Sportsman's News March 2019 Digital Edition

FREE March 2019 | Volume 15 | Issue 3

The Amazing Naknek River Kent Danjanovich was able to land this beautiful chrome bright, king salmon on the second cast of his trip on his trusty fly rod with the Naknek River Camp in King Salmon, Alaska.

SHOT SHOW Roundup

The Newest Products Coming for 2019 Page 20

Pro's Tip: The GUNSMITH AT SPORTSMAN's WAREHOUSE

Full service gunsmithing at your fingertips Page 10

Chad LaChance: Fishful Thinker

Secrets To Success

Gary Lewis: PacWest Outdoors

Small Camp Security

Relentless Clarity: SEE MORE WITH LEUPOLD’S SX-5 SANTIAM HD SPOTTING SCOPE PAGE 8

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 EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Lisa Deming info@sportsmansnews.com VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER Sam Staudt sam@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 2019 © All rights reserved.

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

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Send Us Your Stories And Win A Hunt Of A Lifetime With

Backcountry BackcountryHunts.com Hunts This is an outfitter we have hunted with every year for the past seven years and look forward to every March. We have been able to harvest some extremely large Aoudad on 40,000 acres. One 33” whopper, 31.5”, 31”, 29.5”, and 28” rams. ~ the Sportsmans News Team

New Mexico & Texas Hunts (575) 361•1053 17th Annual

OUTDOOR WRITING CONTEST Grand Prize Package

• Winner will be chosen to join the Sportsman's News Team on a fully guided hunt in Texas with Steve Jones Backcountry Hunts the last week of March 2020. Included is meals, lodging, 1 on 1 guided hunt for 3 days for Trophy Aoudad in west Texas. This is a free range wild sheep hunt. License is included for the winner. Camp will be shared with the Sportsman’s News team and we will film the adventure for an episode of Sportsman’s News Television.

• Contest will run from November 1st, 2018 through November 30th, 2019 with two stories selected each month and published on our website. One grand prize winner will be randomly selected from those entries and notified by e-mail.

• Every published entry will receive a knife from Outdoor Edge and will be entered into the grand prize drawing.

• E-mail stories and photos to info@sportsmansnews.com.

• Stories should be between 900 and 1500 words and be sent as a MS Word document or pasted into an e-mail.

• Photos should be high resolution JPG’s, TIF’s or PDF’s: if you have any questions regarding photos call (435)865-1680.

• Stories without photos will not be considered for publication or contest entry.

All stories may be edited for content and size. Published articles and photos become property of Sportsman’s News. All prizes are provided by Sportsman’s News Inc. Must be 18 years of age to win grand prize.

All entries must include author name, address and phone number to be considered for publication.

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Michael Deming

WHAT’S INSIDE 4 The Amazing Naknek River

Running with kings and rainbows in Alaska..

Relentless Performance 8 Leupold adds the SX-5 Santiam HD Spotting scope to their line.

Tip: Sportsman's 10 Pro's Gunsmithing

4

Warehouse Adds Full Service

Whatever repair or modification your gun needs, these experts have you covered.

12 Platinum Approved Outfitters

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

16 Excitement at Gone Fishin' Lodge Things are heating up on the Kenai.

20 SHOT Show Roundup

10

Don't worry if you couldn't attend. Our team has collected the coolest new products.

26 Pacwest Outdoors: Small Camp Security Steps to stay safe in camp.

I

n February, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t get to see his shadow, thus predicted an early spring. But, according to Wikipedia, he is only right about 39% of the time. As I write this, I just finished shoveling over two feet of snow here in southern Utah.

Now I’m taking into consideration the adage of March, which is “In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb” or visa versa.

Around March 21st, we start to see an equal amount of daylight as we do darkness.

This means that spring is on the way and regardless of whether that groundhog is right or wrong, we can soon get rid of that case of cabin fever and start spending some quality hours outside.

Over the past few months, the Sportsman’s News team has been traveling pretty heavily. We finished up the hunting seasons, did a little ice fishing and even worked on some predator control, but more importantly, we visited a bunch of this year’s industry trade shows. This is where we get to meet with all of the major manufacturers at the Archery Trade Show, the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor, Trade Show (SHOT) and Outdoor Retailer just to name a few. These shows are where the manufactures show off the new products they have been keeping under wraps for the past year or two. Some products are extremely innovative and will make a major impact on the outdoor industry and some are just marketing gimmicks. Many will make it to the shelves of your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and some to the online sales side of things, but the buyers at Sportsman’s Warehouse were out in full force at these shows as well, looking for those key items to bring into the stores. Make sure you check out the “New Products” column in this issue and see some of the things we thought were exciting and are worth a closer look this year.

March 30th is the 4-year anniversary of the Sportsman’s News Pro Membership Sweepstakes. If you aren’t familiar with this program, it’s an opportunity for the outdoorsmen and women like yourselves to have an opportunity to hunt and fish like the pros. Every ten days we give away a special hunting or fishing trip with some of the very best outfitters and lodges in the world. These trips have been reserved years in advance and are places that are held special for customers who come back year after year or possibly a television show host who is going to provide those outfitters some good marketing.

I’m sure that many of you have watched outdoor television and said, “I could kill a buck like that if I had 10,000 private acres to hunt and nobody messing up the hunt too.”

Well, the Pro Membership Sweepstakes is your chance to do just that. We have given away over one million dollar’s worth of trips, guns and gear during this timeframe and the quality just keeps getting better. We have given away a $60,000 desert bighorn sheep hunt and a $35,000 Kodiak brown bear hunt as well as a $30,000 elk hunt in Utah with Mossback Outfitters. We are consistently adding more and better-quality trips and for those of you that get to go, you are going to truly experience a trip of a lifetime.

Visit the www.promembershipsweepstakes.com website for all the details and see what great trips and gear are up for grabs over the next twelve months. Giving away a great prize package every ten days gives everyone something very special to look forward to. Best of luck to everyone and I hope you all have a great spring.

Fishful Thinker: Habits For Success 30 How to be successful catching more fish.

32 Outdoor Writing Contest: Yukon Stone

26

Chasing sheep is not for the faint of heart.

36 Pro's Pick: Killik Gear Hunting Packs A high quality pack doesn't need to break the bank.

37

Business Directory

38 Pro Member Update: Alaska Bearclaw Lodge

38

Slaying the fish in Bristol Bay.

40 Wild Game Recipe: Goose Poor Boy

Use wild fowl and pork to give this old classic a new spin.

42 Adventures On A Budget: DIY Spring Bears What you need to know to chase bruins out west.

42

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary Lewis Chad LaChance Mike Torres Steve Mayer Tom Claycomb III

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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The Amazing Naknek River

One of the highlights of our trip to the Naknek River Camp was our day trip to Brooks Falls. We were a little early in the sockeye salmon run, but the brown bears were already starting to line up in preparation for the harvest.

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

O

ne of the truly amazing places in the world for me is Alaska. Over the past 15-years, I have had the great opportunity to visit many locations across this massive state, partaking of hunting and fishing trips most only dream of. Each area is unique in its own way, but all have two things in common – spectacular landscapes and wildlife galore!

As you know, the Sportsman’s News team is always looking for new places to visit that offer a chance for our readers and followers to experience outdoor adventures of a lifetime. We are always on the lookout for new destinations, but we are also mindful of not over representing any particular area to be fair to our loyal operations that have been with us for years. One such area of southwest Alaska that falls into this category is the Bristol Bay region.

The Bristol Bay area encompasses a lot of land and a lot of water. Some of the most well-known waterways in Alaska are found here and are home to some of the largest salmon runs in the world, with annual numbers surpassing 50,000,000. The Bristol Bay watershed provides vital habitat for 29 fish species, more than 190 bird species and 40 terrestrial animals. Bald eagles, moose, brown bears, rainbow trout, freshwater seals, pacific walrus, north pacific right whales and beluga whales all live in the region.

One river of this area that I had always wanted to visit was the Naknek, known not only for its great salmon runs, but also considered by most to be the best rainbow trout fishery in all of Alaska. And when a trout fisherman listens in on stories of fish seemingly behind every rock in the river, with opportunities to hook into and land ‘bow’s stretching out to the magical “30-inch” mark, well, it is just more than you can stand! So, when I saw that Jim Johnson, owner of the Naknek River Camp, was going to be exhibiting at the Denver ISE Show last January, I hopped on a plane and stopped by his booth to talk about his interest in having us make a visit to his operation. Plans were quickly made and the timing of the trip was set for June 23-30, 2018, also with a return visit scheduled for September 8-10 to see what the fall fishing was like as well.

Fellow Pro-Staffer, Kevin Orton had told me that he was looking for a trip to take his dad and cousin along on, so when I told him that I thought that I had a good one scheduled, they quickly jumped on board. We all met up in the Anchorage International Airport on the afternoon of June 23 and soon found ourselves loading up for our flight to King Salmon. An hour later, we were grabbing our bags and loading into the van with James Johnson, head guide, camp manager, and Jim's son. James filled us in on the area as

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

in 2018) and two more from Oklahoma. The stories of the day could be heard in every corner of the lodge as our anticipation for the week ahead was busting at the seams.

Day two found us again loading into the boat with James, but this time heading just a few hundred yards from the lodge to one of the best rainbow stretches on the river.

“The Flats” perfectly depicted the shallow, rocky area that laid itself out in front of us. A couple of islands dotted its expanses as well with potential trout filled seams calling to us throughout the area. James quickly helped me set up two rods, one with WF floating line and the other with my sink-tip. This time, we tied on black and white Dolly Llamas.

We would be throwing from the boat to start, with James positioning us in just the right spots as we swung our offerings through the gin-clear water. Sadly, it took me THREE casts this time to hook into my first fish, a feisty, 22-inch silver ball of rainbow trout. The next three hours produced over a dozen fish, ranging from 18- to 26-inches. Begrudgingly, we made our way to a pretty spot along the river at about noon for a lunch break.

James broke out the hibachi and threw on some juicy pork chops on one side and a tin-foil wrap of green beans on the other. Kevin and I cracked open a couple of soda’s as we reminisced about our mornings’ results. And, oh by the way, the before mentioned lunch was spectacular!

That afternoon, we decided to head back for some more kings, with the result, another dozen kings from four- (immature jacks) to 30-pounds (adults) coming to the net. Wells Big sea run Dolly Varden and Arctic char are also and Brad had the hot hand on this afternoon, with both landing a bunch with their spin plentiful in the river systems throughout the area of cast setups, while throwing Rapalas and Wiggle Warts. The only bad thing about the southwest Alaska. day, was that 4:30pm came way too soon as we found ourselves heading back to the lodge and another great meal and a little rest for our tired arms and backs.

Day three found us heading up river for more rainbow adventures with our guide, Kode. Seemingly every time we came around another bend in the river, we stopped to we made our way to the lodge, situated only about 7-miles from the airport. He also fish a run. And you know what, there weren’t many stops that didn’t produce fish. Soon informed us that we would be actually staying at their second lodge, the Katmai Trophy we found ourselves passing the Naknek River Camp that sits along the shores of NaLodge, which would be more centrally located to give us the best opportunity to cover knek River, just below its headwaters at the end of Naknek Lake. Kode informed us that the wide choice of fishing options at our disposal. we would be chasing a few boils before we broke for lunch to see if we could hook into a After a quick lunch, we loaded into our boat with guide, James Johnson and headed lunker rainbow. down river to swing for some kings.

Now the term, boils, refers to the happening when The Naknek is a good-sized river, about 35-miles long rainbows finish their endeavors to corral salmon smolt and flows from Naknek Lake to eventually empty into "Sadly, it took me THREE casts this that are trying to make their way out of the lake and Kvichak Bay, an arm of Bristol Bay. Much of the fishing out to sea to mature. The big rainbows chase them to time to hook into my first fish, a the surface and wack them with their tails to stun them, takes place in the upper 15-miles, beyond the reach of tide water. Its currents are pretty swift, especially the feisty, 22-inch silver ball of rainbow before gorging themselves. Alaskan gulls and terns also upper ten miles that traverse through an ancient glacier watch for these boils as they then dive-bomb the water trout. " moraine that creates a canyon and a long, boulder field in hopes of taking in some of the rainbow’s catch. So of rapids. Although the water has a blue-green tinge on yes, the birds can be your friend in this case, as they the main river, due to the glacier silt and volcanic ash help you to locate, in many cases, where the next boil that was deposited in Naknek Lake, the water clarity is pretty good, with normal flows will take place, with their lofty perch above the water helping them to spot the bait balls. about 4,000 cfs after ice-off, rising to more than double that by October.

Our next hour produced seven big rainbows, ranging from 20- to 25-inches. We then Our quick trip down river soon had us turning into a side channel, motoring up it to broke for a lunch break along a pretty piece of beach on the west side of the lake. Brats our first stop on a long, slow moving, relatively deep cut bank. James instructed me to and taters quickly filled our bellies as we watched in the distance as boils, birds and string up my 9wt with 300- or 400-grain sink-tip on the reel, topped off with a pink and ‘bows entertained us. blue Dolly Llama. Kevin then started to set up his camera equipment as I waded into the As I made my first cast of the afternoon, my mind was still on my last fish before lunch, a water to throw my first cast.

James pointed out that the best part of the run started about straight across from us, as it quickly dropped into the trough that would be holding, hopefully some incoming kings. As I laid my second cast at the tips of the waving grass on the far side of the stream, I gave it a mend up-river as my fly slowing dropped in the water column. Suddenly I felt a tap, tap, tap and after a quick strip set and a lift of my fly rod, I was hooked into my first king salmon of the trip – Yes, on my second cast!

James let out a holler and I just smiled in augh, as my line started zinging out of my reel. On its second big run, my first Naknek king sprang into the air, summersaulting back into the tea-stained water. After a valiant, 10-minute battle, James eased his net into the water and the first fish of our trip was on the board. I then looked back at Kevin and he gave me the thumbs-up that he had caught it all on film, from start to finish.

The photo session quickly ensued as our excitement continued. A few casts later, another king broke the silence of the afternoon as it sprang from the water and into the air.

Kevin’s dad, Wells and his cousin, Brad Jeffery, soon joined the action as they beached their boat above ours and started to fish the upper reaches of the run. With them throwing Rapalas and me continuing to swing Dolly Llamas, we were able to land a half a dozen fish in the next hour before we were off to more stops up river. By the time we started heading back to the lodge at about 4:30pm, a dozen kings had come to the net for our group. What a start to our week on the Naknek River, with Naknek River Camp and Katmai Trophy Lodge.

Over dinner, we mingled with our fellow fishermen and women who would be sharing Our guide, Kode, displays the beautiful 27 ½ inch rainbow that I landed the lodge with us for the week; Two gentlemen were from Michigan, a husband and while chasing boils on Naknek Lake. wife from Colorado, one from northern Utah (the second of his three trips to the lodge March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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24-inch rainbow that had to have been almost a foot deep. Kode shrieked, “Cast to that boil behind you – hurry”! I quickly changed positions and laid out a perfectly placed offering. As I made my first strip, my line went taunt and I laid into the resistance. Line started to zip out of my reel as my eyes got wide and I uttered, “This is a big one”!

Her first run didn’t stop until I was in to my backing. I quickly tried to gain some ground, only to have the big silver ball of muscle take it right back. Just as Kode would start to make a swipe with the net, my fish would streak out on another run. Finally, I was able to get the upper hand and guide it into the net, with the site before us a gorgeous Naknek Lake rainbow trout filling the net from one side to the other, over 27-inches in length, a true trophy of a lifetime.

Our next two days resulted in much of the same; kings, rainbows, some sockeye and even a monster 42-inch northern pike thrown in for good measure. Yes, you could say we had become a little numb to our experience, since it was far exceeding anything that we had possibly imagined it could be!

Our second to last day found us loading into the boat for a ride up river to the Naknek River Camp and then loading into the jet boat for a ride across Naknek Lake to Brooks Falls. After an orientation at the information center on the area and its residents (Alaskan brown bears) we headed out, with flyrods in hand, along the mile-long trail to the falls.

Although we didn’t see any bears on our hike, many of them had left a ‘pile’ here and there to let us know that they were in the area. Unfortunately, we were a little early in the sockeye run for them to be lined up, chasing fish as they sprang through the air on their migration run to Lake Brooks, above the falls.

After a photo session at the falls, we made our way back down the trail to the area that led us to the river below the falls. Kode and Dan would be our guides on this day as they tied on streamer and minnow patterns on our 5- and 6-weight fly rods.

I was first to hook-up with a nice fish, with Brad soon to follow. As we worked slowly downriver, Dan and I noticed fish starting to surface along its banks. Dan quickly changed me over to a #16 Caddis for a little top-water action. My first cast produced the first of twodozen fish in the next two hours, with rise after rise just begging me to land my fly in the area. Of course, I obliged, with the result gorgeous rainbows of every size coming to the net, with the biggest on the day a beautiful, 24-inch giant. I even managed to hook into a big grayling, the only one for us on the day, but another species to add to our list for the trip.

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Summer: 907-246-2894 Winter: 616-745-6066

Yes, monster northern pike are lurking in the back eddies along the Naknek River as well, so make sure you take along a few metal leaders just in case!

Our June trip had come to an end, but as luck would have it, I would be passing through King Salmon at the end of the first week in September, so plans were quickly made for a return trip for a couple of days to see how the rainbows had developed throughout the summer months.

Steve McGrath and I found ourselves loading into the covered boat on the morning of September 9th on our way to Brooks Falls again, only this time, we would be fishing the river above the falls starting at the mouth of Lake Brooks. We would be using a single bead below a strike indicator at this time, imitating the egg pattern of the salmon now in the system.

The next five hours was full of excitement as our group of six spotted and then laid our offerings out to the suspended rainbows waiting for eggs to bounce down the river. Beautiful leopard rainbows could be seen flying through the air as we not only took in the excitement, but also the splendor of our surroundings. And oh yes, there were plenty of brown bears along the banks doing the same thing!

Silvers were on the docket for the next morning and after we had landed a half a dozen, Ryan recommended that we head for one of his favorite runs for a try at a monster fall ‘bow.

We would be hoovering beads, bouncing them along the bottom, but this time it was all feel in the main channel of the Naknek.

By 2pm, Ryan had to literally tear Steve and I away from the endless hookups of big rainbows, up to 28-inches as we had to catch our flight back to the states at 5pm.

Well, as you can see, our two trips to the Naknek River, including stays at both the Naknek River Camp and Katmai Trophy Lodge were nothing short of spectacular. Kings, sockeye and rainbows in June and silvers and even bigger rainbows in September. Now that’s pretty hard to beat. We are proud to have Jim Johnson and his lodges as part of our Platinum Approved Outfitters and Lodges family and we will be joining a lucky winner and their guest again during the 2020 season as part of our Pro Membership Sweepstakes. But don’t wait for us, get on the phone right now and reserve your spot at 907-246-2894 during the season or 616-745-6066 during the off-season.

Kevin Orton, Brad Jefferies and Wells Orton with a bunch of tasty Naknek River sockeye salmon destine for the grill back home in Utah.

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Relentless Performance: Leupold’s SX-5 Santiam HD Spotting Scope

W

hether you’re chasing a trophy bull eight miles deep in the backcountry or preparing to stretch the limits of your new long-range rifle setup at the range, one thing remains indisputable; you can’t hunt or shoot what you can’t find.

To ensure you’re on target, you’re going to need a spotting scope that’s capable of delivering the relentless performance diehard hunters and shooters demand - the SX-5 Santiam HD Spotting Scope from Leupold.

Ready to redefine top-tier spotting scopes, the SX-5 Santiam HD offers premium attributes in a package that has been designed and assembled in the United States. It delivers more comfortable viewing, amazing optical clarity and unquestionable rugged reliability in a package only Leupold could deliver.

“Our consumers are some of the most dedicated, relentless hunters in the world,” said Zach Bird, Product Line Manager for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “They need optics that are as tough as they are – and the SX-5 Santiam HD Spotting Scope has been specifically crafted to deliver that performance.”

When you are glassing for hours on end, you want to make the situation as easy as possible for your eyes. The SX-5 does that, delivering more comfortable viewing with an over-sized eyepiece, as well as a generous eyebox that eliminates eye-strain and fatigue. It also has true HD glass that doesn’t get fuzzy towards the edges of the image, while its fully-multicoated lenses produce true-to-life colors no matter what magnification you’re on.

Simply put, this spotter is incredibly clear and comfortable. Further, the SX-5 provides amazingly sharp images with an ultra-smooth focus. Twist-up eyecups further increase comfort.

The SX-5’s optical performance is taken to the next level with the inclusion of Leupold’s Twilight Max HD Light Management System, which allows consumers to see more in less light. Capable of adding up to 30 minutes to your glassing light, Twilight Max HD eliminates 90 percent more glareproducing stray light than its competitors. It also plays a large role in the SX-5’s edge-to-edge lens clarity and is the very same light management system that is featured on Leupold’s award winning VX-5HD and VX-6HD riflescope models.

“The human eye is most sensitive to colors outside the middle of the spectrum during dawn and dusk, when game is moving. The Twilight Max HD Light Management System literally helps you see more in less light,” Bird said. “The superior glare reduction it offers ensures the maximum amount of usable light gets to your eye. Our proprietary lens coatings and superior optical design help deliver the very best contrast and resolution, ensuring you’ll be able to see things like tines in heavy brush in very little light.”

In addition to its class-leading optical performance, the SX-5 is packed with features that will appeal to the most relentless hunters and shooters alike. It controls glare with an integrated sun shade and is designed to mount easily with a tripod adapter. Like Leupold’s other top-tier observation equipment, the SX-5 sheds dirt and water for clear, crisp images with Guard-ion lens

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

coatings – and those same lenses are scratch-resistant, so they’ll stand up to the roughest conditions. A rugged, yet lightweight armor on the spotting scope’s body has been tested to perform in the harshest conditions, as well, ensuring that the SX-5 can go anywhere you can.

Angled and straight eyepiece models are available for different viewing preferences. The SX-5 is waterproof, fogproof and guaranteed to perform for life. All SX-5 Santiam HD spotting scopes are protected by Leupold’s Full Lifetime Guarantee. If your spotting scope doesn’t perform, Leupold will repair or replace it for free – whether you’re the original owner or not.

You don’t need proof of ownership or a warranty card. Leupold believes in the superior quality and craftsmanship of the company’s products and is confident that the SX-5 won’t let you down.

The SX-5 works excellently when used in concert with Leupold’s BX-5 Santiam HD binocular line. Featuring 8x42, 10x42, 10x50, 12x50 and 15x56 models in several finishes, the BX-5 binocular shares many of the same features as the SX-5; premium optical performance, comfortable viewing, the Twilight Max HD Light Management System, superior ruggedness and more.

The SX-5 Santiam HD spotting scope, as well as the BX-5 Santiam HD binocular, can be found on shelves now at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

SX-5 SANTIAM HD RELENTLESS CLARITY

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Waterproof, fogproof, and guaranteed to perform for life

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Provides incredibly sharp images with ultra-smooth focus

Delivers more comfortable viewing with an over-sized eyepiece

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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PRO'S TIP

Sportsman’s Warehouse to Offer Full Gunsmithing Services

sportsmansgunsmith.com

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

S

tarting this month, Sportsman’s Warehouse is offering nationwide fullservice gunsmithing. Taking advantage of these services is as simple as bringing your gun to your local Sportsman’s Warehouse, choosing the services you would like from a menu of offerings, and letting the store associates package and ship your gun off to the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse.

To accommodate these services, Sportsman’s Warehouse has created a gunsmithing shop in the corner of their Salt Lake City Distribution Center. This new facility features 4,500 square feet of space with 600 square feet of retail and local customers can drop off their guns directly at the shop. The workspace features four stations for gunsmiths to tear down and work on rifles, shotguns, pistols, and muzzleloaders. They also have added a full production lathe that is designed for 24-hour-a-day operation, as well as a large end mill for a variety of metal working operations. Finish tanks, a spray booth and oven for Cerakote, along with other pieces of equipment that will allow them to perform almost any gun service or customization are being installed and should be ready to roll for nationwide operation by mid-March.

“The only thing we won’t offer is custom wood stock building,” said Bill Sturtevant, Head Gunsmith. “The time necessary for that service takes too much time and pulls our gunsmiths off of other projects for too long. But just about anything

10 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

else, including refinishing stocks, is on the table.”

Sportsman’s Warehouse has made significant investments in both people and equipment, with more than 34 years of combined gunsmithing expertise on hand.

Additionally, the facility is large enough that they can add four more benches and additional machines to expand their capacity in the future. Plans are also in the works to set up key stores in the chain to handle certain services on location.

While we toured the facility, Sturtevant was turning a barrel blank on the lathe and reaming the chamber. The end mill was standing by to carve out the receiver.

These experienced gunsmiths were working on creating a custom rifle for a customer. Sturtevant is no stranger to custom guns, with many of his rifles winning precision shooting competitions.

The full menu of services includes porting, laser engraving, accurizing, mounting optics, Parkerizing, custom Cerakote, bluing, nitriding, wildcat chambering, threading barrels for suppressors or muzzle brakes, reprofiling handgun frames, glass bedding, installing precision stocks, trigger jobs, repairs, and many more.

The range of guns they can service goes from fabricating broken or missing parts for antique guns, to rounding off all of the sharp edges on your carry 1911 (dehorning), to deep cleaning your modern sporting rifle, and everything in between.

Having the ability to perform a full range of services sets the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse apart from many gunsmiths who simply specialize in one single service. It makes them your one-stop shop for a wide range of gunsmithing work on a wide variety of firearms.

A few other benefits of using the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse include collecting Sportsman’s Warehouse Loyalty Reward Points with every dollar you spend on your gunsmithing and paying for gunsmithing with Sportsman’s Warehouse gift cards. In addition, those who have purchased a Firearm Service Plan (FSP)* from Sportsman’s Warehouse have a place to send their guns for covered repairs and free shipping of the firearm. Any work not covered by the FSP is given a 15 percent discount off the total gunsmithing price. Since the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse is a dedicated full-time gunsmith shop and not a parttime or hobby operation, the turnaround time is measured in weeks, not months or years. All of the repairs are backed by the customer service of Sportsman’s Warehouse and are covered by a satisfaction guarantee.

Getting started is as easy as dropping the gun off at a local Sportsman’s Warehouse gun counter, shipping it yourself, or bringing it directly to the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse, 1630 S. 5070 W. Ste. 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84104-4753. The gunsmith will contact you to get a full rundown of the services you want and to provide an estimate before any work is started. Check on your state and local laws regarding shipping firearms, but federal law allows direct shipments since the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse has a federal firearms license (FFL). Some states may require shipment of guns from an FFL to another FFL. To find out the details and get a quote, call the Gunsmith at Sportsman’s Warehouse at (800) 761-1252, email thegunsmith@ sportsmanswarehouse.com, or visit sportsmansgunsmith.com. *Firearm Service Plan (FSP) not available in all states

CONNECT THE DOT ™ SIG SAUER Electro-Optics transforms hunting with the unprecedented simplicity and accuracy of BDX. KILO BDX rangefinders use your ballistics and Bluetooth® to illuminate the exact holdover dot in SIERRA3BDX riflescopes. For the most accurate and ethical shot, just connect the dot.

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SIERRA3BDX 6.5-20X52mm

Download the SIG BDX app from

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March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

11

The Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved Outfitter is an outfitter book. These are outfitters you would be proud to refer to a friend. that has excelled in every aspect of their business. They put We know this because we are proud to endorse each one of these people and customers before profit. They do what it takes to make sure that they will be outfitters based upon our staff members personally visiting each one of these in business for the long haul and ensure that they have repeat customers. They practice operations. These outfitters have proven to us that they have what it takes to be good game management, which will ensure a top quality trip with them every time you “Sportsman’s News Platinum Approved.”

ALASKA FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING Halibut, Yelloweye, King, Silver, Pink, and Chum Salmon, Ling Cod, and Dolly Varden.

Fresh and saltwater fishing adventures.

Pybus Point Lodge Juneau, AK 1-(800) 94-PYBUS • www.pybus.com

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

Becharof Rapids Camp On the banks of the Egegik River on the outlet of Becharof Lake in the Bristol Bay region. Uninhabited, untouched, and pristine with the area a veritable salmon factory. All five species of salmon plus rainbows, Arctic char and grayling.

360-532-7594

www.becharofrapidscamp.com ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

12 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

ALASKA GUIDED HUNTING

CANADIAN FISHING

Join us for a Canadian fishing adventure of a lifetime!

Fully Guided Fishing On Mcintosh Lake, Part Of The Legendary Churchill River System Which Holds Massive Pike, Trophy Lake Trout And Scrappy Walleye

775-741-4539

ruffossportsmanslodge.com ALASKA GUIDED HUNTING

CANADIAN FISHING

ro de Renf With Wand Guide Pilot a

ALASKAN ADVENTURES

Fly-in Alaskan hunting for brown bear, Alaskan moose or black bear. Custom tailored trips.

() -

renfrosalaskanadventures.com ALASKA FISHING

CANADIAN WATERFOWL HUNTING

ALASKA FISHING

CANADIAN HUNTING

ALASKA’S AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE

Alaska’s #1 destination for

COZY RIVERFRONT CABINS EXPERIENCED & FRIENDLY GUIDES All 5 Species of Pacific Salmon . RainbowTrout . Grayling . Arctic Char

www.naknekrivercamp.com

GIANT Rainbow Trout Summer: 907-246-2894 Winter: 616-745-6066

ALASKA GUIDED FISHING

CANADIAN HUNTING

ALBERTA

Ranchland Outfitters offers First Class Waterfowl Hunts and Big Game hunts in Alberta, Canada. If you are looking for an Outfitter that cares about each hunt, look no further. Ranchland Outfitters is a First Class Waterfowl and Big Game Outfitter.

www.ranchlandoutfitters.com 877-924-8440 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

13

CANADIAN HUNTING

MANITOBA FISHING

COLORADO HUNTING

MICHIGAN HUNTING

Specializing in Trophy Mule Deer, Elk & Mountain Lion

|

COLORADO/UTAH HUNTING

MICHIGAN HUNTING

Trophy Hunting Colorado Unit 61 & The Utah Bookcliffs

www.alloutoutfitters.com

970-209-4785 Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Big Horn Sheep & Bison

COLORADO WATERFOWL

NEW MEXICO HUNTING

Stillwater Outfitters is Colorado's oldest and largest Waterfowl Outfitter. We have exclusive hunting leases on over 50 farms on the beautiful Front Range of Colorado. Our goal is to provide the trip of a lifetime without any drama. We also offer Turkey and Trophy Whitetail Deer hunting.

