub the skin off like sandpaper.

Overall, I was very pleased with the feel of the gun and it performed like a champ, easily feeding and extracting every round I fed it from the Colt 124 grain FMJs to the Winchester white box cheapie ammo, nothing seemed to phase it. It even handled the DoubleTap Defense 115 grain Barnes TAC-XP in +P loading, which is my preferred every day carry ammo, without a hiccup.

For having such a short barrel, at 3.1 inches, accuracy was exceptional. Running the gun through a variety of 5x5 and Dot Torture drills, it performed flawlessly. The excellent steel two-dot sights in the rear and the single steel one-dot sight in the front provided great sight alignment and the very aggressive grip worked to prevent the gun from sliding around in my hand with each shot, so gripping the pistol was very comfortable and secure. The natural point of aim, coupled with the lighter trigger pull and audible and tactile trigger reset, gave me shorter par times and better control of the gun.

If not for the similar manual of arms of this pistol, and the fact that my older original Shield magazines fit in the gun, I would think that I was shooting a completely different make and model of pistol than a Shield. The difference between the 2.0 and the original is that drastic.

Since there is no gun that is a perfect fit for every shooter, it is still a good idea to take anyone you plan on purchasing a gun for with you to the store and see if they can manage locking back the slide and that the grip is the proper size for their hand, but given that I have large hands and the pistol fit well, and the slide was easier to lock than the previous iteration of the gun, it might just be a good fit for a large range of shooters.

The integrated Crimson Trace laser easily activates with the tip of your indexed finger and can be activated from either side of the frame, so you can hit it

with the index finger of your support hand or with your trigger finger if it is indexed. It is also fully ambidextrous. Since it is built into the lower polymer receiver of the pistol, there is nothing attached to the outside of the gun to get knocked out of alignment. There are two tiny hex-head set screws that can be adjusted with the included Allen wrench for windage and elevation.

I find that matching them to a proper sight picture, co-witnessing them with the iron sights at the desired range, is the quickest way to get them zeroed. A little shooting to verify zero, and you are golden.

The laser does slightly alter the profile of the gun, so if you have a holster for the first generation Shield, it is important to check whether the 2.0 will fit properly. There was enough adjustment in my leather Galco for the new gun to fit, but my custom Kydex AIWB from On Your 6, wouldn’t let the new 2.0 snap into place, and a bit of the trigger was left exposed. Hopefully they will offer a holster for the 2.0 with laser shortly. Non-laser versions should fit into holsters made for the previous version just fine.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Shield 2.0 and since my eyes are getting a little hard of seeing, I appreciate the laser built into the frame for fast targeting. I very much appreciated the smoother and lighter trigger and my big mitts liked the rougher texture for a better grip.

While I have pointed out improvements to the gun, and problems with the previous version, I should state that I have been a big fan of the M&P Shield since it was first released. But even a good gun can be better, and I feel like Smith & Wesson did a great job of improving the things that needed it without messing up a great design. They worked diligently to follow the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” keeping their focus on only the few features that needed to be improved, but maintain what is otherwise an excellent design.

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

39

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

Venison Meatballs

G

round meat really lends itself to Italian cooking, and game meat is no exception. The richness created by the vegetables, herbs, and cheese is simply mouth-watering. As with all game cooking the term “venison” is used to cover any wild game protein. This recipe was tested with a fine elk Mike Deming and I obtained during the 2017 season. It would be excellent with any deer, antelope, moose, caribou, wild boar, or even some ground goose breast. If you are grinding your own meat, be sure to add 20% fat (I love to use bulk bacon end pieces), or the meatballs will not stay together. Using freshly grated cheese makes a world of difference, a real game changer! I use a larger grate size for better texture.

This recipe is really easy to make and packs a wallop of flavor. Served with a mixed green salad and hot baguette of French bread, it makes for a great family meal.

