Sportsman's News May 2018 Digital Edition

FREE May 2018 | Volume 14 | Issue 5

The Bugles of Spring

Chad LaChance

Go Big or Go Home

LAST MONTH TO ENTER Enter To Win A New Zealand Red Stag Hunt

The Best Bass Gear Page 24

With Every DVD Purchase See Pg. 39 for details

Scott Hood (left) and Derek Nichols (right) tagged out the same morning.

Gary Lewis

Summer Range 'Yotes

DREAM BIGGER

THE NEW VICTORY RF. SEE MORE ON 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 MANAGERS Sam Staudt sam@sportsmansnews.com Andrew Saullo andrew@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 2017 © All rights reserved.

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

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

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

WORDS FROM THE PUBLISHER

By Michael Deming

WHAT’S INSIDE

4 The Bugles of Spring

Chasing Merriams in Wyoming High Country.

Zeiss Victory Rangefinding Binos 8 New with Bluetooth connectivity.

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Carl Zeiss Conquest 4 Riflescopes 11 Best in class optics with best in industry glass.

Platinum Approved Outfitters 12Choose a Sportsman's News Endorsed Guide for your next trip.

Pacwest Outdoors: Summer Range 'Yotes 16 Saving game and removing later season pressure.

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20 Fishful Thinker: Supersize 'Em Big lures catch big fish.

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HIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!! In June of last year, we launched the Sportsman’s News Television DVD New Zealand Red Stag & Tahr hunt promotion.

By purchasing a SNTV DVD at the cash register and either keeping it for your own entertainment or by donating it to the troops, you have been able to register these purchases on the www.sportsmansnews.com website for one chance to win this world class giveaway. May of 2018 is the last month to get your registrations in to be considered for this drawing. There is no limit on the number of DVD’s and entries that you can purchase. You can register as many as 100 DVD’s on one receipt as well. This trip is going to take place in April of 2019 and is going to include round trip airfare from the nearest major metropolitan airport here in the United States to get the winner and one guest over to Christchurch, New Zealand on the south-Island.

The lucky winner is going to have the opportunity to harvest a red stag of up to 400” SCI measurement as well as a trophy bull Tahr. This is a package worth $20,000 and we are getting extremely excited to see who the lucky winner is going to be. All costumors of Sportsman’s Warehouse, as well as employees of Sportsman’s Warehouse are able to participate in this great drawing. Only Sportsman’s News employees are exempt. We will be doing the drawing for this giveaway around the 10th of June, so make sure you get your entries completed by the 1st of June which is the deadline to be included. You must register your purchase on the website, as a purchase is not an automatic registration. Best of luck to all of those who have purchased these DVD’s.

This giveaway has been very well received and we are in the final phases of committing to the next drawing. I would like to let our readers have some input on this process as well. We have a deposit on a New Mexico private land bull elk hunt for the fall of 2019 as option one.

Option two is a Sonora Mexico Mule Deer hunt which will take place in December of 2019.

We have been on both of these hunts and I will guarantee that the winner is going to have the time of their life as well as probably have an opportunity to fill a tag on a world class animal. We know that everyone doesn’t like to hunt, so we will have an alternative trip lined up for a fishing trip to either Canada or Alaska by the time we announce this giveaway.

Please send us an email to info@sportsmansnews.com with the subject line saying “2019 DVD Giveaway “. In the body of the email, let us know what trip you favor the most and we will let your votes dictate the finalization of this grand prize.

We know that this is a huge giveaway and it’s extremely exciting to be part of it. The Pro Membership Sweepstakes at www.promembersweepstakes.com gives away a trip similar to this caliber every ten days. The website will show you everything we will be giving away over the next twelve months and the center page spread of this issue has them all as well. Another Stag/ Tahr hunt combo is coming up on our regular draw extremely soon.

If you like the excitement and anticipation of winning a world class excursion, guns and lots of gear, make sure you become a member. We give away 36 grand prizes a year and lots of bonus prizes along the way.

Pro's Tip: Offseason Gear Prep 23 Use the downtime to get your fishing gear organized and in tip top shape.

Pro Member Sweepstakes 24 Over $300,000 In Giveaways. Drawing Every 10 Days.

26 Bass Fishing Roundup The latest and greatest fishing gear for lunkers.

Writing Contest: Return to Alaska 32 An investment of labor finally pays off.

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36 Pro Member Update: Bad River Bucks and Birds in South Dakota.

36 Business Directory Video Product Reviews 40 A detailed look at some of the newest products.

Pick: Savage MSR in .224 Valkyrie 40 The Pro's newest round with minimal recoil and superb terminal ballistics out of a Modern Sporting Rifle.

Wild Game Recipe: Cast Iron Bison Steak 48 With Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce.

50

Adventures On A Budget: Lake Powell

52

Outdoor Writing Contest: A Mother's Love for Her Hunting Son

More than just a great fishing destination.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gary Lewis Chad LaChance Russ Byerly Steve Mayer Rick Rosenberg Cynthia J. Vannoy

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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The Bugles of Spring

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peered down the top of my ventilated rib, safety off, finger on the trigger. The bright white head suddenly appeared at 10 yards, silhouetting himself in the fading sunrise sky. He gobbled, and immediately, I was taken back sixty years to a similar scenario with my grandfather calling behind me. Turkey hunting in my family was our most coveted hunting tradition. At the age of five, the anticipation of, “Turkey Camp” may have surpassed that of Santa Claus on Christmas day. New blades of green grass began to pop as the spring snow melted, the trees began to bud and the turkeys began to gobble. The “bugle of the spring” as my grandfather referred to it, was a sound a turkey hunter never gets tired of hearing. My first turkey seasons were many years ago and each year I find myself traveling to chase those, “bugles of the spring”.

I’ve traveled to several different western states to chase Merriams turkeys, and most recently I traveled to Buffalo, Wyoming to hunt with the guys at Big Horn Outfitters.

Western states often have generous seasons and bag limits, allowing you to harvest 2 to 3 birds in a season that may last as many as fifty days. When I’m traveling to hunt, I always appreciate any opportunity to hunt multiple birds. The white-tipped tail of the Merriams turkey is as beautiful as the vast and mountainous terrain they inhabit. I love the fact that many of my western harvest photos are in a green hayfield or river bottom with snowcapped mountains in the background. My experiences with Merriams indicate that they’re fairly aggressive, they don’t mind being called, they respond well to decoys and they’re far less pressured than most of the birds east of the Mississippi.

Anyone who’s hunted turkeys understands precisely how those indicators can lend a helping hand to notched tags.

I began the search for an outfitter during the summer months. I surfed the web, reading reviews, watching videos, and visiting websites. I narrowed it down and fired off several emails to my short-listers. Over the years, I’ve sent many emails to outfitters and it never ceases to amaze me how few responses I receive and of those responses how many of them happen months down the road. Either way, I sent an email to Big Horn Outfitters and within a couple of hours, I had a very informative and detailed response to the questions I had posed. A short phone call later and my dates were secured for late April of the following spring. The hunt was a three-day, all-inclusive hunt for two birds.

Dustin DeCroo and Rich Sweeny are the owners of Big Horn Outfitters. From my first email, the communication was clear and prompt. They contacted me

Species and locations: Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to hunt all the species of wild turkeys the United States has to offer. While I still have a love for chasing the wary Easterns, the west currently holds my heart when it comes to pursuing these big birds.

Steve Lancaster with Dustin DeCroo tags his second bird in as many days.

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

These two toms lead a group of 8 to investigate the soft sound of a hen purr. when the application period opened in January and took care of my license applications and obtained the conservation stamp that I would need to legally embark upon my adventure. Well in advance of the hunt, they sent me all the information I would need in regard to gear, arrival times and airport pick-up.

Their communication certainly eased any tension or uneasiness that any hunter could incur on their first hunt with a new outfitter. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, a turkey hunt doesn’t generate the same “outfitter anxiety” as chasing a sheep in the remote wilderness of a far-off country, but a paid hunt nonetheless. Over the years, I have learned that ironing out all the details well in advance certainly helps to reduce any stress that I may have as the hunt approaches.

After a quick and (mostly) turbulent-free plane ride from Denver to Gillette, Wyoming, I deplaned into a crisp, cool northerly breeze. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and I was able to see the green grass blanketing the sage-covered hillsides. I was eagerly greeted by Dustin’s wife, Jennifer at the gate. Dustin and Rich were out shooting prairie dogs with other hunters that had filled their turkey tags early in their hunt. The rolling door at the baggage claim opened and my camo duffel bag and shotgun were the first two pieces of luggage to slide down the ramp, I was pleasantly surprised. More than once I’ve found myself watching the track circle around empty and then come to a stop. We hopped in the car and began the short drive on I-90 to Buffalo, the Bighorn Mountains growing ever larger in our approach. Anyone that has ever had the pleasure of driving from Gillette to Buffalo, Wyoming, will understand that a turkey hunter could begin to think that he’s been bamboozled. With the exception of crossing the Powder River, you’d be hard-pressed to find a roost tree, let

alone a strutting tom.

Jen turned the vehicle into the lodge and pulled up to lucky cabin number four, the cabin I would call home for the next three days. “Lunch is ready, come over after you get settled in,” Jen said as she headed over to the main building. At first glance, the exterior of the cabin was modest and rustic. The inside was very clean and had the warming feel of my grandfather’s cabin we

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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necessary. He explained that because there isn’t a plethora of roost trees and the next closest roost could be a mile away, they allow the birds to come down unpressured and wait for them to disperse before pursuing them.

He and Rich also explained that the birds gobble a great deal and are visible throughout the majority of the day and finding the birds is not usually a problem.

After a quick breakfast, we were on our way to chase some spring bugles. The LCD thermometer read 41-degrees, but the high elevation sun made it feel much warmer. I’m fairly certain that I had seen more deer, antelope, and turkeys than I’d ever seen in my life by the time we arrived at the first ranch and it was only a 12-mile drive. Dustin approached the ranch entrance and before his tires hit gravel, Rich had three strutters spotted. The excitement of seeing that first bird of the day is something that absolutely never gets old.

After glassing the hills and the valley for a couple of minutes, the number of birds we could see was increasing exponentially. As a guy that grew up in the southeastern United States, being able to physically see birds is truly incredible.

used for turkey camp when I was young. I had a refrigerator stocked with bottled water and Gatorade, fresh linens and my own bathroom.

Quickly, I organized my stuff and headed to the main lodge building. I entered the mudroom to a sign on the main door that read, “friends don’t knock, come on in.” The lodge was recently remodeled, with reclaimed wood and big game mounts decorating the walls. A large television sat across from the bar, with couches and two oversized leather chairs. I later learned how productivity can be affected by sitting in those leather chairs after a day of walking and a belly full of good vittles. As I admired a pronghorn hanging on the wall, Dustin and Rich both came in and introduce themselves. We ate a bowl of white chicken chili as we went over the safety sheet as I signed my licenses.

I truly appreciated the great respect the guys exhibited for the laws, landowners, and wildlife. By the time my chili bowl was empty, I already felt like I’d known Dustin and Rich for years.

The following morning I woke up well-rested. I could see the sunrise colors sneaking through a small gap in the curtains. I have to admit, I’d never been on a turkey hunt that we set out after the sun had risen. During lunch and our discussion about the hunt, Dustin had explained Hunter Clinton Fawcett hides behind a turkey fan as a group of toms work their that they don’t hunt the way into bow range. roosts unless it’s absolutely

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

There were 15 toms and countless hens that dotted the terrain as we eased the truck behind a thick patch of gray brush to get out of sight.

We snaked our way through the thick brush by way of deer “tunnels” that connected intermittent clearings.

On each side of us, the sagebrush and grass covered hills rose to rocky ridges, where the mule deer stood sky-lined, watching us contently from a safe distance. Gobble after gobble rang through the draw, ever increasing in volume as we approached.

Dustin and Rich each carried a turkey fan, no decoys and a couple of calls.

Certainly not anywhere near the amount of gear I usually lug along.

As we reached the end of the last thicket, our pace slowed. There was a small rise in front of us that kept us from getting a visual on the birds from where we stood, but they were certainly doing their best to impress the ladies.

Dustin crawled on his belly about 15 feet to where he could see over the lip, as he barely raised the fan atop the sage brush and gave a soft yelp.

One tom sounded off and Dustin gave a slow thumbs-up as he retracted the fan. Quickly, he slid back down the hill and motioned me to set up in the deer tunnel we had just exited. “He’s coming quick and he’s going to be inside of 10 yards”, Dustin whispered.

Quietly, I slipped a 20-guage, 3-inch #6 into the chamber and closed the bolt on my old Browning. Rich yelped quietly to our left and the bird gobbled almost immediately, in front and slightly to the right. Within seconds, the big white head, snood dancing, magically appeared within the sagebrush.

His attention was focused to the left as he strutted and picked his way through the sage. I had to wait for an ethical shot, which meant I needed him to cross the ridge fully. He did so looking for his hen and at 7-yards as he stood tall to see her, I squeezed the trigger.

With my bird down, we handed out big hugs, endless smiles and ‘high-fives.’

We admired the bird, the scenery and thanked God for the opportunity. I’ve taken many turkeys, but at my age, I take none for granted.

A bird down in the morning of the first day? What was I going to do next?

Fortunately, in this part of the country and with Big Horn Outfitters (www. bighornoutfitters.com), you have options. The area has some phenomenal trout fishing opportunities, prairie dogs for the varmint hunters and plenty of history and sights to see as well. With a smirk, Rich said to Dustin (while looking in my direction), “Should we tell him there are some leftover tags?”

I smiled and said, “I’ll buy breakfast at that place right next to the sporting goods shop.”

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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ZEISS Releases Victory RF Bluetooth-Enabled Binocular Laser Rangefinders With 16-2,500 Yard Capability

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EISS unveils its newest and ultimate binocular laser rangefinder, Made in Germany, the Victory RF. The family consists of four model configurations: 8 x 42, 10 x 42, 8 x 54, and 10 x 54. All models are Bluetooth enabled and they sync to the ZEISS Hunting App. The Victory RF models not only represent ZEISS’s superpremium product offering in this category, but also establishes a resounding and definitive new standard for all future binocular laser rangefinders. Innovative design, advanced performance, and smart connectivity to the digital world provides the foundational development parameters of the all new Victory RF models.

Enhanced ergonomics are quickly and clearly appreciated as the architecture incorporates a proven double-link-bridge construction with smooth and unimpeded lines – making them easy to hold and use for extended viewing sessions. The lightweight magnesium housing affords no protrusions or bulges to push against the chest while carrying them or while trying to simply hold the device for a quick ranging opportunity. These are sleek, compact, and extremely manageable for carry, observation, and ranging. With the two control buttons cleverly positioned on the top of the binocular barrels and in close proximity to the focus wheel, and the index fingers, the user can easily range with either hand. This eliminates the need for awkward hand placement and continuous finger stretch.

All of this is due to the ZEISS’ ComfortFocus Concept. The two control buttons are also able to be programmed for either right- or left-handed operation.

Innovation is obvious, as the clean lines dictate that the laser and electronic components are engineered to be housed within the barrel of the binoculars. This contributes to the overall package being compact as well as easy to transport and use.

ZEISS’ state of the art engineering uses a class one laser to ensure absolute consumer safety, and maximizes the boundaries of this technology. ZEISS pushed the limits of the Victory RF models, and was able to achieve 16-2,500 yards capable binocular laser rangefinders, in reference to hard targets, using better algorithms and a narrower divergence pattern for the laser.

The smart connectivity, via Bluetooth technology, with the ZEISS Hunting App, gives the user easy access to a host of ballistic information and tables to save to the

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

device. There are nine pre-established ballistic profile inputs. Also, the user can input and store up to another nine custom ballistic profiles within the RF models.

The Victory RF digital menus are user-friendly, easy to navigate, manipulate, and reference. The user can select various output data, to include inches, centimeters, MILs, or MOA units of measure for sight correction. The Victory RF doesn’t need to be connected to the ZEISS Hunting App to work. The App allows for easier, faster, and enhanced menu setting options.

ZEISS’ integrated B.I.S. II technology incorporates an on-board ballistic calculator and on-board environmental sensors, which ensures exact data output. Various data points are stored within the internal memory. This data can include shooting angle, temperature, and air pressure. When computed through the internal ballistic solver this data yields an appropriate “shoot to” range solution.

The local weather data can also be obtained via the updated ZEISS Hunting App. With one press of the button, range, angle, equivalent horizontal distance, and holdover values – to include individual click correction, can be quickly displayed.

The Victory RF will provide ballistic solutions from 16 yards up to 2,500 yards. The ballistic solver is comprehensive, powerful, and fast.

The Victory RF models allow for three data points to be displayed in the field of view. The user can select their preferred three data points via menu configuration. The illumination intensity for the data can also be controlled and adjusted via the menu options. Each model is powered by a CR2 type battery. The ZEISS optical design and SCHOTT glass delivers a sharper, clearer, and higher fidelity image compared to previous models. The Victory RF models are backed by the ZEISS Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty and Five Year No-Fault Policy. The device’s electronics are covered for five years. Combined, these assets are what make the all-new ZEISS Victory RF binocular laser rangefinder the coveted leader in its class, with retail pricing beginning at $3,249.99. Find out more about the Victory RF models at www.zeiss. com/us/sports-optics. Initial delivery of the all-new Victory RF models is expected summer of 2018.

THE NEW ZEISS CONQUEST V4

DREAM BIGGER W H A T E V E R D R E A M H U N T I S N E X T O N Y O U R L I S T, S U C C E S S I S N O W W E L L - W I T H I N R A N G E. S E E T H E N E W V 4 AT Z E I S S . C O M / C O N Q U E S T V 4

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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targets that bite back Introducing a target with teeth.

Champion’s awardwinning DuraSeal™ Spinner Targets handle rounds from even the largest rifle and handguns and still keeps its shape. Quite simply, it’s a target that bites back.

For more info on DuraSeal and Champion’s paper targets visit:

Shoot Better. Have Fun. © 2008 ATK

10 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

www.championtarget.com

ZEISS Introduces The Conquest V4 Family of Riflescopes

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he Conquest V4 riflescopes are for hunters and shooters whose lifestyle and adventures involve traditional and long-range hunting, as well as shooting and long-range shooting. These riflescopes were designed as a lightweight, high-performance product line for various demanding hunting and shooting applications.

They are by any standard best-in-class.

The Conquest V4 family is based on a 4x zoom ratio, incorporates a 30 mm main tube, and consists of the 1-4x24, 3-12x56, 4-16x44 and 6-24x50 models. Each model delivers 90% to- theeye light transmission, offers .25 MOA click values, except for the 1-4x24 which offers .5 MOA click values, capped windage adjustment, second focal plane reticle designs, and a large range of total elevation and windage travel adjustment. In regards to elevation travel, the 1-4x24 affords 100 MOA, the 3-12x56 integrates 70 MOA, while both the 4-16x44 and 6-24x50 models provide 80 MOA. The 1-4x24 model is available with either capped or external elevation turrets. The external elevation turret also shares two additional and highly relevant features: a lock and a Ballistic Stop. The locking feature affords the operator the ability to adjust to a selected new zero position, and lock in the setting. This is accomplished by lifting up on the turret body, rotating to the corrected zero, and then pushing down on the turret body which locks it in place. This is simple to use, highly effective, and quick. The Ballistic Stop allows for a solid and positive return to zero without any guesswork, under any adverse lighting condition.

The 3-12x56 version comes standard with capped elevation and windage turrets which are easily indexed and returned to zero by a simple lift and turn system. This model’s primary

Image above represents the Conquest V4 6-24x50 model, with illuminated reticle option.

application is hunting. With the 56mm objective and low power setting options, it serves as an ideal riflescope for low-light hunting conditions while under a thick canopy of trees. With the ability to increase the power up to 12x magnification setting, this model is also very handy while hunting over bean fields, utility cut-a-ways, and open terrain.

The 4-16x44 and 6-24x50 models include a side parallax adjustment which adjusts from 50 yards to infinity. Both have external elevation turrets which are multi-turn in design, utilize 20 MOA per rotation of travel value, and are easy to adjust with or without gloves on. The external elevation turrets also include ZEISS’s Ballistic Stop feature to ensure an absolute and positive return to zero under any conditions. The 4-16x44 model is easy to mount on an array of rifle platforms from lightweight hunting rifles, to gas guns, to precision bolt-action rifles. The 6-24x50 is near-perfect for small target acquisition such as varmint hunting and target shooting, and is highly effective for multiple long-range hunting and shooting applications.

The ZEISS Ballistic Stop is simple, yet durable and repeatable, with metal-on-metal construction. It utilizes the minimum amount of hardware necessary, is robust in design, and is very positive. There are no plastic shims, and no inferior plastic parts used in the mechanism.

There are several second focal plane reticle options available. These include traditional plexstyle reticles, as well as ZEISS’s newest ZMOA and ZBR MOA-based smart reticles. The ZQAR reticle, available with the 1-4x24 model, represents an intelligent reticle design, based upon certain .223 Remington and .308 Winchester ammunition ballistics. Illuminated reticles are standard for the 1-4x24 model and optional for the 3-12x56 and 6-24x50 models. A magnification power throw lever is available as an optional accessory.

The Conquest V4 models are backed by ZEISS’s Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty and Five-Year No-Fault Policy. These riflescopes serve a wide range of hunting and shooting applications, are packed with unique features, perform beyond expectations in their price range and provide exceptional value. To find out more specific details about the Conquest V4 riflescope models, visit www.zeiss.com/us/sports-optics. The Conquest V4 riflescope models are currently available at ZEISS Authorized Stocking Dealers.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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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.”

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12 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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www.ranchlandoutfitters.com 877-924-8440 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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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.

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14 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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Sportsman’s News • 435-669-4624 mdeming@sportsmansnews.com May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

15

Hunting Coyotes on the Summer Range

In late spring and summer, antelope fawns are especially vulnerable to coyote predation.

By Gary Lewis

Plan more coyote hunts in spring and summer to take pressure off big game in the critical months for young ungulates.

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aves of heat shimmered off the asphalt. The mercury hovered north of 95 degrees. I parked at the gate to wait for the rest of the party and the stillness of the summer day stifled.

If there was one corner of the state that hadn’t been invaded by hordes of eclipse watchers, I’d found it. Out here on a highway east of Paulina, west of Seneca, smack dab in the center of nothing, I leaned against a truck tire and waited. No one passed in an hour.

I wandered away from the truck and found a water hole. Down in a creek bottom there was still some moisture and along its far bank, where the receding water left a fringe of mud, I found a coyote track. Proof something else lived out here in this heat.

When my friend, Shaun Hannay and his 17-year-old son, Luke, rolled into view, we wound our way down the long gravel driveway to the ranch where we were met by Justin and Nikki Aamodt, who were setting up their summer camp on land they lease, high in the high desert of eastern Oregon. In summer they hunt coyotes and when September rolls around, they guide a few bowhunters for deer and elk, switching to rifle hunts in October and November.

Who hunts coyotes in summer? The serious coyote hunters, the ones who understand how important it is to keep predator numbers in balance, protecting the young ungulates, trying to get a foothold in life.

Out here in the west, when we take a hungry coyote out of the pack, we are help-

Photo by Gary Lewis

Hannay (right), was using a Noveske rifle chambered for the 22 Nosler, while Lewis used a bolt rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.

16 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

ing mule deer. Each one that assumes room temperature makes it more possible for deer and antelope fawns to grow up.

But we are creatures of habit and we don’t start thinking about coyote hunting until coyote pelts thicken up with the coming of winter. That should change.

To really help mule deer and pronghorns, we should hunt coyotes from February and into June and July.

Males and females begin to pair up in February and are well into the breeding season in March. They set up the pair bond, establish a den site and start to defend it.

Take out a male or a female in the month of March and the surviving partner will not be able to find a new mate before denning season starts. Keep hunting. In April, it is important to try to break up pairs because it is difficult for the remaining coyote to raise a litter of pups.

In May and June, coyotes are raising pups and at this time, they prey heavily on deer and antelope herds and even on elk calves hidden in the grass. Near ranches and farms, coyotes watch for opportunities to pounce on lambs or calves. Often the coyote will attack a calf as its mother is giving birth.

Take a coyote in May and June and the number of coyotes that are pestering the herds is reduced at a time when baby fawns, kids and calves are at their most vulnerable.

Three Seconds at Sunset

The heat of the day lingered in the high country well past the dinner hour and with an hour left before sunset, the temperature still read 85 degrees. We loaded into the truck and rumbled, slowly and quietly away from the ranch buildings, up a narrow road that seemed to vanish in the junipers.

Justin Aamodt led the way. Single file we followed a cattle trail through sagebrush along a dry creek bed and into a valley where a small band of black Angus grazed in short green grass.

For this hunt, Hannay carried a Noveske AR-15, chambered in the then brand new 22 Nosler, topped with a Vortex scope. Propping the rifle in the sticks, he dialed the scope back to a lower setting for quick target acquisition. Luke Hannay also Photo by Gary Lewis carried an AR-15, a short-barreled rifle topped with a scope.

Down the hill, on the edge of the set, I sat down with my Montana Rifle, dialed the scope back to 6X and pulled a mask down over my face and gloves over my hands.

Aamodt slipped quietly through the sagebrush and set the FoxPro caller down, with a small cloth motion decoy to draw attention.

The cattle began to drift away.

Minutes later, Aamodt began to call. The plaintive bird distress cries started soft. For long minutes, the call was quiet and then it started again, this time louder.

The coyote showed itself about All was still in the mountain valley six minutes into the call, made a save the flick of the decoy. Eighty-five quick circle and was making its exit degrees in the shade. Zero wind. I

when it stopped to a bark.

SHELL SHOCKED.

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3/22/18 8:17 AM

Photo by Gary Lewis

Cover scents for Coyotes Cover scents distract the predator from the scent of the hunter.

Fox urine covers the human scent with the strong odor of a small varmint. A coyote’s nose may be further confused with fresh earth fumes or the scent of a food source.

Author and predator expert, Lee Van Tassell, likes to place the electronic caller at a lower elevation. From up above, he can watch more country and keep his scent high in the air stream.

One of Van Tassell’s favorite tricks is to disguise his entry trail with the scent of a jackrabbit, dragging it behind him on a rope tied to his belt. “That’s my best cover scent.

If I can’t get a rabbit, I like to splash coyote or mule deer urine on my feet before I walk down to set up my call. Usually the coyotes come straight in then circle downwind. If they circle and come to the downwind side, I like to bark or make a ki-yi to stop them. And that’s the time to make the shot.”

A high degree of confidence comes with the knowledge of how to beat a coyote’s best defense. And a thorough approach to scent control can pay off with more well-furred dogs that charge in, circle downwind and keep on coming.

-Gary Lewis

Set up in front of brush to break up the outline, Hannay will put on gloves and a facemask before the call starts. guessed it at 60 yards to the call, 120 yards to the far side of the meadow.

I’m convinced far more coyotes respond to the call than we ever see. For that reason, I watch the approaches to every call set and try to get a glimpse of the suspicious dogs that hold up two to three hundred yards out.

It was about six minutes in to the call, when way up the opposite slope, a coyote flashed into the open then vanished again, flowing in and out of the sight between stands of bitterbrush and pine trees.

Moments later it appeared at the edge of the meadow, out in the open before it sensed danger and began to streak back toward cover.

Aamodt barked and it couldn’t help itself. It had to stop, throw its body broadside to us and cast a glance over the valley.

Three seconds max. That’s how much time they give you when they do that.

My crosshair was on it, safety off.

Three pounds of pressure on the trigger. With the soft recoil of the Creedmoor round, I was able to keep the scope on target and even as I threw the bolt, saw the flop of the tail.

Hannay had fired at the exact same moment. It was sunset for that eater of mule deer, that molester of beef calves, that extinguisher of the antelope fawn.

It’s summer and the living is good

Arrived at the first call set location, the hunters discuss strategy.

18 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

for coyotes. This is the time of year when they are most likely to pick off baby deer and antelope. Give the big game a break and spend a few days calling coyotes.

And like me, you just might find your favorite time of year to hunt coyotes is in the heat of summer.

Gary Lewis is the host of Frontier Unlimited, a TV show available on Pursuit Channel and Hunt Channel.

Photo by Gary Lewis

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Supersize ‘Em

T

hese days, down-sizing is all the rage. Whether you’re talking carbon footprint, food portions or consumption in general, less is more. In one particular case, I disagree completely and that’s of course in fishing. We humans might be worried about getting fat or over consumption of our resources, but the fish definitely aren’t.

In fact, the most sought-after gamefish Chad LaChance in the country is named for the size of his mouth, not his brain. And its name starts with Large - you can guess the rest.

In a fish’s world, less is definitely not more when it comes to food. Less is more when it comes to expending energy to catch food, but the food itself is all the more valuable when it contains more calories. Maybe if humans had to expend any real energy to obtain our food, we’d be better off. Instead, we purposely burn energy just so we can eat more without gaining weight, a very unnatural situation.

At the time of year when our waters are nearing as warm as they’ll get in the season, this concept is even more important to anglers. Since fish are cold blooded, the warm water has them giddy with energy, meaning that they’re metabolizing calories at a higher rate than in colder months. Couple that with their instinctive desire to pack on pounds during their all too short growing season and even more fundamentally, to out-compete their peers in a very Darwinian struggle and it means that big meals are better. Big meals that are easy to catch are better still.

What does this all mean to the angler? Bigger baits of course, with bigger being

20 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

relative to the species pursued. To a bluegill, a four-inch nightcrawler might be a huge bite, while to a largemouth bass (the most popular of all gamefish nationwide, as noted above) it might not even be worth swimming over to investigate.

How about trout? After all, I live and guide in Colorado where trout reign supreme and everyone knows they eat tiny bugs. Do you know why they eat tiny bugs? Because that’s most commonly what’s available to them! Why do they have camouflage, superior jaws lined with sharp teeth and supreme speed if all they evolved to do is catch tiny bugs drifting helplessly in the current? Trout, at least during warmish water periods, will forget they ever saw a bug when a 4” sculpin, young of the year whitefish or a crawdad shows itself. This is especially true with mature brown trout. Next time you trout fish, try huge streamers, bulky tube jigs or better yet, an erratic minnow plug about five or six inches long. I think you’ll be surprised.

Walleyes are in the top five fish in popularity for anglers. They eat fish of course, but what kind of fish do they eat? In many western reservoirs where they are stocked, rainbow trout are the meal of choice for walleyes. Those freshly stocked “catchable” trout are 7-10” long, lack spiny fins and are very naive to the ways of the world, a perfect food choice for big walleyes. I know of folks catching great walleyes on 7-10” long trout-imitating “swimbaits” in true match-the-hatch style. Feed ‘em what they’re eating.

Those fat, lazy largemouth bass slobbin’ around in our local ponds, reservoirs and gravel pits are the best example of gluttons. Their preference, according to the scientists at Berkley’s labs (how do I get their job???), is to eat approximately 1/3 of their body length per sitting. So that nice five pounder you want to catch that is about 20-inches long is sitting on a drop-off or dead fall somewhere, waiting for something nearing 7” long to swim by. Sure, he’ll eat smaller things, but he’ll be more motivated to chase down a bigger bite, which of course he’ll vacuum into that cavernous maw in one swift engulfing motion. On your next bass pond outing, try a 10” plastic worm and see how that goes for you or perhaps a big noisy topwater bait or even some sort of rodent imitation. Swimming mice and rats are prime candidates for largemouth cuisine.

A couple of key points about fishing larger lures deserve mentioning. First, use appropriate tackle to present them. Using too light of tackle is a common problem with big lures and it will hamper your ability to both present the lure well and handle the fish you catch with it. Heavier line will help you control the larger baits better, too. This same concept goes for your fly tackle; heavier rods and subsequent lines and don’t be afraid of big tippets. I find I do a lot better on streamers that are heavy for their size; closer to the bottom is almost always better. Also, bigger lures are much easier for fish to peg as fake, so pay attention to all the details, including casting angles and retrieve speed/cadence. It is always my goal to surprise the fish when my large offering enters their peripheral vision as opposed to them knowing it’s coming from way out there. The latter gives them too much time to decide As you consider your fly, lure or bait selection over the next couple of months, consider upsizing and make it easy to catch too. You might find that nobody told the fish downsizing was in.

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22 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Preparing Your Gear For Another Fishing Season

PRO'S TIP

By Kent Danjanovich

W

ith spring upon us and summer just around the corner, if you haven’t hit the water yet, it’s time to head out to your favorite fishing hole. But, wait just a minute! What kind of shape is your fishing gear in after a long winter of non-use? A few hours’ worth of preparation now could mean more success and less unexpected headaches on the water.

First let’s take a look at the big stuff – your rods and reels. Just like anything else in life, periodical maintenance is a must. Rods can develop weak spots and their “eyes” can become rough, with the results weakened and frayed line that will soon result in a malfunction at the worst moment during your outing. Reels can become “gummed up” and lines brittle.

Many of todays fishing rods are almost indestructible and even if they are not, warranties are a wonderful thing. Every spring, before I even think of heading out on my first fishing trip, I go through all of my rods, both spin cast and fly, to make sure they are in good shape. I check my eyelets for rough spots, seats for wear and wraps for weak threads. One thing that I have learned over the years, is to carry a couple of spare eye’s, especially tips, just in case of an emergency.

Reels require a little bit more attention. Water, dirt and grime, not to mention salt (a subject all in itself), all contribute to mechanical problems. Each off-season you should thoroughly go through your reels to remove the build-up of grime and gunk, ending in fresh grease on the gears and a little WD-40 everywhere else. And a little side note for those of you that are not too mechanically inclined, you can even box up your reel, if you purchased a quality one and send it back to the manufacturer for reconditioning in some cases. I know many fishing guides from around the country that send in their reels every year after their season ends for refurbishment.

Now let’s talk about some new line. I remember when I was young, you didn’t replace your fishing line until there was hardly any left on your reel. Now that I do this for a living, I have figured out just how important your line is to your success.

Monofilament and fluorocarbon both have memories and with use, develop weak spots. Also, heat and cold play a factor in the deterioration of your lines, so at least yearly replacement is a must. There are a lot of line companies out there and the cheapest priced usually are that for a reason. I recommend taking your newly reconditioned reels in to your local Sportsman’s Warehouse and asking their experts to fill your spools with good line to the recommended capacities.

As for fly lines, run them through a cleaning cloth complete with a good line cleaner. As you do this, look for any imperfections in the lines coating and wind knots.

Now’s a good time to replace your leaders as well.

Everybody’s tackle box is a little different, but

the essentials are pretty much the same. Give your tackle box a good go-through, then a good wash job. If you like to throw hardware, a little soap and water will go a long way on your favorite lures. You can even touch-up many with a permanent marker or your wife’s nail polish. Do you have a go-to lure that just doesn’t retrieve the way it used to? Check their wire eyelets as they may be bent out of line. They can be fixed in most cases by using a pair of needle-nosed pliers to straighten them back into perfect working order.

Next, take a look at your hooks to see if they need to be replaces or sharpened. Take a hone, sharpening stone or small file and sharpen them, so to give “Mr. Big” a little extra sting on your next trip.

Check your fly box for much of the same. If the hook is rusted, I usually throw the fly away. If the tail on my bunny leech has hardened, its time has come as well. Action in the water is of utmost importance when fly fishing, so make sure you are using your flies in the way they are supposed to be presented.

If you use waders, check them out for wear. Remember, on a couple of your last trips of the year, your socks were a little wet at the end of the day? Now’s a good time to check for possible leaks and if you find a small one or two, you can save yourself a few bucks by doing a little patch job. Also, check your wading shoes for missing eyelets and worn laces. And I never thought that I would say this, but if you are still using felt soles, even if you fish in states that still accept them, think about buying a new pair of rubber soled ones. They have come a long way and I do think it helps on the invasive species being spread from water to water.

Well, as mentioned in the beginning, a little preventive maintenance will go a long way in making your next great outdoor adventure a special one. Don’t let your equipment deteriorate to the point that you have to go out and purchase new, just because you didn’t take the time to preserve what you have! A little time and preparation will make your life a lot better on the water.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

25

Bass Fishing Roundup

By Chad LaChance

St Croix Rods Bass X series

I bet you didn’t know that competitive bass fishing is the fastest growing segment of the fishing demographic and it’s being driven by organized high school and collegiate fishing programs that feed the pro ranks. Skilled bassers know they need a wide range of rods to match different presentation scenarios, so the family owned company, St Croix Rods, launched Bass X; a line of high quality, technique specific rods affordable to many anglers. The series features 10 casting rods and four spinning rods to cover all the bassin’ bases and they’re built on St Croix’s proprietary SCii blanks. Hard aluminum-oxide guide train, Fuji reel seats, split grip design with cork handles finished in EVA trim and two coats of Flex Coat round out the eye-catching build. At about $100, these bass-centric rods are a great value.

Costa Sunrise Silver 580G lens

“Costa” and “fishing glasses” have become almost synonymous terms in the last decade or so. It makes sense, after all Costa’s moto is born on the water and they’ve worked with most of the best anglers in the country to develop their lenses and frames. The company’s latest addition to their ample polarized sunglass lens lineup is designed to help anglers during what is commonly the best time to fish - low-light periods and overcast days. Called Sunrise Silver, this lens joins other favorites in their high performance 580G line of glass lenses, so called for the fact that they block harsh yellow light at 580nm wavelength. The 580G lenses are 20% thinner and 22% lighter than average glass lenses and are the clearest option available to anglers. The new Silver Sunrise color has encapsulated mirroring for glare reduction yet a very bright view perfect for early morning boat rides and cloudy day fishing. This lens immediately became one of my all-time favorites and it’s available in a range of frames to fit any face. About $229-249, depending on the frame style.

Berkley Powerbait MaxScent

Powerbait. The name itself is almost pop culture in angling, but also means different things to different anglers. Trout specialists think of dough bait jars, while walleye folks may be more familiar with Powerbait Grubs, while bassers gravitate to the ol’ 10” Power Worm. Why? Because they all work. Well, now the mad scientists at Berkley have conjured up supercharged Powerbait and they call it Powerbait MaxScent. MaxScent is more than just a new scent; it’s a whole new molding process that results in a very soft PVC plastic that has a matte finish and, more importantly, is somehow porous. That porosity allows the bait to hold a tremendous amount of fluid, reminiscent of Gulp! liquid. But, and it’s a big but, since the soft plastic lure is indeed plastic and not resin based, it will never dry out. Fresh out of the package, the bait feels and looks dry, until you squeeze it. Like your kitchen sponge, it holds a surprising amount of liquid. MaxScent comes in eight shapes, covering all the bassin’ bases. A couple of my favorites are the Meaty Chunk jig trailer, Creature Hawg and especially The General, a soft stick worm with great shimmy on top of the MaxScent flavor. Colors are steadfast and cover all the popular naturals ranging from greens and browns to blacks and purples.

26 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

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28 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Bass Fishing Roundup Plano LBL Bottle

Being a professional angler means I get lots and lots of emailed questions and being a Gulp! Alive proponent means lots of those questions revolve around containing Gulp! liquid. It seems that Gulp! liquid is viscous yet slick enough to escape from dang near anything we attempt to contain it in and while it washes out easy enough, spillage is still no fun. The problem is compounded when a Gulp! junkie like myself travels with it in luggage.

That very problem lead me to look for a better way to contain it and I found my solution in the Plano LBL (Liqua Bait Locker) Bottle. These plastic bottles will not leak, period. Not in your luggage, not in your boat, not in your garage. They will contain the super sneaky liquid and allow the baits to move around freely, preserving their shape. The containers come with a plastic grabber for retrieving individual baits from within and they are stackable as well. Did I mention they’ll contain Gulp! liquid? My boat does not leave the trailer without a Plano LBL full of Gulp! Minnows.

Abu Garcia Revo X

Abu Garcia’s Revo line of reels, encompassing both spinning and baitcast models, has been wildly popular and for good reason - they perform. We’ve been fishing and guiding with them for years and Revos have proven their worth. Now Abu Garcia has added a new member to the Revo family - enter Revo X spinning and baitcast reels. At first glance, Revo X is all black and all business. The X line of baitcasters is available in left- or right-hand retrieve and three different gear ratios (5.4:1, 6.6:1 and 7.3:1) allowing anglers to match the retrieve speed to the presentation. The spinning reel is available in four sizes and features a 6.2:1 gear ratio which equates to a blazing 40” of line recovery per handle turn in the largest model. Both styles utilize Abu Garcia’s Carbon Matrix drag system and X-craftic corrosion proof components. The spinning reel has a carbon rotor for lightweight, large EVA handles and their Rocket Line Management system and spool lip for better casting and line control. The casting reel is controlled by the DuraClutch and MagTrax magnetic braking system and has a bent handle for ergonomics.

ON THE KENAI RIVER, ALASKA

Frabill 15’ Lure Retriever

Fact number 1: Lures are expensive. Fact number 2: bass like to live around cover and structure that will snag your lures. Fact number 3: very few retrieved lures (i.e., crankbaits and jerkbaits - you know, the really expensive ones) can reach beyond 15 feet deep. Add up the facts and you need Frabill’s 15’ Telescoping Lure Retriever in your boat.

As a fishing guide, I’d go through huge numbers of crankbaits if it wasn’t for this tool and unlike the other style of plug retriever on a rope, this one allows you to reach up on the bank or trees to get a lure back, not that any of us would ever cast there of course! The retriever telescopes down to about 5-feet so it fits in many bass boat lockers and features a corkscrew head that you simply wind onto your line to follow it down to the plug. It’s even rigid enough to push rocks around to get wedged baits. The overall design and use are very simple and effective and this is literally one of the best fishing investments you’ll ever make if you fish hard lures much. I use mine almost daily and it has saved me thousands of dollars.

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30 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Bass Fishing Roundup Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 Carrier

These days, more and more anglers are discovering the benefits of using some sort of “superline” in their angling. More than others, bass fishermen have really gravitated to it, probably due to the stress even casual anglers put on line while fishing great bass cover. Their line needs to be extremely strong, abrasion resistant, hold knots well and most importantly, needs to cast and handle well. Berkley’s original fused Fireline displays many of those traits, but the production process made it a bit stiffer than some anglers prefer. Well, now Fireline has a new family member - Ultra 8 Carrier. Rather than being multiple linear fibers fused to create a single strand of original Fireline, Ultra 8 is eight Dyneema fibers fused in a radial pattern. The result is a line that has many of the same properties of original Fireline, but that handles better and casts farther - 10% farther according to Berkley. I’ve been testing it for more than a year now and the abrasion resistance is fantastic, wind knots are reduced and it holds knots like a champ. Ultra 8 is available in 125, 300, 1500-yard spools and two colors; Smoke and Crystal.

Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon

Trilene is far and away the most popular line on the planet and has been for many years. So, when an iconic brand like Trilene decides to produce a new line with their name on it, it’s a safe bet they did their homework first. Enter Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon, available in regular and XL versions. Why fluorocarbon for bass fishing? It’s denser than water so it sinks, keeping a straighter line to your lure. That density transmits “feel” better and also helps with abrasion resistance, which is much improved over nylon monofilament. Also, much improved over mono is stretch; fluorocarbon is much lower in stretch. It’s also U/V stable and will not absorb water, so it lasts longer then mono. That fluorocarbon has the same light refraction as water allowing it to disappear under water is an added bonus. Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon XL is specifically formulated to handle better on spinning reels. The XL version is available in 200-yard spools in pound tests from 4-12, while regular Trilene 100% is available in 110, 200 and 2000 yard spools from 4-to 25-pound test in both clear and green tint.

Lowrance Hook Triple Shot

Modern bass fishing is at least partly a game of electronics. Even a cursory look at the boats at a pro event and even many club events, will reveal some crazy sonar/GPS set-ups, some costing nearly $15,000! But what I know after having taught on the water sonar/GPS classes for almost a decade is that a high percentage of bass anglers, even very skilled ones, are not very electronics savvy and just want simple, affordable performance. Lowrance has bridged the gap between performance and simplicity with the popular Hook series. Now they made it even more performance oriented with the Hook2 and Triple Shot transducer pack. This new Hook2, available in 4-12” screen sizes, includes auto-tuning sonar, super easy installation and has built-in C-MAP, plus options to upgrade to Navionics Chip or custom C-MAPS. The Triple Shot transducer provides traditional sonar, Down Scan and Side Scan options for the best possible fish finding combination for any scenario. Best of all, Hook2 with the Triple Shot transducer is still a very affordable option, even with all the great features and ease of use.

River 2 Sea Whopper Plopper

Ok, so it has a funny name; if you knew the guy that invented it, you’d know why. Larry Dahlberg is an eccentric guy that knows more about catching monster fish than I’ll ever hope to learn. He’s credited with a bunch of lure and fly innovations, but none are as influential on bass fishing as the Whopper Plopper. Available in four sizes and a bunch of colors, the ‘Plopper’ is a topwater lure that features an asymmetrical rotating blade on the back. It can be continuously retrieved, thus giving off a gurgling sound most akin to a buzzbait, only less metallic. Unlike the buzzbait, it floats so it can be paused in key areas or worked super slow. If you’re looking to add some pure fun to your bassin’, get yourself a Whopper Plopper.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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By Russ Byerly

Return to I Alaska

t all started at the dinner table in deer camp in Northern Wisconsin during November of 2011. An off-road racing associate of my best friend announced that he was thinking of undertaking a building project on a newly acquired piece of property in the Kenai region of Alaska, sometime in the next couple of years. The part that caught my attention, was Charlie’s proclamation that all workers on his build-out would be granted use of his northern house for future Alaska adventures. I immediately knew that I was in!

The project was scheduled to begin in June of 2013. I confirmed my commitment with Charlie and met him and the rest of the team in Sterling, Alaska, the second week of June on an empty lot. It was there that we would battle unseasonable heat and mosquitoes for two weeks, at which time the foundation was poured and finished, and the framing and roof completed. By the time Charlie left for home in the lower 48 a few weeks later, the house was weather tight. An amazing feat for five people to have accomplished. I have always wanted to participate in a ground-up build out of a house and now I had done it.

My recurring thought, however, was on returning someday to enjoy the home and hopefully take part in some kind of fishing or hunting adventure in the Last Frontier.

The project was planned as a 3-stage, 3-year endeavor, so I would definitely be waiting for some time. Phase-2 went on as planned, without me, but I returned in 2015 to help the owners complete Phase-3 which included interior work, sheetrock and other finish work for their new Alaska home.

Once again, we battled mosquitoes and long days in the land of the midnight sun.

You really do have a prolonged ability to stay awake and energized when the sun is still up at 10:30 at night. When I left that summer, I knew that the next time I returned, it would be strictly for pleasure and adventure in the wilds of Alaska.

My plan and request for return would be in July of 2017. I was told by the locals that mid-July is prime time for most of the great fishing that America’s 49th state has to offer. All of the final touches had been completed on the new home during that two-year stretch and all I had to do was endure my job, a move to California and working out the particulars of a fishing trip to Alaska. I had hoped to have my brother and some close friends accompany me on this trip, but as it turned out, my son was the only one to commit. There is no one with whom I would rather share the experience than him. I was very happy to be a part of fulfilling a lifelong dream for him. In the six months prior to our trip, we made all of the necessary arrangements for flights, transportation, charter outing and gear, and, before we knew it, we were off to Alaska for eight days of fishing and exploring.

My son and I arrived in Anchorage on the 14th of July, 2017, in the middle of the night, spent a few hours dreaming of the weeks’ promise of excitement and waited for the car rental counter to open. Around 5:30am, we got our vehicle and headed out for Sterling. When we arrived, we found the most beautiful Alaskan home imaginable! It would be our camp for the next eight days. I had not seen the finished product previously, so I was delighted to see Charlie’s new home completed in such a gorgeous fashion. We would indeed be in the lap of luxury for the next week; in sharp contrast to our fishing brethren sleeping in tents, campers and the like while in search of Alaska’s bounty.

32 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

Our first day of fishing would be at the confluence of the Russian and Kenai Rivers. We rigged up our spinning rods with one-ounce weights and Russian River flies and set out to take some reds. We spent the day being schooled by those sockeyes and the fishing method called “flossing.” We witnessed some nice fish being taken, had a few on, but left the Russian with zero fish bagged. Fortunately, we had a plan-B for the day. It was to hike up to Carter Lake on the road to Seward and try our luck at grayling and rainbows.

After a mile and a half hike up to the lake, we found ourselves alone in an alpine wilderness of unsurpassed beauty. Time to wet a line! After about three casts, we ended up in a two-hour battle with some of the feistiest rainbow trout you’ve ever seen. On small spoons and spinners, we caught a limit each, with some up to twenty inches. I have never had so much fun in such a beautiful place. Or so I thought.

The next morning, we would be pursuing Pacific halibut with Fishing Fool Charters out of Ninilchik. We were at his storefront at 5:45am and would return by 12:30pm with over 400 lbs. of halibut from six people’s efforts, the largest one tipping the scales at 140 lbs. The Captain, Jeff Glosser, single handedly ran the boat, helped gear us up, land the fish and cleaned everything before we returned to land. An amazing job! I would highly recommend this man, as he is focused on getting into the larger fish, not just bag limits.

We discovered, later that evening, that we would be going on a drift boat hunt for kings on the Kenai River the following morning.

Some sleep would be nice, as we barely had seven hours rest since landing Friday

morning. Early Monday morning, we paired up with a local friend, Matt and another Sportsman’s News drift boat of his pals/competitors and hit the Outdoor Writing Kenai in search of king salmon. We would be Contest Finalist passing through the very same waters where See pg. 4 for entry details. the world record king was caught back in 1985. Within 15 minutes, I had on the first fish of the day. It was at least a 35 pounder, with wonderful blush coloring from its days in the fresh water. By the time another hour had passed, each of us in our boat had hooked up with a Kenai king. These guys were into catch and release, so we gladly obliged and relished in the landing and releasing of these awesome fish. We did keep two injured fish out of the seven we landed—apparently a stellar day for those who chase kings on the Kenai River. We got an education on drift boating and many other things that day. Eternal thanks to Matthew for giving my son and I an experience of a lifetime!

Tuesday and Wednesday were set to be “get even” with the reds days, so we packed up and went after them in a new location with spinning gear, half-ounce weights and 3/0 hooks adorned with pink yarn. Standing side-by-side with dozens of other fishermen and women in full “combat” mode, we battled the sockeye salmon, which were not in full migration up the river. The counts of reds in the river, at that time, were reported to be around thirty thousand, way short of the 100,000+ we were told is possible when the “run” is full-on. One lady told us that she and her husband caught over eleven hundred fish in a one-week period during a big run of past years! We met some wonderful people from Texas, Michigan and California, who were gracious enough to help us with this unorthodox method of “fishing.”

Fisherman and hunters are the best people to meet when you are in new territory. We had a fantastic time and actually bagged a few reds and some Dolly Varden trout.

I told my son, before we left on our trip, that I was not planning to fish every day of our vacation, because I thought we should sight-see a bit, as well. We fished every day. It was just too much dog-gone fun! What a place, what an adventure and what marvelous bounty we were treated to. They’re not doing this in China! I can’t wait to go back and again try my hand at the Arctic grayling, which eluded us on two visits to their secluded hideouts. I think I’m going to have to relocate to the Last Frontier—it’s all I think about since I returned home.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

33

PRO MEMBER UPDATE

S

outh Dakota has always been known for being “The place to go” if you are after pheasants. Over the past 20 years, the statewide harvest has been over 900,000 birds per year. The state has gone to great lengths to make sure they do everything possible to preserve this great sport and along the way, many great operations have been born that help to keep the great tradition going strong today.

One of those operations that we have been fortunate enough to associate with over the past 10-years is Bad River Bucks & Birds in Draper, South Dakota. Their lodge is based on the 113-year-old Hermann Ranch that is actively involved in cattle and crops, as well as in the hunting side of things, with not only superb pheasant hunting opportunities, but both whitetail and mule deer, turkeys, sharp tail grouse, prairie chickens, prairie dogs and even some waterfowl and fishing opportunities as well.

Yes, they are what you would call “Well Rounded” and Brett Waibel and his staff do a great job in all aspects at Bad River.

Because of our great association with them, we decided to include Bad River in our Pro Membership Sweepstakes drawing on an annual basis and 2017 was no exception. Mike McNett of DoubleTap Ammunition was the lucky winner and after explaining the details of the trip to him, he got a wide smile on his face and said, “It sounds like a great place to take my two oldest boys along to get them introduced to upland bird hunting in the best way possible”!

So, over the next couple of months, plans were made for Mike, Jackson and James to join me for a three-day hunt to take place the first week of December. We would be joined by a group of 12 buddies of mine from different parts of the country that are associated with the Manheim Auto Auctions. Many of them have been part of our annual trip for a number of years and when they found out that Mike and his boys would be joining us, I could tell that they could sense that it was going to be a special trip this year as well.

Now for those of you that have not hunted pheasants in South Dakota, well let’s just say it’s not like hunting your local hunt club back home. These birds are wild, even if some of them have been released in the spring to help supplement the population. And by the time you hit December, these birds have been chased and hound-

Bad River Bucks & Birds

By Kent Danjanovich

ed for nearly three months, so the term ‘wild’ comes into play even more so. On top of that, add in the fridged South Dakota prairie winds and knocking down a passing ringneck going ‘Mach1” can be quite a challenge.

The first day of the hunt found me and my Manheim buddies taking to the field without Mike and his boys. They were finishing up a successful cow elk hunt in Utah, were Jackson had been able to take his first big game animal. We were greeted by clear skies and temps in the mid-40’s, not bad for early December in South Dakota (our last trip found us sloshing through a foot of snow and sub-zero temperatures).

After three successful morning pushes, our group posed for some photos with fifteen colorful roosters. It was then back to the lodge for some lunch and a little relaxing before heading back out for a couple more hours downing roosters before hitting one of Brett’s favorite sharptail and prairie chicken fence line crossings. We did manage to down a few more pheasants, but the rest of the birds didn’t cooperate too well, making their appearance just a little after legal hours as we were loading back into the bus.

That night, Mike and his boys joined us at the dinner table and our plans for the next morning were made. Juicy steaks cooked to order awaited us and afterwards, a little pool and a rousing card game entertained us before heading to our rooms for a good night’s sleep.

The smell of bacon and eggs greeted us the next morning and after a good helping, we made our way back to our rooms to grab our gear and then met in the open area between the lodge and bunkhouse for a quick safety tutorial. Brett and his staff are very good at informing all of their guests with the information they need to make it through their stay safely and successfully. Mike and Jackson would be packing guns on this day, with 11-year-old James following close behind, acquiring the knowledge that would allow him to join in next year when he reached the legal hunting age of 12 in South Dakota.

On most years during our visit, we find ourselves trudging through at least a few inches of snow during our hunt and because of this, a lot of our pushes find us working the shelter belts scattered throughout the area available on the ranch. But on this year, with no snow, we would be hitting the sloughs and cattails a little more to find the birds. When we were on our way to each location, Brett would diagram a plan of attack on his grease board, with half of us blocking around the edges and the rest of the group pushing the cover with the dogs. Every push resulted in downed birds and by the end of the day, another pile of birds were the results for the bird cleaners back at the lodge. And yes, 13-year-old Jackson was able to get in on the action, bringing down a couple of beautiful birds on the day. And I couldn’t help but notice the big smile on a proud papa!

Our last day found us hitting more of Brett’s favorite spots Pro Membership winner, Mike McNett with his boys, Jackson and James, after a that he had saved for us. After a good morning hunt, as we

successful push on their first morning at Bad River Bucks and Birds.

34 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

35

PRO MEMBER UPDATE were loading into the bus, he leaned over to me and said, “We are going to hit it big this afternoon” and boy was he right!

We crested the top of a hill overlooking a good-sized slough, with a fence line down its right side. Blockers were dropped off all around the cattails and then five of us, along with our three guides and dogs, began our push from its eastern side.

Almost immediately, birds started to flush. Those that got away from the pushers weren’t quite so lucky when passing by the blockers. By the time we made it halfway through the slough, over a dozen birds were down.

Brett gave the sign to the pushers to stop for a minute to regroup before finishing out the second half of the slough. He also motioned for the blockers positioned around the edges to start closing in as we pushed the cover to a neck in the corner.

All of the sudden, birds started to flush almost non-stop. Many were hens, but plenty of them were cackling roosters, exploding out of the cattails. I downed a couple that came out both in front and behind me and then a big boy exploded that looked to be headed for Mike and his boys. I lowered my gun and watched with a big smile

Our group of hunters did pretty well for themselves on our last day in the field in Draper, South Dakota.

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on my face as the bird took a direct line at Jackson and when he got in range, BAM – the big, beautiful South Dakota rooster fell out of the sky and the hoots and hollers commenced. I just sat back and thought to myself, “Now that’s what hunting is all about - a dad, his boys, in the field - it just doesn’t get any better than that”!

Well, there you have it. Another great Sportsman’s News adventure brought to you by the ever-growing Pro Membership Sweepstakes. This annual Bad River Bucks & Birds hunt is just part of the over $300,000 worth of hunts, fishing trips, guns and gear packages that are given away each year to lucky winners from all around the country. If you aren’t a member, what are you waiting for? And if you want to experience a great upland bird hunt in the heart of pheasant country, give Brett Waibel and his staff a call at Bad River Bucks & Birds (605-669-3440). They have a lot to offer and I am sure Brett can set you up with just the hunt you are looking for.

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39

Video Product Reviews

Browning X-Bolt Pro

B

rowning’s X-Bolt Pro rifles take the production rifle to an entirely different level. Browning has eliminated the need to spend thousands of dollars to get a lightweight, custom rifle that can shoot sub-MOA accuracy.

This semi-custom rifle is developed from the top-tier X-Bolt family of hunting rifles. Browning has reduced the weight of this rifle significantly by utilizing a full carbon wrapped stock with a compressed foam core. The receiver is made from stainless steel and is glass bedded, drilled and tapped for scope mounts.

The barrel is a lightweight Sporter, which is fluted to reduce weight as well.

Browning does a proprietary lapping process, which eliminates the need for a long break-in period, getting you off of the range and ready for the field quicker. It comes with a threaded muzzlebreak as well as a thread protector to shoot with or without the break. It has a spiral fluted bolt and knob. All metal surfaces are covered with an extremely durable burnt orange Cerakote finish.

Currently this rifle is available in ten of the most popular calibers which include, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win Mag, .28 Nosler, .300 WSM, .26 Nosler, 7mm Rem Mag, .270 Winchester and 6mm Creedmoor. They range in barrel lengths from 22” all the way up to 26” and weigh in at 6-pounds 1-ounce, up to 6-pounds 10-ounces.

The Sportsman’s News Team has had the pleasure of testing this rifle for the past

HybridLight Pro Kit

A

four months. We have a .300 Win Mag and a 6.5 Creedmoor at our disposal and we have put them to the test. Browning X-Bolt rifles have proven to be extremely accurate since we started shooting them five years ago. Neither of these rifles proved to be any different.

We topped them with top of the line optics and started shooting for groups. Premium ammunition is always the way to go when you are looking to get the most out of your high-end rifles. Although point of impact was different with each different bullet we put through these rifles, one thing was certain; they are extremely accurate. Sub ½” MOA was attained with Accubond bullets out of the 6.5 Creedmoor and the same was found with Barnes LRX from the .300 Win Mag. Regardless of what bullets we shot, we could achieve Sub 1” MOA accuracy. A clean barrel would throw your first two shots array, but each rifle maintained solid accuracy for 40 consecutive shots without cleaning.

Overall, these rifles are extremely accurate, lightweight, Scan this QR Code with dependable and durable. I don’t see the need to spend the your smart phone to view additional $3500 to get a custom rifle, which likely won’t the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel. deliver better results than these Browning X-Bolt Pro’s.

nyone who spends any time in the outdoors has come to realize what an indispensable aid a good and reliable flashlight can be.

Without fail, when you need your light, the batteries will be dead, especially if you have kids.

To solve your lighting problems, HybridLight has created the Pro Kit, complete with multiple options to provide hours of reliable lighting. Best of all, each piece of the kit will hold a charge for up to 7-years in storage, so you know it will be ready when you need it.

Each piece, with the exception of the headlamp, can also be used to recharge your electronic devices, such as cell phones, GPS, cameras or anything chargeable by USB, at the same rate as if they were plugged into the wall. And all of the individual parts of the kit have the ability to supplement their runtime with solar charging.

men flashlight beam. It will burn for up to 35-hours on a full charge. A magnetic base, flexible head and rotating foot with a hook for hanging, allow the light to be positioned where you need it.

Journey 250

Not only is the Hex a rocking little speaker with big sound, it can also take a micro-SD card of your favorite MP3 tunes for playback. It will even pick up your favorite sporting event with a built-in FM radio transmitter. Easy controls let you quickly skip through music. A glaring 400-lumens spotlight or a ring of soft 40-lumen LEDS provide directional or area light, depending on your need. The pivoting handle acts as a stand or provides an easy way to hang your speaker and light. The 2,000 mAh battery will provide hours of light and music.

From a capacity standpoint, the big daddy of the Pro Kit is the Journey 250 handheld light.

This 250-lumen handheld flashlight contains a 4,400 mAh internal battery to power the dual brightness light. Each push of the button alternates between high, medium or off. Holding the power button causes it to strobe. In addition to being a super bright handheld flashlight, the Journey also floats and is waterproof.

Mammoth

If you could only have a single light, the Mammoth would be the one to pick. This workhorse is built around a 4,000 mAh battery and offers solar, USB or direct wall plug 110 AC or 220 DC charging. It has a bank of 20 dual intensity LEDs in a 400-lumen area light as well as a super bright 150-lu-

40 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

PUC 150

The handy little folding light with a reflective bellows is called the PUC. Resembling a hockey puck when the light is closed, the PUC provides 2,200 mAh of power with a 150 maximum lumen light that can be focused through the high intensity lens or expanded to allow the bellows to act as a diffuser, providing area light. A rubber ring on top and four rubber feet on the bottom, as well as an open hook, allow you multiple placement options.

Hex Bluetooth Speaker

Atlas Lantern

The Atlas lantern provides a 4,000 mAh battery in an ultralight polycarbonate case with an adjustable dial from 25- to 400-lumens of light for more than 100-hours. A hook/handle on top allows easy carrying or hanging in camp.

The Headlamp

Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News YouTube Channel.

With 75-lumens of light and 120 degrees of rotation vertically, The Headlamp provides hands free light for up to 30-hours. It can be charged by USB or with the removable solar panel.

Check out the entire HybridLight Pro Kit at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse store and save over $40 by purchasing the kit over getting each of these amazing lights separately.

Zamberlan 980 Outfitter GTX

W

hen it comes to hiking, hunting and hardcore outdoor activity, your feet are probably the most important asset for you to take care of. Many a trip have come to an early demise because there wasn’t enough thought into what went onto the planner’s feet.

The Zamberlan 980 Outfitter GTX RR boots are no joke when it comes to well put together footwear. Zamerberlan has been developing fine hiking boots for nearly ninety years now and they have used those years of experience to develop this hard-core hunting boot. From the ground up, they are built to provide support and durability for those that spend hundreds of days a year in the field.

This is truly a high-quality guide/outfitter type of boot. Where the rubber meets the road so to say, the Vibram StarTrek sole wears extremely well and grips the terrain like another set of hands, even when wet. The tread pattern provides for a very good downhill break, a toe climbing zone and the wide grippy lugs allow for easy cleaning. The dual-density polyurethane midsoles have been designed to provide both comfort and support which is paired with a thermoplastic polyurethane stabilizer which gives you torsional rigidity.

What all of this jargon means in lehmans terms is that these boots will support not only you, but an extremely heavy load. It also means that you will not need months to break them in. The 2.8mm Hydrobloc Tuscan nubuck leather uppers are soft enough to provide out-of-the-box comfort, along with tremendous support. The Gore-Tex membrane delivers world class waterproof protection and breathability throughout the life of the boot. The 3/4 rubber rand system helps to protect your boot from brutal Scan this QR Code with your smart phone to view rocks in terrain. It is developed with an improved rubber t h e S p o r t s m a n ' s N e w s compound which has better elasticity and has a beveled YouTube Channel. under-edge to prevent catching and peeling.

Video Product Reviews

This boot is only available in an uninsulated version at this time, so allow for heavier socks when sizing if this is going to be your go-to winter boot. The sizes on these boots run true, but many hunters fit into a half size smaller. I normally wear a size 10, but even with a 9.5, I can get on a heavier sock for insulation and my foot doesn’t feel cramped.

Out of the box, these boots were extremely comfortable on the first outing. The midsole is rigid enough to easily throw 100 pounds on your back and not worry about the support in the boots. Carrying a load for an extended period of time, like a guide would be required to do, is as pleasurable as the experience can be. And as mentioned, very minimal break-in is required and the hotspots are minimal.

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

41

Video Product Reviews

Carl Zeiss Victory Rangefinding Binos

T

he Zeiss company is truly the innovator when it comes to optics for hunting.

The vision of this company has shaped the direction for optics for well over a century. Their innovation and vision of this new line of rangefinding binoculars is on point with what has set them apart from other manufacturers. Instead of just trying to be in the game and just delivering products like their competition, they have developed a rangefinding binocular, which will be the standard measure going forward.

When you see the name Zeiss, it’s pretty safe to say that the glass, coatings and and all parts of the optics are as good as you can possibly get. And, knowing it is in the top-end Victory line in this case, lets everyone know that they brought the very best to the table to give you a high-end optical experience.

They have delivered four models for 2018 which are the 8X42, 10X42, 8X54 and 10X54. We have had the pleasure of testing the 10X54 for the past few months, which have specifications of 7.5” high by 6.0” wide. They tip the scales right at 40-ounces (2 lbs. 8 ounces).

The one thing that should be noted about the initial view of these RF binoculars is that they don’t show any indication of being anything more than just binoculars at first glance; no odd shaped barrels, no overly large or have protruding buttons Scan this QR Code with which look extremely out of place. They are just a sleek looking your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News set of binos.

YouTube Channel.

Now let’s discuss what is under the hood that’s going to change the playing field. When you open up the box, it’s very obvious that there is some smart technology involved and that the Zeiss Hunting App, which is your platform to unleash the technology of this specific product is paired via Bluetooth technology. The rangefinder itself is capable of ranging out to over 2500-yards and we have gotten measurements out to over 3000-yards on reflective targets. The App provides literally thousands of different ammunition and bullets in its database to match your current shooting system and if you hand load, you can plug in this data as well. You have a multitude of choices on what you are able to see in the binocular as well as the order you receive it once you do a range. Yardage to target, angle range compensation, as well as MOA correction is my choice based on my current load data. The most important thing to note is that this is CORRECTED data, which means that this unit has taken in the barometric pressure, altitude and temperature and issued me the corrected data in order to make an extremely accurate shot.

Zeiss has hit a home run with the placement and adjustability of the rangefinding/set buttons. They are placed perfectly for me, as a right-handed archery hunter, from the factory. I don’t need ridiculously long fingers to make things work when I have a bow in one hand and my rangefinding binos in the other. You left-handed bowhunters can have the same benefit, by making a change in the App and swapping sides electronically. This is a major ‘wow’ factor and the cherry on top of an already unbelievable piece of equipment.

See the entire testing and detailed overview of this product in the Sportsman’s News video product review by scanning the QR code.

42 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

43

Video Product Reviews

Camp Chef SG Flame Grilling Pellet Grill

F

lame to meat. It is a trait that few smokers on the market can claim and none can do for under a thousand dollars. Until the Camp Chef SG that is.

Possessing all of the Camp Chef Pellet Grill amazingness you have come to know and love, the SG adds the ability to flame grill your meat with wood fire inside the smoking chamber. This is accomplished by thin fire jets, precision cut into the grease tray to provide flame grilled food.

For smoking and indirect convection heat, simply use the lever to slide the heat guard into place to keep the fire tamed for brisket, ribs, fish or poultry. With Camp Chef’s Slide and Grill Technology, a simple pull of the lever pulls the heat guard out of the way, so you can have delicious flame broiling on your meat for cooking burgers or brats.

With the Camp Chef SG, you get the best of smoke and fire flavor profiles in

Handcrafted, American Made, Precision Ammunition Available in the following calibers:

.380 ACP 9MM+P .38 Spec. .357 Mag. .40 S&W 10MM .41 Rem. Mag.

.44 Spec. .44 Mag. .45 Colt .45 ACP .454 Casull .500 S&W .300 Win. Mag.

Scan with your smartphone to see it in action.

MADE IN AMERICA

Learn more at www.doubletapammo.com 44 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

a single unit. The SG is configured with a removable shelf that will allow you to connect a BBQ Sear Box, to get that delicious hard sear to seal in moisture and flavor.

The Camp Chef SG has all of the features you have come to love in a Camp Chef Pellet Grill, like not needing a shopvac to swap the flavor of pellets or to clean out the ash. To change pellets, simply pull a lever and the unused pellets slide out the chute in the back of the 22-pound hopper. To clean out the ash, you can put that noisy vacuum away as well. Camp Chef’s patented ash clean out dumps the used-up fuel into a cup under the grill for easy maintenance and disposal.

Two internal meat probes let you cook multiple types or sizes of meat on the grill at the same time and the computer’s easy-to-read and set thermostat will show you the temperature of each probe with the push of a button.

On top, the larger cooking area and taller chamber means you have more room to cook for larger groups, the ability to smoke larger cuts of meat or you can keep food warmer on the moveable trays.

More space means more options and the Camp Chef SG is all about options. The SG provides a total of 4,850 cubic inches of cooking space, with 429 square inches of grilling space on the bottom rack and an additional 382 square inches on the top rack.

Whatever you want to cook for the family, the Camp Chef SG has you covered. From vegetables, to smoking meats, to grilling burgers, you can replace Scan this QR Code with all of your backyard appliances with the Camp Chef SG. Check out this innovative, award-winning design your smart phone to view the Sportsman's News at your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

YouTube Channel.

The Secret Weapon of BBQ Perfection... Now at Sportman’s Warehouse

www.sportsmanswarehouse.com May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

45

PRO'S PICK

Savage MSR-15 and Federal .224 Valkyrie 90 Grain Sierra Matchking

R

eaching out to 1,300-yards with minimal wind drift before going transonic, the 90-grain Sierra Matchking HPBT from Federal Premium in .224 Valkyrie is providing optimum range, amazing accuracy and awesome terminal ballistics out of a modern sporting rifle with minimal recoil.

To get the same terminal ballistics from a modern sporting rifle, you need to go with a much heavier bullet, such as the 6.5 Creedmore. This larger bullet absorbs more of the wind, which influences its trajectory more. It also achieves greater recoil, because it is pushing a heavier bullet. Both of these factors combined, hit as hard but move the rifle more when the shot is fired. This additional recoil makes it impossible for a lone shooter to spot his own hits.

With the .224 Valkyrie round, developed by Federal Premium in a rifle developed by Savage, this pairing can achieve the desired outcome. That is the benefit afforded to Vista Outdoors in that they own a rifle company and an ammunition maker, so they can wed components to achieve their perfect result. This synergy carries into research, design, manufacturing and testing to provide the ultimate in arrangement of elements for the ultimate in performance.

mance out past 1,000-yards. It uses necked-down 6.8 cartridges and the same magazines, so give it a little while until magazines for 6.8, .224, and .22 Nosler become more common. But given the demand for a better performing AR-15 round, that shouldn’t be too far off.

The MSR15 Valkyrie also comes with an adjustable direct impingement gas system to allow you to tweak your gas flow for reliability with a variety of bullets. It has a fixed stock and a Hogue handgrip with a crisp 2-stage trigger, which is more familiar to AR platform shooters than the Savage AccuTrigger. It comes in a flat dark earth Cerakote finish and looks as amazing as it shoots.

If you get a chance to give the .224 Valkyrie a try, don’t pass it up. Check out the full line of Savage MSR15 rifles and the new .224 Valkyrie ammo from Federal Premium the next time you visit your local Sportsman’s Warehouse.

www.brockshuntincabins.com

The Cartridge

The .224 Valkyrie pairs high quality Federal brass to a Sierra Matchking HPBT 90-grain bullet. This bullet flies flatter than many others and is long enough to provide an impressive ballistic coefficient of .563, coming out of the muzzle of a 24-inch barrel at 2,700 feet per second. This speedy little whizzer stays flat and has minimal influence from the wind, because of its relatively small size. It also stays above 1,087 feet per second (the speed of sound at sea level) for over 1,300 feet, so it carries a good amount of energy with it. This equates to less drop over distance, which is what you are looking for in a match round. It is also what you want in a hunting round, but you want a lot of foot pounds of energy to be carried with that bullet as well.

For this round, Federal was focused on reducing the drop and improving the accuracy.

The .224 Valkyrie drops only 391.56 inches and drifts 92.76 inches with a 10 MPH right to left crosswind. A .223 Remington 77-grain match bullet has 519.44 inches of drop and 156.75” of wind deviation. That is just slightly worse than a match 6.5 Grendel 130-grain with 108.04 wind drift and 507.36 inches of drop.

The Rifle

To really make this new cartridge dance, Savage created a Modern Sporting Rifle with the size of an AR-15. The new cartridge can take advantage of the size and weight savings of an AR-15 sized rifle, where larger caliber bullets to achieve the same terminal ballistics as the .224, require rifles more in the AR-10 weight and size range.

The MSR15 Valkyrie comes with an 18-inch barrel, which provides less range than the 24-inch barrel that Federal Premium bases their data on, but still gives you adequate perfor-

46 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

47

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

M

Cast-Iron Bison Steak With Whiskey Peppercorn Sauce

y buddy Mike Deming called and told me about his upcoming trip to New Mexico hunting the American Bison. I mentioned that I would be tickled to have a chunk of steak from one to play with for a recipe. A few days later he called and told me that he was successful on the hunt and harvested a nice meat Bison. He not only had a hunk of back strap for me, but the heart as well. Now that is a good friend! I happened to be up in Utah for the week-end and enthusiastically hustled over to the Sportsman’s News office.

To clear up some confusion, the American Bison is sometime called a Buffalo, but it is not a “Buffalo”. There are two types of Buffalo, the Cape buffalo and the Water buffalo.

They are not native to North America as the Bison is.

This cooking method works really well to give the meat an incredible sear, and a perfect medium rare finish. The sauce is rich and flavorful, and really makes for a decadent meal instead of just a grilled steak. If you can’t get your hands on a Bison steak, try this method with any type of Venison or even a beef steak. This has become one of my favorite ways to cook a steak, and it is really easy to whip up any type of sauce in the pan after the meat has cooked.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of Bison steak cut 1 ½ inch • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil thick • 3-4 tablespoons of butter cut into ¼” • Kosher salt and coarsely ground black pats pepper • 3 cloves coarsely chopped garlic

Sauce

• 3/4 cup beef broth percorns • 1 teaspoon coarsely cracked black pep- • ¼ cup diced shallots

48 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

• 1 ounce Whiskey • 1 tablespoon butter • ½ cup heavy cream • ½ teaspoon stone ground course mustard

Preparation Method

You will need a heavy cast-iron skillet large enough to fit your steak in. This is a two-step process that begins on the stove top and moves to the oven. Let your Bison meat warm to room temperature for 30 minutes or so. Pre-heat your broiler as high as it will go and move the rack as close to the top as your oven allows. Heat the vegetable oil in the pan over high heat on the stove. Season the steak liberally with salt and pepper. Place the steak in the skillet and do not move it. Let sear for three minutes until a crisp crust appears on the bottom of the meat. Remove from the stove and place the steak on a cutting board. Cut the steak into 3 inch chunks.

Place the steak seared side up back into the pan. Top the pieces with the chopped garlic and pats of butter. Place cast iron pan directly into the broiler.

Close the oven and let cook 3-4 minutes depending on how you like your steak.

Remove the meat to a serving tray and leave the remaining juices in the pan to make the sauce.

Put the beef broth, shallots, and the pepper into the pan. Simmer over medium low heat until it reduces to half the original amount. Now add the whiskey, cream, and mustard and continue to reduce until it reaches the consistency you like. Remove from heat and swirl in the butter. Serve the sauce over the steaks with a side of French fries for an outstanding dinner.

This sumptuous feast is best washed down with a Cabernet Sauvignon, bold Syrah, or a Zinfandel. On the beer side try a big Russian Imperial stout to match the bold flavors in this meal. Cheers!

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Features: Contoured stock giving perfect hold in 5 common shooting positions; glass-smooth action; 1-piece bolt body; adjustable trigger (2-4 lbs.); recoil- soaking TSA pad; free-floating, hammer-forged barrel; threaded muzzle.

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Available in the following calibers: .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag & 6.5 Creedmoor.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

49

Adventures On A Budget

Lake Powell – More Than Just A Great Fishing Destination

Lake Powell offers a variety of fishing structure, including slickrock, stick-ups, boulders and gravel banks.

By Rick Rosenberg, Sportsman’s News Pro Staff

M

ost fishermen have a few special places they enjoy returning to year after year. For the better part of forty years now, Lake Powell in southeastern Utah has provided me with countless fishing opportunities and special memories with family and friends. It offers a variety of fishing options for high quality day trips, weekend campouts or week-long adventures on a houseboat. Spring, summer, fall or winter, there is always excitement brewing on this dramatic desert setting on the Colorado River.

Construction of the Glen Canyon Dam was completed on the Utah-Arizona border in 1963 creating Lake Powell and it’s nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline

stretching into the Utah canyonlands. It’s part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, nestled into the Colorado Plateau, with endless red rock shear wall canyons, clear water, sandy beaches and some of the most scenic views in America. The reservoir also provides a tremendous warm water fishery that includes both small and largemouth bass, striped bass, walleye, channel catfish, crappie and bluegill.

My brother and I started fishing Lake Powell with our dad back when we were teenagers and the lake was still filling. Day trips out of the Wahweep Marina to places like Warm Creek, Gunsight and Padre Bay in early spring resulted in some nice largemouth bass and an occasional bluegill or catfish. We stayed in the hotel near the marina or camped in the campground in tents and RV’s. In the late 1970’s, you could still catch a pretty nice rainbow trout on the gravel beaches of Wahweap Bay.

50 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

We made summer trips to the lake often during our high school and college years, splitting time between early morning fishing; switching to water skiing and bikini watching during the hot summer mid-day; then back to fishing late into the evening.

Dad started an annual spring expedition up-lake, traveling up to 90 miles by boat to camp in secluded coves, which resulted in us catching numerous largemouth bass building spawning beds fresh from the depths after their winter slumber. We bathed in the lake and fell to sleep at night in our tents to the calls of wild burros braying in the canyons above camp. This annual pilgrimage continues to this day, a tradition passed on to our children and very soon I intend to take my young grandchildren to see the beautiful canyons up-lake, catch the numerous smallmouth bass who have moved in and hear the call of the wild burros of the canyon.

Adventures On A Budget Eventually we were able to afford to buy a share in a houseboat moored at Wahweap. It provided more comfortable overnight accommodations on the lake for the family during both the cold winter months and the hot summer months. This allowed us to experience Lake Powell’s fishing opportunities yearround. Fishing for striped bass, (commonly called stripers) with spoons and plugs during the early spring and searching for boils during mid-summer mornings can create excitement for everyone on the boat. Experience shows, once you locate a striper school, the action can be fast and plentiful. The fresh fish tacos later in the evening topped with homemade pickled cabbage and salsa made for great days.

A pair of bookend largemouth My brother started fishing bass tournaand smallmouth bass caught near ments routinely providing the opportunity to really learn the lake and associate with fellow Gunsight Bay on spinnerbaits. anglers exchanging information on where to fish, what time of day and what lures were working the best. I know most of the information was probably lies, as no true fisherman would ever give up their prime fishing spots and secrets, but the additional time invested on the lake polishing his skills in preparation for a competitive tournament, definitely made him a better angler. Later I joined him for some team tournament events, more for the fun and comradery than the money - it was like being a kid again. We cruised the lake in a crotch-rocket bass boat at 60 mph like the pros do in the big-time tournaments, except without the big-name sponsor packages.

What we lacked in prize money, we made up with in laughs, spending some quality time together.

Lake Powell offers a vast expanse of canyons, coves, rocky points, shelfs and open water bays. Getting away from people on the lake is not a problem and fish can be found throughout the lake depending on water levels, water temperature and the season. There is a ton of good information available online. Check out the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Lake Powell Fishing Report online at https://wildlife.utah.gov. For more detailed fishing information go to www.wayneswords.com to access reports from Wayne Gustaveson, the most recognized expert around regarding Lake Powell fishing. A Utah or Arizona Fishing License allows fishing on the entire lake and can be purchased online at the website above or www.azgfd.gov.

There are lodging opportunities and boat rental services on the lake, including houseboats. Information is available from Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas at www.lakepowell. com. Other local hotel, restaurant, fuel and retail services are available in Page, Arizona, down-lake and near the Bullfrog Marina up-lake. There are other outdoor recreational opportunities in the area as well including exploring slot canyons, hiking, golf and guided expeditions on and around the lake. Getting to Lake Powell takes some time due to the remote location, but the journey across the Utah or Arizona high desert country can also be a spectacular part of the trip.

Sportsman’s Warehouse stores throughout Utah, Northern Arizona and Western Colorado stock fishing and boating gear required for fishing Lake Powell including an assortment of high quality rods, reels, line and terminal tackle for all species of fish. For smallmouth and largemouth bass, always have an assortment of minnow and crawdad imitations, plastic worms, grubs, crankbaits and spinner baits. For bluegill and crappie, downsize your grubs and tube jigs, remembering fluorescent colors work well. Stripers will bite anything that gets their attention - spoons, deep diving crankbaits, jigs or try bait fishing with anchovies. Walleye will bite all of the above if you find them in the right mood. Catfish prefer bait, so try nightcrawlers or stink-bait imitations. Check out the websites noted above for details regarding what species are biting and what depths to fish. Fishing guides are also available on the The author with a late spring lake, just google Lake Powell Fishing Guides largemouth bass caught on for availability, rates and contact information. the slickrock during the early Remember, lake water levels are constantsummer. ly changing in Lake Powell to meet down-

stream water requirements in the Colorado River, causing the water surface landscape to constantly change as well.

Rocks submerged last week may be out of the water this week, making navigation more difficult if you are not prepared.

Most GPS enabled depth Matt Rosenberg with a Lake Powell striped finders include topogbass caught in a cove of Wahweep Bay during raphy charts of the lake the early spring on a jig. which can help identify shallows and rock hazards. The National Park Service has marked the main river channel with navigation buoys and some of the major tributaries and bays are also marked. Detailed maps are available at the marinas. Submerged hazards may be marked with caution buoys along popular routes, but not all of them are clearly marked. Boat operators need to be cautious and pay attention while navigating the lake. Boaters get lost in the slickrock canyon country every year, so be careful and be prepared. Cell phone service up-lake is spotty and help may be hours away depending on where you are.

Going up-lake now brings a flood of memories, from those early trips with my dad, to the annual family vacations on the houseboat I still enjoy today, to the up-lake camping and fishing adventures and past tournament success. Lake Powell has been part of my life for over forty years and I hope to continue to enjoy the pristine scenery and bounteous fishing for another forty years, that is if my grandkids will let me tag along with them! If you have never been, don’t wait, get out there. If you are a regular like me, you already understand the excitement and anticipation we feel planning the next adventure back on the lake.

May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

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OUTDOOR WRITER'S CONTEST

A Mother’s Love for Her Hunting Son

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

By Cynthia J. Vannoy

t is always nice to do things as a family, including hunting.

My son, who is now in his 30s and lives in North Carolina with his family, grew up in a hunting family. My now ex-husband hunted throughout the United States as well as Canada, Africa, and England. I have hunted extensively in Wyoming, South Dakota, and England.

Many times, when my son was a teenager, it was his Mom, not his dad, who got up early to take him out antelope hunting before he had to be in school, drove 30 miles to take him fishing, and rode out with him when he went deer hunting on our family ranch.

One hunting season stands out in my mind. For some years Paul made the trip from North Carolina to Wyoming to hunt mule deer and pronghorn. One year, on the last day of archery season, he had his bow out, hunting for mule deer, and Paul comes back to the house, well after dark.

“Want to go out and help me find an arrow?”

“Now? How can we find an arrow after dark. Can’t we wait until morning?”

“It has a lighted nock.”

Well, Mom is sort of old school. “A what?”

“An LED light in the nock. It glows so you can find it after dark.”

Well, that changes things. This was several years before I realized that rattlesnakes don’t necessarily go into their hole and sleep at night. If I had realized that, I might not have been so anxious to go help.

“Ok. Where did you lose it?” I follow him to the pickup and jump in on the passenger side.

“Up on the ridge in the Devo Pasture.” The Devo is a rugged pasture with deep draws and cedar trees. The ridge is about 3 miles from the house.

Driving up the ridge, the headlights cut a swath in the night, and I’m glad Paul knows the road as well as I do.

He stopped the pickup on a high, windswept ridge and we got out. There was no moon, and the starlight made for dim illumination. But, it was warm and the breeze

52 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS

carried the smell of sage and dried grass. It was a beautiful night to be out. No sound except an occasion night bird call and the wind in the grass.

“I think it was here somewhere,” Paul said as we wandered around, checking out the sagebrush. “I shot a little low, but I think he was in this area.”

“Clean miss?” I ask, hating to think of a wounded deer running around.

Paul laughs. “Very clean. Went under him.”

Then, I see a soft, glowing light near the ground.

“I think it’s here,” I say, moving that direction. “Either that or the ground squirrels have lanterns. Maybe it’s an alien.”

We walk to the light and he’s right. It’s an arrow. With a tiny light on the nock end of it. Paul picked it up.

“Great. These are kind of expensive. I’m glad we found it.”

Always something new on the hunting equipment front. Glowing arrows yet.

The next day, Paul was out again, this time, as it was the first day of rifle season, he took his rifle as well as his bow. He left the house early in the morning, and about 9 o’clock the phone rang.

“Mom? How much do you love me?”

I sigh. Looking for a glowing arrow is one thing. Helping to drag a large, because I’m sure he wouldn’t shoot a two-point, mule deer out of a deep draw is another.

“Where did you shoot him?”

“You now the big cedar draw by Antelope Flats?” our name for a grassy slope that is loved by pronghorn. I know the draw.

“And you need help to drag him out?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t get ahold of anyone else.”

“Okay, you want me to meet you there?” Luckily, I drive a 4x4 as well. No Honda Civics for this old ranch gal.

“Yeah, I’ve got to gut him out anyway.”

A half hour later I see my son, waving me over. I walk down the ridge, and he points to a cedar tree about half way down the slope. I see the deer. At least it’s not in the bottom of the draw.

We sort of slid down the loose gravel on the hillside to the deer, a fine 5x5 mule deer buck.

“Nice deer.”

“Yeah, I thought he was pretty good.”

We each grabbed a horn, and began the drag. The top of the ridge looks a long way up. Drag a ways; stop and rest. Arms and legs tire out quickly. Drag; rest. Drag; rest.

“Want a drink of water?” Paul took a bottle of water out of his pocket, took a drink and handed it to me.

The water was warm but wet. “Thanks. Water helps.”

Drag; rest. Around sage brush, over flat rocks; slipping on the loose dirt and starting a tiny avalanche of rocks and dirt. Finally, we topped the ridge.

We rested awhile, sitting on a flat rock, passing the water bottle back and forth. In the distance we could see the Big Horn Mountains, and the ridges and draws of the back pasture, dotted with green cedar trees and gray sage brush.

“Doing okay mom?”

“You’re lucky I love you,” I tease.

“I appreciate it.”

“I don’t think one person could do it alone. These are big critters.”

“It would be tough,” Paul agrees. “Ready?”

It doesn’t take long to get the deer back to the pickup, and between the two of us we get him into the back end for the trip to a nearby meat processing plant.

“Meat for the winter and a trophy as well,” I told Paul as he shuts the tail gate. “Glad you got a good one this year.”

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54 May 2018 | SPORTSMAN’S NEWS