• Colorado's Largest and most productive waterfowl Outfitter • Exclusive Leases on over 50 Farms on the Front Range of Colorado • World Class Guides and Equipment • Hunts are conducted in spacious in-the-ground pit blinds

303.659.8665

www.stillwateroutfitters.net

Book your Bison hunt now to secure available dates.

Contact Season Elliott at contact@ranchodechavez.com or 505-884-3503 www.ranchodechavez.com

LOUISIANA FISHING

NEW ZEALAND HUNTING

Bourgeois Fishing Charters The Finest Bayou Fishing New Orleans Has To Offer

Chase Big Tailing Reds & Lunker Trout In The Heart Of The Louisiana Marsh Spin Fishing In Bay Boats & Fly Fishing In Fly Boats

Just 30 Minutes South Of New Orleans

www.neworleansfishing.com

MANITOBA HUNTING & FISHING

(504) 341-5614

Canada’s Best Fishing Lodge Of The Year!

Five Star Main Lodge Featuring Fully Guided American Plan Packages Plus Remote Outpost Camps on 4 Lakes

BIG SAND L AKE LODGE & PREMIER OUTPOSTS Northern Pike

Lake Trout

Walleye

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING

South Dakota Pheasant Hunting at its Finest!

Arctic Grayling

Contact Brett Waibel: info@badriverhunts.com

• Chippewyan Lake • Wolf Lake • Jordan Lake • LeClair Lake

Trophy Fishing For • Northern Pike • Lake Trout • Walleye • Arctic Grayling

Big Game Hunting • Spring & Fall Bear • Fall Moose

1-800-348-5824 www.bigsandlakelodge.com

14 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Day and all inclusive hunts available!

(605) 669-3440 BadRiverHunts.com

JOIN the PARTY!

SOUTH DAKOTA HUNTING Hunt the Grand Slam of the Dakotas World Class Pheasant Hunting Sharp-tail Grouse • Prairie Chicken Hungarian Partridge • Waterfowl

Tumbleweed Lodge

WYOMING HUNTING

605-875-3440

Tumbleweed@sbtc.net

www.TumbleweedLodge.com SOUTHWEST HUNTING

WYOMING HUNTING & FISHING

SOUTHWEST HUNTING

TEXAS HUNTING

Let Us Help You With That Choice

UTAH HUNTING

WYOMING HUNTING

Over 50 Years Of Outfitter Evaluation Experience

Call Us, We Can Help

509-623-2626 info@sndreamadventures.com

www.SNDreamAdventures.com March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

15

Excitement Is The Name Of The Game At Gone Fishin’ Lodge

By Kent Danjanovich Senior Editor

T

he Kenai Penisula - No other place in the world holds more opportunity to fish some of the most renowned stretches of water be it stream, lake or ocean.

The dream of catching a literal fish-of-a-lifetime is the thought of fishermen of every shape, size, age and gender every year as they work their way to the northern most state in the union.

When Ralph Crystal and Dick Bowen built the lodge on the banks of the Kenai River some 20 years ago, their dream was to offer an Alaskan destination that would set them apart from the rest; one that would give visitors a chance to see as much of Alaska as possible in a week's stay. And with the famous Kenai River as their marquee, their customized packages soon became the symbol of the ultimate "variety" experience available anywhere in Alaska.

For the past fourteen years, I have had the pleasure of visiting many lodges in Alaska, from five-star resorts to remote outpost camps and a little of everything in between.

Every one of my experiences has been first class in many ways, but many of them have one or two key aspects that make them special. I have found that one lodge in particular stands out in my mind as one that allows me to take in just a little more variety of what Alaska is all about. This lodge just happens to be located on the banks of the world famous Kenai River and it is fittingly called the Gone Fishin’ Lodge. I have found that during my weeks’ stay, I and the other guests at the lodge have the opportunity to tailor our trips to have a totally different trip, chasing different and exciting fishing species every day, while being treated by the staff like one of the family.

A good starting point to find out a little bit more about their operation is on their

16 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

website at www.gonefishinlodge.com. All of the packages at the Gone Fishin’ Lodge start on Saturday and run to the next Saturday. Packages can be customized for shorter stays if desired, on space availability, but standard stay is seven nights lodging and either five or six days of fishing.

You will find that they have nearly twenty different packages available and even with all of those options, you can still customize just the trips that you are interested in as well.

And yes, you fly fishermen and women are covered on many exciting trips also!

Knowing that most travelers have a limited window of opportunity each summer, Gone Fishin’ Lodge can help to put together a trip encompassing just the adventures you’re looking for. If you are looking for the chance to catch a new world record king salmon on the Kenai or Kasilof Rivers, June and July are the months for you. Many kings are caught each year over the 50-pound mark and you just never know when it may be your turn at “The Big One”! If you’re looking to hook into some red (sockeye) salmon then June, July and early to mid-August would be your time frame. If you would like the opportunity of catching big numbers of silver (coho) salmon on both spin cast and fly rods, then late July and August are definitely your months. And don’t worry about trying to hit the halibut just right. May through the first of September is prime-time for hooking into a monster on either a trip to Cook Inlet or a multi-species trip to Seward or better yet -- A trip to both during your stay!

Not far from the Gone Fishin’ Lodge, over in Seward, the lingcod season opens July 1st. Lingcod are prehistoric looking fish, but their white meat is excellent table fare. Lingcod hang out usually in depths of 30-140 feet of water and are taken on salmon rods using jigs. About this time, silver salmon start returning to Resurrection Bay, with limits of six silvers per person/per day in the bay itself and a limit of three on multi species trips.

During this time, halibut fishing is alive and well in Seward also. With all the variety of fish available it gives the Gone Fishin’ Lodge an opportunity to do combination trips of “Lingcod/Silver Salmon”, “Lingcod/Halibut” or “Halibut/Silver Salmon” and on every combo trip you may catch black bass, yellow eye and assorted rockfish. You will be fishing in the midst of pristine glaciers and picturesque scenery. Often you will see wildlife such as whales, porpoise, sea lions and puffins. Seward is truly one of the most beautiful places in Alaska!

Now, no trip to Alaska is complete without partaking of a floatplane ride and of course, the Gone Fishin’ Lodge has a couple of options available that you will not want to miss. Although they do have a few other possible destinations as well, their most popular spots are across Cook Inlet to Big River Lake and also the Kustatan River. Both are outstanding day trips and are usually dependent on weather and water conditions. A variety of techniques can be used during these trips and again, all of the equipment and bait will be supplied by your guides (except for you fly fishermen on this one).

If your destination is to Big River Lake, along with being right in the middle of one of

the very best bear-viewing spots in Alaska, you will have the opportunity to hook into big numbers of sockeye salmon in July and coho’s in August. Much of the fishing is done at the mouth of a crystal-clear stream running into the glacial waters of Big River Lake and sometimes as many as a dozen brown bears can be seen roaming the shore, trying their best to catch the same salmon that you are casting to. Now luckily, you are in a boat, out in the lake, so safety concerns are on your side, but believe me, it is quite a sight

to see, one that I look forward to every time I make the trip with Ralph and his crew.

As you board your flight back to the Lodge, if the weather conditions are just right and time permits, you just might also get a chance for an “up close and personal” flight through one of the nearby glaciers of the area before heading back across the inlet. Glaciers are truly one of the marvels of God’s creations and if you ever have the chance to take a flight through them, do it!

Amazing opportunity to own a Wyoming Outfitting business!

This turnkey operation in one of the most remote locations in the lower 48 includes both fall and summer use in two Forest Service permitted camps.

A rare opportunity, not to be missed.

Call today for further details!

$799,500 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

17

Another must-do day trip will take you to the upper Kenai River in search of big rainbows and Dolly Varden. The season opens each summer on June 11th and the months of June and July can offer some unbelievable action, but the month of August is when it really starts to heat up as thousands of salmon make their way into the system to spawn.

As these fish head for their last efforts in this life by dropping and fertilizing millions of eggs for generations to come, the rainbows and dolly’s start to gorge themselves on the eggs, making an upper-river drift boat trip an absolute must during your stay.

Turquoise water flows out of glacier fed Kenai Lake and then runs seventeen miles eventually into Skilak Lake, the spawning grounds for hundreds of thousands of salmon each year, making this section of the river one of the best sections of water in the world for trout fishing! All fishing is guided and done out of a drift boat or by wading from sandbars. There are no power boats allowed on the upper Kenai River and the Kenai Canyon stretches. Gone Fishins’ guides specialize in light tackle fishing with fly rods or spinning gear for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. This can be a very special trip for those that have not had the pleasure of experiencing the art of fly fishing and your guide will be more than happy to spend a little extra time introducing you to the sport. The strict enforcement of catch and release for trout has made the upper Kenai one of the most prolific trout fisheries in the world and drifting a bead under 12 feet of leader with a couple of split shot can produce fish after fish, with oversized football sized leopard rainbows lurking around almost every bend in the river.

Although I love the August timing for my trip, you really can’t pick a time from June to September that won’t produce a fantastic experience. Every adventure is special and unique in its own way and it is really up to you what activities and adventures you will take in during your week. I know that many of us can never get enough fishing, but one of the things I am going to take in on my next trip is possibly a trip to Whittier for a tour of the massive and impressive glaciers of the area or maybe a day cruise to the Kenai Fjords out of Seward. There is just so much to do in the area that it is really hard to decide just what to include in your visit.

Well, there you have it. I just don’t know of anywhere else in Alaska where you can put together such an assortment of great adventures all piled into a week's stay. But don’t just take my word for it. Why not check them out for yourself. Give Ralph and Dick a call today at 877-462-5752 and check out their website at www.gonefishinlodge.com to book your next great outdoor adventure.

Idaho Archery Hunts and OTC tags for 2019

Archery Antelope $2500

Archery / Rifle Deer $2950 / $3500

Fully Guided Hunts With Food And Lodging Included On Over 30,000 Acres Of Private Land

Archery Elk $5750

509.499.4861

www.jokerswildoutdoors.com 18 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SHOT Show Roundup Sig KILO3000BDX Binocular Rangefinder

The BDX or Ballistic Data Xchange was launched in 2018, which allowed your SIG BDX Rangefinder to pair with the SIG BDX riflescopes and provide you exact holdovers for ranges out to 800-yards with amazing accuracy. In 2019, SIG has taken this a step further by adding a 10X42 rangefinding binocular with this same ability. Having this in a binocular allows you to eliminate a separate rangefinder. It also allows you to stay on your target at all times with a high-quality optic. It is fully multi-coated ED glass lenses with phase-coated prisms which provide a high-resolution image and great edge to edge clarity. It supports applied ballistics externally for pairing with your Kestral as well as Applied Ballistics Elite. The Hyperscan Technology provides four range updates per second, making it one of the fastest on the market. It will range up to 5,000-yards with results displayed to the nearest 1/10th of a yard. It is all wrapped up in a compact, lightweight aluminum housing and is powered by a lithium CR2 battery.

Winchester Wildcat 22

This rimfire provides an entirely new level of innovation. With over 100 years of rimfire building experience, Winchester has come to the table with a rifle that is a must-have for everyone. The Wildcat uses a striker-fired design (much like a centerfire bolt-action rifle) that provides faster lock time and a lighter trigger pull than traditional hammer-fired rimfire designs. It features a highly ergonomic ambidextrous molded polymer stock, with skeletonized buttstock, an upright ribbed pistol grip and rugged textured matte finish. The upper assembly has an integral picatinny top rail so you can easily add the optics of your choice. You can also use the fully adjustable ghost ring rear sight and ramped post front sight. It utilizes a rotary magazine and will also accept a wide range of aftermarket magazines compatible with the 10/22. It is easily disassembled and cleaning is a breeze with the well thought out design. It’s an ideal rifle to start your kids on or a go-to for the seasoned veteran.

Nikon LaserForce 10x42 Range finding binoculars

Western big game spot and stalkers know binoculars and rangefinders are both critical pieces of gear. But what if, in the interest of speed and efficiency, your binoculars could instantly find range for you too? Well, they can, and now for a more reasonable price than ever with the LaserForce binocular from Nikon. LaserForce has the ability to range from 10 to 1900 yards with the push of button without ever loosing sight of your quarry. They can continuously range for eight seconds and also compensate for inclination. The binocular features Nikon’s ED glass for resolution and contrast, flip down lens caps, and rubber armor coating. They’re fog and water-proof and long eye relief allows use even with glasses. Nikon LaserForce combines two important tools into one very potent user friendly package.

CVA Paramount Long-Range Muzzleloader

Unlike any other CVA rifle, this bolt-action gun was developed and designed to handle “super magnum” propellant charges – meaning: in excess of a 150 grain by volume equivalent of black powder, thus providing the higher velocities necessary for harvesting animals effectively at 300-yards and beyond. The 2,200-feet per second plus velocities are worth nothing without the accuracy to put those shots where they belong, but this rifle has it all. The Paramount features a custom quality .45 caliber free floating Bergara barrel in Nitride treated 416 grade stainless steel. It has a 1:22 twist and when paired with PowerBelt’s new 280 grain ELR bullets, which were specially designed for the Paramount; this barrel can produce incredibly tight groups at ranges previously thought unreachable for a muzzleloader.

20 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

THE RUGER

®

LC380 ™

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

It features a dovetailed, high visibility 3-dot sight system, 7-round magazine and finger grip extension floorplate, manual safety, loaded chamber indicator and light recoil spring for an easy-to-manipulate slide.

The LC380™ is the same size as the LC9™, yet offers reduced recoil making it Ruger’s lightest recoiling personal protection centerfire pistol yet.

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

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

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

WWW.RUGER.COM/LC380

Dovetailed, High-Visibility 3-Dot Sight System

©2013 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

122812

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

21

SHOT Show Roundup Camp Chef Pursuit pellet grill/smoker

Camp Chef’s line of pellet grill smokers have always produced great food while being very user-friendly. Well, the newest member of the prodigious line takes that same performance to your next summer camp or tailgate party. Enter the Pursuit Pellet Grill, a smaller pellet grill/smoker combo that combines the ease of digital temperature control and 10 pound hopper capacity with 501 square inches of cooking surface, all in a portable package. Temperature control ranges from 160 to 500 degrees for smoking or roasting while proprietary Slide and Grill Technology allows direct flame broiling for true grill taste. Dual meat probes allow control, and the legs fold up and lids lock for easy transport. The Pursuit Pellet Grill is ready to cook wherever you are.

OtterBox Yampa Dry Duffle

A dry bag is very important when hunting or fishing in wet locations. OtterBox, a company originally built around bomb-proof dry boxes, has launched a line of dry bags built to the same standards. Called the Yampa Dry Duffle and available in 35, 70 and 105 sizes, the bag is built of TPU coated nylon with water-proof zippers, a beefy textured base, and internal open-cell foam padding to protect contents. Multiple nylon handles and a backpack harness with neoprene padded straps and vented back pad allow for ease of carrying, and the 35 size is even legal as an airline carry-on bag.

I took the Yampa Dry Duffle on a Kodiak Island bear hunt and it performed perfectly. It is truly a great piece of equipment.

Outdoor Edge Edge X Pro Sharpener

Ever heard of a tool that’s too convenient or a knife that’s too sharp? Yeah, me neither. That why the Edge X Pro sharpener from Outdoor Edge caught my attention. At about 5” long and very light in weight, the Edge X Pro combines three knife sharpening V slots (course carbide, medium ceramic and fine ceramic) for smooth blades, and a tapered diamond coated rod for serrated blades, into one pocket sized tool. The housing has a rotating base and thumb contoured grip for stability and the diamond rod even has a groove for sharpening fish hooks. At less than $20, this super handy little tool has a place in any backpack or boat.

Danner Pronghorn

For Fall 2019, Danner will introduce the fifth generation Pronghorn, as they continue to ride the wave that has made this boot one of the most popular boots of our generation. Featuring Danner’s Terr-Force Next platform, the Pronghorn delivers all-day comfort and stability. The upper is built from soft, full-grain leather on Danner’s traditional 851 last – a return to the same fit and comfort of the original. Complete with GORE-TEX waterproofing and available with Primaloft insulation up to 1200 grams, the new Pronghorn is ready for the harshest condition’s nature can serve.

22 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

SHOT Show Roundup Winchester SX4 – 20ga

Announcing the Super X4 in 20 gauge.Winchester Repeating Arms’ autoloading shotgun that’s ‘Built 4 Speed’ in now also available in a sleek 20ga model. Winchester Super X autoloading shotguns have a worldwide reputation for speed, reliability and handling. The Super X3 was a tough act to follow and making the Super X4 evolution of this popular shotgun series even better than its predecessor was a real challenge. That’s exactly what the gifted design engineers at Winchester Repeating Arms have done. The new SX4 is lighter, faster cycling, smoother swinging and more ergonomic than ever before.

Browning TSS Tungsten Turkey

TSS Tungsten Turkey gives hunters a new edge in the field. Loaded with the densest shot available (60% denser than lead) and offered in duplex payloads, turkeys out to 70 yards don’t stand a chance. Available in 3 ½- and 3-inch 12ga, 3-inch 20ga, 3-inch .410 loads.

Browning X-Bolt Pro Tungsten

The X-Bolt is a proven tack driver from Browning with a true semi-custom rifle platform. This newest version launched for 2019 and definitely takes the great gun to the next level. It features a true carbon fiber stock, which makes it extremely lightweight and rigid. The Cerakote Tungsten finish is extremely durable and provides a no-glare finish, making it the ideal long-range setup.

It has a lightweight sporter contour and a fluted barrel, which is threaded and includes a muzzle break. It comes in a dozen different calibers that are ideal for long-range shooting, but a couple of the calibers that really caught our eye in this new offering for 2019 are the 6.5 PRC, 30 Nosler and a welcome sight in the .300 Remington Ultramag (RUM). MSRP on these rifles range from $2,069.99 up to $2,129.99

• 60,000+ Atendees • 1,600 Exhibitors • 10+ Football Fields of exhibits

SHOT Show

• ALL THE NEWest GEAR

ON THE KENAI RIVER, ALASKA

Flyout Fishing 6 days guided fishing 7 nights lodging

$2595* *June, July, Aug.

Sitka Mountain Hauler 4000 Pack

The Mountain Hauler 4000 is the perfect pack for day hunts or overnight stays when you need the ability to carry meat and horns out of the field simultaneously. The pack provides 3,700-cubic inches of non-expanded volume for easy hiking, with the capability to expand to 800 cubic inches when needed. The internal loadhauling shelf and antler straps beg for the workload when it’s time to get your harvest out of the field. The T-6 6061 aluminum frame provides for an adjustable suspension and a strong chassis, enabling you to carry loads upwards of 150 lbs.

The triple-density foam waist belt maximizes comfort, while Velcro placed on the waist belt holds most pistol holsters, bear spray and other SITKA pack accessories.

Guided fishing:

• 2 salmon trips • 2 halibut trips • 2 flyout trips & bear viewing

Call Toll-free (877) 462-5752 for a FREE Brochure and DVD! GoneFishinLodge.com March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

23

SHOT Show Roundup Aimpoint Acro P-1

The Aimpoint Acro P-1 is developed for use on pistols and other weapon platforms requiring a small enclosed red dot system. It is the only sight in its size category fully tested for shock, vibration, temperature span and other environmental stress.

Aimpoint’s Acro P-1 is the smallest enclosed system on the market. The Acro P-1 can be used as a backup sight for magnifying scopes, personal defense weapons and any area where a small red dot system is applicable.

Klymit

The Insulated Static V Luxe SL is an insulated, lightweight, luxury sleeping pad. The sleeping pad is the thickest and warmest pad in the Static Series line at 3.5” and a R-Value of 6.5. It’s the perfect balance of weight, width and length in a luxury size. The exclusive V-chamber design conforms to the shape of your body while maintaining ample, lofted air pockets. The result: side, back and stomach sleepers can all rest comfortably on a generous bed of air.

BRAND NEW

These are items that have just been Announced and may not yet be available for sale. They may or may not be available at Sportsman's Warehouse during the upcoming year. Look for these items later this year.

Join us for a Canadian fishing adventure!

June 24th - July 1st, 2019 Fully guided fishing on McIntosh Lake, part of the legendary Churchill River System which holds massive pike, trophy lake trout and scrappy walleye.

Mossberg MC1sc

For the first time in their 100 year history, Mossberg is making a handgun, with the introduction of their MC1 sub compact. This 9mm features a rapid takedown that doesn't require the trigger to be pulled, which is safer than many other striker fired pistols on the market. The MC1sc was built for concealment with its slim, dehorned profile that allows for a snag-free draw.

Weighing only 22 ounces fully loaded, its lightweight and durable polymer construction is perfect for everyday carry.

And with its grip palm swell, the MC1sc will feel natural and comfortable in your hand. Grip panels are integrated with aggressive texturing for added control.

It all adds up to the ultimate concealed carry firearm. It comes standard with one 6-round flush fit magazine and one extended grip 7-round magazine.

Also includes float plane trip into and out of the lodge. All meals and lodging.

$3,500 7-Nights and

6-Days Fishing

$2,700 4-Nights and

3-Days Fishing

Sabre Red Smart Pepper Spray

775-741-4539

ruffossportsmanslodge.com 24 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Using Sabre Red's trusted formulation of pepper spray, the smart device is a pepper spray product that can be paired with the SABRE Personal Safety App via Bluetooth. The app is designed to send help alerts by push notification to assigned contacts or users nearby when the spray is deployed. The alert will include the user’s location at the time the request for help is sent, the pepper spray is used, or the in-app alert button is manually pressed. A geotracking feature continues to monitor the user's location following the initial help alert. The app will include a paid subscription option, which will also send an alert notification to first responders.

MARK

IV

TM

Simple, ONE BUTTON Takedown

While the heavily redesigned Ruger® Mark IV™ maintains the same classic outward appearance as the Ruger® Mark III™, it incorporates a significant improvement customers will love – a simple, one-button takedown for quick and easy field-stripping. A recessed button in the back of the frame allows the upper receiver to tilt up and off of the grip frame without the use of tools. The bolt simply slides out of the receiver and the barrel can be properly cleaned from chamber to muzzle.

Accurate, Adjustable Sighting System

Available in a Variety of Grip Configurations

Available in Hunter and Target Barrel Configurations

Ambidextrous Manual Safety Positively Locks the Sear When Applied

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Small Camp Security Photo courtesy Yeti Coolers

Who is watching when you’re not watching?

I

By Gary Lewis

t might be a sleeping bag in a lean-to with a small warming fire at the entrance.

It could be a wall tent with five or six hunters high in the backcountry. It might be a recreational vehicle parked at the end of a road. It might be a hiker’s bivouac on the shore of an alpine lake or a place to run to in the event of a natural disaster or unrest in the big city.

Whatever the reason for the camp, chances are the camper or campers will have to leave, to hunt, to fish, to hike, to go for supplies. Camp is unguarded for a part of a day or part of a week, with no doors, no locks, nothing between a thief and the potential loot left behind.

After dark, if no guard is posted, the camp and campers are vulnerable as well, to the creatures – four-legged and two-legged – that roam the night.

Backcountry camps, both in and outside of established campgrounds, are vulnerable to theft and invasion. Camping equipment is hard to trace to its original owners and is easily converted to cash.

No area of the country is immune. Homelessness and illegal drug use are rampant in the northwest. Illegal aliens slip across the border all across the southwest. Drug lords use backwoods camps for the manufacture of methamphetamines and marijuana grows. When we camp anywhere in the country, our nearest neighbors might be a family on their annual fishing trip or they could be felons on the run.

STRENGTHS-WEAKNESSES-OPPORTUNITIES-THREATS

At home we usually have some sort of early warning system that can alert us to a threat before the threat reaches the threshold of the bedroom. It might be a dog in the yard or the sound of the doorknob opening. In a tent or a shelter, that door is the door of your tent and by then the intruder is inside your personal space.

Photo by Gary Lewis

If you keep a gun to defend against predators, two-legged and four-legged, keep a light with it. And practice. Encounters are likely to be after dark and at close range.

26 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Most human/bear conflicts arise out of disputes over food.

Examine each campsite with a view to strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Is the site defensible? Is cell service available? Where is the closest cell signal connection? What paths lead into and out of camp? Is water close by? What distances must be traveled to find food or go for supplies? Are there wild animals that might make midnight raids on the camp kitchen?

A camp within a day’s walk of a town is likely to have at least a few individuals that make their homes in the woods nearby. How likely would this camp be found by a homeless wanderer or the criminally insane?

It helps to make contact with the neighbors and figure out who you can trust. Let them know what kind of activity they might expect at the campsite and if another vehicle is expected or not. The campground becomes a community.

DETERRENCE

Security is about deterrence. A four-legged predator is likely to stay outside of the circle of firelight or a ring of lights. But a two-legged predator may be attracted by illumination. A one-tent camp is more likely to be entered than a camp with more than one shelter. The reason? A burglar that chances on an encampment will have to turn his back on one tent to enter the other. One tent may be empty, but the other might be occupied by a camper with a Photo by Gary Lewis 12-gauge.

When camped away from others, establish the illusion of more people in camp and more people expected, with extra chairs around the fire or other devices.

Use a decoy tent in such situations, a larger one that might serve as food and gear storage and another nearby, perhaps camouflaged, to be used for sleeping.

Set up camp with a A word to the wise

thought to where and how the food will be stored and prepared and how garbage will be stored and disposed of.

A bear can smell bacon grease up to three miles away. It might be spooked off by the human smell and it might not. Coyotes are prone to prowl the perimeter of the camp. If the smell of food is overwhelming, coyotes become a nuisance and young children are vulnerable as evidenced by recent news reports of attacks on people. Raccoons and skunks are even more likely unwanted guests. Neutralize food smells by burying garbage or removing it from camp.

Photo by Gary Lewis

DISTANT EARLY WARNING

One of the best early warning systems is a dog that catches the scent or sound of the intruder. Some dogs are better than others and some are absolutely worthless, but the fact is the camper may not be accompanied by a dog or will not ever own one. How then can a campsite be secured?

Establish a safety zone in which any prowler might be considered a threat. A perimeter system can be as elaborate as a solar-powered electric fence with a battery backup or as simple as a taut fishing line with empty beer or soda can rattles on likely ingress and egress paths.

One 360-degree perimeter system uses a spin-cast fishing reel with six- to tenpound fishing line. Run the line around camp then secure the reel in the sleeping area with the drag set low. If the perimeter line is hit by an intruder, the reel will begin to click as the line pulls out.

Another option is a battery-powered motion sensor, but such systems are likely to be tripped by bats, squirrels and other small varmints and might cause more annoyance than they are worth.

From Brite-Strike Technologies comes the Camp Alert Perimeter Security System (CAPSS), a 135dB audible alarm unit with red lens flashlight and blue flashing LEDs. The CAPSS comes with two rolls of trip wire, two nylon zip ties, eight inches of adhesive mounting tape and two blue all-purpose adhesive light strips. Contained in a box the size of a bar of soap, the CAPSS takes up little room in a pack and retails for about $40.

The Camp Alert Perimeter Security System (CAPSS) from Brite-Strike Technologies is a 135dB audible alarm unit with red lens flashlight and blue flashing LEDs. To put the CAPSS to work, identify the expected intrusion path. Attach the alarm module to a fixed object (tree, boulder, parked car, etc.) with the supplied zip ties or adhesive or duct tape. Attach one end of the monofilament trip line to the audible alarm trigger bead chain. Connect the other end of the line to a fixed object on the other side of the intrusion path. When the trip line is tripped the male post is pulled from the unit and the alarm is triggered – 135 earsplitting dB and blue light.

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

27

Photo by Gary Lewis

SIGNALS

If the camp is being used by more than one person that might return from various errands at all hours of the day or night, a set of signals might be agreed upon to include colors of light or number of flashes.

In a long-term camp, it would be prudent to change the signals from time to time.

THE CAMERA EYE

Build a fire and they will come. Wild animals are fearful of fire, but humans are drawn to it.

AVAILABLE LIGHT

In some camps the threat is four-legged. Fire is a good deterrent to any wild animal, but it is a definite attractant to the two-legger.

Since most attacks come out of the dark, light can be a deterrent. Light up the night with a strobe and an intruder is likely to be disoriented. The more lumens you put on the subject the better. LED lights come in a thousand configurations, but for combat, for addressing a threat in low light and no-light situations, 100 lumens is the minimum. Better to have 150 or 200 lumens.

EQUIPMENT SECURITY

If you must leave vehicles or other heavy equipment unattended, there is a simple way to protect them. Use vibration alarms and door/window alarms which can be found for about $4 apiece. When the connection is broken or vibration sets it off, a loud siren is triggered. With on/off switches, they are easily disarmed.

Both types of alarms are mounted via adhesive tape. Find an unobtrusive spot to mount the device out of the elements. Set the switch on ‘chime’ or on ‘alarm.’ Then remember to arm the device before leaving camp.

Photo by Greg Gulbrandsen

28 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Know who and what is watching. Strap a trail camera to a tree and leave it to watch for days or weeks at a time.

Utilize digital camera technology with motion detection, night vision and timed recording as the controls are hidden inside a waterproof enclosure. Powered by batteries, the content is written to a removable memory card. Check the card supplied with the unit to determine if there is sufficient memory to record the number of days that the camera will be in use between check intervals. In my cameras, I run cards with 2GB of memory and then set the images at about 3MG resolution.

At night, some cameras are stealthier than others. Most use infrared (IR) to see in the dark and images appear in black and white rather than in color.

Camera theft is common. One of the main reasons is that the person photographed does not want it to be known that they were in the area. Position the camera in less obvious locations and take care to camouflage it.

Set up a camera on the trail on each side of camp, beyond the perimeter Position the camera at a 45-degree and check the images every couple of days. If someone or something is sniffangle to the trail and 24 to 36 inches ing around, you will know about it. above the ground, oriented parallel to To contact Gary Lewis, visit www. the grade.

Photo by Gary Lewis GaryLewisOutdoors.com

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

29

Habits for Success

T

he Internet is ripe with all sorts of life advice.

Listicles like “Seven Secrets to Eternal Happiness” promise, well, eternal happiness if we just follow their simple secrets. I don’t profess to know all seven secrets or actually any of the secrets they delineate, because I never take the time to read them. Instead, I prefer to focus on one secret that I know will for sure lead to my happiness. Catching fish makes me happy every time! That’s no secret for many of you I’d bet as well.

I could expand this by replacing “catching fish” with “success outdoors” because, statistically speaking, most anglers at least dabble in hunting and vice versa. A high percentage of the secrets to success cross over from fishing to hunting, such that habits formed on the water or in the field benefit the other pursuit equally. I’m not a band-wagoning type of

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guy, but since I’ve spent 43 years of my life in search of fish or game, including professionally for the last 15, I’ve gleaned a few secrets I think will help you achieve more consistent outdoor success and thus eternal happiness.

For the record, these are not secrets that I’ve learned only through my own success, rather, they are habits that I’ve observed in other very successful outdoorsmen and women I’ve had the pleasure of spending time outdoors with. They represent commonalities that I’ve incorporated in my own adventures and that have subsequently led to more personal success and are therefore worth sharing with you. And therein lies the first of the four secrets.

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Consistently successful outdoorsmen learn something from everyone they spend time afield with. It matters not if those people are less experienced or successful; there is always something to be learned, even if it’s what not to do. Newbies especially come at things with naive eyes and fewer preconceived notions. That can lead to unexpected success, which is obviously a potential learning experience or predictable failure which confirms and strengthens something the experienced outdoorsman already knew. Consistently successful folks are humble enough to learn regardless of the teacher’s credentials.

Along similar lines, another secret is the power of diligent observation. Consistently successful outdoorsmen are very, very observant. While focus is often important as well, the very best anglers or hunters remain peripherally aware of everything that is going on around them at all times. The hardest part of me hosting Fishful Thinker TV (which we never script or re-take or even practice for ahead of time because we prefer to film it as I solve the day’s fishing puzzle for reality), is remaining focused enough to fish well while I’m observing what’s going on in the environment I’m trying to figure out and addressing the camera all at once. I can easily do two of those tasks at a time; three gets tricky and it takes all three for us to make a good show.

Funny thing is, when we have show guests, it is common for them to stop fishing to answer a question on camera because they are so screwed into their successful habit of fishing and observing that they can’t answer the question. So, they stop fishing to answer the question, then go back to what they normally do when no cameras are around - observe their environment and fish accordingly. That’s a hint.

It is not enough to simply observe. It is important to consider the effects of whatever you observe on what you need to do to succeed. Did the subtle breeze change direction or perhaps the air temp dropped significantly in the last few minutes?

Perhaps the roosting seagulls are now stirring. It could be any of a gillion things.

Regardless, changes in your environment need to be observed and thoughtfully considered in your approach.

Another trait of successful outdoorsmen is they go forth with an open mind for the day, every day. No two days afield are the same and your quarry is simpleminded and thus reacts to whatever they face at the moment. Successful anglers and hunters do the same. It matters not where you caught them or what lure they

liked the last time you were out. Today is a new day with new conditions and perhaps even a new playing field. Consistent anglers start fresh every time. That is not to say they disregard their prior experience; they definitely don’t. They simply use that experience as a starting point or baseline and react from there. Hard-headed hunters or anglers don’t succeed consistently.

Lastly, consistently successful outdoorsmen and women habitually prepare with purpose. They especially prepare their equipment to a very high level. St Croix makes 14 separate models in their Bass X model line alone. Why? So skilled anglers can choose exactly the right one for their application, not one that is close enough. Abu Garcia does the same with reels and the concept continues throughout our tackle. Prepare your weapons with an eye for the details.

Preparation continues in clothing. Consistently successful outdoors folks dress for success or at least comfort, which leads to success. They are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at them, so that they can focus and observe without the distraction discomfort brings.

So, my listical is titled, “The Four Habits of Successful Outdoorsmen” and I promise if you take them to heart, you’ll experience eternal happiness. Take that, Internet!

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OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST

Yukon Stone

By Mike Torres

T

his past August saw me on my fourth hunt with Dueling Stone Outfitters in the Yukon. I have been fortunate to have taken a couple of Stone Rams and a huge moose with Jarrett Dueling and was looking forward to another adventure. I was booked on the second hunt and met the hunters from the first hunt at the float plane dock in Whitehorse. The four hunters on the 1st hunt had very bad weather and were stuck in their tents for 7 days of rain, only taking 1 ram.

The weather seemed to be improving and we flew 1 hour into a remote mountain lake base camp. Jarrett informed me that I would be guided by Terry Ollie with wrangler Joel. I was pleased to hear that Terry would be guiding me. I hunted with Terry 7 years ago on an unsuccessful hunt due to rain and knew that he was the real deal.

Terry is of the Kaska First Nation and possesses traditional woodsmanship skills, and can spot game with his eyes that most people can barely see with binoculars.

Terry, Joel, and I left base camp with 8 horses for a remote camp in Crystal Valley. I hunted this same area 7 years before, I was unsuccessful but my friend Frank Borges Jr. took a dark ram in this area that year. We set up our spike camp and woke the next morning to pouring rain. It reminded me of my prior hunt here. We were tented up that day, but the weather improved some and we headed out to glass for sheep.

We had pretty poor weather for the next 2 days seeing a few sheep, but nothing to get excited over.

On the fourth day, the weather broke and we rode our horses up a drainage on

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

Sheep Ridge and tied the ponies up in some willows. We started up a very steep boulder field and I believe that this mountain got steeper in the 7 years since I was last on it. We made it to the top and in every direction, you could see endless mountains with very good sheep habitat that are just about inaccessible and not hunted much, if at all.

We weren’t seeing much sign on top and were working our way down a steep ridge on the edge of a canyon that looked like the Grand Canyon when Terry saw a set of two ram tracks and he went into hunt mode.

Terry looked like a bird dog on a hot pheasant scent and was patiently checking out every nook and cranny that could hold sheep. I believe that Terry has the ability to read a sheep’s mind.

Terry dropped to the ground and I crawled up to him to find a bedded dark ram at 140 yards.

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34 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST old and did not meet Jarrett’s goal of only taking 10-year-old rams. While watching the 8-year-old ram we spotted 4 other rams about 1 mile away down the ridge we were on. The 8-year-old got up and walked away and we started down for the four rams, one of which looked pretty heavy. We lost sight of them about a half mile down and were creeping forward when a loan ram popped out of the timber and dwarf arctic willow about 600 yards below us. I set up on him at 500 yards but held off shooting as he was walking up the ridge to our location. I had him at 400, 300, and 200 yards when he walked into a little ravine below us. We were not sure where he would come out and were pleasantly surprised when he popped out at about 100 yards. We were out of his sight and I had a dead rest when Terry told me to take him.

I made the shot at 73 yards after the half-mile stalk.

The ram was down and he turned out to be a dark 11-year-old Stone Ram. I was very happy with my eighth ram and after the photo session we caped him out and boned out all the meat. We started down the mountain with 3 very heavy packs.

When we got near the bottom we cut cross country through the bottom of several creek drainages, headed to the creek where our horses were tied. When we got to our drainage off of Sheep Ridge, Joel the wrangler headed up for our 3 horses. Two of the horses had pulled loose from the willows and had returned to camp, leaving us with only 1 horse. It was now 12:00 pm and I was just about physically done in after 16 hours of hiking and packing in some of the toughest terrain I’ve seen. The guys let me ride the only remaining horse and we got back to our spike camp after 1:00 am.

We slept in the next day, working on the cape and meat, and decided to move to one of Terry’s moose camps and hunt for moose, caribou, wolves, and grizzly. We spent several days in moose camp but didn’t find any good caribou or bull moose. When we ran out of sheep back strap and coffee we decided to return to the lake base camp. On return to base, we found that the 2 other sheep hunters had been successful too.

I have been fortunate to have hunted in many wilderness locations in the last 50 years and have a passion for the Yukon. The Yukon is extremely remote and offers some of the last true wilderness experiences. While saying my goodbyes to Jarrett Deuling and his crew, I made arrangements to return again in 2020 with my wife Lee. Mountain Sheep live in some of the most spectacular country on earth, and I am going to hunt them as long as my legs and lungs let me.

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

35

PRO'S PICK

Killik Hunting Packs – A Sportsman’s Warehouse Exclusive

By Dan Kidder Managing Editor

(16 liters) of total storage with a main compartment, a smaller admin compartment with divided gear organizers, two side water bottle pockets, a microfiber lined sunglass pocket, and an easy access external “stuff-it” pocket on the outside. Plenty of compression straps make it a cinch to compact gear for a smaller profile.

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inding a good quality hunting pack that performs in the rugged elements and doesn’t break the bank is a quest as difficult as stalking a unicorn in the wide-open plains. However, Killik Gear has created three packs that provide amazing functionality and tremendous value and are worth a close look if you’re in the market for gear hauling, meat packing, or just a day-long excursion.

Each of the packs is crafted from a quiet and tough water-resistant four-way stretch quad flex material in Killik K1 camo pattern and a synthetic ripstop material for durability. The backs are lined with a padded jersey material to wick away moisture and provide excellent airflow. Reinforced material is added to areas that have increased stress or allow attachment of additional gear. Duraflex hardware and buckles stand up to rigorous use in the field. An integrated safety whistle is molded into each sternum strap buckle for signaling.

All three packs come with an integral blaze orange rain cover that zips away into a hidden compartment on the bottom. Wide straps distribute the load evenly and are also padded for comfort. Heavy duty YKK zippers with integral molded loops make access easy even with bulky gloves. Color-coded cords on the zipper pulls help you quickly find the desired compartment for even faster access. All of the packs are hydration bladder compatible.

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PRO'S PICK

to your torso for better control and comfort and features Velcro straps for carrying a sidearm or knife sheath. A removeable weapon carry system lets you easily transport a rifle or bow and two roomy external pockets make it easy to quickly access essentials. Two roomy stretch pockets on the sides are perfect for your spotting scope and tripod.

Killik Mountain 2800

This workhorse pack features 2,800 cubic inches (46 liters) of hauling space and provides a modular system that lets you use the pieces together or separately to provide unrivaled versatility for hauling gear and meat. The roomy pack offers a massive central compartment ideal for all of your hunting and camping gear, dry clothing, Killik Mountain 2200 food, and water. Four compression straps span the outside to prevent shifting. Two outside pouches on the sides are ideal for water bottles, shooting sticks, or a tripod. The entire pack portion is removable to reveal a full-featured freighter meat shelf that can be used to transport even the heftiest of prey. The straps that hold the freighter have plenty of expansion room to allow you to load the freighter and then reattach the pack portion over your load, so you can use the freighter by itself, as a gear hauler, or both for meat and gear. A removable external pouch features its own waist belt, so it can be used alone as a lumbar pack or attached to the wide and comfortable straps as a bino harness. The buckle on this harness can be removed and used as a replacement for the main waist belt in case a field-expedient repair is needed. The shoulder straps can be adjusted vertically to fit a wide variety of torso lengths and both top and bottom load lifter adjustment buckles make orienting the pack vertically as simple as pulling a couple of tabs. A fully adjustable internal frame adds amazing stability with minimal weight and the entire pack weighs just 6.5 pounds empty.

The pack also features the same weapon carry system, Velcro waist straps for holsters, hydration pocket (bladder not included), and other features of the Mountain 2200 with much more room and versatility.

All three of these packs provide excellent features and, depending on your duration and the nature of your adventure, one of them will definitely serve you well in the field on your next excursion.

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PRO MEMBER UPDATE

Bristol Bay's Alaska Bearclaw Lodge Leopard rainbow trout are one of the many target species in the waters of the area.

By Kent Danjanovich

The Sportsman's News Pro Membership Sweepstakes will give away this trip on March 20. Go to ProMembershipSweepstakes.com to enter to win.

Another great option at Alaska's Bearclaw Lodge is a flyout to their Kingfisher's operation on the Nushagak River.

Eddie Basulto, Guide Nick Fernandez, Pro Member Winner Will Kite having the time of thier lives in Alaska.

Arctic grayling are abundant and can be caught on both sub-surface and dry flies.

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

Goose Poor Boy

I

was pondering over what to do with some fresh goose breasts. Mike Deming had supplied them from a recent outing with Stillwater Outfitters in Colorado. Then it hit me. I can make an incredible poor boy sandwich out of them! I played around with some variances and came up with this baby. A truly unique way to expand your waterfowl dining options.

Ingredients

• ½ Onion, Chopped • 1 tablespoon hot sauce • 7 cloves garlic, chopped • Seasoned breadcrumbs • 2 pounds of cold Goose breast meat, in • Vegetable Oil (or bacon grease) ½” cubes • Sub sandwich rolls • ½ pound ground pork • Condiments • Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper • Shredded Iceberg lettuce • 1 tablespoon paprika • Sliced tomato

Preparation Method

This recipe calls for frying up small patties of the goose/pork mixture. I have kept the seasonings relatively plain, but this responds well to some dry spice flavorings. We had great results with adding curry powder, but my favorite was a honey sriracha blend. Feel free to embellish this with any of your favorite flavorings.

These “goose patties” are a snap to make in a food processor with a blade attachment.

Start by putting the onion and garlic into a food processer. Lay out the cubed goose and

40 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

ground pork on a large cutting board and season with salt and pepper. Place all the meat in the processor, add paprika and hot sauce. Set to high speed and blend for 30 seconds. Check the consistency. You are looking for a coarse hamburger like consistency. Do not over chop it into mush! Once you get the texture you want, form the mixture into 1” balls. Smash the meatballs into patties, dredge in seasoned breadcrumbs, and remove to a plate for frying.

Heat oil in a large fry pan over medium heat until thermometer registers 350°F. If you have bacon grease, substitute it for the oil, it really adds a great flavor to these. Working in batches, fry the meat, flipping once, until golden brown. Try one and check to be sure they are fully cooked to get the timing right. When finished, place on a rack covered sheet pan.

Condiments: The ideal sauce is a spicy remoulade sauce. This mayonnaise/creole mustard based sauce really adds to the flavor of the sandwich. There are many recipes available and you might just find some at your local market. Just plain mayonnaise with Dijon mustard is great also. Try some Thousand Island or ranch dressing if you like. I also love a giardinara on there for a crunch. The sky is the limit on condiments; try whatever you have in the refrigerator. They are, after all, called “poor boys”, and the sloppier the better.

You are ready to assemble the sandwiches! You will need the freshest, best sub sandwich rolls you can find. Slice these from one side long ways so they open like a hot dog bun.

Slather some sauce on each side of the roll. Lay down a bed of lettuce and lay on a layer of meat. Top this with some more shredded lettuce and a layer of sliced tomato. Ladle on the Giardinara over the rest (I suggest the hot variety). Force everything into the sandwich and squeeze in an attempt to close it. Cut in half and serve!

Bonus: These poor boys will go well with virtually any wine or beer you have handy.

Cheers!

March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

Adventures On A Budget

Spring Black Bear Hunting On A Budget

Anyone can shoot a 3 ½ year old bear. What you want to find is a big, mature boar like this one.

Is it possible to do a DIY economical spring bear hunt?

By Tom Claycomb lll

S

o, you’ve got a hankering to go spring bear hunting out west, but don’t know where to go, how to do it and don’t have much money? Don’t worry, we can do this. I do a lot of bear hunting myself, so let’s see if we can’t help you out.

There are basically three ways to spring bear hunt:

• Hunt with hounds.

• Bait

• Spot/Stalk

If you’re hunting with hounds, then a guide will help you get the job done, which is going to up the costs. So, for this article, we will focus on baiting and spot/stalk. If you’re an out-of-stater, then baiting is going to be a little tough to do properly. It takes at least two weeks for a bait to be worth setting on. It takes that long for the bears to find it and then a bit of time to get multiple bears coming in. I call a bait a good bait if I have 4-6 bears per afternoon coming in. If you only have one bear coming in, then he can come when he wants and that is usually at dusk. We want multiple bears coming in, so the big boy is prompted to come in earlier, so as to not miss out on a big meal.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s start at the beginning and discuss the basics.

42 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Lodging

Maybe you live out west and have never bear hunted or maybe you’ve just moved out here and wonder how to bear hunt. Maybe you live back east and want to come out west and bear hunt. The most popular time to hunt is in the spring. Not all states have a spring bear hunt, but Idaho (my home state) still does. Due to all of the supplies you’ll need, I’d suggest you drive out. That way you can camp up in the mountains where you’ll be hunting.

As you know, lodging and eating out are the biggest expenses, so if you camp out, you’ll slash those expenses immensely. And, if you set up a base camp, then you don’t have to drive 1-2 hours every day to get to where you’ll be hunting.

If you decide to fly, you can rent a motel room in a local mountain town at pretty reasonable prices. Plan ahead so they’re not full. Usually in the spring, there should be plenty of vacancies. With the Internet, it’s easy to find motels in the area that you are hunting in, but in some little mountain towns, options are limited, so book early. For example, if you’re hunting in Atlanta, there’s only one motel. If hunting near Cascade or McCall, you’ll have multiple options. Yellow Pine only has one or two. So you get my drift, start planning early.

Where To Hunt

You will be ahead of the game if you are familiar with an area from deer/

Here is a list of banquets for the NWTF Chapters in Utah:

Adventures On A Budget

Color-phase bears are pretty plentiful in Idaho as well as pure black bears.

I like to turn my spring bear meat into sausage; one of my favorites. elk hunting there in the past, but if you’re doing it cold turkey, realize, the first trip may be half exploratory. I’d suggest calling the local Fish and Game Department and asking them about a good spot in the area. Once you determine that, order some Forest Service maps of the area and then order some more detailed maps from MyTopoMaps.com.

Another good choice is to put in for a special draw area. The number of hunters you will be competing with will be limited, so you’ll see bigger and more bears. In Idaho, I know this is true. A side note; Colorado outlawed their spring bear hunts years ago, but they have a spot/stalk September hunt that is great. And also remember, the more remote you hunt usually means you won’t have to compete with hound hunters.

Baiting

If you are an out-of-stater, then you probably won’t have time to set up a good bait, but let’s briefly cover baiting. Like was stated above, it takes two weeks for a bait to be worth setting on and the later in the season it gets, the more magical it is.

After a long hard winter here in Idaho, a bear’s stomach is queasy and he doesn’t come out and gorge the first week after hibernation. So, the later it gets in the season, the more he eats and the better your bait gets.

I’ve hauled 10’s of thousands of pounds of meat up to the mountains for bait, but really meat is not the best choice. They can grab a piece and run off in the woods to eat it, plus, it is tough on their stomachs at first. I like to use bait that is smaller, requiring them to spend more time there scooping it up to eat, like dog food or cereal. And, as you can imagine, donuts are magical. But no matter what you decide to use, be ready to have plenty of bait, because they can eat 200-300 lbs. every 2-3 days and you don’t want to run out or they’ll move on.

44 March 2019 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Spotting/Stalking

So, now we come to your most likely method to hunting, spotting and stalking. In the spring, bears will follow the snowline. This is because flowers and tender grass are popping out as the snow recedes uphill as it thaws out.

Bears eat a high fiber diet, so they’ll leave a lot of sign. You will want to hunt areas with a lot of bear scat laying around. But, here’s my favorite method. Before dusk, I climb up on top of a ridge and set up a spotting scope. About an hour before dark, we usually see bears come out and feed on the flower tops and grass just like cattle. Now we are taxed with determining a number of things: is he big enough to pursue – is he rubbed – is our cover good enough to make a good stalk – how’s the wind. All of these questions must be answered before you make another move. You may even have to call it a night and resume the next afternoon.

No matter which type of hunting you decide to do, you’ll want to bring a good framed backpack to pack out the hide, skull and meat and a good set of knives. Talk to your taxidermist before you head out and ask him how he wants you to prepare the hide if you are looking to mount your prize.

Tags

In Idaho, bear hunting tags are pretty reasonable: Hunting license $154.75 (Big Game) Bear Tag $186.00 Bait Tag $31.75

Seasons

Here in Idaho, seasons vary according to which zone you’re hunting in.

They may close the end of May, middle of June or the end of June. But one thing is constant, the later in the season it gets, the better the hunting is.

Good luck and most of all, enjoy the great outdoors.

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