Ingredients Meatballs

• 1½ pounds ground venison • 2 large eggs lightly beaten • 1/3 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese • 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped and lightly sautéed

• 1/3 cup bread crumbs • 1/3 cup finely chopped parsley • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper • 1 cup olive oil

Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 tablespoon dried basil • 1 large brown onion, finely chopped • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (add • 5 cloves of garlic, finely chopped more if you like it spicy) • 2 28 ounce cans plum tomatoes, pureed • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black in a blender pepper • 1/3 cup parsley, finely chopped

40 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Preparation Method Meatballs

In a large bowl, combine the meat and all of the rest of the ingredients except for the olive oil. Mix by hand lightly until well blended. Try not to work the meat too much to ensure tender meat balls. Roll by hand into 1 ½ inch balls. I use a small ice cream spoon to get uniform amounts to make the meatballs with.

Remove to a plate for frying.

Heat the cup of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Fry the meatballs in batches in the hot oil. Flip them so that they brown on all sides. I like to shake the pan often to sort of roll them as they cook so they keep their round shape. When well browned (3-5 minutes), remove to a plate. They should not be cooked all the way through as they will be finished in the sauce.

Sauce

To make the sauce, start by heating the olive oil in a pot over medium heat.

Stir in the onion and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent (about 5-10 minutes). Add the garlic and sauté a few more minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic! Add in the pureed tomatoes, parsley, basil and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the temperature to a low simmer and add the meat balls in. Let this go for at least 30 minutes until the sauce reduces and adds all of that flavor to the meatballs.

Serve this over some spaghetti or you favorite pasta cooked al-dente. Grate some more fresh Parmesan cheese over the top and garnish with some chopped parsley. Magnifico!

I would open a bottle of Sangiovese or Barbera to enjoy with this Italian feast, or if ones taste lends itself more to the “pop with the suds on top” a hoppy IPA. We opened one when we started cooking, and had to open another bottle to serve with the meal. I think that the sweet aroma of the sauce simmering must make one thirsty!

Cheers!

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

Adventures On A Budget

The South Dakota Kayak Challenge 72 Mile “Race”

By Michelle Scheuermann

W

ant to take your kayaking adventures up a notch? How about a race? How about a 72 river-mile race on one of the largest rivers in North America? The South Dakota Kayak Challenge has been held every Memorial Day Weekend in southeastern South Dakota for the past seven years. Beginning in Yankton, South Dakota and ending in South Sioux City, Iowa, the race covers three states (throw in Nebraska) and 72 river miles over four checkpoints. This part of the river is part of the National Park Service’s Missouri National Recreational River, a unique waterway that is the only NPS property that holds the designations of Wild and Scenic River, National Park and National Water Trail.

For only a $50 registration fee (cheap!), my adventure buddy, Cassie and I were about to embark on one of the least expensive and most strenuous weekend adventures to date (Far surpassing any half-marathons we’ve done in the past). How DO you prepare for a 72-mile kayak race? I asked the organizers and they pointed me to a few Facebook groups and pages - but nothing that was a definitive plan of “this is how you paddle 72 river miles.” We prepared for it like we would a running race – by bringing lots of fuel (good balance of carbs, sugar and protein) and water with electrolytes. We knew that many river miles would mean being on the water a minimum of 10 hours, probably even longer.

After taking our vehicles to the end point (another state away), we settled in for a safety briefing, where they gave away prizes and then a free supper. The race organizers worked with the City of Yankton to offer free camping in the park, which held our kayaks overnight – so you could really make this a budget event (Although we refused to camp overnight and then kayak for 72 miles the following day. I’ll pay $100 for a hotel room, thank you very much.)

They have two categories of racers: competitive and adventure class. I was in the adventure class and it seemed the larger of the two groups. The total number registered was 180, but many dropped out before the race and during the race this year, which I understand happens every year.

The competitive class housed sleek, thin, long boats that certainly cost more than $2,000; while our class was a rag-tag of $100 kayaks to $2,000 carbon beauties. I recommend a longer, lighter craft for such a long event, like my Wilderness Pungo 140 or Cassie’s Current Designs 14 -footer. For any kayaking adventure over four hours, you need a boat that has one or two dry hulls, is at least 10 feet or more in length to help navigate the water better, is stable and ideally, lightweight.

And to add to the fun, it was raining all morning. Small sprinkles at first and then a downpour as we settled into our kayaking. Most were NOT prepared for the rain.

We later learned many kayakers dropped out at the first checkpoint due to being soaking wet and one lady was diagnosed with hyperthermia! We were disappointed at how these groups of kayakers were so unprepared for the weather. Kayaking is one of those activities where you can literally throw in the kitchen sink in your vehicle (as your kayak is on top) so you are prepared for anything.

The first two checkpoints - 18 miles and 12 miles - flew by. After that, it started settling in that we had a LONG ways to go and a short time to get there. Thank

After downpouring all morning, the sun finally came out!

All the kayaks taking off for the “Adventure Class”

42 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Adventures On A Budget

Can’t even tell how exhausted we both are!

I had to borrow this Garmin Fenix 3 from a friend as I wanted to keep track of the water miles in between stations.

goodness my mom was at each checkpoint prepared with sandwiches, water and other fun items to keep caffeine, sugar and protein in our bodies.

We were lucky this year. Heavy rains in May brought the water levels up on the Missouri, which is normally full of sandbars to trap you. And the current was quicker than in year’s past. I don’t know when we would have finished if we didn’t have those two things in our favor. And the wind was in our favor too wind can tire you out quicker than anything else when kayaking.

At the end of the day - and I literally mean the “end” - we kayaked more than 15 hours, covered 72 river miles, ate two ham sandwiches, three protein bars, multiple Oreo cookies and other snacks and drank I don’t know how many bottles of water with hydration and energy tabs. I felt like we were eating ALL THE TIME. Even though I was the LAST person the cross the finish line (yes, Cassie beat me), I saw the most beautiful sunset and rainbow from the river. I’ve never seen a rainbow from end-to-end and my pictures don’t do it justice. I had to stop paddling to truly take it in – those who finished hours before us never saw that gift.

Everything happens for a reason, folks.

Learn more about the event at sdkayakchallenge.org and special thanks to the City of Yankton Fire & Rescue team and the Mayor of Yankton, who flew overhead during the first leg of the race, keeping track of us. Having a Mayor who is also a pilot comes in handy!

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

43

OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST

Texas Public Land Aoudad

44 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

By John Burnside

T

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

he planning for our hunt started the previous summer when my brother, Mike, suggested we put in for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) drawing hunts for exotic game including Aoudad. The chances for getting drawn were slim but the success rates for tagging a free ranging aoudad once drawn are pretty good. We looked over the available data published by TPWD and settled on Caprock Canyon as our best option based on hunter success, hunt dates, and proximity to our locations. Caprock Canyon State Park is located about an hour and 45 minutes southeast from Amarillo, Texas. I live in Colorado Springs, CO and my brother would travel from Tulsa, OK to the hunt area if drawn.

Amazingly, three of us put in together and were drawn on our very first application. We began reading what we could access online about hunting aoudad in the southwest and it did appear to be a working man’s version of a desert bighorn sheep hunt. Aoudad live in the rugged canyonlands of West Texas and New Mexico, surviving and even thriving in an arid landscape where there are few other large mammals inhabit. Mule deer share some of the same habitat away from the cliffs but the aoudad have spread throughout much of the canyon systems since being introduced in the early 1950’s.

There are many private ranches in Texas and New Mexico where a person can pay a trespass fee to hunt aoudad but there are only a few public areas where aoudad can be

hunted successfully. Texas has some of the best public hunting areas for aoudad and we had tags for unlimited either sex aoudad for a January hunt that occurred over three days. We began gathering the gear we thought we would need for this hunt and prepped our rifles for the upcoming hunt.

We showed up opening morning as directed in the hunt instructions and met the Caprock Canyons park staff and fellow hunters. The park had been divided into compartments to alleviate potential hunter conflicts and we happened to draw one of the more rugged sections of the park. After some briefing by the park personnel on what to look for and how to access the compartment, we drove out to our area and began walking. Compared to some of the deer and elk habitat I’ve hunted in Colorado, the terrain was not overwhelming. However, don’t expect to be able to walk across flat land to get to your aoudad. You will be climbing up steep terrain and it will seem that most of the vegetation grows thorns or spines.

Many people would think a West Texas hunt in January would be almost pleasant with sunshine and temperatures in the low 70’s. We had tent camped in the park the night before and temperatures were in the teens with a strong north wind. It did warm up somewhat by mid-day but the wind chill was still below freezing. Locals had told us to expect temperatures between 8 and 80 and it could be either on any given day.

We started out the hunt walking up a dry creek bed and watching the cliffs to the north of us for aoudad. For some peculiar reason, I turned to look towards the lower cliffs to the south and immediately spotted a group of aoudad heading up the cliffs about 250 yards away. I quickly got the other two members of our party focused on the group and we took off across the small canyon bottom to try to close the distance.

The aoudad had to climb some very steep terrain and were moving up and away from us. There was one good ram in the group but he seemed to have experienced this before and headed straight up over the top and out of sight. My friend, Scott, managed to get on a large ewe with his 300 Win Mag and tagged her as she paused, jumping from one ledge to another. The range was about 225 yards and she dropped at the shot. Other smaller ewes and juveniles scattered across the ridge as we approached the down animal. She was large for a ewe but she wasn’t what we had driven to West Texas to shoot. We wanted a large ram with their massive horns. At least we had one animal down 30 minutes into the actual hunt.

My brother, Mike, and I helped Scott quickly field dress his animal and we left it up to him to get her back to the truck. We went on up the ridge and hunted higher ground the rest of the afternoon. In one large bowl covered in Juniper, we decided it

was time for lunch. We moved to a rock ledge to enjoy our drinks and snacks while glassing the ridges around us. Almost immediately Mike exclaimed we had a large ram out in the junipers staring right at us. He tried to get his rifle out of the pack scabbard on his back but had a hang up. I managed to get my rifle out sooner and asked if I should take the shot. He exclaimed that I shouldn’t wait on him so I quickly settled into position with my Thompson Center Icon in 30TC. I’d like to say I calmly took the ram down but I was too excited and shot over the ram with my first shot. He bolted towards the back of the bowl and I fired a desperation shot after him. He stopped broadside at about 250 yards for one last look and I hit him hard. He nosedived off the little knoll he had stopped on and was no longer visible. I headed across the bowl while Mike kept an eye on the area. It’s amazing how everything stated to look the same once I got out into the junipers. Mike guided me to the spot and I found the ram piled up. A celebration was in order and lots of pictures were taken.

We processed the animal and continued our trek across the top of the mesa, stopping to glass into side canyons and cliffs as we made our way towards the trail leading back to the truck. We reached the bottom of the canyon and took a break to drink the last of our water and rest. As I tilted my water bottle up, I thought I saw something way up the canyon wall under the rim rock. We pulled out our binoculars and sure enough it was a small herd of ewes and juveniles. We couldn’t find a ram in the group so Mike decided to take one of the larger ewes. We ranged the ewe at 290 yards and he steadied himself against a fallen tree in the stream bed. At the shot, the ewe’s back arched up and she trotted down behind some bushes a few yards below her. Almost immediately, another large ewe stepped out to the left of where the first ewe had been located and Mike took her with one shot. His Browning A-Bolt in 280 Remington worked great and he had two aoudad in two shots.

We climbed up to where the two aoudad were located and confirmed the kills. Pictures were in order and then we processed the animals. The hike back to the truck was long but bearable as all three of us had taken animals on the very first day.

Upon arriving back at camp, we met up with Scott and drove back to our tent site.

He had seen a few feral hogs later in the day but hadn’t gotten into anymore aoudad.

The next day we hunted hard with Mike passing over some ewes and me taking a ewe for good measure. Scott spotted two huge rams within range but they were just over the fence on private land so he couldn’t go after them. We ended the hunt having taken five aoudad among the three of us and we were quite pleased. The views of the park were awesome, the hunt exciting and the hunting companions great. We look forward to going again as soon as we can get drawn.

January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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46 January 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS