Western Hunter Magazine May June 2024

Ijust got home from the new Mile High Expo in Colorado, marking the end of the trade show season for me. By any measure, all the shows were successful again this year. Every one of them sold out all the available booth space and set attendance records. The driving force behind this consistent growth is gear. Whether or not we consider it a good thing, hunters love to seek out new gear and there are more and more companies delivering quality gear.

When Sitka kickstarted the high-performance clothing category, it took six years before Kuiu came along to challenge their dominance. Now, there are more than 15 companies selling quality garments, and half a dozen are dedicated solely to women hunters! I could have used custom rifles, boots, packs, tripods, broadheads, or decoys and the story would be the same... hunters are gearheads.

Recently, we surveyed a cross-section of Western Hunter Magazine readers to get their thoughts on our current content and approach. Many of you commented that we never publish a negative review. There is

some truth to that; we always try to pick out some quality that we either don’t like or think could be improved, but, for the most part, our gear reviews are positive. The reason for that is twofold: First, space in a print magazine is limited, so we consciously choose to promote quality products over the sub-par. We don’t want to waste space talking about junk when there are plenty of quality products that may get left out.

Secondly, our editors actually use these products for their own personal hunts, so they do an immense amount of research prior to the purchase. But we are listening! We are working on several ways to accomplish this without wasting your time or magazine space, like a “Top Ten” list, you are not likely to buy number 10 when there are nine better options.You will see more changes because of what we learned from the survey in upcoming issues, so a big thanks to all who participated.

While most of the editorial content in this issue is focused on gear, we still have a great lineup of other content from our editors. I want to welcome George

Bettas back. He has been struggling with some health issues but is on the mend. His recollection of hunting Snake River country on page 68 is pure poetry and will literally take you back in time.

At Western Hunter Magazine, we pride ourselves on printing one-of-a-kind articles that you would never see printed in other hunting magazines. Mike Duplan’s article about the importance of reading (page 62) is another example of this commitment. That may sound self-serving given that we are in the print business, but slowing down to read a printed message is therapeutic by nature.

I want to thank all of you who stopped by the Western Hunter booth at the various trade shows. I spoke with hundreds of you and enjoyed every conversation. Hearing your kind words and hunting stories and meeting many of your families truly inspired me. Our hunting heritage is constantly under attack, but after the show season, I have a strong feeling that we are in good hands.

Chris

Denham, Publisher

PUBLISHERS

Floyd Green, Chris Denham

ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ART DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Colton Bagnoli colton@westernhunter.net

MARKETING/ADVERTISING

Chris Denham chris@westernhunter.net

Dave Bond 602-695-8282 dave@westernhunter.net

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Randy Stalcup 602-228-4601 randy@westernhunter.net

Randy Stalcup 602-228-4601 randy@westernhunter.net EDITORIAL

CONTRIBUTING

16851 E. Parkview Ave., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 480-993-6972 info@westernhunter.net www.westernhunter.net

Printed in the USA

On the Cover: Brent Creer

FIELD EDITORS

Cody Barnes, Dave Bond, Ben Britton, Mark Denham, Kevin Guillen, Douglas Morales, Pedram Parvin, Levi Sopeland

KODIAK CLIMB

Brent Creer Alaska – 2023

Relentless adventure in

along the rocky shores, I am captivated by the sight of mighty brown bears, leisurely strolling in their natural habitat. Their presence, alongside the sym phony of crashing waves, adds a touch of raw beau ty to the already awe-inspiring scenery. And high above, on the steep rocky slopes, agile mountain goats gracefully navigate their way, adding a sense of exhilaration to this wild paradise.

my mind with images of traversing miles of rugged terrain and scaling the angry Kodiak slopes in hopes of finding a mountain goat Mecca.

Benched

Figuratively speaking, the “Kodiak Climb” was the battle that ensued during the physical preparation period prior to the hunt. My exercise regimen

took a drastic turn when my podiatrist recom mended that in June, I should accept a necessary invasive surgery to correct a misaligned joint in my left foot that would require a 6-8 week recovery period for the reconstructed bones and soft tissue to heal. With my goat hunt looming 13 weeks away, I reluctantly accepted the foot repair and the asso ciated recovery period.

My recovery went better than expected and at 6 weeks I was back on the stair climber to regain my lost cardio conditioning and at 12 weeks my foot was ready for the inevitable beating.

Good Omens

After spending a night in the city of Kodiak, we boarded a float plane and flew across Kodiak Island’s scenic peaks, pristine coastlines, and salmon-filled rivers to our new home for the week. We instantly spotted seven goats scattered along the steep cliff edges and lush grass patches. My friend Jeremy noticed four of the goats appearing at the end of a rainbow in the basin shortly after we placed our tent. He saw it as a sign that good things were in our future. Looking back, it’s hard to argue.

The figurative “Kodiak Climb” continued through a rain-soaked Saturday night as Kodiak unleashed a 10-hour barrage of 60-80 MPH wind gusts that nearly blew us off the mountain. Multiple gusts flexed and flattened the tent onto our faces as we struggled to sleep. At 4:00 AM, an 80+ MPH wind gust hit the side of the tent like a sledgehammer snapping one of the aluminum main poles and warping the remaining six. The snapped pole ripped a 12-inch hole through the rain fly and left the tent vulnerable to further flatten ing. The tent that was said to be impervious to Alaskan extremes was pushed past its limit that night.

The following morning ushered in beautiful blue skies and filled our lungs with crisp mountain air. The rocky basin in the distance displayed its beauty in full breathtaking measure. This was the day we longed for to formally kick off our goat adventure.

Welcome Sights

After repairing the tent, my brother-in-law Hal and I settled behind our optics and quickly located the unmistakable white color of mountain goats as the sun brightly illuminated the steep rocky cliffs. Mountain goats continually emerged as if they were inviting us into the basin for closer examination. The best goat on the mountain was a stunning billy majestically perched a few feet below the summit of the highest peak overlooking the steep basin. I remember it mentioned in conversation “That goat may as well be on the moon. He’s unreachable.” At that moment from camp, it appeared to be true.

An hour later, as we stood at the floor of the mountain basin looking up at the goats, I took a few final looks at the unreachable billy and a few looks at the terrain in front of me. From where we stood, the unfavorable terrain along with the prevailing wind direction made it nearly impossible to stalk the billy through the main basin.

I instinctively had an urge to travel around the basin into an area we hadn’t previously seen in hopes of finding a more suitable angle to approach the goat. I felt if we had any chance to harvest that beautiful billy, that is how it would happen. I refused to let doubt rule my thoughts and destroy any possi bility of notching a tag on that gorgeous goat.

Flanking Maneuver

I took my brother-in-law Matt with me to begin the literal “Kodiak Climb” to the unreachable billy. The route I chose to approach the billy included a steep climb up a grassy mountainside, flanking the goat’s current position. I was hopeful that if the terrain was favorable when we reached the other side, we would pop up in shooting range of the large billy.

Matt and I traversed the first steep grass-covered slope quickly to see if the approach was viable. Once at the top of the initial climb, Matt and I looked at each other with excitement. The approach included an extension of the grassy slope with a gradual climb towards the billy’s nest. It was suddenly evident that the unreachable billy was no longer unreachable.

With the goat out of sight, we quickly side-hilled the grassy slope while selecting the best route across the remaining terrain. We noticed a rock-lined chute formed by thousands of years of flowing run-off that would give us speedy access to a large stone knob we could use as a solid shooting platform. With the stone knob in sight, my heart rate began to race as the billy’s mountain peak became more visible with every step.

Final Steps

Nearing the top of the chute, we dropped our packs, took a few deep breaths to calm our nerves, and crested the rocky knob carefully. The big billy was now in full view within rifle range. I quickly established a prone position resting my rifle on the stone knob and chambered a round. While looking through the scope, the field of view naturally surrounded the billy as he stood up from his bed to stretch in the sun. I took notice of the prevailing wind speed and direction then compensated with the reticle accordingly.

Introducing

new SPEED RIFLE.

The interface between the rifle and the shooter is crucial for consistent, accurate shot placement. With the X-Bolt 2, Browning offers up an innovative, fullyadjustable stock that adapts to fit the individual, a new trigger, and a revised receiver and bolt. Together, these components aim to redefine Total Accuracy from a factory rifle the way that only Browning can.

The new Vari-Tech stock features 3-way adjustability. The comb can be raised to align the eye with optics. Internal spacers offer trouble-free length of pull adjustment. Interchangeable grip modules (vertical and sporter profiles) optimize finger to trigger reach. Rubber overmolding on the stock enhances grip in all conditions.

The new DLX trigger is a multiple lever design that provides a consistent and crisp trigger break with zero creep, zero take-up, and zero overtravel. Adjustable to 3 lb.

Added bolt guidance area in the new receiver promotes smoother bolt operation for effortless cycling and reliable feeding. The new bolt has improved ergonomics and styling.

ing us to where the goat lay. Excitement coursed through my body as we took the final few steps of our “Kodiak Climb.” I sat down next to my dream billy, thanked him for his life, and ran my fingers through his immaculate white coat and across the undamaged annuli circling his black horns.

The unreachable billy was mine. As I sat beside him, the breathtaking scenery unfolded before my eyes – a picturesque landscape reminiscent of the wild beauty that Alaska offers. From this vantage point, I witnessed nature’s grandeur in its purest form – snow-capped mountains towering in the distance, vast stretches of untouched wilderness, and a serene tranquility that enveloped the surroundings. The crisp mountain air filled my lungs as if I were inhaling the essence of untamed wilderness itself. In that moment, I felt connected to the unrivaled majesty of nature; a privileged witness to the mo-

ture, we found ourselves heavily dependent on our cold weather and rain gear, as the relentless gusts and visibility-obscuring fog tested our mental strength. It was only through detailed preparation and reliable gear that we were able to bravely endure the harsh elements and persist in the field. I will always appreciate Alaska for what she offers, and I look forward to my next adventure chasing big game on the tundra.

NEW!

Hunters and hikers can’t get over how tough and featherlight these boots are and how they practically float over trails. You’ll wear them from your hunting adventure straight to a town run because you won’t want to change into anything else. Our breathable, waterproof 7-inch model gives you a “rooted to the shoe” foundation, thanks to our ankle-securing Kenetrek K-Straps and a super-padded ankle collar that wraps you in complete support and comfort.

A rare chance at a

I’ve seen deer in this burn before, and we could see fresh deer tracks all over. The temperature was just right. We could feel a cold front moving in. With a cloudy, overcast sky, a slight breeze, and a little sunlight on our backs, I remember telling Jaxon it felt like the perfect setting for an evening hunt. Don’t Move!

As we slowly made our way into the burn, we bumped three does. They ran away from us and stopped about 200 yards out. As we slowly walked in their direction, all of a sudden I noticed a giantframed buck stand up. I told Jaxon, “BIG BUCK!” and instructed him to not move. I knew if we did, we would get busted.

I could tell that this buck had not noticed us when he stood up and began to feed. Because of the burn area, there were too many trees in our way for a clear shot. The buck slowly fed up the ridge, fol lowing the does. My heart began to sink because I knew there was no way Jaxon could get a clear shot off. I couldn’t even get a good range on him with my range finder. I recall while I was trying to range him being surprised to see him hanging out with only does this time of year.

By now, the buck was approaching the top of the ridge. I figured he was about 300 yards away from us. We watched the does slowly make their way over the ridgeline with the buck not far in tow. We slowly got down on the ground and pulled out the shooting sticks. Jaxon got on them in case a small window presented itself for a shot. I remember thinking how extraordinarily wide this big buck was and how there was no way anybody would believe it if he got away. So, I tried my best to at least get a cell phone picture of him.

Maturity Rules

It wasn’t long until he slowly fed over the ridge and out of our sight. This is when Jax and I discussed our next move. What should we do? It was 6:00 PM, and I knew we had a good two hours of light left to hunt. I really thought about rushing up that ridge with hopes that Jaxon could crack a shot as we peeked over the other side. In fact, in my younger years, I would have done just that. But as we sat there, we decided we had time to be patient for a while and see what happened. I knew the wind was good. We had the place to ourselves. I also knew this little group of deer really liked this green area. I thought, maybe, just maybe, they might return So, we waited.

Well, for once, I guessed right. Not even ten minutes later, the lead doe turned around and slowly started to feed back down the ridge towards us. Then the other two does followed suit. I said to Jaxon, “This will be perfect if that buck decides to follow them.” Then, to our surprise, a couple of minutes later, we could see the top of his antlers, then his main beams, and then his head and neck. He was heading our way!

A few local hunters, including a few guides, had known about this buck but could never pinpoint his location during their hunts. They congratulated Jaxon on his success and were kind enough to send us some photos of him from previous years.

Tense Moments

For the next 20 minutes, all four deer slowly fed towards us within shooting range. The problem we still had was the tall, burned trees. We still couldn’t get an open shot through them. It seemed like every time we thought we found an opportunity, he would stop behind a tree. This is where the “buck fever” kicked in for both of us.

I told Jaxon several times to be patient. I was trying to film him with my cell phone, but from the shaky footage, it’s clear I had the fever worse than him. After sitting still for what seemed like forever, our legs started to cramp up. I had Jaxon lean against me for support. This brought relief to his legs, but he also told me several times to hold still. Ha-ha! I also don’t know whose heart was pounding harder, mine or his. We both were getting pretty darn bucky.

Eventually, the deer began to sidehill the ridge moving to our right. They were heading towards a few small openings within 150 yards of us. I told Jaxon that if he stopped in one of those open lanes, that might be his best opportunity to try a shot. Again, because of the burnt trees, I still couldn’t get a good distance with my rangefinder. However, I knew Jaxon was confident at 100-150 yards with his muzzleloader.

Lucky 36

The opportunity finally came. The buck stopped broadside, feeding in one of the openings. I guessed him at 120-130 yards. Jaxon said, “I see him. I see him!” I whispered back, “Pull the gun tight to your cheek, aim a little higher on his right front shoulder, and slowly squeeze the trigger.”

BOOM! His muzzleloader went off and we both heard the distinct smack of the bullet hitting the buck, but the smoke blocked our view. Jaxon said, “I got him, I got him!” I replied, “Hurry and reload.” We knew he was hit but weren’t sure exactly where. He ran approximately eighty yards, stumbled, and then tumbled behind a big deadfall. Jaxon said, “He went down, He’s DOWN!” Jaxon had made a great double-lung shot. We couldn’t believe what had just taken place. I knew Jaxon had just shot the buck of a lifetime. As we

Muzzleloader: Thompson Center Impact

Leupold

Powder: Hodgdon Triple 7

Ever since I was a boy, opening day of elk season has always been a time of excitement, wonder, and anticipation for the events that will take place sometime in the coming days that will be sure to last a lifetime. I have never been able to duplicate the feeling of waking up on that first morning of rifle elk to the cool fall air, leaves changing, and a palpable feeling in the breeze that tells the soul “This is it. This is what being alive means.”

However, opening morning of the 2023 season was different. I woke to excruciating pain, a paralyzed left hand, and the overwhelming feeling that even stepping foot into the elk woods would be a futile en deavor. Eight days prior, I had an accident that would forever change my outlook on life. I am an arborist by trade and have spent years doing what I love in the woods, working outside, and being in trees.

In a Flash

One week before opening day, my crew and I were on a job removing a cottonwood when the climber, about 40 feet in the tree, tossed a large log to the ground that struck another log that I happened to be cutting into a more manageable size. When the log impacted, it bucked the log I was cutting and threw the running chainsaw into my left bicep. The log also struck my face and left me somewhat dazed as I came about to my surroundings. I felt a sharp pain in my arm and looked down to see blood chugging from my arm as if it were being emptied from a milk carton.

Solomon Schmidt Colorado – 2023

BENT, NOT BROKEN

A hunter overcomes extreme circumstances to find success

Being an EMT, I knew my clock was ticking. I stayed calm and instructed my crew to place a tourniquet high above the wound by my armpit and to put direct pressure over the laceration with a T-shirt. My crew was hesitant as they didn’t want to cause me more pain, but I remember saying “If we don’t stop the bleeding, I’m done. I don’t care if you have to put your knee on my arm to stop the bleeding. DO IT!”

I was rushed to the hospital where my dad met me. My dad works as a firefighter/captain and was on shift that day. When the engine officer who responded to the accident notified him that his son had an accident and was in bad shape, my dad took his crew out of service and met us at the hospital. My dad is my best friend and best hunting buddy. We’ve been through the worst together, and having him there with me added a calming factor amidst the chaos.

I had emergency surgery, and a few hours later woke up to a completely paralyzed hand. The saw had caused extreme damage to nerves, and the two tourniquets that it took to stop the bleeding had been left on for over three hours. It was unknown whether I would ever get my feeling or grip strength back. I had missed my brachial artery by a quarter inch which, had it been severed, would have given me about two minutes before I bled out.

Still in the Game

I was told how fortunate I was to be able to keep my arm and my life. While being discharged from the hospital I kept telling my dad,“You’d better be ready because next week, we’re elk hunting.” Any comment I made of elk hunting was met with a sympathetic smile, a pat on the back, and some words along the lines of “One day at a time.” Given the shape I was in, I couldn’t blame anyone who couldn’t quite find the words to say that things would never be the same.

Fast-forward to opening morning. I had been dead set on hunting. I figured I could fight any amount of pain for only a second or two to make a shot. I refused to believe I was disabled, I refused to believe I was disfigured, and I refused to believe my days of hunting the backcountry were over at 25 years old. My dad and I knew our normal method of burning boot leather and hiking into horrible terrain wouldn’t work, so we came up with a game plan to go into a great spot, sit, and maybe let opening day hunting pressure move something toward us. That morning we both took Advil, finished our coffee, talked one more time about how stupid we were for doing this, and set out long before sunrise.

Gut Feelings

We arrived at our spot and began hiking into an area where we knew pressured, post-rut bulls liked to be. The year prior I had shot my biggest bull, a 7x7 who took refuge in the dense timber and steep country that this spot had to offer. We set up to sit, and I had my backpack against a tree and some shooting sticks on the other side of the tree, so I had a few options for a rest. We glassed and took in the beauty of a calm fall morning.

We saw a couple of nice muleys sparring and heard the echos of their clashing antlers bounce off the canyon walls. My dad and I were about 20 yards apart, glassing two different areas. I made my way over to him to ask if he’d seen anything besides the two bucks, but that was it. He asked how I was feeling and if we should maybe head back to rest up before an evening hunt. It was already 1:00, but for some reason, I didn’t want to leave. It was just too good of a spot. He agreed, so we decided to sit for another couple of hours.

I made my way back to the tree where I was set up. As I sat, I heard a very faint crashing sound break through the calm stillness of the pines. I immediately perked up and looked in the direction from which it came. It was right beneath me but far off, and there was a screen of sapling pines about 50 yards away that I couldn’t see through. Just then, I heard another large branch break; this time much closer. I couldn’t shoot off the ground because the angle beneath me was too steep and I wouldn’t be able to see, so I stood up and heard another crashing sound.

Willpower Wins

I slowly reached down to grab my rifle, and as I lifted my head to look where the noise was coming from, that’s when I saw him. The bull was on the edge of the saplings, facing me, looking right at me. Knowing I was busted, it was time to move. I lifted my rifle over a small branch on the tree to get a rest. But the branch was almost head high and way too high to be able to see through my scope. When the bull saw my movement, he immediately wheeled to his left and while he was turning, I gritted my teeth and lifted the front of the gun with the top of my wrist where it meets my hand. I got the gun up and over the branch, crouched down in a half squat, settled on the bull off-hand, and took my shot. The bull was gone in a second, and my left arm collapsed and fell to my side. I was in horrendous pain. But it only had to work for a second, and I knew the shot was good. I then turned around to see my dad (who was reading a book the entire time this was going on). He looked about how you would expect some one to look when a 300 Win Mag goes off unexpectedly 20 yards away. He made his way over to me, and I explained what had happened. I told him that it was a big bull, and I remember saying again with a shaky voice, “No, no. It’s like a REALLY big bull!”

We waited a few minutes without hearing any crash, and then began walking down the steep slope to where he was standing. We picked up his tracks and had gone about a hundred yards with no blood. As any hunter naturally would, I immediately got the feeling in my stomach. Did I rush the shot? Yes. Did I have a rest? No. I shot off the top of my wrist in a painful half air squat. Nothing about this circumstance was solid. I kept telling myself he was only 50 yards. There’s no way I’m messing that shot up. My immediate gut instinct was that it was a good shot.

My dad said not to worry. He said, “It’s a steep hill. The bull could’ve gone a ways with the gravity car rying him. If it was an old bull, they can muster up a lot more toughness than you’d think.” We kept moving. We had stopped to assess the tracks when I caught a glimpse of something tan. I grabbed my binos and saw the hind end of an elk on the ground. I moved slightly so I could see better, and there he was, dead, and so much bigger than I thought.

Bent, Not Broken

I’ve never been a trophy hunter. I’m an average blue-collar guy who just wants to provide for my family. Times being what they are and having two small children of my own, all I ever set out for is the first legal bull I see to fill the freezer, which is a lot to ask for in a high-pressure, OTC, public land unit. Putting our hands on this bull, there was a quiet appreciation for the magnificent monarch that gave

its life to sustain my little family. As a kid, I always dreamed of seeing a bull like this in the rugged country that he calls home, and I felt even more blessed to have my life and be able to still enjoy my greatest passion. I learned a lot about who I am through this hunt. Looking at this bull today, who was still roaming these rugged mountains despite hardly having teeth, being busted up and broken, is a reminder that elk don’t complain of injury or circumstance. They simply live and keep going. To this day, I don’t have much use of my arm, and that’s okay. Despite being broken, hurt, or any other setback life throws at me, we keep moving. All I want as a father is to take care of my little ones and instill in them the belief that life will inevitably be difficult. We will get knocked down, but setbacks do not define us. One day I’ll be able to tell my little boy and little girl a story of

At the start of 2023, I made it a goal of mine to kill a high country archery mule deer and I knew I had a lot of work ahead of me going into the summer. I started my summer scouting around mid-July and was turning up quite a few good bucks in the higher country but was having trouble finding the one that really got me excited. I made multiple trips into the high mountains of eastern Oregon, just hoping I’d come out of there with a target buck in mind for the opening day of the season.

It all finally came together on August 8th after glassing into a huge canyon that we knew had big bucks. My buddy and I were making our way down the mountain when we jumped a group of bucks. Right off the bat, we could see they were good bucks but nothing giant until the last few ran out. There was one buck we named “Big Papa.” He was a giant typical four-point that I’m guessing went well over 200" along with multiple other 180+ bucks in the group. We then tried to relocate those bucks for multiple days up there and were never able to find them again, but we just hoped that on opening day we would get lucky.

TWO FOR ONE

An archery hunter doubles up in eastern Oregon

hunt and missing a bull at 40 yards because of a branch, I was able to connect with a nice five-point bull that evening.

After the elk hunt, I made my way into a new spot that I never scouted but knew there had to be bucks. On the first trip up there, I found a bachelor group of about eight bucks, and they were all 150+ with two or three well over 180". I hunted that group of deer for multiple days, having multiple close encounters. I even got to full draw on the group, just waiting for them to walk out, but then my wind switched and I couldn’t seal the deal.

Moving Targets

September 2nd was the opening day of the season. We had our whole plan lined up. We were going to glass that morning then head down the ridge through the area where we had seen the big bucks. After glassing and not turning anything up, we made our way to the spot where we had seen the big bucks, hoping for that chance again, but it just never came.

I ended up spotting a nice 170" class four-point, and we waited for a few hours for him to get into a good bedding spot. I decided to make a stalk, and it went almost perfectly until I got into 60 yards when he looked up from the brush and busted me. It was pretty sad because everything went so perfectly on the stalk, and I had dropped over 1,000 feet straight down to get onto him, just to get busted.

The days went on and on, and I made multiple other good stalks on bucks, one being another giant typical that I hunted for multiple days. The closest I ever got to him was 40 yards when he busted me at full draw, just as I was about to release a shot.

Solo in the Snow

The day it all came together, I had been watching the weather and seen that a big snowstorm was going to blow in around mid-day, so I knew I had to get up there and get after those bucks in the snow while everything would be quiet and easy to stalk in. I made my way up the mountain by myself, hoping I could locate the deer before any thick fog rolled in. As soon as I got up there, I started glassing, instantly relocated the bucks, and decided it was time to go. I made my game plan, looked at my map, dropped all my stuff, and started my stalk down to the deer.

I didn’t have far to go on this stalk, but it was very cold and very slick with the fresh snow on the ground. I got down there and was surprised when I saw a rack at only 75 yards. I pulled my binos up and saw it was the group of bucks I was after, so I dropped to my hands and knees and tried to get a view of all the bucks.

getting closer to the end of the season. I started inching closer and closer while having to crawl over deadfall and try not to spook the bucks. I got to 55 yards and knew that was the closest I would get before busting them.

I leaned up and saw a big 3x4 that I’d seen multiple other times while hunting these bucks. He definitely wasn’t my target buck in this group, but he was a very mature and heavy-horned buck. I knew he wasn’t the biggest in the group, but he was an old mature buck and I was going to be very happy with putting my tag on him.

which was only five feet from where I shot him, and he was bleeding super good instantly. I knew I’d have to start my tracking right then because I forgot my headlight at home and I was losing light fast. I wish I could go back now and decide to just wait longer, knowing the hit was far back, but in the moment my mind told me to just find him. I ended up losing blood after about 150 yards of tracking. At that point, I already had my girlfriend and her dad

When they made it to me, we started just gridding around a little bit, trying to find the next blood spot. It was right at very last light when I saw movement in the brush in front of me. I could just barely see a rack bedded down in the brush and knew it was him, still alive. I ended up kind of panicking for a second before I ranged him at 40 yards and drew back. He wouldn’t stand up forever, and I couldn’t get a shot on his body, so I had to make a noise to get him up. He just jumped up, giving me only a split second to get a shot off, but I couldn’t see my pin well enough since it was too dark, and I wasn’t able to make a follow-up shot.

I decided to just come back the next morning with my dad because I knew it would be plenty cold up there overnight and the meat would still be good. The next day was September 21st, and we got up there expecting a little bit more snow, but at the top of the mountain, there were about 3-4 more inches of snow. At that point, there were no tracks or blood to follow which gave me a lot less hope and worried me we weren’t going to find this buck. We started gridding and gridding back and forth about 100 yards apart from each other. I walked up into a thick little group of trees, knowing since this was the only actual thick cover in that burn, he would probably be in there.

There he was, dead, not even 100 yards from where I jumped him the night before. He was everything I could have wanted in a buck – super tall backs with dark antlers and just an old, mature, high country buck. We got a lot of pictures of the buck, and then the work started. We quartered him up and started packing him back to the truck. We

“

SPEECHLESS

Danika Davis of Chico, California

was invited to participate on a once-in-a-lifetime California

Bighorn Sheep hunt by Children of Circumstances

Outdoors November 25-28, 2023 in Northern Oregon.

Full of life and ambition is how Danika Davis’ (14) family and friends describe her. At only six weeks old, Danika was diagnosed with a lifethreatening condition called cystic fibrosis (“CF”). CF is a genetic disease typically invisible at first glance. CF is primarily known for adversely affect ing the respiratory system and exocrine glands.

“Danika shows heart, love, and dedication in everything she pursues in life,” Danika’s oldest sis ter, Regan Davis said. “Simply put, she loves life it self. I think cystic fibrosis patients tend to have a greater appreciation for life, knowing theirs may be cut shorter. She definitely has the resolve to live life to its fullest every day since a very young age.”

Danika’s diagnosis united the Davis family in a unique and compelling way. The family mutually found an additional appreciation for the little things in life, knowing how short life could be.

Living with CF

The earlier years of Danika’s life consisted of repetitive hospitalizations, high volumes of medi cations, treatments, and doctor visits. However, there was a glimpse of hope for the future of chil dren with a unique strain of CF in January of 2012. Incredibly, a promising new medicine came up the pipeline altering specific DNA cystic fibrosis geno types that slows the progression of the disease but does not cure it. Because of age requirements and unique genotype specifications, there were a little over 2,000 people worldwide eligible for a so-called “miracle drug” known as Kalydeco. Fortunately, Danika just so happened to have her birthday not long before Kalydeco was FDA-approved, allowing her to be eligible for this life-changing medication. More recently, Danika has been on a more comprehensive medication called Trikafta.

lifestyle really proves this.”

Participating in sports has been a key aspect

A trophy ram for a determined young lady

Danika Davis

Oregon - 2023

By Regan Davis

Children of Circumstances Outdoors, also known as COCO, generously orchestrated an all-inclusive experience to hunt the long-desired California bighorn sheep in northern Oregon on November 25-28. Danika was chosen for this hunting experience of a lifetime because of her terminal illness and her age of 14. The COCO program provided the coveted tag, lodging, and meals, she explained. The COCO team even scouted for Danika one month prior to the beginning of the hunt.

“This hunt was very special because it was a once-in-a-lifetime hunt and I got to educate more people on Cystic Fibrosis and how I live with it,” Danika said. “This is a hunt that has memories I will never forget and people that mean the world to me.”

Danika departed Northern California bright and early at 3:00 AM on November 25, accompanied by her dad, Jerod, and grandfather, Jeff Davis. The three began their nine-hour drive to Northern Oregon and the start of the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

“The drive to Oregon felt like an eternity,” Jerod said.“We were so anxious to get there and finally meet Bryan and the COCO staff.”

Jerod, Jeff, and Danika met Bryan Murphy, President of COCO, Tyler Saunders, professional guide, and Craig Boatman with his daughter Kaidyn in Bend, Oregon. After formal introductions and some quick small talk, the crew headed North.

“We were all excited and couldn’t wait to get our eyes on some rams,” said Jerod. “The experience felt like an illusion. The process had begun and despite my strongest effort, I had a hard time believing it was happening.”

Difficult Terrain

On a cold and foggy evening, the hunt had officially begun. The team collaborated behind their glass and began scouring the magnificent landscape. Justin Dunlap, professional guide for COCO, had spent the previous seven consecutive days locating rams and keeping tabs on potential shooters. Naturally, he would lead the hunt and be the key component to finding a big ram.

“Late on day two of the hunt the team spotted a good ram high on the north face,” Jerod said. “He was positioned in a great location to make a stalk on and kill without risking a 300-foot fall or, even worse, being unretrievable. With heavy regard to the positives of the situation, there was still the most important factor to consider. Was it the right ram? Is it the correct decision to take him and not risk going home empty-handed even if he may not

“Being the youngest of four, she’s been exposed to everything her older sisters have done. This sparked her interest in both hunting and rodeo,”

Danika incorporated into her life at a young age. She is now the team captain of the Chico Senior High School freshman basketball team, on an Amateur Athletic Union travel basketball team, and competes in California High School Rodeo.

“Staying active doing things like playing basketball and hunting makes my lungs open up and makes it easier for me to breathe,” Danika said.

“Hunting was added to my extracurriculars at 10 years old. Five years later, the sport holds a special place in my life,” she added.

“Originally I started hunting because I wanted to share the love for the sport with my family and spend more time with my dad and sister [Alexa Davis],” Danika said.

After careful evaluation, the decision was made to pass. “As hunting often goes, sometimes these risks pay off,” Jerod added. Since Danika’s first day hunting, he emphasized the importance of both patience and persistence because of personal experiences over the years. Within minutes after moving a few hundred yards across the bench, another ram

“He was around 1,700 yards at this time,” Danika said. “The sun was going down, and we were trying to not let him turn the corner on the face of the mountain. The ram spotted us and moved quickly across the face, resulting in us not having a chance to do anything. We waited it out for about 15 minutes. With no luck, we pulled out.”

Target Acquired

“The following morning, the ram was on everyone’s minds,” Danika explained.“Justin, my dad, and I hopped in the side-by-side to drive around and see if we could find a couple of rams they had set eyes on before the hunt, while some guys were glassing from the river below where the big ram was spotted the evening before. A few hours went by, and we got notice that they had a ram located, and he was big.”

Justin, Jerod, and Danika loaded up and hurried to the top of the rim to have a staff meeting and make a plan. From this location, the ram was about 1,200 yards west and below. At this point, there were two options to choose from. Either angle down the face toward him and get to roughly the same elevation and hopefully within range, or get directly above him and try to shoot straight down off the top.

The problem with shooting from the top was the range would be over 700 yards with very little chance for anything closer. He could also get under the rim out of sight, eliminating the opportunity completely. The decision was made.

Speechless

“We walked down the frozen face about 400 yards and got set up on a big, flat rock. We could see him bedded down a little over 800 yards away,” Danika me, my dad for teaching me all I know about hunting, and my CF team for doing everything in their power to keep me healthy and helping me be able to stay active and do things other people are able to do,” Danika said. “There’s so much to be thankful for and not enough words to describe this

Won’t Leave Home Without It

The One Piece of Gear We Never Leave for a Hunt Without By WHM Editorial Staff

Every year, we compile gear reviews for our annual gear issue and try to cover all the latest and greatest gear on the market that we have personally tested in the field. This year, we tasked our editorial staff with choosing one piece of gear they will never

The obvious bow, rifle, pack, and optics aside, there is always some knowledge to be gained from other hunters in what they carry in their packs and why. Often, it is the smallest piece of gear or item that gets overlooked that can make or break your hunt. So here are some items our staff never leaves at home.

Rifle Tool Kit – Colton Bagnoli, Hunting & Shooting Editor

I will never leave home without a small tool kit for my rifle and optic. Everyone has taken a fall on the mountain or had their rifle slide off the tree it was leaned against. After a long hike in, you have to be able to check your zero and make adjustments to your zero stop in the field. I keep a small Allen key and specialized tools for each optic I hunt with as well as the proper tool for rings, bases, and action screws in my pack at all times. This allows me to ensure everything is tight if I question the rifle setup’s accuracy. While full tool kits are available, carrying the extra weight for bulky, heavy tools is not necessary for a single rifle in the backcountry. Keep it simple with the bare minimum to get your rifle back on target in the event of an emergency. Even the toughest of rifle scopes can move slightly from a fall, so be sure to keep the right tools to avoid a long, light walk out.

Moon Phase App – Nate Simmons, Backcountry Hunting Editor

There are plenty of obvious tools that I wouldn’t go afield without, e.g., boots, broadheads, a knife, etc. Perhaps a less obvious item I always have with me is a moon phase chart; one that predicts peak game movement times of each day. I have observed these charts to be incredibly accurate and have used them and believed in them for nearly 15 years. In my observation, I believe this data is the most consistently accurate when applied to animals that are not rutting and during periods of stable weather patterns. My early season high-country deer hunts are very conducive for accurate results, as the weather is usually fairly consistent and the bucks are not distracted by the rut. If the charts say peak deer movement will be at 2 PM, I will base my schedule around making sure I’m on a promising glassing point prior to that time; even when it feels like unlikely conditions for a mature buck to be feeding in the open, like when it’s hot and sunny.

There are lots of charts online that all use the same metrics of where the moon is in relation to your position on the earth and how that relationship affects game movement. The chart I have used for years is an app called iSolunar Hunt & Fish Times (found in the app store). It costs me $9.00 per year, and even though I could find the same information online for free, I like the app because I don’t need cell reception to use it and it’s convenient. I never go a single day on any hunt where I don’t look at this information at least once.

Wind Detector – Fred Eichler, Hunting Editor

It’s simple, really, but I have to have my “smoke in a bottle.” If I don’t have my wind detector, then I feel like I am just bumbling around in the woods. I primarily am a bowhunter and predator hunter; both require the wind to always be in my favor for each hunt. I have had the wind ruin countless hunts for me when a slight change took my scent somewhere I didn’t want it to go.

Being able to detect subtle wind changes that I can’t feel on my skin or being able to see where my scent is going a few yards from my location is paramount to my success in the field.

Trekking Poles – Mike Duplan, Hunting Editor

In 2005, I went on my first Dall sheep hunt. My guide and outfitter, Steve Johnson, asked me if had trekking poles, I replied that I did but didn’t use them much. He replied, “Get used to them and bring them because you aren’t going without them.” Steve knew from experience they were invaluable in the moun tains and gave the hunter a serious advantage in using them. Since then, I have almost never left the trail without them. They can be a little clunky in the brush but make a massive difference in extra power, stability, and fatigue-fighting impacts. Some young guides may poo-poo them, but not the smart ones. Check your ego at the door and bring a pair of collapsible trek king poles with cork handles. With some time and use, you will use them unconsciously and with rhythm. Your knees and feet will thank you.

Bear Spray – George Bettas, Hunting & Conservation Editor

Quite simply, my “one piece of gear” is bear spray. This applies whether hunting the backcountry with stock or on my own. Why bear spray? 90% of the areas I hunt in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming now have significant populations of grizzly bears. I encounter them regularly in Montana and have learned how to read the signs of grizzlies in an area, but you really never know when or where you will encounter one.

They used to be in well-known grizzly habitat, but now, just about any thicket, creek bottom, or brushy draw can have a grizzly sleeping in it. I always carry a 12-gauge pump shotgun loaded alternately with buckshot and slugs when hunting with my stock, but bear spray on your pack or saddle is much easier and faster to deploy, and it is effective. Every year, hunters and others are mauled by grizzly bears. I can get along without a lot of my hunting and horse gear, but bear spray in bear country

Wet Wipes – James Yates, Archery & Hunting Editor

A small pack of ordinary baby wet wipes is worth its weight in gold on a long backcountry hunt. I generally buy them in a bulk container and then carry just enough separately in a Ziploc bag for two per day for the trip.

Keeping the backside squeaky clean is very important for longevity in the backcountry, and nothing cleans better than a wet wipe. My backside, crotch region, and inner thighs can chafe badly, and I find that I can reduce chafing significantly if I clean up the nether regions after big sweaty days; specifically, cleaning up the salt that remains after sweat evaporates.

Garmin inReach –

Gear for the Western Hunter

Lindsay Persico, Health & Fitness Editor

As I am headed out for any hunt, I always double-check to make sure I have my Garmin inReach with a full charge and in my pack. As soon as I get out of my rig to head into the woods, I take it out and clip it onto my pack where I can easily reach it in the event of an emergency.

My Garmin inReach enables me to contact emergency services if needed, but also allows me to communicate with my family on how my trip is going or if I need help packing out a critter. Having an emergency beacon like the Garmin inReach allows me to hunt solo with confidence.

Petzel Headlamp – Kyle Greene, Hunting Editor

Fourteen years ago, I decided to chase my dream of becoming a houndsman. It didn’t take much chasing for me to figure out that a headlamp was the most important tool I could have, so I bought a Petzl Headlamp for $30. Believe it or not, that same headlamp is still sitting in my hunting pack and, due to sentimental reasons, is still my go-to headlamp. Over the years, that headlamp has hunted ducks, turkeys, antelope, deer, elk, bobcat, raccoon, bear, and yes, mountain lion. It has traveled all over the western states with me and even gone to work on the ambulance and fire engine.

Countless mountain lion tracks have been illuminated with that headlamp, and an equal number of blood trails have been solved with its help. I have Petzl Headlamps in all our vehicles and have purchased them for my wife and all my children. It doesn’t matter if I am camping, feeding horses, or going after mountain lions. My headlamp is my most important tool, and I

Matt Ward, Health & Fitness Editor

Of all the gear I meticulously research, test, and acquire – whether new or used – there’s one item in my kit that I will never leave behind: my stove. I don’t have a specific brand preference; I simply always ensure to include one for the following reasons: I relish the ritual of boiling water for that first cup of morning coffee, savoring a gourmet freeze-dried dinner after a grueling trek into the high country, or indulging in a cheeky grilled cheese sandwich amidst a day of nothing but bars and gels.

Essentially, a stove serves as a small but invaluable source of comfort, allowing me to recharge amidst the solitude of the wilderness.

Aquaquest 100 Liter Rogue Dry Bag – Nick Gehring, Taxidermy Editor

There are several items that come with me on any backpack hunt, but in the last few years, I’ve grown particularly fond of Aquaquest’s 100 Liter Rogue Dry Bag made of rugged 70D ripstop. It’s big enough to comfortably stuff all of my camp and clothing with plenty of room to spare for a week’s worth of dehydrated meals.

At camp, the bag becomes my dry sack and night cache, allowing me to keep my boots, calls, optics, and more, safe from dew and downpours alike. Also, the lifetime warranty is hard to beat!

RECON

MODULAR BINO HARNESS

Designed with modularity at the forefront; the Recon Modular Bino Harness features a magnetic forward-pull access to the bino pouch, a large front zipper pocket, and stretch side pockets. Two internal bino tethers keep your binoculars secure and low profile MOLLE-compatible wings allow you to securely add Recon pouches and accessories.

Gear for the Western Hunter

RRS Anvil 30

I shoot my rifles off of tripods a lot during my training, and I began running the Really Right Stuff (RRS) Anvil 30 head for most of the glassing and shooting needs, as it allowed me to clip my rifles fitted with ARCA and Picatinny rails. The system works extremely well for rifle shooting and worked OK for glassing, with a few exceptions.

First, the Anvil 30 is not a fluid pan head, it’s a ball head that operates from tension applied to the ball to loosen the head or tighten the head’s move ment. This requires the user to have constant con tact with the lever to move the head around on a large spherical ball. It’s very difficult to scan or grid a straight line with this system. Being a diehard glass hunter, I struggled with the mediocracy the head allowed due to its brighter points of rifle ap plications. The system shines for clipping a rifle in place quickly and getting it locked on target fast. It’s probably unmatched in this area of application.

The problem for me as a hunter is that I spend more time behind glass than I do clipping a rifle in to take a shot. In fact, the latter can’t happen without the former. So, I found myself sacrificing glassing because I could clip my rifle in more quickly. It didn’t make sense, but I continued to make it work. When having to constantly be holding the lever of the Anvil 30 to move and glass, I began to have major issues with keeping my hands warm enough to glass in temps below freezing, as the whole head is metal.

ment, causing me to lose my target. At times I would never locate the target again after it moved, costing me a potential opportunity. This wasn’t a one-time thing, this is something I dealt with for three full hunting seasons. Trying to make it work was no longer an option, it was time for a change.

Why the Gen 2 is a Better Mousetrap

the tension needed to hold the glass, and you can pan side-to-side with just your head moving the glass with your brows pushing against the ocular lenses. In my opinion, after extensive field testing of this head and many of the other brands, it is currently the best glassing pan head on the market.

difficult area to negotiate, as my needs for glassing are the polar opposite of what I need in a shooting tripod for my PRS or NRL rifle competitions, but finding the middle ground for the perfect hunting tripod head has led me full circle back to the Outdoorsmans Gen 2 Pan Head. traditional Outdoorsmans plate and also the ARCA plate. This single adaptation was what I needed to run the pan head for my hunting setup once again.

Coupled with a new lever-style clamp, the new Gen 2 Pan Head is a real contender for the “perfect hunting tripod head” if one were to be designed.

I ended up wearing a pair of gloves under my mittens to keep my hands warm but still failed to accurately grid and glass the country I wanted to cover – not to mention that if my hand slipped off the lever, the glass would tumble over to the side, as nothing is holding the mass balancing atop the ball when the lever is released.

A secondary issue is that, when I did locate an

When I finally got the new Outdoorsmans Gen 2 Pan Head for the first time, I was excited to see if the RRS could be de-throned from my hunting tripods. After all, the Anvil 30 has become the industry standard for all PRS and NRL rifle completions and hardcore rifle shooters for its design and application. But again, it wasn’t designed for glassing hours and hours on end in a systematic approach.

If anyone tells you it is great for that, they obviously either A: don’t glass much, or B: are paid to tell you it is better. I fall into the category of neither. I glass

The Anvil 30 is a great head for shooting rifles, but I would argue strongly that that’s the end of its application for the glassing hunter. Glassing is the priority before all else and the Anvil 30 lacks the ability to fluidly glass grid patterns and hold big glass like an 80 or 115mm BTX without constantly holding and adjusting pressure on the ball head lever. When the lever slips, the optic falls and crushes your fingers (ask me how I know).

The ability to evolve as a hunter through our equipment has become a real thing in the last 20 years and more so in the last 10 with new product development technology. Constant evaluation of your gear and the process of selection is crucial for growth as a hunter. There are always going to be huge cult followings for specific brands, and being mindful of the reasons we select one piece of gear over another can sometimes be clouded with grandiose ideas that can lead us down the wrong path. Making conscious and reasonable decisions on gear selection for an intended application should be weighed carefully on that premise. What is the intended use? There is no golden bullet, or tripod in this matter, that is the end-all-be-all greatest. But there is a new front runner for the “All Around Cowboy” award in tripod heads suited for a discerning hunter looking for the proper balance. When it comes to tripods and tripod heads, Outdoorsmans is constantly evolving, slowly and at times unnoticed but always striving to improve their products for the western hunter. Now my search continues for the “nearly perfect” hunting tripod.

The RRS Anvil 30 head incorporates a lever to increase or decrease tension in the ball head that requires constant manipulation while glassing. It works great for direct clipping a rifle for a PRS match but fails with a spotting scope or BTX.

The Outdoorsmans Gen 2 pan head has two seperate levers for pan and tilt that are easy to adjust for the perfect tension. The ability to set the tension and glass a grid is mandatory in a quality head.

The forward-facing handle on the Gen 2 allows for easy panning and movement of your glass even in cold conditions.

The RRS Anvil 30 (left) and Outdoorsmans Gen 2 Pan Head (right).

Wilderness Athlete

2024 Product Updates By Ben

Britton, Wilderness Athlete Field Editor

It seems so cliché to say, “The most important piece of gear on the mountain is you,” but it’s still a fact, and that truth gets clearer the older we get. While some of our most popular products are formulated to make an impact while running around the mountains, most are for use at home, in preparation to go out and chase mule deer and elk to the best of your abilities.

When it comes to gear updates for the year, maybe start with the most important one and look into Wilderness Athlete to help. Here are a few of the new products that truly have the ability to help you hunt hard this next season.

H.E.R.O – Back in Stock

Are you tired of the residual flavor in your Nalgene after mixing a hydration powder while in the field? Well, H.E.R.O. is the answer you have been looking for. Pre-filled with Wilderness Athlete’s popular Hydration and Energy formulations, just add water to this reusable bladder and shake. An agitator ball on the inside will evenly dissolve the powder for a deliciously smooth and satisfying chug. Don’t throw it away! If you plan to continue hunting hard, bring extra Hydrate & Recover® and/ or Energy & Focus® packets and keep mixing them in the H.E.R.O. packaging.

A good day hunting is no easy task and requires a lot from the body. This product is scientifically formulated to effectively replace essential electrolytes lost during exertion, assist your muscles in recovering from long climbs, and give you a boost in mental and physical energy levels. That is why it’s called “H.E.R.O.” – Hydrate. Energize. Recharge. Overcome. – because that’s exactly what you want before, during, and after a long, tough day on the mountain.

Price: 10 count – $34.95

Peak Immunity – NEW

Nobody has time to be sick, but most people tend to wait till it happens to do anything about it.

Peak Immunity is the preventative measure needed to help you remain at 100%. With an all-natural and synergistic approach, this formula will prime the immune system with an array of ingredients focused on fighting off and limiting the severity of illnesses. I can speak from first-hand experience, as I am writing this I have worked three tradeshows, have had a sick wife and kid, and have yet to suffer from a single sniffle.

Put most simply, the immune system is complex. Plus, it is affected by almost everything you do, what foods you eat, how hydrated you are, and even the temperature it is outside. Whether you are a person like our coworker Peter who gets sick all the time, your little Petri dish of a child always brings home bugs, or like all of us shaking countless

hands at all these hunting tradeshows, do yourself a favor and prime your immune system with Peak Immunity.

Price: 30 servings – $34.95

Lean Life – Updated Formula

Lean Life has been successfully helping us, outdoorsmen, drop that extra winter weight for over 12 years. For those of you who haven’t taken Lean Life, this stuff really works, I can say from personal experience. Its an all-natural, multi-functional, sensible approach to weight loss.

We have made a couple of updates to the formula. The addition of two new ingredients and the removal of one are aimed to improve the products metabolic effectiveness. We also added a vanilla coating to enhance the experience. So, if you need to lose some of that extra insulation that built up over the winter, head over to the Wilderness Athlete website and check it out.

Price: 30 servings – $39.95

Joint Advantage – Updated Formula

I’m just going assume that whoever is reading this suffers from some form a joint pain. How can you run around the mountains as a hobby and not? Whether it be knees, hips, shoulders, wrists, or ankles, the all-natural Joint Advantage formula can help, and in 2024 its getting an upgrade. We have increased the amount of MSM and included a new highly efficient combination of turmeric and tamarind. Both of these additions will help with joint pain, smoothness and mobility and, most importantly, increase your longevity in-thefield. Don’t let nagging joints hold you back this season.

Price: 30 servings – $39.95

Contact: WildernessAthlete.com

Eberlestock B4 Atlas Duffel

The Perfect Travel Bag?

By Pedram Parvin, Field Editor

As I’ve gotten older, the way I prepare for hunts and travel has been much more about the organization aspect than ever before. The amount of gear that I have accrued over the years is a little overwhelming, and organizing that important gear for whatever hunt or adventure I’m going on is something that’s proven to be of immense value to me. I’ve traveled a lot (and I mean a lot), and I’ve used pretty much every travel duffel and luggage on the market – from designated outdoor brands to the designer high-end fancy stuff. Some of them held up better than others, but over time they all fell short of my expectations and defi nitely didn’t warrant their hefty price tags. For those of you who may not have looked into quality travel bags/luggage... they’re pricey.

Key Features

The Atlas Duffel was made to hold all your necessary gear with nearly 6,000 cubic inches of volume, without getting any airline oversize baggage fees. It’s made of durable 500 denier nylon, and I mean extremely durable. This bag has been thrown in and out of trucks, stashed in hunting camps, and has come out of airline carousels completely unscathed. It has six external pockets that are perfect for smaller items that you want quick access to like knives, power banks, headlamps/lights, field tools, snacks, etc. It’s offered in six different color options, Lastly, at the bottom of the Atlas Duffel, there is a hard case basement with straps and a nylon zippered divider so you can keep things separate in the hard case area if needed. I took the Atlas Duffel on my black bear hunt in Arizona and I kept all of my dirty boots, bloody clothes, and bloody gear in this basement compartment, and I was able to keep all the gear and clothes I didn’t use clean. They also make a foam case insert for it, so you can put your optics, tripods, spotting scopes, smaller bows, or folding rifles there. This is sold separately, but a great option to have!

I had always wanted a do-it-all-type of bag that was durable enough to handle anything I threw its way, yet that was designed with organization and function for the hunter in mind. That’s where the Eberlestock B4 Atlas Duffel comes in. Now, I must preface by saying that I didn’t just get this duffel in my hand last week. I’ve had this duffel for about a year now, and it’s been through extensive use and airline abuse countless numbers of times. I’ve used this Atlas Duffel on a handful of hunts as my base camp bag, for travel to many hunting trade shows and several family vacations, and I’ve even lent it to some friends to use – all within a year’s time. I wanted to give you a little background info and context before I delved into the specs and features of this bag that I have really appreciated. One of my favorite features of this bag is that it includes two dividers for the main compartment that you can attach anywhere on the internal walls with Velcro. This may seem like a small thing, but it’s by far the most useful feature for gear guys. Depending on the hunt you can divide the internal section of the duffel bag into one, two, or three different sections. A lot of the time a massive compartment can feel like a disorganized crockpot of gear, so having these dividers makes it easy to customize the organization of the bag to your liking.

The Atlas Duffel also has a durable, telescoping handle, thick, serviceable wheels, and adjustable straps on top that you can use to attach extra gear. I actually used them to attach my kid’s car seat to for travel when we went to Wyoming, and it was a clutch feature for traveling parents. It’s got an integrated zippered rain fly that you can wrap around your Atlas Duffel, and you can still use the wheels and handle with the rain fly on. Out in Arizona our trails are pretty dusty, so I actually put it on for use in the back of the truck, which keeps all of the dust and debris out of my gear.

erlestock’s B4 Atlas Duffel, and if you’re wanting a “perfect travel duffel,” then I’d recommend looking into it for yourself! If you would like to learn more, visit Eberlestock’s website or watch my in-depth YouTube review on it by scanning the QR code. Price: $429

Contact: Eberlestock.com

Bearwatch Systems Electric Fence

Shockingly Lightweight Peace of Mind By

There are a number of things that will keep a hunter from getting good rest in the backcountry, but for me, the idea of an intruding grizzly bear is near the top of the list. That is if I’m not surrounded by an electric fence that puts out nity to do a backpack hunt in an area with a dense population of grizzly bears, so I was thankful for the opportunity to put the Bearwatch Systems fence to

The first thing I noticed when the package ar rived by mail was the company’s slogan, “ADVENTURE ON, STRESS OFF.” I love that phrase because it perfectly captures what should be the goal of every piece of equipment we carry when we go hunting. Tools that contribute to stress have a way of staying in the truck, while those that contribute to the adventure find a home in my pack.

Nick Gehring, Taxidermy Editor

When I opened the zippered bag I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of the whole system. The main hardware includes four collapsible carbon poles with insulator clips, three 80-foot lengths of poly wire, an energizer, and a grounding rod. Additional items include a voltmeter for infield testing, warning signage, and alternative pow

The polywire comes packaged on a lightweight plastic spool and takes only a few minutes to spool

or llamas, everything that joins me on a hunt is strapped to me in one way or another. Three pounds in the backpacking world can seem like a ton, but this is an extremely light tool for what it offers, especially since it stays at camp for the most part.

Carbon Poles

Speaking of being pack-worthy, the second thing I noticed about the Bearwatch Systems fence

scious hunter, the trail weight of the system is 2.1 pounds, and with two sets (16) of AA batteries, the entire system weighs in at only 2.93 pounds and easily packs into a bag about the size of a lunch sack. Since I don’t usually have the luxury of horses

At just over 41 inches, these three-piece poles are extremely lightweight. The working end of the pole has an aluminum point that easily pushes into soft ground. In harder or frozen ground settings, I would recommend “pre-drilling” a hole with the grounding rod by carefully hammering it into the lator clips, simply cradle the rod with the clip and

the bottom edge of the tent to the center of the fence, making it easy to enter or exit the tent without any risk of shock (see photo above).

Energizer and Grounding Rod

The energizer is the engine that makes this system run. Since I’m not an electrician, I can’t explain how 8 AA batteries can produce over 10,000 volts, meter, and when tested I was consistently able to ing (more on that later). The energizer is really simple to operate, which is an awesome feature. It has only two buttons: an ON/OFF button, and a

With three strands each measuring 80 feet in length, this fence will create a comfortable 20' x 20' footprint for your campsite. Length can be easily

As far as the grounding rod goes, it can easily be pushed or hammered into most types of soils. Once it’s inserted into the ground, connecting it to the

The pulse speed button controls the rate at which an electrical charge surges through the wires.

At the FAST setting, a charge is sent once every 1.4 seconds. At the SLOW setting, a charge is sent every 2.5 seconds, extending the battery life. At the FAST setting, with Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, the unit is advertised to last for five 8-hour nights (40-hour total runtime) at 35 degrees Fahrenheit. We used Energizer MAX batteries during our trip with the SLOW setting and after six nights did not have to change batteries.

This lightweight backcountry electric fence offered peace of mind all night long in the heart of bear country. Scan the QR code above to learn more.

Gear for the Western Hunter

Voltmeter

The unit comes with a lightweight voltmeter. While this could seem like overkill for the hyperweight-conscious hunter, I think it’s a must if you plan to use an electric fence. After all, a fence will offer nothing but a false sense of security if it’s not actually working.

they can be seen from a long distance, and when the system is charged they could prevent an undesirable accident.

Alternative Power Cables

The unit also comes with large alligator clips and cables that can be hooked to most 12-volt batteries. Initially, I had planned on using these with a 20-amp-hour Amped Outdoors lithium ion 12-volt battery that I use for fishing, but given that we were only going to be hunting for a max of 10 days, I opted for two sets of the much lighter AAs. If I were to camp near the truck or use some type of stock to get into the backcountry, the 12-volt option would be very nice, especially with the lightweight lithium options available today. A third power option (available on their website) for powering the energizer is a USB to 12-volt adapter that can be hooked to any USB-equipped charging station.

In The Field

As I alluded to earlier, one of the great aspects of this system is its simplicity. Setup takes only a few minutes, and confirmation of function can be tested at any time with the included voltmeter. While I don’t claim at all to be an expert in electric fences or even grizzly country for that matter, here are a few takeaways from my experience with this product:

• It definitely helped me sleep at night. Knowing that a bear would get the jolt of a lifetime if his curiosity got the best of him while we slept brought great peace of mind to our entire camp.

the directions by first inserting the voltmeter’s grounding rod into the earth. Rather, it was still being held by my right hand, which made me the grounding rod. Now that’s a mistake I won’t make again, a truly unpleasant lesson in how grounding works.

ing it. The first time I used the voltmeter I was in my front yard under clear blue skies with the ficult to see the indicator lights. I was curious

ings around the perimeter of the fence, so I checked it in multiple spots, trying to create shade to see the lights. At one of the test sites, I

tioned my head to block the sun only to realize about one second later that I had not followed

• One thing that was reinforced while in the field is that there are many areas in the Rocky Mountains where the ground is very dry and porous. When it comes to electrical grounding, this can be problematic because the idea behind the grounding rod is that when an animal (standing barefooted on the ground) makes contact with one of the wires, it completes the circuit and sends the current through the animal, deterring it from the fence. If the ground is very dry and porous, the circuit created from the energizer through the ground to the fence can be much weaker. With that in mind, there are two setup options for this fence in terms of wiring configurations, each explained in the owner’s manual. The first, ideal option, is to wire the system to use the ground itself. In good conditions (moist and dense soil throughout the footprint of the fence), all three strands of wire are charged and will shock at full strength anything that creates a circuit between them and the ground. For example, if a bear curiously sniffs any of the three wires, it gets shocked with the full force of the electricity. If the earth happens to be porous, though, and the bear’s feet happen to be standing on ground that is somewhat isolated from the grounding rod through dry, cracked earth, the shock could be significantly less. In this scenario, a second wiring configuration is preferred. In this configuration, the middle poly wire is connected with a pigtail to the energizer at the same point as the grounding rod, which essentially makes the middle wire a default “ground.” In this case, a curious bear may get a partial shock if he only touches one wire, but he will get the full dose when he touches the middle wire AND another wire. Having both configuration options provides peace of mind since you can’t be certain your camping site will have good ground.

There are many products on the market today that can add enjoyment to a backcountry hunt, but when hunting alongside North America’s largest predator, I wouldn’t even consider sleeping without a bear fence. Not only will it add a measure of peace to your overnights, but it very well could save your life.

Price: $247

Contact: BearWatchSystems.com

Note: The Bearwatch Systems Electric Fence is designed and developed in British Columbia, Canada and has a 1-year limited warranty.

Spartan Precision Bipods

Innovative Rifle Support By Colton

Bagnoli, Hunting & Shooting Editor

Spartan Precision has been rapidly growing in the bipod market for the last couple of years and has released several new bipods for 2024. I was fortunate to get my hands on a few of them prior to release for testing and got to spend quite a bit of time behind them. Each is purpose-built for different applications and has innovative features that stand out above the competition. While I started using their first bipod a few years ago, I found it to have a limited application for my use. However,

Springbok Bipod –Shooting Sticks Meets Bipod

When it comes to hunting predators and pronghorn in the West, shooting sticks are king. The vast majority of predator hunting is done seated under a tree with a solid backdrop to conceal the hunter. This leads to shooting off of shooting sticks or a tripod 95% of the time. A good pair of shooting sticks with adjustable leg length and stance makes for quick shooting position changes where a tripod struggles to offer discreet movement amongst the three legs, often split between the shooter’s legs. The Springbok answers the call for shooting anytime bipods fail to provide enough height for shooting over vegetation or a variety of seated and kneeling positions. The flexible head of the Springbok allows the legs to be narrowed or widened for quick and silent movement. At 10.6 oz, the Springbok can go with you on any hunt to add a versatile platform to your arsenal. The leg length adjusts from 22" to 38" and packs down to only 2 1/4" wide

JavelinBipod.com

Valhalla Bipod –Spigot Attachment System

The Valhalla bipod incorporates a spigot sys-

The bipod has a unique pull-to-deploy leg design that makes for a quick and quiet setup. Inside the outer leg is a spring-loaded inner leg that deploys easily after depressing the lever to allow the leg to move notch by notch with minimal noise. The feet of the bipod come with a rubber cover that grips well but can be removed to utilize the spike feet for gripping ice, rock, or similar hard surfaces. It is a large-sized bipod for big rifles or for the shooter wanting the most stability they can get from a bipod. The leg height adjustment is

TSeek Outside Twilight Hot Tent Bundle

The First Hot Tipi I Will Use More Than Once By Chris Denham, Publisher

he Southwest is just not a great environment for most tipi tents. Between the rocks, insects, and relentless dust, it is incredibly difficult to find the right place to pitch one, and they are noisy in the wind. I met Ryan Sapena with Seek Outside at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, and he walked me through the features of the Twilight. I wasn’t sold until he showed me the floor and stove system. The bathtub-style floor had the potential to keep wind from blowing under the tent, and the stove looked like something I could trust. I didn’t even have a chance to do a test setup of the tent before my wife and I headed out for a twonight backpacking trip on the Arizona Trail. My wife might be the coldest sleeper on the entire planet, so she was seriously motivated to work through the process the first time with the carrot of a woodburning stove hanging in the balance. It took us acomposing granite, so the angular gravel did start to wear on my knees after going in an out during setup and collecting firewood.

Worth the Weight

Seek calls the Twilight a three-man tent, but by most tent makers’ standards, it is easily a four-man tent with a width of 10 feet and a length of 14 feet. With the stove in use, there was more than enough room for the two of us, our dog, two stools, packs, sleeping bags, and a Jetboil stove. The complete tent package with canopy, floor, carbon poles, and fire mat weighs in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces. The large standard stove with stove pipe adds 3 pounds, 2 ounces, pushing the entire system close to 10 pounds. I realize that doesn’t sound like a “backpacking” setup, but keep in mind that it can sleep three in warm, dry comfort!

The most unique feature of the Twilight tent is the zipperless door. That’s right, no zipper. The door slides up and down on the front guyline. This eliminates a common failure point, but it does mean that you need to crawl in and out of the tent. The country we hiked through was composed of de-

Functional Fire

The Large Titanium Stove (that is the actual product name, not just a description) is very easy to set up. You construct the box and insert long bolts that hold it together and serve as legs. The box is big enough to handle wood up to about 4" in diameter, so you don’t need to constantly feed it sticks. The damper serves as a spark arrestor, and with a front air intake control, it was easy to control

nium sheet metal. Rolling it the first time is tricky, and you should absolutely do this at home with at least one person to help. If you have a chance to burn the stove before you leave, it creates “memory” in the metal, and it is substantially easier to roll the next time.

Two Thumbs Up

I had given up on using hot tipi tent set ups. The setups needed to be almost perfect, which I rarely find in Arizona, and they were noisy in the wind. I could stay warm just trying to gather enough sticks to keep the little stoves burning! But the Seek Outside Twilight has given me new hope. It is easy to set up, as quiet as any backpacking tent in the wind, and the stove is a dream.

Price: $1,284.25 (tent, floor, poles, and stove) Contact: SeekOutside.com

The Spartan Springbok is an excellent option for predator hunters and anyone hunting in sage brush that requires a seating or kneeling shot that would be too high for most bipods. Shown with legs fully extended to 38".

The Spartan Valhalla Bipod is an excellent option for shooters looking for a bipod packed with features to simplify adjustments for quick setup in the field.

Stability comes with a wider base or stance and the Valhalla bipod head is slightly wider than the forend of the rifle with the legs stowed.

Gear for the Western Hunter

The Ultimate Guide to Biscuits and Gravy

Review of the Top Backcountry Meals

Being a lifelong connoisseur of biscuits and gravy for breakfast, I felt it was time to sacrifice my cholesterol levels and eat four bags of freeze-dried and dehydrated meals side by side in a taste test. Meals from Gastro Gnome, Mountain House, Peak Refuel, and Pinnacle Foods are the most popular options today. The plan was to follow each meal’s instructions in a controlled setting to ensure the meals were cooked as designed. This is a lot easier in your kitchen than on the side of a frozen mountain when you’re famished after a long hike.

The Test

Each meal has its own unique cook time and water requirements on the bag with simple instructions. I set each meal’s cook time in order of longest to shortest so each meal would finish at approximately the same time. This would ensure that one wasn’t sitting longer than another after the stated cook time, getting cold. Only the Peak Refuel meal included a “pro tip” in small writing stating to break the biscuits up into smaller pieces to get a softer biscuit without the crunch from water not soaking to the center. Still, I decided to break up any large biscuits in all the meals to keep things equal. Water was boiled and added to all the meals, and timers

Gastro Gnome is a fast-growing dehydrated meal supplier in Bozeman, MT, and makes some deliciously unique meals in small batches. The team at Gastro Gnome spends a lot of time developing each meal from scratch in their kitchen to make the meals they feel are the best tasting all while maintaining a proper balance of protein, fat,

hydrated well and didn’t have any crunchy center, making for a very consistent and thick meal. It was very similar to a homemade meal, albeit with the smallest yield of volume of all the meals. The seasoning smelled amazing – like a Thanksgiving dinner with all the sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Mountain House

Any sporting goods retailer across America has a bountiful supply of Mountain House meals on the shelf. The brand is well known by all outdoor enthusiasts for its variety of freeze-dried meals that deliver a large meal in a short cook time. The B&G meal cooked true to its suggested cook time and water requirements. The biscuits were all of a consistent size compared to the other meals and cooked

Pinnacle Foods

One of the least known meals on the market, these meals are produced and packaged in North Carolina while the company is headquartered in Missoula, Montana. I was turned on to the meal after a message on Instagram requesting I add their Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits and Herbed Sausage Gravy to my review after I made a post about it. I am grateful for the recommendation as I am a fan of spice, and the aroma of this meal after cooking was on point. The meal cooked well in the specified time with the required amount of water and offered one of the smallest volumes of food. This was the first Pinnacle Foods meal I have tasted, and it set the bar high for their other meals.

The Final Results

Taste-testing food is extremely subjective. Everyone’s palettes and tastes vary dramatically, and I find it hard to believe anyone who says “This is the best,” as I have followed food recommendations and been highly disappointed more times than not. This test is no different, and I can only speak to my preferences. I did include my wife and two children in the tasting, as they often are with me in the backcountry for hunts and can be very picky eaters. This is one family’s review of the biscuits and gravy meals.

My wife and I both felt that Pinnacle Foods was our favorite with Gastro Gnome an extremely close

relatively evenly throughout without crunch but a slightly chewier biscuit. The meal is pretty plain, to be honest. The smell and consistency reminded me of a small town café serving a thinner gravy on basic biscuits. The flavor was simple with plenty of salt and offering the largest volume of food tested.

Peak Refuel

Probably the most popular and well-advertised B&G meal for the backcountry, the Peak Refuel brand offers great meals with a cult-like following. The B&G required slightly more water than stated in the directions to get an even consistency. Despite breaking up the biscuits even smaller, they still had a slight crunch to the center – not a big deal, just worth noting. The meal had a great flavor for a country-style gravy with plenty of salt and pepper flavor. It yielded one of the highest volumes of food of all the meals tested.

amazing flavor and texture. These are meals that I would eat anywhere, not just starved and cold on the side of a mountain where 99% of these meals are consumed. If you’re a savory flavor eater, the Gastro Gnome is hard to beat. If spice is your life, the Pinnacle Foods meal was the perfect blend of jalapeño with herb. It should be noted my wife doesn’t eat biscuits and gravy at home, or anywhere, but would eat these meals on a hunt. It surprised me as she kept eating each one beyond just tasting. The Peak Refuel and Mountain House biscuits and gravy were definitely beyond just edible, just more on the plain side. The Peak meal was the preferred meal for both my 8 and 10-year-old kids as they like the “taste” better. The more flavorful and spicy meals did not sit well and were only tasted once by the kids. The Peak Refuel and Mountain House meals are perfect for those with a more general flavor palette, preferring salt and pepper over spices and herbs. We all have that one guy in our camp who thinks black pepper is spicy and wants more salt than any other flavor. These are your meals.

•

had 690 calories per bag with 41g of fat, 54g of carbs, and 26g of protein.

Gastro Gnome Biscuits & Gravy Mountain House Biscuits & Gravy Peak Refuel Biscuits & Gravy Pinnacle Foods Biscuits & Gravy

The author and his wife preferred the savory taste of the Pinnacle Foods and Gastro Gnome Biscuits and Gravy meals.

The author’s two kids preferred the taste of the Peak Refuel and Mountain House Biscuits and Gravy meals.

Nutrition Fact Highlights

• The Peak Refuel B&G is the most dense at 1,100 calories per bag with 85g of fat, 51g of carbs, and 34g of protein.

• The Pinnacle Foods meal was second at 770 calories per bag with 50g of fat, 52g of carbs, and 31g of protein.

Gastro Gnome

• Mountain House delivered 560 calories per bag with 20g of fat, 74g of carbs, and 22g of protein.

Each meal was prepared to its own unique cook time and water requirements.

ARCHERY BALLISTICS PART

n

Ballistics is the science of the propulsion, flight, and impact of a projectile. Part 1 of this archery ballistics series talked mostly about ballistics as it relates to the bow: propulsion and aiming. The bow drives the propulsion of the arrow, and the bow (bow sight) is used for aiming. The first article explored different bow sight pin configurations for different arrow trajectories and different aiming strategies based on your pin configuration. Clearly, there are benefits to different pin configurations based on your arrow’s trajectory and the type of hunting that you do.

Regardless of the bow sight or pin configuration that you choose to go with, you need to pick a home or base position for your pin guard (scope). For a slider sight, you can choose the home position of your pin guard anywhere along the length of the slider dial. Think of the home position as a position near the top of the slider dial (not necessarily the very top) where you keep the pin scope in a ready, standby position; essentially the position where you choose to keep the pin guard as you are walking around hunting. At this position, you have memorized the yardages that your pins correspond to; 20, 30, and 40 yards, for example.

this means that PCA does some pretty complicated math in the background to solve nonlinear equations. One of the most impactful things about this is that because PCA actually uses a proper drag model, the software can actually determine a specific drag coefficient for each and every unique arrow design.

It isn’t entirely accurate to say it like this, but to put it in relevant hunting terms, think of it like this: PCA is calculating an archery ballistic coefficient for every unique arrow design. This means that PCA is able to compare the ballistic efficiency of different arrow designs; no other archery software can do this. The topics of ballistic efficiency, drag, and the other factors that impact the trajectory of an arrow during its flight are going to be fully discussed in Part 3 of this archery ballistics series. PCA is by far the most accurate archery software available, as no other archery software uses quadratic drag with either temperature or pressure (density altitude) compensation.

PCA has a ton of uses for the bowhunter, but one of its most important uses is sight tapes. Another feature I really like is figuring out the trajectory of my arrow at various yardages. Once you set up your bow and arrow profile in the program, there’s a “Shoot-for Calculator” that will show your arrow’s trajectory at any yardage that you specify. It’s pretty easy to figure out which shoot-for yardage yields a trajectory that maxes out 3 to 4 inches high (or 15 inches high for the trick pin setup). Generally, I start with Precision Cut Archery to estimate these yardages for the primary pin setup (or trick pin), and then I verify them by shooting at the range. More about the home and trick pin set up to follow.

Building a Custom Sight Tape

Before you can determine your home position, you need to have an accurate sight tape developed. I like to create my own custom sight tapes versus using the generic sight tapes that ship with the bow sight. The custom sight tapes I create using PCA are specific to my bow and arrow, are WAY more accu rate, go to longer yardages (I have a sight tape that is accurate to 168 yards on my personal bow), are compensated to account for my hunting elevation, and are configured the way I want them to be. Since this is an article about ballistics, think for a moment about how accurate/inaccurate a generic sight tape can be; think about all of the different fletching con figurations, arrow weights, FOC, etc that lead to dif ferent flight dynamics. Also, everything about the arrow affects its drag in the air, making it nearly impossible for a generic sight tape to be accurate, especially at longer ranges.

you are ready to “sight in.” Because PCA is more sophisticated than any other archery software, it actually needs three points of information. These can be the launch speed and two downrange sight marks or three total sight marks. The more distance between the sight marks the better; just make sure you are comfortable shooting at the selected ranges. I usually do 50 and 100 yards or even 60 and 120 yards.

All other sight tape programs just need two pieces of information. PCA needs the third piece of information to determine the drag coefficient (think ballistic coefficient) for your arrow. Once you have determined your marks and “sighted in,” you

can completely customize your tape to your liking, including compensating the sight tape for a different density altitude (elevation). You have complete control over the length/yardage of the tape and how it is physically configured. It is the easiest, most robust, and most accurate sight tape program I

Being able to account for elevational differences in your sight tape has never before been possible, and it is game-changing. I have personally verified the density altitude feature shooting at a 3D mountain goat target at 160 yards at over 10,000 feet of elevation. Using my sight tape that was built for 5,000 feet as is, I shot clean over its back. Then, using the same sight tape but getting a calibrated hold for 10,000 feet, I adjusted my sight accordingly (I had to cut about four yards off), shot again, and hit the target three out of three times. Using PCA, I was able to determine that the difference between accounting for the elevation and not was about 15 inches at 160 yards. If my sight tape had been made for sea level instead of 5,000 feet, the difference would have been 25 inches!

Establishing Your Home Pin Position

Most bowhunters don’t put enough thought into choosing the best home position for their bow sight. Like so many others, they simply position the pin guard such that the top pin is 20 yards and don’t think any more about it. In this article, I am going to discuss the real advantages that are available when optimizing the home position of your scope housing. I’ll also discuss a couple of methods for determining the ideal position for your setup. The home position (or any position of your scope housing for that matter) is only as accurate as your sight tape. Now that we have an accurate sight tape built, we can move on to the home pin.

This article is not intended to be a tutorial on using PCA to develop a sight tape. The software has its own set of instructions and is very easy to use; I’m just going to hit some highlights. Once your bow and arrow setup is fully populated in the profile,

The following discussion is going to be mostly applicable to bowhunters using a slider sight, regardless of whether it’s a vertical single pin or a

sight, there are many advantages to a slider sight that will be discussed here and I have already discussed in previous issues of Western Hunter. I highly recommend upgrading from a fixed pin sight to a slider sight. A slider sight has advantages compared to a fixed pin sight because it allows you to have fewer pins and still have extended shooting range. Also, most importantly, a slider sight allows you to dial for an exact yardage/distance so that you are not pin-gapping on longer shots.

What is The “Trick Pin”

Have you ever heard of anyone talking about a “trick pin” setup for a bowhunting sight? The trick pin setup is essentially a clever method for choosing the home position of your primary pin (top pin) so that you have the maximum amount or range accuracy from a single pin. The idea behind the trick pin is to be able to accurately use a single pin to hit the vitals (plus or minus three inches) of an animal from 10 yards out past 40 yards; again, with just a single pin, without moving the pin and all while aiming at the same spot.

This is accomplished by finding and utilizing the part of the arrow trajectory that has the least amount of arrow elevation change over the longest horizontal distance. To fully understand the concept, you must understand that after an arrow is released, it will gain a certain amount of elevation and then start dropping elevation, meaning there is a peak in the trajectory. The part of the trajectory around the peak results in the least net elevation change and the flattest part of the trajectory for the longest horizontal distance.

The concept behind the trick pin is to set the home position of your primary pin for an appropriate distance/yardage to utilize the flattest part of your arrow trajectory. For most bowhunters, that pin position is going to correspond to between 50 and 57 yards, depending on your arrow’s velocity. The exact distance can be determined by figuring out the range distance that results in a 15-inch-tall trajectory over the line of sight. 15 inches is a common selection for a trick pin starting point because it is based on a common 12 inches (1 foot) plus 3 inches (plus/minus 3 inches for a vitals diameter of 6 inches). 12 plus 3 inches is 15 inches on the high end, and 12 minus 3 inches is 9 inches on the low end.

It’s actually easier than you would think to determine what yardage/distance results in a 15-inchtall trajectory. You can use archery software like Precision Cut Archery (more on this below), or you can go to the range and do some trial-and-error shooting, knowing that the vertical peak of the trajectory occurs at the horizontal halfway point of the shot distance. So, for instance, my Hoyt Alpha X 30 has a 15-inch-tall trajectory when I shoot for 56 yards.

This means that if I shoot an arrow from 28 yards from the target (half of 56 yards), using my 56-yard pin to aim, the arrow that I shoot will land 15 inches above my intended aiming point. Now if I continue to aim with my 56-yard pin but now I shoot from only 11 yards from the target, my arrows impact 9 inches above my aiming point (I determined the distance of 11 yards for my setup based on trial-and-error shooting).

Lastly, if I still use my 56-yard pin to shoot when I am 46 yards from the target, my arrow again impacts 9 inches above my aiming point (again, I determined the distance of 46 yards for my setup based on trial-and-error shooting). The shots from both 11 yards and 46 yards result in my arrows impacting 9 inches high because of the two-sided nature of the trajectory. So, at 11 yards, my arrow impacts 9 inches high, at 28 yards my arrow maxes out at 15 inches high, and at 46 yards my arrow again impacts 9 inches high. This means that from 11 yards to 46 yards, my arrows only change a max elevation of 6 inches. 6 inches was my target spread, mentioned above, based on a vitals diameter of 6 inches. Putting it another way, my impacts are 12 inches high plus or minus 3 inches.

Now, where this concept really blows people’s minds. You can apply this concept to a hunting scenario. What this means is that no matter the distance of the shot from 11 yards to 46 yards, I can use my pin set at 56 yards to aim knowing that my arrows will always impact high of where I am aiming a minimum of 9 inches high and a maximum of 15 inches high (12 inches plus or minus 3 inches).

So, if I use my 56-yard pin to aim anywhere from 11 yards to 46 yards from my target and I intentionally aim 12 inches below the vitals, my arrows will actually impact the vitals. The trick to using the trick pin in a hunting situation is knowing how to judge 12 inches on an animal so that you can systematically aim 12 inches below where you intend to hit.

Being able to use a single pin and a fixed aiming point from 11 yards to 46 yards is very advan-

The trick pin system takes advantage of the top 6 inches of an arrow’s trajectory, where the arrow’s vertical height changes the least compared to the greatest horizontal distance. The 6 inches is user defined and conservatively represents the diameter of a deer’s vitals.

tageous; what’s even more advantageous is not hav ing to know the exact range estimate in that span either. As long as I know I am somewhere between 11 yards and 46 yards from the target, I can use my 56-yard pin to aim 12 inches below the vitals and I will hit the vitals every time. Let the profound ben efit of the trick pin sink in for a little bit.

Configuring the Trick Pin

For you, the easiest way to figure out this sys tem is to go to the range. Set your pin to 50 yards as a starting point and shoot at a sticker on the target from half that distance to the target, 25 yards (50/2 = 25). Use a tape measure to measure how high above the center of the sticker the arrows impact ed. Or, better yet, put a piece of tape 15 inches above the sticker so you don’t have to keep measuring. If the arrow group is consistently less than 15 inches above the aiming point, back up a yard to 26 yards, set your sight for 52 yards, and shoot again. Repeat this process, potentially backing up in half-yard increments, until you find the yardage that results in your group being 15 inches high. Once this yardage is determined (for me it was 28 yards from the target with my pin set for 56 yards, 28 x 2 = 56 yards), lock that pin there and start us ing it to shoot at the other distances to determine the two yardages where the arrows impact 9 inches above the aiming point. For me, this happens when I use my 56-yard pin to shoot at 11 yards and 46 yards from the target. Before the advent of the double pin, or even the triple stack (vertical three-pin), the trick pin

The author uses an online archery software called Precision Cut Archery

was incredibly valuable for a single vertical pin sight. That’s not to say the trick pin system is not extremely valuable for a double pin, triple stack, or even a multi-horizontal pin sight; it certainly is. I love the system, it just might not be for everyone. It can be a touch complicated to figure out the system, and intentionally aiming 12 inches low can feel a bit unnatural for some.

It can also feel confusing aiming 12 inches low when using the trick pin system inside of 46 yards, but then holding with your pin truly on target at 50 yards for example. It can be confusing and lead to mistakes. You certainly need time for a lot of prac tice intentionally aiming 12 inches low. You need to work that practice into regular “aim on target” prac tice so you can switch back and forth without mak ing a mistake in the heat of the moment.

If the Trick Pin Isn’t Your Jam

If you do not want to use the trick pin system, I’ll describe a simpler approach for determining a good home position for your sight. With this sys tem, you aim on target, just like you normally would. Ultimately, the home position of your pri mary pin should be as low as possible (furthest range possible) and still land an arrow inside the vitals from any distance inside that range of your primary pin. That distance for me is 31 yards. The maximum height of my arrow’s trajectory at 31 yards is about 4 inches and it occurs at 16 yards (half the distance of the shot).

I consider the vitals of a big mule deer buck to be about 8 inches, which is plus/minus 4 inches. Ideally, I’d like to be inside a 6-inch diameter (plus/ minus 3 inches as I illustrated for the trick pin setup), but shooting 4 inches high (or low) will still be lethal most of the time. Also, I should mention that just because I set the home position of my sight so that my top primary pin is 31 yards, that doesn’t mean that my sight tape starts at 31 yards. I generally start my sight tapes at 10 yards, but that does not affect the home or base position.

Remember the home or base position is the position that you set your sight to in standby mode when you are walking around hunting. Specific to your arrow’s trajectory, the home position should be optimized to yield the longest effective range distance for your top pin. Just like for the trick pin, you can figure out the ideal home position for your top pin by trial-anderror shooting at the range. For most bowhunters, the ideal top pin range is going to be between 20 and 30 yards. Place a sticker on the target, which is your aiming point, and then place a piece of tape 3 to 4 inches above the center of the sticker. You decide the height to put the tape corresponding to the vitals diameter you want to consider. Using your 20-yard pin to aim at the sticker, shoot an arrow at half that distance to the target (10 yards). If you hit below the tape, step back to 11 yards and shoot again, now using your 22-yard pin to aim. Repeat this process until you find the yardage where your arrows hit the tape. Keep in mind that you may need to step back in half-yard increments. If you consistently hit the tape at 12 yards, your ideal home primary pin position is 24 yards.

Conclusion

This article was deep. I know it was deep because it took me forever to write it! If you can invest the time into digesting and putting into practice the concepts I discussed in this article, you will have a significant advantage in the field. I am a big believer in the 90/10 rule. It states that 10% of the hunters kill 90% of the game. The reason why the top 10% of bowhunters are so successful is because of attention to details like optimizing the home position of a sight and making a perfect sight tape. If you can separate yourself from the masses by putting these concepts and others into practice, I am confident you will find more success in the field.

Once you figure out your trick pin position, you can then use that pin to figure out the two distances where your arrows impact the tape that is 9 inches above the orange shoot-for sticker.

To determine an ideal home position for his sight, the author was able to use Precision Cut Archery to identify the shooting distance that results in a 4 inch tall trajectory.

The author confirmed shooting at the range that aiming with his 31 yard pin but shooting at 16 yards from the target results in the arrow impacting 4 inches high.

Pre64Win.com RIFLE REVIEW

Wandering a local gun store’s used gun rack, I noticed the distinct floor plate of a Model 70 Winchester sitting in the rack. I picked up the rifle to see it had been vandalized by it’s owner, carving his initials into the stock and engraving a series of numbers that appeared to be a Social Security number. What an abomination. I asked the salesman what the deal was with the rifle and why they even took it in, considering its condition. He replied,“I have no idea, but ill take a loss on it today if you want it.” Say no more – the rifle went home with me and straight to the work bench.

With a little work I was able to file and sand out the engraving on the receiver without changing the natural lines of the receiver (no before photos as I didn’t plan to make something from the rifle initially). After a thorough cleaning, I reassembled the rifle and went to the range to see how it would shoot. After several brands of factory 30-06 ammo, it was clear the rifle wasn’t going to shoot well and went back into the safe for a couple years until I decided what to do with it.

I am not above chopping a Pre-64 Winchester to pieces to build a custom rifle on the receiver when the rifle is no longer of any value in its original state, and this rifle was definitely in that state. I have always been fan of the Winchester Model 70 Pre-64s and have had been following a company called Pre64Win.com on social media. I decided to reach out to them and see their interest in a vision I had for a Model 70 build with a wood stock and carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel to create a modern marvel. Justin Hale, the owner of Pre64Win.com, was more than eager to assist in the project, and after a few phone calls, the rifle would begin its transformation.

could fit in a traditional Winchester wood stock with minor work and without comprising the integrity of the stock. This barrel would be threaded to the receiver and chambered in 280 Ackley Improved, as the Pre-64 was a standard long action. The 280 AI is an amazingly efficient cartridge and is my all time favorite long action, standard bolt

with a Timney Winchester trigger tuned to 2.5 lb. I finished the rifle with Talley Signature Steel rings and bases, topped with a Swarovski Z6 3-18 optic.

Pre64Win.com did a terrific job uniting the weathered receiver built in 1959 with the modern PROOF barrel wrapped in 2023. Today, many think its wrong or taboo to customize old collectible rifles, but I think if the men running the old machines knew they were making an iconic receiver that 60 years later would be refit with the most technologically advanced barrels in history, they would approve.

COLTON BAGNOLI

HUNTING & SHOOTING EDITOR

PHOTOS BY NATE BISHOP

The rifle turned out exceptional and really does not need a full write up to talk about components and build specs. At the range, the rifle shot as ex pected with factory and hand loads stacking groups in the sub-1/2" range at 100 yards. I settled on a hand load of 145-grain Hammer Tipped Hunters with Petersen brass, Federal 210M primers, and a full case of IMR 4350. This load shot very well and would be the ideal hunting round for the rifle’s ap plication.

Heirloom Quality

The craftsmanship and component combina tion made for one of the most beautiful and unique rifles in my safe, and it was a joy to carry in the field this past fall for whitetail deer. I was able to take a nice whitetail doe with the rifle after a single off-hand shot with my youngest daughter along for her first hunt at age three – the first of many hunts this heirloom rifle will see for my children and me. If you’re a Winchester Model 70 fan like me, be

The author’s daughter, Leighton (3-years-old), has claimed the rifle as her own when she gets big enough to hunt her first deer.

THE LOST JOY OF READING

A HUNTER'S REFLECTION ON NOSTALGIC LITERATURE

A“A larger form detached itself from the group and sneaked off to the left. Even at a quarter of a mile or so I could see a big gray body and heavy, many-pointed antlers.”

~ Jack O’Connor, The Big Game Animals of North America

n unintended consequence of aging is the development and refinement of a perspective and if we are lucky, perhaps a tidbit of wisdom. Claiming wisdom doesn’t come easy for me, as I feel like I’m humble enough to allow that compliment to come from others if they see it as a trait they choose to apply. With thoughtful reflection comes this perspective, and only through brutal honesty with oneself can we self-evaluate this presence of any wisdom. Everyone has certainties they believe in, and when we have consensus on these beliefs, it’s fair to assign a level of importance to them.

Recently, I’ve become a bit nostalgic on many things because I am to the point in my life that I

take stock and notice of the massive changes we’ve undergone. My lifespan starting in the 60s has allowed me to see and experience the technology evolution almost in its “to date” entirety. My kids who are now grown adults are the most obvious reminder to me of what we have seen develop and also lost. I have many friends in their 20s and 30s, and they also affirm in my mind what I am concerned about.

I worry that technology has stolen the joy of reading a book for generations to come, and possibly forever. As a son to a single mother, in my childhood my mom was always reading books. We had a television with a basic antenna and maybe 4-5 free channels but that was the extent of tech-

The Beginnings

The first book I have any recollection of is a strange one for a five-year-old boy from divorced parents with absolutely ZERO familial hunting heritage. It is Big Game Animals of North America by Jack O’Connor. This was a larger coffee-tabletype book and was one I literally wore out by thumbing through the pages, reading and absorbing the color paintings of each big game species and the black and white line drawings of the book. I faintly remember the book finally losing its binding, falling apart, and me throwing it away, possibly in high school.

This book was published in 1961 and is relatively dated by todays hunting techniques. I’m guessing I had my copy before the age of five and probably struggled with understanding it even though I was an above average reader for my age. There was a chapter dedicated to each big game animal of North America, and this also included wolves and even jaguars! Each chapter had a fullpage color image that was a painting of that species. The artist would frequently include a distant hunter involved in stalk on the animal or simply as a part of the painting. At one point when I was probably in elementary school, I remember cutting some of these color images out of the book to tack up on my bedroom wall – desecration of a treasured object thinking back on how much I enjoyed this book. Fear not. The idea of this article inspired me to track down a used copy, so once again this book is in my possession, and I consider it almost like a family heirloom.

Spine-Tingling Tales from Alaska

The second book that I consider highly impactful from my childhood is a book published in 1965 and written by the former director of Alaska Fish & Game, Frank Dufresne. The book is essentially six decades old, yet the writing and the stories hold up to this day. A polished and crafty writer, Dufresne goes through story after story of curious, alarming and deadly bear tales, and his prose is absolutely captivating. The title implies a preservationist mentality by the author, but don’t let that dissuade you. It’s about

his concern for the loss of wildlife habitat in the face of increased level of extraction of natural resources on public lands, in particular the potential logging at the time on Admiralty Island in Southeastern Alaska – an island purported to have the highest density of brown/grizzly bears in North America.

nology in our lives. I spent my youth outdoors, and when there were times we were in the house and bored as a kids, my mom would encourage us to read. She bought my sister and I books and fostered the love of reading in us. What is interesting in my reflections is how much of an impact these books had on me growing up and into adulthood and possibly, unintentionally helped carve out the path I maneuvered down through in my life. I know I had many books as a kid, but there are a few that really stick out in my memory and also are books I still have to this day or have repurchased. I’m the weirdo that after some period of time, I will re-read a book that I enjoyed just because it was that good.

The one chapter that I found most memorable is titled “The Twenty-Fifth Bear.” The premise was put forth by a legendary guide in Alaska, Hosea Sarber, who felt that one out of 25 bears is set to do battle against a human in an encounter for reasons not easily explained; not the protective sow with cubs or the mature boar who’s guarding his moose carcass, but just a bear with a chip on its shoulder or one in a particularly bad mood. This chapter will grab your attention and paint a picture that even a photo could not match. A brief excerpt follows.

“Call it premonition, sixth sense, or what you will, Hosea, who was not in the habit of loading the chamber of his rifle until he was ready to fire, drew back the bolt and eased a cartridge into firing position. The operation was barely audible – a light oily snick But it triggered an explosive roar, followed by a crescendo of trumpet blasts that reverberated through the forest. The spine-chilling outbursts seemed to come from everywhere. The instant he heard them Hosea mounted quickly to a windfall and ran upward until he stood on the leaning trunk fifteen feet above a dense patch of devil’s-club. He knew now that the beast had been watching him. With the hateful scent of man in its nostrils it had been silently closing in for the attack at the very second Hosea’s hunch had caused him to work the bolt of his rifle. Hosea thinks the grizzly still remembered the slight, metallic click that had preceded a rifle blast on another October day. (One year previous to the exact date)

Each species specific chapter of The Big Game Animals of North America by Jack O’Connor is prefaced with a vintage looking copy of a painting done by artist Douglas Allen. Although over six decades old, the buck is still a fun and interesting read by arguably, America’s most iconic outdoor writer.

MIKE DUPLAN HUNTING EDITOR

In its baffled fury the bear thrashed about in heavy cover trying to flush out the man enemy. By climbing to a point overhead, Hosea had suddenly cut off his fresh scent. Air currents that had a ten dency to swirl upward were all at once lost to the bear. Looking down on the crazed beast now, there was no longer any doubt in Hosea’s mind that this was the grizzly who had taken a man’s life. In all his years of working among bears in Southeastern Alaska he had never witnessed such rage; had never seen a bear so determined to attack. Unable to see its foe, its roars and rapidly ejaculated chuff-chuff of clashing teeth changed to whining eagerness.

Midway in its crashing leaps the bear froze motionless. A vagrant down-scent had carried Ho sea’s location to its nose. It rose on its hind feet and for ten long seconds looked upward to study the face of its enemy. Hosea’s shot was cool, unhurried and accurate.”

This is a book I have re-read a few times through the years, purchased for others, and have recommended as a great read for lovers of wild places and wild things. It has been republished once in 1991 and is still not too difficult to locate a copy of though Amazon and other used book resources.

The Allure of Africa and Mbogo

When I entered high school, a pleasant distraction from school and social pressures was the library. It was my first introduction to the pages of Outdoor Life, Field and Stream and Sports Afield magazines. The current copy of each issue was displayed in a clear magazine binder with back issues on a shelf underneath – an unlikely scenario in this day and age with all the safe spaces needed for our sensitive members of society. Along with these hunting and outdoor magazines were copies of

“

To spend a few days

tiptoeing around the brush looking for a bull at a tag-you’re-it distance is perhaps the most tense, nerve-wracking hunting in the world.”

hunting-related books at the library. I’m guessing my name was on the sign-out card for every one of these books.

In the magazines could be found the contemporary gun and hunting writers of the day. Jack O’Connor was replaced on the pages of Outdoor Life by Jim Carmichael who was a prolific hunter and writer. In Sports Afield, there was Thomas McIntyre and, most importantly for me, Peter Hathaway Capstick. There might not be another writer who captured the imagination in a generation of young men reading these magazines like Capstick did, and I would bet that his writings were the inspiration for thousands of hunters of my generation to make their first pilgrimage to the Dark Continent.

Capstick wrote with an informal style that flowed with ease yet painted vivid images in the minds of readers like a painting from Rembrandt. Colorful analogies, metaphors and descriptions of encounters with dangerous game animals and the African bush were magical to almost everyone who read his writings.

The magazine articles were a gateway drug to his series of hardcover books of which the most notable is probably Death in the Long Grass. This book is broken down by dangerous species that had chilling moments and laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes from his time in Africa. Anyone who has read this is sure to have a few memorable excerpts that struck a chord, and some might recall the hilarious take Capstick had on a huge black mamba taking up residence near the camp latrine.

Cape Buffalo are the most legendary and storied animals on the African continent by hunters which would make them pretty high on the list of

the most-written-about big game animals on the planet. Capstick writes in the Cape Buffalo chapter, “The most impressive fact about the buffalo is he has virtually no weak points. Jumbo and rhino are myopic in the extreme, but a bull buffalo can read the want ads in dim light across Times Square. The talent of his big, scruffy, thorn-torn ears is incredible, fully the equal of both lion and leopard, which he outweighs by many times at no apparent cost in blinding speed and maneuverability. His sense of smell is practically supernatural when he stick his big black nose like a #10 jam tin into the wind – as good as elephant or rhino and much better in ambient air than any of the cats. He is a living arsenal of weaponry for use against jerkwater hunters or preoccupied Africans, offering a Chinese menu choice on your shortcut to Glory with horns that can disembowel a locomotive, hooves like split mattock-heads, and up to a ton of bulk that can roll you into a fair resemblance of shaggy tollhouse cookie mix. What’s more is if you cross him and get caught, he will display a singular lack of reluctance, regardless of race, color, or creed, to give you a nice, home demonstration of his talents. If you are planning on hunting the mighty buff, you had best give some thought to putting your affairs in order. In the thick stuff, where he loves to loaf away the fly-filled, hot afternoons, he has the edge, not you.”

It’s tales like this that captivated my imagination as a young man, and I honestly think they created a desire and stimulus to go hunt in Africa. What is without question is that many who have hunted in Africa will say much of their inspiration also lies within the pages of a Peter Hathaway Capstick or Robert Ruark book.

WSF will be sending one lucky winner to join Jana Waller Bair on an ultimate, fully guided mountain caribou experience to the unspoiled wilds of Spectacular Northwest Territories with Stan Steven and Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters.

HUNT DETAILS:

September 28 - October 4, 2025

All-inclusive: License, commercial airfare to and from Norman Wells, air charter, and overnighting accommodations included.

Tickets are only $60

Drawing closes on June 30th, 2024

Winner’s name will be drawn on July 15th

wildsheepfoundation.org

Jana Waller Bair is the host and executive producer of Skull Bound TV and Skull Bound Chronicles, a hunting and conservation series in its 15th season. A lifelong hunter, Jana was appointed a Wildlife Commissioner in Montana in 2021. After serving her term, she moved to Utah with her husband, John Bair. Jana is a proud member of nine conservation organizations, including the Wild Sheep Foundation.

Mike Duplan

~ Peter Hathaway Capstick, Death in the Long Grass

Mule Deer Country!

In the early 90s a series of books were published by Voyager Press featuring the writings of world-renowned wildlife biologist Valerius Geist. Dr. Geist, a Canadian, was generally regarded as an authority on ungulates and wild sheep, and his knowledge and experience with studying these animals made up a body of information that I devoured through this series of books. Voyager Press published quite a few wildlife photo books that carried a pretty interesting and in-depth look at various species, but the three that I purchased were part of a series that seemed to be hunter-friendly and provided solid information. At the time, I was obsessed with big mule deer at the expense of most other hunting, so Dr. Geist’s Mule Deer Country was a book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

The book was a bit of a compilation of Dr. Geist’s writings that also gave equal billing to the incredible color photos in the book by wildlife photographer Michael H. Francis. What I found interesting were the “whats and whys” of the species, and I honestly think that the insights into animal behavior gave me a competitive advantage and led to motivation and success as a hunter. Additionally, Francis’ photos fueled my imagination of the kind of bucks I hoped to find and hunt for myself someday. I read these books as I was coming of age as a hunter through trial and error and still have them in a place of prominence on my bookshelf to this day.

A poignant chapter in the book is the last one titled, “The Mule Deer’s End.” Geist writes a bit prophetically that the mule deer as a species is a bit of an evolutionary dead end and will eventually be taken over and replaced by the more vigorous species, the whitetail deer, in time. He saw and articulated some of the challenges mule deer face, but as we have seen since this book was published in 1990, challenges and threats to mule deer have amplified concerns for the species. Dr. Geist writes, “What can be done to save mule deer? There are a number of responses possible, all hard decisions and none very palatable. Exterminating whitetail deer on mule deer ranges or manipulating habitat on a massive scale to deprive white-tailed deer of security are neither practical nor feasible solutions. Likewise, promulgating hunting regulations that would affect a decrease in the number of large white-tailed bucks and allow a relatively large number of large mule deer bucks is hardly a cheerful prospect for hunters. It would mean foregoing virtually all hunting of large mule deer bucks where mule and white-tailed deer overlap. Clearly, gaining public support for such a management policy would require a herculean effort. In the meantime, however, we can assuredly expect mule deer will continue to lose ground to the whitetail.”

The other two books from this series I have are Elk Country and Wild Sheep Country – from both of which I garnered great reading and natural history on the species. What I have learned in retro-

spect is that successful hunting is much more than a simple cookbook to rely on recipes from expert hunting writers but the ability to apply the knowledge you have acquired about the species and a reflection on the trial and error of hunting experiences to work for success. These books gave me some solid information as I came of age as a hunter.

A Sheep Hunting Legacy

The last book that I choose to profile is one that has had a profound impact on me as a hunter and fueled a fire within me that still burns hot. The book is Great Rams and Great Ram Hunters by Robert M. Anderson, published by Collectors Covey in 1994. It was in the late 90s and I was writing some self-described, amateur-ish pieces for Trophy Hunting Magazine, and I saw the book advertised in another publication. I contacted Collectors Covey owner and proprietor, the late Bubba Wood, and asked him if he would like to send me a copy to do a book review for the magazine. Mr. Wood obliged and soon enough, a tightly packed copy of the book arrived by mail. I opened it with the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning.

I literally devoured the book and absorbed the sheep hunting lore like a dry kitchen sponge. Robert, “Bob” as his friends call him, had a style and ability to write like very few I have ever seen. Conversational tone replete with some original colloquialisms made for some very comfortable reading, yet at times the sentences and writing craft were such that it made me stop, read them again, and pause for reflection. Nowhere have I ever seen sheep hunting lore played out with that level of reverence and romanticism, and that is high praise considering the peer that came before him in Jack O’Connor. Bob would be the first to admonish me for even suggesting this, but like the old axiom, opinions are like... you know. Everyone has one.

The book is laced with black-and-white photos from sheep hunts from the past to some hunts that occurred in the few years prior to Anderson’s astounding compilation of these images. One can only imagine the diligent letter writing, phone calls and time required to put together this 255-page coffee-table-style book and the hundreds of photos and stories that comprise the body of Anderson’s work – done completely without text and email communications!

The book is chaptered into nine stand-alone sections that take the reader into different locations and eras and also profiles men and women who obviously were driven to do what very few have. Bob writes in the preface to his book his thoughts and inspiration related to hearing about an old café on the outskirts of Dallas that was leveled in the name of progress and hearing that the sheep mounts that adorned the walls of the establishment were simply thrown in a dumpster, “Gradually I began to realize that a very disturbing thing was quietly happening. Many of the

old-time sheep hunters were passing from the scene, along with an enormous legacy of memories, accomplishments, photographs, and trophies, and there was apparently no way to preserve this heritage. Great Rams and Great Ram Hunters evolved as a tribute to those hunters from the past. Thus, a very significant part of this book deals with hunts and hunters who are gone forever. But we must also remember that today is the past of tomorrow. So, this book also includes many contemporary photographs, stories, and memories of today’s generation of sheep hunters in the hope that these can also be preserved for the education and enjoyment of tomorrow’s generation.

Let’s face it. Our world is moving away from sport hunting, and our children are less likely to become hunters than we were at their age. Just what the answer is to all this, I do not know. But I believe we can all do much to preserve the sheep hunting history of the past.”

Anderson’s body of work in sheep hunting literature is pretty much without equal. Three additional volumes of Great Rams have since been written and published after the first book, and Anderson has penned a book on Jack O’Connor, two volumes of of Asia notable hunters.

know Bob and am lucky enough to call him friend. It was an honor for him to include photos and sto ries of some of my rams in the follow-up editions of the book and allow me to be a part of this trea sured legacy of sheep hunting lore and tributes. I consider him a mentor in writing and hope not to embarrass him with this statement. Bob makes me want to become a better writer. Bob paid me a compliment once in regard to my hunting accom

plishments. It is a statement that flattered me and one I’ll never forget. He said, “Duplan. If you were

Stepping back and looking at this group of

tion equal causation? Would my life be the same without these books? It’s thought provoking, no

“ The old bighorn will lead a man into the most beautiful country he’s ever seen. He’ll wear him out, give him buck fever, and break his heart: but if the hunter is the type that’s susceptible to sheep fever, he’ll never be completely happy hunting anything else.”

~ Jack O’Connor,

The Big Game Animals of North America

doubt, but there really isn’t a way to prove nor disprove this theory. What is quite apparent to me is that my adventure and hunting dreams link up strongly to books that I consider memorable. I’ve pursued these imaginative and inspired dreams my entire adult life and will continue to do so. Our world has changed massively in the over five decades I have been on this planet. Many children are exposed to reading at a very young age and still carry a love for turning pages and getting lost in the story into adulthood. Unfortunately, some are corrupted by electronics, thumb scrolling and a fast-food approach to information gathering that, in many experts’ opinions, are a detriment to society and human interactions. Reading has been shown to put our brains into a state of relaxation and induce a pleasurable trance-like state that is similar to meditation. It can bring the same health benefits as that of deep relaxation and inner calm. The joy of reading is something we must not allow future generations to lose. What I do know is that I am grateful for my mother instilling the joy of reading within me. The unlocking of the imagination and the cultivation of dreams I have manifested to come true have followed. I encourage readers of this to go back and re-read those memorable books. Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane and allow yourself to be captivated by the writing and the joy of reading a book. After, pass it on and share the legacy.

IDAHO’S HELL’S CANYON

t was mid-August 1972 when Tony Dawson and I set out to explore some new country in Idaho which we believed to be a place where big mule

deer bucks could be found. It was my first opportunity to hunt big game in Idaho after almost a decade in the U.S. Army and graduate school, and I was eager to explore this exciting new possibility.

Tony was in his second year of veterinary school and shared my enthusiasm for big mule deer. In addition, he was as diligent as I in researching whatever fish and game harvest and management information. It wasn’t until the early 1970s when Idaho Fish and Game began assembling data to develop a long-range wildlife-management plan and detailed regional species management plans.

George Dovel was both a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot who had spent decades working with Idaho Fish and Game and had a unique perspective

I obtained a copy of The Outdoorsman during the spring of 1972 and was delighted to find mule deer harvest data for several management units in the upper reaches of Hell’s Canyon which straddles the border of Idaho and Oregon. The harvest data for the Hell’s Canyon units was exceptional for mule deer with four or more points. The area was so isolated that many folks did not even know of existence of the plateau sitting in a loop made by the Salmon River where its northerly course swings west to meet the Snake River upriver from Lewiston, Idaho.

I had purchased the USGS 7.5-minute topo maps at their office in Moscow, Idaho and had plotted our route into this area, not knowing just where we might end up. We had basic food, a tarp and sleeping bags & pads. Tony’s mostly rebuilt Toyota Landcruiser was our vehicle of choice, given the remoteness of the area and unknown condition of the gravel/dirt road leading from the Salmon River up to and across the Joseph Plains. We got an early start, and by the time we reached the Salmon River and crossed the only bridge from where it swings North and West for 87 miles to its confluence with the Snake River, we knew we were in for an adventure. As we began our ascent up the grade on a narrow gravel road, gaining 3,000' in elevation with 16 hairpin turns, we knew this road was not designed for anyone experienced on driving on treacherous mountain roads.

About half-way to the top of the grade, we pulled off the road at a switchback where we could gaze into the bottom of the canyon more than a thousand feet below. We had decided that this was to be a scouting trip and chose not to overtly “advertise” that we were hunters looking for a place to hunt, discretion being the rule. We had been there for a few minutes when we could see a 1950s-era Ford flatbed truck laboring up the grade below us.

on the significant decline in deer and elk populations state-wide. As part of his advocacy for scientific big game management in 1969-1973, he published The Outdoorsman in newsprint. As a result of his efforts, The Outdoorsman is credited with helping restore scientific game management. In the early 1970s, Idaho made radical changes in hunting opportunity. Archery permits were required for the first time in 1975 by all archers taking part in special archery hunts or separate archery seasons; 6,257 archers harvested 252 deer in 1975; 3,100 archers took 78 elk. Quotas limiting non-resident deer and elk hunters began in 1972. There were fewer resident deer and elk hunters in 1975 than any year since 1957.

might be a local rancher. The brakes squealed as the truck ground to a stop just feet from where we were standing. The “cow dog” standing on the flatbed growled and showed us his teeth. Almost simultaneously, the driver growled, “What the hell are you guys doing here? This is all private land and you need to get the hell out of here.”

I politely replied, “We just stopped to stretch our legs and will be moving on shortly.” With a glare that would equal that of a rattlesnake, he put the truck in gear and headed up the grade. Tony and I knew there were some big ranches up here but we had no idea of where the property lines might be.

Feeling a little bit intimidated, we proceeded up the grade, staying our distance behind this not so jolly rancher.

We were about two switchbacks from the top of the grade when Tony spotted a small mule deer buck across the canyon and pulled over on the first wide spot. With Tony intent on looking at the buck with his binoculars, I suddenly became aware of another vehicle approaching us. It was a brand-new Chevy Blazer. The driver wore a big cowboy hat and had a grin that went from ear to ear. He said, “Hello” as he stepped out of the Blazer and shook my hand. “I’m Cal, and this is my wife, Michele. What are you guys up to so early in the morning in a place like this?” Tony was an enthusiastic ama-

teur photographer and had his “long lens” Canon on a strap around his neck. I replied, “Tony likes to take wildlife photos and we are looking for some mule deer to photograph.”

Cal’s smile broadened and he said, “We have lots of mule deer over at the ranch. I’m the ranch manager on the Spencer Ranch. It is clear out across Joseph Plains overlooking Hell’s Canyon. If you would like to follow us to the ranch, we can see if we can find some mule deer for you after we finish our morning chores. We made a grocery & supplies run to town yesterday and have some hungry critters to take care of first.” Tony and I simply could not believe our good fortune after being scolded for just being parked on the side of the road a few minutes earlier.

As we followed Cal and Michele on the narrow county road, it eventually turned into “ranch roads” and their countless wire gates that wound around on the high ground above the many draws and timbered canyons that drained off to the north, south and west. The big drainages had timbered stringers on the north-facing slopes and native bunch grass on the south and west facing slopes that made it a wonderful place for ranching. We wondered about where the mule deer might be. Occasionally there were well-worn “No Trespassing” or “No Hunting” signs on a gate or fence post.

Cal Samsel and his trademark ear to ear grin.

Cal and Michele Samsel’s gracious hospitality led from a chance meeting on a remote Idaho road to a lifelong friendship with the author and his hunting partners.

We helped with the afternoon chores and enjoyed a great supper, after which we visited with Cal and Michele about the ranch, the area’s history, and eventually its wildlife. Cal confirmed that there were mostly very large cattle ranches on Joseph Plains, comprising nearly 100,000 acres. Most were operated by managers who took care of the cattle at the “top” pastures and then moved down to the Snake or Salmon Rivers with the cattle for the winter. The grass down by the river, which had not been grazed all summer, was sufficient to maintain most of cattle through the winter. Mail and supplies were delivered by the “mail boat” from Lewiston, Idaho, and at least one ranch had a landing strip along the Salmon River where the mail and supplies were delivered via a Super Cub. It was, indeed, a remote place; so isolated that only the most determined adventurers ever got there, especially in the winter when snow depths prevented nearly all access.

Michele had breakfast ready before daylight, and just as the sun was breaking in the morning, we headed out with Cal to the “breaks.” What was a matter-of-fact morning for Cal was simply unbelievable for Tony and me. The primitive ranch road wound up a brushy draw behind the ranch house and popped out on a huge flat. A half-dozen mule deer bucks were grazing on the flat and bounded off into the breaks of the Snake River as we got near them. Cal simply drove the truck along the rim and stopped periodically for us to walk out to look into the head of one brushy draw after another. Every draw had a mature mule deer buck or two bedded in the shade of the brush, and once they were aware of our presence, they bounded off down the ridge toward the river. It was simply unbelievable!

Cal dropped us there on the rim where you could see the Snake River. We walked all afternoon for miles, glassing into the draws and canyons that coursed down to the Snake River and marveling at the number and size of the bucks that came out of

the draws. Needless to say, all of Tony’s photographs were of bucks bounding downslope as we never saw them until they spotted us.

That afternoon, we thanked Cal and Michele and began our journey home in a quandary of just what to do, knowing we had found an absolute mule deer Mecca, but uncertain as to just how to get access for hunting. As we pondered what to do as we were winding down the grade to the Salmon River, we discussed the topic of just who should take lead on “next steps.” He would be graduating from vet school in two years and unsure of his next destination and I would be living in the area longterm. So, it seemed reasonable for me to lead from that point on.

Reaching Out – Lessons Learned From the Farm

Fifty years ago, I knew nothing about reaching out to strangers seeking permission to hunt on their private land. I thought about what protocols could guide me in seeking permission to hunt in this unbelievable newfound hunting area. Reflecting back on my youth, growing up on our Washington family farm, where each fall mule deer hunters from Seattle would come to hunt our property, I reflected upon how my parents reacted to strangers seeking permission to hunt.

Hunters who asked permission well before the hunting season were usually welcomed each year. We didn’t have “ranch rules” but politeness and simple common-sense practices of not driving in fields, obstructing gates, and being considerate of how and when hunters asked permission seemed to be most important. Deer livers were the most offered post-hunt gifts which my mother accepted enthusiastically. Some hunters gave my brothers and me big Hershey’s chocolate bars, but when a hunter gave my father a box of Peter’s 30-06 ammo, that cemented our relationship with that hunter and his wife for life!

Armed with my experiences on our family farm, I decided to take a thoughtful approach with the goal of building upon our initial visit with Cal and Michele. I wrote them a thank you letter and later called them on their 1950s telephone whose land line was strung from tree to tree and an occasional post in to the ranch from somewhere off toward Whitebird, ID. You never knew if they would be able to answer or if the line was down somewhere. During our conversation, Cal and mentioned that he was expecting some school teachers from Grangeville, ID, coming to hunt the first week of the season. He said the Spencer family allowed a few hunters who had some association with the ranch to hunt, but it was only a handful of individuals. My call was simply a friendly follow up to my letter and to say hello, so I mostly listened to his updates on the ranch work, cattle, weather, and such. Near the end of the conversation, he asked if we were hunters, being that we were from Washington and out exploring areas in Idaho most people didn’t even know about. I told him I had hunted mule deer on our family farm in Washington. He then told me about a remote area of the ranch where nobody that he knew of had hunted in the past. It was the breaks above where they wintered their yearlings on the gassy benches along the Snake River. He said the country was, “as steep as a cow’s face” and that we could hunt that area if we did not mind packing our deer out of the Snake River breaks. He had spent many years in the wil derness, packing for the U.S. Forest Remount facil ity near Missoula, Montana so I knew he knew how to use USFS maps. I told him I had good, detailed topo maps and asked if I could call him after sup per the next night to make sure I had found the correct location.

I pulled out my topo maps of the area, and from his description and the name of the drainage flowing into the Snake River I was able to locate the area which I thought to be the place he refer enced. At the time there were no ownership maps available unless you requested them from the coun ty assessor’s office, but he did describe the fencelines in the area between the Spencer Ranch and neighboring ranches. When I called him, he con firmed I had found the correct location. He wished me luck, and I told him I would follow up after the hunt with a letter and perhaps a telephone call.

First Hunt

Tony and I purchased our $135 Idaho Nonresi dent Bird, Big Game licenses and deer tags at Ward Hardware in Lewiston, Idaho. With our licenses in hand, all we had to do was get our gear together and make a plan for opening day of Idaho’s deer season. In those days, we never thought of wearing camo and made do with what we had. I had a few items I had purchased at one of the annual winter sales held at the Eddie Bauer store in Seattle, WA, which I added to leftover Army gear.

We decided to drive into the area the day before opening morning so we could get our bearings and compare the topo maps to the actual terrain. We followed the primitive road Cal had described that led across the rim of the breaks off the main road to a saddle at the top of the breaks where we could see all the way to the Snake River. It was evident that no vehicles had been here all summer, so we knew this spot was indeed remote. We warmed up our pre-made supper and sat on the edge of the rim, making as little noise as possible, glassing for deer until it got dark. Neither of us slept much that night, and we were up before daylight.

Instant oatmeal, Carnation Instant Breakfast and coffee warmed over a can of Sterno made for a quick breakfast. Lunch would be salami, cheese, crackers, sardines, Snickers bars, and an orange. It was a warm, sunny day so we carried several Nalgene containers of water. I had my topo map, 7x Navy surplus binoculars, Marble’s knife, nylon cord, and two halves of a mattress cover for meat bags. I had backpacked elk quarters on my REI pack frame on our farm, but had never thought about backpacking a mule deer. A Pendleton wool shirt, Eddie Bauer down vest and hat, and my U.S. Army issue

“rangefinder” 3-9x scope, completed my gear list. Lunch, water and essentials were stowed in an Army issue rucksack which was strapped to my REI pack frame. I was 30 years old and had been hunting chukars in the river breaks below Lewiston, Idaho, for a month, so I felt up to the task of getting a deer out of the breaks if I was fortunate to find a “good one.”

Tony was anxious to get going, and we almost stumbled upon two mature four-point mule deer bucks less than a quarter-mile from our camp. Either one would have been a real trophy and the biggest mule deer I had ever seen while hunting. Tony was an adamant disciple of the Boone and Crockett scoring system and was constantly throwing B&C scores around the time we jumped a buck on our summer trip to the ranch. I knew very little about B&C scores, and a nice mature 4x4 would have been just fine for me. He immediately said, “They aren’t big enough,” as I dropped into a sitting position. He was so adamant and talking so loudly that the bucks sprinted off down the ridge into the breaks. He scolded me for not waiting for a buck that would score high under the B&C system.

When you’re hunting with someone whom you

ner(s) that generally apply, especially when two hunters are seeking “trophy” animals and hunting together. I was surprised by the scolding and told Tony that I simply wanted a 4x4 mule deer and B&C didn’t matter to me. He then informed me of his “rule” for two hunters hunting together that the person who spots an animal first has the choice of stalking that animal or “passing” it on to his hunting partner. During my previous hunting experiences with others, we were both just as excited with our partner’s success as we would have been with our own. Puzzled by this new rule, I decided there would be enough bucks for both of us and let him run “lead dog.”

We proceeded around the rim, glassing into the canyons below, Tony always out in the lead and me trailing behind, wondering about this “rule.” It was a stunningly beautiful day, and I was simply enjoying the scenic beauty of the canyons and brushy draws. We had gone about a half-mile and came to the ridge above a deep, brushy canyon leading down to the Snake River. When we got to where we could see across and into the canyon, we approached with as much stealth as possible so as not to skyline ourselves.

Tony’s glasses were focused on the opposite side of the canyon, so I looked down into the bottom of the canyon. There, browsing in the shade, was a magnificent mule deer buck. I didn’t say anything and laid my pack frame and rucksack on the basalt rock in front of me and immediately had the buck in my scope, less than 200 yards. I whispered, “Be quiet, I’m going to shoot this buck.” Tony saw the buck I had referenced and immediately started talking, “He’s wide but not tall enough, and the points are not long enough.” The buck was now aware of our presence and looked up our way. I pulled the trigger and the .240 Weatherby with a

As we made our way down the brushy, rocky slope, Tony kept admonishing that I should have waited. As we reached the buck, the concept of “ground shrink” didn’t apply, and Tony got very quiet. Later, he “green scored” the buck just short

Before you choose to hunt with someone, spend time understanding their ethical and other hunting practices and expectations. Safety comes first, followed by ethics and unsaid practices which have been handed down through families or simply personal “rules.” I was able to hunt with Tony under his “first to spot gets to choose” rule for two additional years. However, since I was always in much better physical shape than he was and a better hunter, I was the one who got the biggest deer or elk on our outings. This led to jealousy, which will ruin even

The author and his great 1972 Hell’s Canyon mule deer buck he took on his first hunt in the new area.

Cal left us on the rim where we walked for miles and could see all the way to the Snake River some 3,000 feet in elevation below us.

SPRING BEAR 101

A“OFF-SEASON”

Optics

The type of optics you use is important for spring bear hunting. I trend toward high-magnification binoculars in the 15x to 20x magnification range. I stabilize them by glassing from a tripod. I will also use my 10x binos on a tripod to give me a larger field of view and allow me to cover country faster with the glass. Binoculars are preferred over a spotting scope, as the long days and high amount

s the mountains and landscape start to awaken after winter, so do bears, emerging from their dens to feed and bulk back up before the next winter’s hibernation. In many places, this also signifies the beginning of the first big game season of the year – an opportunity to chase bears. When it comes to finding spring bears using spot and stalk strategies, the hunt can be challenging, but the right tactics can get you into bruins and help you find success. I am going to break down what you need to know to get you out this spring and into bears.

Hunt Strategy

When spring bear hunting, glassing is my main strategy. I pick a good glassing vantage over prime bear habitat. Then, I sit, watch, and pick the area apart. Bears’ solitary nature makes turning them up difficult, so the best way to find them is with your optics. It often involves long sits over good country.

I target country where I can look over multiple potential feeding areas and let my eyes do all the walking. Once I’ve found a suitable bear, I get into position or relocate closer to the target area where I’ve seen bears if I am glassing from a long way off.

Find

the Food

Bear hunting is all about finding their food. As bears emerge from their dens, food is a main pri ority. Find the food, find the bears. This food source will change through the spring, but new growth and grass are high on the list. As the spring continues, the menu shifts to flowers and tap roots as well as fawns and elk calves as a supplement to their diet.

Knowing that a bear’s mind is on food, feeding areas are where I concentrate my effort. I look for places where the snow will burn off and provide good green-up. Fresh shoots of forage are the most nutritious, and bears target them in the spring. These can be the edges of timber, clearings, steep rock slopes void of timber, avalanche chutes, edges of shale slides, logging clear cuts, roadway edges, burn scars, and anywhere that opens up the ground

Where to Look

For spring forage, I look for that neon green color of new growth, these are the most vibrant and nutritious buds and grass. You will notice that early in the spring, these bright green patches in other wise dull landscapes are attractive to bears. As the spring moves on, I also look for new budded edible plants and flowers on slopes that may have held snow longer like north exposures. I also focus on areas of high elk or deer concentra tion like calving areas. These areas are often south slopes with more sun and graze from mid-May

Play the Weather

Current weather conditions and the previous winter conditions are determining factors in bear movement and where they may be found. Light winters often make hunting earlier successful, as higher concentrations of bears are out, but it also disperses the bears more across a range of areas. This draws them away from the steep canyon denning areas and into more mid-range timber country. Lots of snow may be better for concentrating bears in smaller pockets, making it important to locate good feeding areas closer to potential denning. This often occurs higher in the mountains or canyons.

Higher magnification binoculars are a huge asset on spring bear hunts.

By stabilizing your binoculars on a tripod you will experience less eye fatigue.

Burns are a great place to find feeding bears in the springtime.

Spring bear hunting is all about finding their food sources. Find the food, find the bears.

Bears are notorious for not liking the open. You have to watch areas where they might be able to

pop out.

Chris Auch

Chris Auch

Chris Auch

In hot conditions, locations with water are more desirable for bears. Water allows them to stay cool and also have good food if conditions are dry in other places. Targeting streams, springs, wet patch-

Long Game

Spring bear hunting can test anyone’s patience. I think of it as hours or even days of boredom fueled by minutes and seconds of sheer excitement.

Good glassing vantages are the key, but bears are notorious for not liking the open. They travel the shadows, live and feed in brush that can conceal them, and also like to work during the night. Because of this, you have to watch the areas where they might be able to be seen for a long time before they pop out.

If you find somewhere that looks good, sit down, get comfortable, and give it time. Have plenty of snacks and stay observant. A bear might only

give you a few minutes of being out. This means you have to be watching. Play the long game, and in the end, you will come out on top more times than not.

By finding the food, glassing those areas, being patient, and putting in the hours behind the glass, spring bear hunting can be extremely successful and the best time of year to get out and chase bears. If you want more spring bear hunting tactics, you can find my recent two-part series about spring bear hunting (Episodes 115 & 116) on my Live Wild Podcast, available on my website RemiWarren.com or anywhere podcasts are found.

Shooting across canyons is common on spring bear hunts. You want to keep an eye on where they go while they are moving and then you may have to get as close as possible and wait on them to come out.

a good vantage spot and get comfortable for a long sit. Patience is the key to spotting spring bears.

By finding the food, glassing, and being patient, spring bear hunting can be extremely rewarding.

in Canada or Alaska. This clothing works well in temperatures from zero to fifty degrees, but most of it is versatile enough to use throughout the year. It keeps me warm, dry, and extremely comfortable on my hunts.

Headgear

CAT SUIT

MY CLOTHING PICKS FOR THE PERFECT LION HUNTING OUTFIT

When I am hunting my dogs, I am actively hiking 75% of the time. As a result, I am typically warm enough to wear a standard trucker-style hat. These usually have a mesh back, so they are wellventilated and do not get as wet from perspiration. I try to avoid wearing hats that will get soaked in sweat and later become cold or freeze in extreme temperatures.

Most of the time I prefer to wear a standard hat because I am constantly utilizing a hood on my shell jacket or anorak as I am hiking. I am a huge fan of hoods on my jackets and consider them essential to my hunting. Wearing a hood keeps my head, neck, and face warmer, and most importantly keeps snow, sticks, and debris from falling down my neck.

Once the temperature drops below 20 degrees, I will start wearing a stocking hat as well as my hood. I am not very particular about what fabric the hat is made of, and I always carry an extra one in my pack. If one of my hats gets wet, I always want a backup in my pack.

If I end up sitting at a lion tree or having to stay out overnight in an emergency, having a dry hat will make a huge difference in keeping me warm. They are lightweight, and I consider them cheap safety gear during my winter hunts.

and are comfortable as hell. Sometimes when I am hunting, it warms up enough late in the day that I often will hike just in my base layer, and a midweight merino seems to be perfect.

I usually do not wear a base layer bottom unless it gets below 20 degrees, but when I do, I use the KUIU ULTRA Merino 145 zip-off bottom. I absolutely love these bottoms and when it gets colder, they pair up nicely with both pairs of pants I use. The zip-off feature makes them easy to remove if I do overheat, and they are light enough that I do not mind carrying them in my pack if I need to.

Mid Layer

For a mid-layer top, I like to wear a fleece or a light down jacket. This should not be too big or bulky as you will overheat while hiking. If no precipitation or snow is falling out of trees, I will hike in my base layer and my mid layer. If I’m worried about getting wet, I will leave it in my pack and wear my shell until I stop moving or get cold and need another layer. If I am riding a machine or in zero-degree temperatures, I will wear all three layers and it seems to be perfect.

Jacket

Baselayer

My favorite thing to use for an upper body base layer is a long-sleeved merino wool t-shirt. I often rotate between two based on the temperature I will be hunting in. They keep you warm, wick moisture,

I love this jacket as an outer shell and wear it for most of my hunting. It does a good job of keeping me warm in cold, windy conditions, but also has vents if I overheat when I am hiking. It’s a soft-shell jacket but it still keeps me dry, and I love the fact that it has additional chest pockets for my phone and GPS.

hood and lace-up collar. When the temperatures drop, I like the anorak because it keeps my head, neck, and face warm. The anorak that I have is light and is not a burden to carry. These two jackets go

hunting with me every day. I carry whichever I am not using in my pack in case I get wet or must be stationary for an extended period. It gives me peace When I started lion hunting, I had a real problem finding the perfect pair of pants. Wool pants were too warm most of the time, and everything else was too light or not water-resistant enough. Nothing satisfied me until I found the KUIU Guide Pant. The micro-fleece lining makes them perfect for most winter weather. I have worn them at zero degrees with my zip-off base layer and at 50 degrees with the vents zipped open and no base layer. They work great for about 95% of my winter hunting, and I even wear them around town or sledding with my children.

If the temperature drops to single digits or below zero, I usually go back to wearing my wool pants. I am sure that the Guide Pant would be warm enough if I added a heavier base layer, but when it gets that cold, I still prefer to wear my Filson wool pants. Wool pants are extremely warm, and I really like wearing them on those zero-degree days.

Gaiters

I have destroyed at least six pairs of gaiters since I got my first hound pup. I tried different brands but had similar results. After I ruined a couple of pairs, I decided it would be a good idea to

A long-sleeved merino wool t-shirt is my go-to baselayer for winter lion hunts.

A good pair of gaiters are essential for winter lion hunting. have tried many different brands but if I had to choose one, the First Lite Brambler is my favorite.

The KUIU Guide Jacket has a water resistant shell and micro fleece lining. love the pocket layout, hood, and zipper vents underneath the armpits. It handles cold temperatures and wind well, but with the vents open can be worn on warmer days. In this photo my dogs have just jumped and treed a mountain lion they had been trailing all morning.

keep two sets so I would have one to wear while returning the other one. At one point, a customer service lady told me she didn’t think their product was a good fit for me. She was right...

Meanwhile, one of my main hunting buddies started wearing First Lite Brambler gaiters. Those things are tough, they don’t rip, and they are reinforced to handle the type of hunting that I do. When this winter ends, I’m going to throw mine away and order some Bramblers for myself.

Socks

Most of my hunting is done at or above freezing, so a lightweight merino wool sock usually works well with my 400-gram boot. When the temperature drops below 20 degrees, I switch to the KUIU Strong Wool sock. Earlier this year I was hunting at zero degrees with my Strong Wool socks and my 400-gram boots. My feet never got cold, and I was comfortable all day.

Boots

When it comes to footwear, everyone is different. What works well for me may not be a good fit for someone else. I cannot recommend a specific boot to you, but I can tell you the style of boot I prefer for winter lion hunting.

For 10 seasons of lion hunting, I wore Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400-gram boots. I think it’s impressive that they lasted as long as they did, considering how hard I used them. I put some serious miles on those boots, and they didn’t start leaking until the last few years. The only problem I had with them was that they were a little narrow for my feet. When it got below 20 degrees, my feet would get extremely cold due to circulation issues. When the Mountain Extremes wore out, I decided to try something different. The boot industry had exploded, and I wanted to see if I liked some thing better. I finally decided on the Whites Loch saw 400-gram boot and have been using them for a couple of years now. They keep my feet warmer, have slightly better traction, and my foot has never

gotten wet other than from perspiration. They don’t seem to be holding up as well as the Kenetrek boots did, but time will tell.

Gloves

The one piece of my lion-hunting outfit that I haven’t perfected is my gloves. It seems like every year I am trying something new and unable to settle on a specific brand or type. What I can say about gloves is that I always carry two pairs with me, no matter what.

One pair is usually lighter, and I prefer them to have fingertips capable of operating a touch screen. It’s funny how times have changed, but that’s a huge part of my hunting. My Garmin dog tracking GPS has a touch screen and it’s essential for me to operate it regularly throughout the day. Nothing is more annoying than pulling your glove off every time you need to use your GPS or smartphone.

My second pair of gloves is heavier and is usually carried in my pack with my hat and extra jacket. They usually serve as a backup in case my other gloves get wet or I am riding a machine and need a warmer pair of gloves.

Pack

My main hunting pack is an EXO Mtn Gear K1. I bought it from a co-worker about seven years ago and have been using it almost exclusively since. It’s a great pack for hunting big game, and I like the fact that I can pack on the frame itself or inside the bag if I choose. I usually haul elk quarters with the frame and bear and lion hides inside the bag. I’ve also occasionally used the bag to haul my daughter, and it works surprisingly well. What I like about it is its ability to collapse down and expand based on my needs. I keep what minimal gear I need collapsed down in the bag with the compression straps. When we kill a lion, I expand the bag to accommodate the hide and meat for the hike out. The compression straps hold ev erything securely to the frame and minimize un

Two years ago, I packed out a huge bear hide with this pack. I put it inside my bag and used the compression straps to secure it to the frame. There was no unnecessary movement when hiking, and it felt like one solid load. When I got home, I weighed the pack at just over 90 pounds. I was really impressed by how it performed.

When I’m lion hunting, I try to keep my pack as light as possible. It weighs about 15 pounds, and my gear includes a knife, fire starter, lighter, headlamp, license, and 50' of parachute chord. I carry extra clothing in the form of a stocking hat, gloves, and my anorak, which collectively weigh less than two pounds. The heaviest items are my water, pistol, and ammunition.

Conclusion

There are a lot of options when it comes to hunting clothing. I used to think it didn’t matter much, and it took me a long time to start trying new things. When I finally did, I was blown away at

ons makes for some very long, cold, and wet days. Do yourself a favor and invest in quality clothing

Hunting during the winter months requires wearing proper clothing. If you don’t, you will end up wet, cold, and miserable. Take the time to research and invest in a quality suit and pack. It makes a huge difference, trust me.

Lion hunting requires a warm and dry boot. I prefer mountaineering style boots with 400g insulation.

I love the versatility of my EXO pack. Its adaptable design handles gear, hindquarters, hides, and even children!

FLESHING & SALTING

SKINNING AND FLESHING A-Z – PART 3 OF 3

Traditional Knife Technique

I

n Parts 1 and 2 of this series, I discussed the method I like to use when it comes to the skinning and detail fleshing of an animal’s face while in the backcountry. In this article, I want to cover the final steps to preserve your trophy’s cape without ever heading to town for ice or supplies.

With all the flesh removed from the face and the ears turned, it’s time to remove any remaining

First, with a sharp knife, you can methodically remove all the tissue. I recommend starting at the top of the neck and working toward the shoulders and brisket area. You’ll notice that the skin is usually very thick at the back of the neck, but gets thinner as you approach the front throat area. As a result, you’ll want to be more careful anytime you’re trimming near the center of the cape, including the brisket and armpit areas. The goal of the fleshing process ultimately is to remove any and all tissue that is not skin. This includes muscle, fat, and hypodermis (a layer of connective tissue that separates the skin from the muscle).

By removing all the tissue, we can maximize the effectiveness of the drying process (which we’ll discuss later), so we want to be very thorough as we flesh the body. Again, this can take a few hours if it’s a big animal, so I would recommend finding a comfortable seat under a shaded tree. (Note: If there are lots of flies landing on the hide as you work, don’t hesitate to loosely apply black pepper to the skin, as it works wonders as a fly repellent. A little stash of black pepper in a zip lock bag can go a long way to keep meat and cape free from the egg-laying pests.)

As I mentioned, though, there are two ways you can accomplish this task. The second, much faster method, is to utilize what’s called a fleshing knife. A fleshing knife is a two-handled knife with a stout blade that is used to essentially push the flesh off the hide.

Fleshing Knife Technique

Most fleshing knives are also double-edged, meaning they have a blunt edge and a sharp edge. In many cases, the blunt edge is actually used to remove the remaining tissue, which is ideal because it will not cut through the skin itself. To accomplish this, the hide needs to be placed on a smooth board or log and secured in place so it won’t slide as the knife is forced against the flesh. To secure the hide in place, it’s generally positioned with the head skin cupped around the end of the board, which prevents the cape from sliding as it’s being worked with the knife. Since it’s unlikely to find a log in the backcountry that will fit your cape perfectly like a fleshing beam would, you can also loop the snout of the cape over a shortened branch. Or, if that’s not an option, you can even sit on the head of the cape as you work the neck and shoulders.

In terms of technique with a fleshing knife, you’ll want to start at the upper neck as well and work down toward the shoulders and brisket. If possible, use the dull side of the blade and firmly push the flesh straight away from you and off the skin. There will be times when the dull side of the blade won’t grab the tissue with this technique and you’ll need to use the sharpened edge, which will bite into the tissue to push the tissue off.

With this technique, you need to be certain you are pushing parallel to the hide and not into it, as you can easily penetrate the skin. Essentially what you are doing is scraping the hide with the sharpened edge of the blade by pushing it straight forward. When you come to an area where the tissue will not budge by simply pushing it off, you’re going to want to use a simultaneous push-and-slide technique. In other words, as you push forward with the sharpened edge of the fleshing knife, you slide the blade to the right or left in a traditional cutting fashion.

In this method, the heavy force applied by the pushing easily lacerates tissue when it is slid from side to side. The danger with this technique, though, is that it is very easy to unintentionally cut through the hide itself, so you want to be sure the face of the blade is held at an angle nearly parallel to the hide. In this case, you are using the fleshing knife to cut, not scrape, so care is needed. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the throat and brisket areas are generally much thinner than the back skin. When you approach these areas with a fleshing knife, particularly the brisket and armpits, you want to be a bit more gentle as you work the flesh off the cape, as too much force can actually tear the thin skin. With the flesh completely removed from the hide, the hard work is behind us.

Drying

In the event that your animal died in a creek or got soaked during a downpour, you’re going to want to get it as dry as possible before you salt it. Like an article of clothing, one way to remove a lot of water is to wring it out. To do this, hang it from a branch and begin twisting/squeezing the entire hide, starting at the top and working down to the shoulders/ brisket. This process alone should remove about 90% of the water that was soaked into the fur, and in many cases will probably be sufficient.

If you’re concerned about it, though, there’s one more step that can help remove the majority of the remaining moisture, and it’s a good old-fashioned towel. Now, I realize most backcountry hunters are not equipped with full-sized beach towels during

their hunts, but even a small shirt will do the job. Again, starting at the head, simply rub the towel or shirt into the fur and work your way throughout the entire length of the cape. If it gets soaked with water, wring it out and keep drying until the fur is

Salting

The only task that now remains is to apply salt to every last inch of the cape. Salt has been used as a preservative for thousands of years. It preserves skins by drawing the moisture out of the hide, expediting the drying process. When it comes to spoilage, the two main contributing factors are heat and moisture, as they promote bacterial growth.

Bacteria within a cape can often lead to disastrous consequences, including eventual hair slip

NICK GEHRING TAXIDERMY EDITOR

With the detail fleshing of the head finished, all that remains is to flesh the body and salt the entire hide.

A fleshing knife makes short work of a big project. Here, the author pushes the knife forward on the cape to force the flesh from the skin.

Most fleshing knives, like this one by Necker Knife, have one sharp edge, and one blunt edge. In this case, the author is using the sharp edge to grab the flesh as he pushes it forward.

After only a few minutes of using the fleshing knife this early-season buck cape is finished and ready for salt.

With the cape completely fleshed, it’s time to salt the hide. Salt expedites the preservation process by drawing moisture out of the skin and killing bacteria in the process.

For this deer, I used about four pounds of salt. With the hide completely salted, you’ll want to lay the cape salt side up on a hill or bank. This allows the moisture that is drawn from the skin to drain with the assistance of gravity. If possible, place the

skin in direct sunlight and where wind will blow across it, as this will also help in removing mois ture. After a few hours, the cape can be hung in a tree to allow air to circulate around the entire pelt. When you do this, you want to be careful not to knock all the salt off the pelt. Since the salt will be damp, it will cling to the skin quite well if you’re careful. You also want to hang the cape in such a way that you minimize the creases in the skin, as these pockets will trap the moisture that’s being pulled from the hide. Areas to pay attention to will be the bases of the ears and the cups of the nose and chin areas. I would recommend checking the hide each day to confirm that it’s drying properly. If necessary, add salt where necessary.

Well, there you have it. At this point, as long as an animal doesn’t mess with it and the cape isn’t soaked in a rainstorm, your trophy hide will be preserved pretty much indefinitely. Eventually, it will start to become hard like a shingle, at which point it can be removed from its hanging location and folded into a neat little package for hauling out of the mountains.

Fleshing an animal in the field isn’t at all diffi cult, but it does require a plan and some important supplies. If this fall finds you far from the trailhead with a trophy on the ground and time on your hands, I hope this series helps you preserve your cape, sparing an unnecessary trip to town to find a

By Bob Lacher

Alaska truly is a sportsman’s paradise. But (and this is a big but) hunting there is extremely difficult and without the right equipment, experience, or enough money it is at times almost impossible. The country is so vast and virtually roadless compared to the lower 48, that without an airplane, horse string or snowmobile most of the state is out of reach. If you want to better understand this then you need to read “Alaska Raw”. Lacher is a native Alaskan and his book a detailed look into many of his adventures. His writing style is incredibly engaging and easy to read and difficult to put it down! From Unimak Island to the Brooks Range using boats, planes and snowmobiles while hunting caribou, bears and Dall’s sheep, these true stories are captivating.

freezer or taxidermist. While in most cases you’ll probably need to get the meat out sooner than later, keeping the cape in your care can ensure it stays in top condition until it goes to your taxidermist back home.

By David Long & Mike Duplan

The modern mule deer hunter must be willing to outwork, outthink and outhunt both his competition and the highly educated mountain mule deer buck.

In the book “The Edge – The Complete Approach to Hunting Mountain Mule Deer”, authors and mule deer hunting experts David Long and Mike Duplan have collaborated to bring the reader insight into just what it takes to be successful when hunting mature mountain mule deer. “The Edge” will show the steps involved to increase your chance of success and the reader will learn that there is now a year round approach involving, fitness, conditioning and nutrition. order your copies today at www.westernhunter.net

BUILT FOR ADVENTURE

Rubbing salt into the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears will ensure that no voids are missed.

Placing the salted cape on a slope will help fluid drain from the cape. After a few hours, the skin can be hung in a tree to completely dry.

Alaska Raw

The Edge – The Complete Approach to Hunting Mountain Mule Deer

SITKA BLACKTAIL

AN INCREDIBLE HUNT WITH AN ELEMENT OF DANGER

Afew years ago, I was on Kodiak Island, Alaska, home of the largest brown bears in the world. However, I was not there for the king of bears. I was actually there for the Sitka blacktail deer. The difficult part about hunting deer on the island is it often takes work to avoid the brown bears while you are hunting. Even more important, and exceedingly more difficult, is avoiding them after you harvest a deer and the smell of blood is in the air.

Species Background

There are five species of deer in North America that are recognized by Pope and Young and Boone and Crockett. They consist of the mule deer, whitetail deer, Columbia blacktail deer, Coues deer, and the Sitka blacktail. Although each is amazing in its own unique way, the Sitka blacktail is right up there as a pretty amazing deer that only resides in a few areas in the northwest area of North America. They are native to British Columbia in the north coastal region as well as mainland Alaska in the southeast coastal forests. They are also found on many islands off the coast of Alaska like Kodiak and Afognak.

FRED EICHLER

To put it in perspective for those interested in score, it only takes 75 inches to make the minimum for entry into the Pope and Young record book and 108 inches to make the minimum for Boone and Crockett. So, if huge racks are what you’re after, I would stick with whitetail or mule deer.

I have been fortunate enough to hunt Alaska multiple times for Sitka blacktail and have harvested them with both a rifle and a recurve bow. I have hunted Kodiak Island for the most part but have also hunted them on the mainland of Alaska as well as Afognak and Raspberry Island. I’ve had a few encounters with brown bears, including one where I was backed up to the beach on the edge of the water and was determined to shoot if one particularly nasty bear took another step. Fortunately,

My favorite way to hunt these deer is with my recurve during the rut, which is generally late October through November. This is one of my favorites because the deer are moving all over and decoys can be super effective. On the hunt a few years ago that I started describing at the beginning of this article, I brought along a secret weapon – a Montana decoy that was a Sitka blacktail. The first deer I showed it to was over half a mile away and I silhouetted the decoy against the sky.

up a bit and hid behind the decoy. That buck had come to under five yards when I shot. (This hunt is on my YouTube page for those interested in seeing it.) Decoying Sitka blacktails can be a super effective way to hunt them because they are not used to decoys and therefore can often be fooled into coming in for some amazing close-range action. When it comes to decoys, I prefer a Montana decoy as it only weighs 2 lb and folds up to easily fit in your backpack. In the lower 48, for whitetail and mule deer, I often use a doe bleat or grunt call. However, I shy away from doing that on Sitka blacktails, as I’ve heard some unfortunately true horror stories of brown bears slipping in on hunters that were using deer calls. Let’s just say that in the stories I heard, it worked out better for the bears than the deer hunters.

Gear Selection

Since Sitka deer are relatively small, one doesn’t need a heavy-poundage bow, and I believe 40 lb is the legal minimum. So, I usually tell fellow bowhunters that whatever they use for whitetails will work just fine. As for rifle calibers, pretty much anything will work, but I am partial to a .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor for Sitka blacktails. I worry more about getting a super lightweight rifle made in stainless steel with a synthetic stock and a quality scope than I do about the caliber. Odds are you will be hiking, and you will also probably be hunting in the rain, the snow, or both.

Other gear I suggest for a Sitka deer hunt includes quality rain gear and clothing, for obvious reasons, as well as comfortable, waterproof boots. I also suggest chest-high neoprene waders, as I often end up just hunting in them. Almost every drainage in Alaska has a flowing creek or bog that you must cross. A satellite phone or radio is a must in

Bear Deterrents

I want to mention bear protection since I have been in several situations where a handgun or shotgun has kept me from getting mauled. I am a firm believer in having something along to help defend yourself in case of an issue. I like a handgun over pepper spray. To each his own, but I don’t consider pepper spray lethal force. Additionally, something rarely mentioned is that if you use pepper spray outdoors and the wind isn’t in your favor, you hit the ground in pain as well. Unfortunately, I know this from experience.

As for calibers on handguns for backup, I suggest large. However, I often don’t follow my own advice and have carried small caliber handguns in the past, just using the sound of my gun going off to deter angry predators. I still suggest something

large in case you actually have to shoot an angry animal, and I prefer a .41, .44, or 500 with Hornady MonoFlex bullets. If a handgun doesn’t fit the bill, then I suggest a shotgun. I alternate between 00 buckshot and slugs. If either one of those won’t stop what’s after me, I guess I will just be fly bait. To avoid any potentially dangerous situations while hunting Sitka blacktail, where you could run into a big bear with an attitude, I suggest hunting with a partner. I also prefer to try and shoot deer in areas where I can get them out quickly to camp or a boat. I also never have both of us working on the deer at one time. I prefer to have one person work on the deer as quickly as possible while the other stands guard. The only exception is if the deer goes down in a very open spot where a bear coming in can be spotted a long way off.

Worst-Case-Scenarios

If you think this all sounds overcautious, try spending a few weeks on Kodiak Island in a tent with a deer hanging, or talk to one of the guides who work on Kodiak. There are horror stories every year and way too many close calls. Every year, several bears are shot in situations where the hunters have no choice. This is called a DLP (Defense of Life and Property) situation. A bear taking your deer is not a situation where you can legally shoot the bear. In this case, the deer becomes the bear’s, and you have to leave. I am referring to situations where you don’t get the option to retreat. By explaining some of the things to be prepared for, I am not suggesting you don’t go, nor am I trying to exaggerate the potential danger of hunting in Alaska or British Columbia. I am actually trying to encourage people to go on a Sitka deer hunt, as they are amazing animals that live in beautiful country. Just be prepared, because when it comes to gear or a self-defense weapon. I figure it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Sitka blacktails are very susceptible to decoys.

I like to place the decoy where I’m sure that the deer can see it, showing a silhouette whenever possible.

My first Sitka blacktail that I took 30 years ago.

The author’s sons with a pair of great Sitka blacktail bucks they got took using a .308 rifle.

n The author with a great Sitka blacktail buck he took during the rut. The rut can be a great time to find bucks cruising for does.

& FITNESS HEALTH & FITNESS

MAXIMIZE YOUR SQUAT

In the realm of strength training, few exercises hold as much importance and reverence as the squat. Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or someone seeking to pack you and your buddy’s sheep off the mountain with a smile on your face, mastering the squat should be a cornerstone of your training regimen. The squat not only targets a plethora of muscles in the lower body but also offers numerous benefits beyond sheer muscle mass. With each squat, you’re building resilience, stability, and power, ensuring your knees stand strong against whatever challenges come your way.

In this article I will share my insights from my many years of training and education from the best in the industry in regards to squatting and how it translates to the backcountry. We will focus on the three rules for squatting, proper bracing techniques, and a few examples of squat variations. Let’s explore the vital role of squatting in building leg strength and unlocking its full potential.

First, let’s have a little tête-à-tête about squatting. This can be just between us if you’re one of those who don’t think it’s useful.

Sold on Squats Squats will improve your balance. Ever felt like you’re the one who is always slipping and falling in the backcountry? Or do you embarrassingly get down on your hands and knees on a wide mountain ledge like you were tiptoeing on a tightrope, one misstep away from disaster? It’s time to restore that balance. Squats aren’t just about pumping iron; they’re about harmonizing your muscle groups to keep your knees steady and surefooted. Strength is the precursor to balance; don’t ever forget that. By engaging multiple muscles simultaneously, squats banish those pesky imbalances, paving the way for smooth, injury-free movement.

Life’s an obstacle course, throwing twists, turns, and bends at you when you least expect it. That’s where squats come in – they’re your secret weapon for staying nimble and agile. By taking your knees, hips, and ankles through a full range of motion, squats keep them limber and ready for anything life throws your way. Say goodbye to stiffness and hello to effortless mobility. If you always just hike with a pack and use only a few degrees of knee range of motion (ROM), then when you have to go down to one knee or make a big step up, you haven’t trained that ROM and it can lead to disastrous results.

Train full range in your squats and have healthy knees that can handle anything. If you are saying to yourself “But Wardo, I heard that squats are bad for your knees! They break down the cartilage!” The fact is that couldn’t be further from the truth. Research suggests that squats can actually boost cartilage health by stimulating its production. Think of squats as a spa day for your knees, pampering them with nutrients and support to keep them cushioned

The key rules for squatting are legitimately the only things that matter when squatting, if anyone tells you differently, smack them in the mouth and tell them to come talk to me. In the realm of squatting, adherence to these three

Distribute weight evenly across the heel, big toe, and pinky toe. This fosters

Rule 3: Center the body’s mass directly over the middle of the foot. This enhances control and power, facilitating a smooth and efficient squatting motion. Together, these principles form the cornerstone of safe and effective squat execution, empowering individuals to reap the full benefits of this essential exercise.

Foot Positioning

Maintain a shoulder-width stance with toes slightly turned outward for optimal hip and knee alignment. To dig a little deeper, no two persons’ hips are equal on this planet. Where the hip attaches to the socket can be formed differently from one person to another and even from one side to another. So, don’t let anyone tell you this is the EXACT foot position needed to squat. There isn’t one. The perfect squat follows the three rules I have listed above, and that’s it.

Hip Mobility

Prioritize mobility exercises to ensure adequate depth and range of motion, reducing injury risks. The hip is a very mobile joint, and while I don’t need someone to squat 400 lb with their glutes touching the floor, I do need people

to possess the correct amount of mobility to sit in the bottom of a squat for 4-5 minutes without much effort. You also should strive to have as equal mobility between both hips as possible. For instance, my right hip always gets more tight than my left hip due to a previous injury, and because of this I constantly work on it. If I let it get out of hand, my squat gets all wonky and that can lead to injury and poor squatting performance.

Spinal Alignment

Keep the spine neutral throughout the movement to evenly distribute load and prevent injury. I mean, do we need to say much more than this? Remember this phrase “Where the spine starts it should finish.” Now, it can move a little, it just shouldn’t move suddenly or a lot through the squat.

Breathing and Bracing

Inhale deeply before descending, engaging core muscles to create intraabdominal pressure for enhanced stability. This needs a whole section to chat about. Well, it needs a whole article... which may be coming down the pipe.

This is as simple as it gets. Weight stays equal throughout a lift with the pressure on each of those red dots. 1st MTP, 5th MTP and the bottom center of your calcaneal bone (heel).

This is maybe the most important and challenging rule to follow at any point in almost any movement. The bottom of your ribcage and the top of your pelvis should start parallel to one another and finish parallel to one another.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Enhancing Stability

Effective bracing involves tightening the muscles around the spine to establish a stable foundation, reducing injury risks and enhancing performance.

Intra-Abdominal Pressure

Inhale deeply to fill the abdomen with air, increasing pressure and spinal support. Think about inhaling in a 360-degree circle as if a belt was around your lower stomach and you were breathing into the entire surface that’s touching you.

Core Engagement

Activate core muscles. What are your core muscles? Everything in your torso from the deepest stabilizers against your spine to the obliques on the outsides. This maintains stability. You should feel everything get tight and not suck back in. Never pull your stomach in to get strong.

Consistency

Maintain consistent intra-abdominal pressure and core engagement throughout the squatting motion to prevent injury. On the way down and the way up, your brace should stay consistent – there should be no weak spots. The most common weak spot I see that can lead to injury or a weak squat is once you hit depth then start to come back up. Maintain as you go deep into the squat, and then, as you come up, brace hard and push hard through the floor.

Variations and Sets/Reps for Backcountry Athletes

For backcountry athletes, incorporating a variety of squatting movements and variations into their training regimen can provide comprehensive benefits. Here are some examples along with suggested sets and reps.

Back Squat

This classic squat variation targets the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and lower back.

• Sets/Reps: 3-4 sets of 3-5 repetitions

Front Squat

Placing the barbell in front of the body shifts the emphasis to the quadriceps and core muscles.

• Sets/Reps: 3-4 sets of 8-12 repetitions

Split Squat

This unilateral exercise improves balance and stability while targeting each leg individually.

• Sets/Reps: 3-4 sets of 10-12 repetitions per leg

Bulgarian Split Squat

This is similar to the split squat, but with the rear foot elevated on a bench or platform, increasing the range of motion.

• Sets/Reps: 3-4 sets of 10-12 repetitions per leg

Sumo Box Squat

Performing squats onto a box or bench helps control depth and reinforces proper form. The wide stance also places a lot of emphasis on the hips which leads to stronger squats and more robust performance in dynamic environments.

• Sets/Reps: 3-4 sets of 3-5 repetitions

Zercher Squats

This is an amazing movement for mid-back strength and feels very similar to a lot of real-world strength situations. Squeeze that bar hard to your chest,

Incorporating a combination of these squat variations, along with appro priate sets and reps, can enhance strength, stability, and endurance – essential qualities for backcountry athletes facing the challenges of rugged terrain and unpredictable conditions.

So there you have it, mountain warriors – squats aren’t just exercises; they are the keys to unlocking knee nirvana and conquering the world. Squatting stands as an indispensable exercise for backcountry athletes, offering a myriad of benefits that directly translate to success in the wild. By mastering squat mechanics, embracing proper bracing techniques, and integrating a variety of squatting movements and variations into your training regimen, athletes can unlock unparalleled gains in leg strength, resilience, and overall performance. As they navigate the rugged terrain and untamed landscapes of the backcountry, the squat remains an unwavering ally – a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who dare to venture beyond the beaten path.

One of the best all time lifts for focusing on bracing, mid back strength and real world application is the Zercher Squat. Although you may not move weight like Tom Haviland, it makes you feel pretty badass.

NO WEIGHTS, NO PROBLEM HEALTH & FITNESS HEALTH & FITNESS

BODYWEIGHT MOVEMENTS THAT CAN CHALLENGE ANYONE

You don’t need a big gym with a lot of equipment to get in a great workout to build strength and endurance for your hunts. In fact, you can get fit with bodyweight workouts alone. Your body weighs quite a bit, and learn ing how to use that weight to specifically target muscle groups can allow you to work out anywhere. In this article, I will share different bodyweight move ments you can incorporate into your routine to target specific muscles. There are variations of many of these exercises that you can utilize, but for the pur pose of this article I will show you how to perform the most basic variations.

Plank

The plank is a great full-body exercise requiring recruitment of your core, legs, and upper body. There are many different variations of this exercise and including a few variations will give you a well-rounded benefit. The traditional plank is a hold that you do for a specific amount of time. Some of the variations require transferring your weight to one arm or leg for a specific number of repetitions. You can also do those variations for a set amount of time. Start by getting into your plank position. You should be face down with your hands and toes on the floor and your hands directly under your shoulders. Your neck and head should be relaxed and your face should look at the floor. Engage your core and think about pulling your belly button toward your spine to help with core engagement. Keep your body straight and rigid. Do not allow your back to sag or your buttocks to rise. Keep your spine neutral and your shoulders down away from your ears. Hold this position for your desired time.

LINDSAY PERSICO HEALTH & FITNESS EDITOR

Push-ups

Dip

This exercise targets your triceps while also using your upper body and core for stability. You can do dips using a machine, but you can also use anything stable that you can place your hands on and is high enough for you to perform the dip motion. I often use a chair.

Begin by sitting on the edge of your chair or bench and put your hands down on the chair next to your legs. Your hands should be about shoulderwidth apart with your arms straight. Walk your feet out away from the chair and cross your ankles as you engage your core and lower your body off the chair using your arms. Keep your core engaged and slowly lower yourself down toward the floor until your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. Keep your head and upper body straight and your elbows close to your body. Hold this position for a second or two and then use your arms to lift yourself back up until your arms are straight but do not return to a sitting position. Continue this lift-and-lower movement for your desired time or repetition goal.

Push-ups develop upper body strength with a focus on the chest. You should also engage your core during this exercise. There are many different variations of pushups. These variations are generally simple changes in hand position or elbow position. You can also make this exercise easier by doing elevated pushups on a bench or by resting on your knees instead of your toes. Begin your push-up by going down on all fours on the floor. Your hands should be slightly wider than should-width and your elbows slightly bent. Ex tend your legs back with your feet hip-width apart. Balance on your toes and hands. Engage your core and slowly bend at the elbow to lower your chest to the floor until your elbows are at a 90-degree angle. You should keep a neutral spine throughout the push-up exercise and your hips should not sag or lift out of

Squats

Squats are a great way to build lower body strength and engage your glutes which are essential movers. They are important for hiking and everyday movements like walking, sitting, and standing. In our current world, we tend to sit a lot and these muscles can become difficult to engage due to tight hip flexors. Keeping your glutes strong and firing helps with some forms of back and hip pain as well as proper movement. There are many variations of this exercise, as well. You can perform wide stance squats, split squats, pistol squats, and single-leg squats on top of your standard squat. Each variation recruits different muscles along with the glutes, and the single-leg squat helps with strengthening stabilizer muscles.

To perform a squat, stand with your feet hip-width apart or slightly wider than your hips. Place your hands on your hips or clasp your hands in front of your chest. Engage your core and stand tall with good posture. Your pelvis should be neutral, without a forward tilt or tail tuck. Bend at the knee and lower your hips down as if you are lowering yourself into a chair. Keep your knees the same distance apart, not allowing them to cave inward but keeping them in line with your toes. Keep your weight in your heels and push up with your glutes to raise back into a standing position without locking your knees at the top. Repeat this movement for your desired time or repetitions.

Lunges

Sit-ups

Sit-ups work your core and also have a wide variety of variations. I like to do a variation that includes the standard sit-up followed by a twisted sit-up to each side and then repeat this series for the duration of my goal time or reps. This helps to work the core muscles on my sides as well as my abdominal muscles. You can also do crunches.

Begin by lying on your back on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your fingertips at the back of your ears with your elbows bent and pointing out away from your sides. Engage your core and lift your torso toward your knees until you are sitting up. Lower your torso back to the floor and continue this motion until you have completed your desired rep-

Lunges provide both strength and stability to your lower body. The lunge helps us build the muscles that we use in everyday life. These same muscles are used anytime you walk up a set of stairs, but in the mountains, this movement directly translates to the motion of hiking uphill. As we hike, we balance while standing on one foot and lifting the other for a step up. The lunging motion brings us lower, allowing us to engage our legs in the same way we do when we hike up a hill.

To perform your lunge, start by standing with your feet hip-width apart. Step ahead with one foot and engage your core as you keep your torso upright and bend at the knees to lower your rearward knee towards the floor. Your knees should stay in line with your toes and your forward knee should not extend past your toes. Lower your rear knee until your forward knee is at a 90-degree angle. To return to your starting position, simply rise back up until your legs are straight but with a slight bend in the knees. Do not step your forward foot back. Stay in the stepped position and complete your repetitions on that side before standing up fully and switching sides.

Superman

This exercise helps to work the back core muscles. A strong back is essential for not only everyday life but also for hunting and hiking with a pack. Similarly to the sit-up, I like to rotate between the standard Superman pose and opposite leg and arm lifts to help further engage the muscles of the core. Begin by lying face down on the floor with your legs straight out behind you and your arms extended forward in front of your head. Keep your hands open with your palms facing down. Your head should be in a neutral position, not straining to look up or forward. Contract your back and core muscles, shoulder muscles, and glutes to lift your arms and feet a few inches off the floor. Hold this position for a couple of seconds before returning to the floor. Repeat for your desired time or repetitions.

The Plank is a great full body exercise that you hold for a set period of time.

Dips prioritize the tricep and can be performed anywhere you have a stool, bed or any other object that is sturdy and the correct height.

Push-ups build your upper body strength especially the muscles in your chest.

Make sure to keep your spine neutral throughout the push up movement.

The Squat is an excellent way to build strength in your glutes. A squat is an important movement for everyday life activities as well.

Lunges help build strength and stabilization in your lower body and core. You can perform Static Lunges buy simply rising out of the lunge while keeping your feet in the same spot.

Sit-ups are a great core strengthening exercise that you can do anywhere. Place your fingers behind your ears as you prepare for sit-ups but do not pull on

Handstands are a great way to work on upper body stability and strength while also engaging your core. This exercise fully utilizes your body weight as you suspend it above you and hold it the same way you would hold a barbell over your head. Once you get comfortable with holding your handstand, you can progress to trying to do a walking handstand or even handstand pushups. When you are just getting started, it can help to get into your handstand position against a wall to help you build your stability and balance.

To perform a handstand, start by standing with your feet comfortably apart and your feet, torso, and head in alignment. Face a wall but far enough away to allow you to bend forward and place your hands about 12 inches away from the wall.

Lift your arms over your head and step for ward with one leg while kicking up with your back leg. While you kick up, bend forward at the waist to plant your hands on the floor in front of the wall.

Lift with your core and legs to raise your feet the rest of the way over your head as you invert. This should all be one fluid motion. Having a wall at your back allows you to re gain your balance if you over-rotate. Keep your legs together over your head and your elbows slightly bent. Hold this position for your desired time and repeat for your desired repetitions. When you are ready to come out of the handstand, lower one leg down to the floor and stand up.

Skaters

Skaters help develop explosive power in your lower body and engage your stabilizers as you balance through the movement. Stabilizers are important for hiking and power for jumping can really come in handy when traversing terrain. This exercise will also help improve cardiovascular fitness for those that are looking to expand their current workout regimen.

To begin, stand with your feet shoulderwidth apart and your weight on the balls of your feet. Keep a slight bend in your knees and use an explosive motion to push off with your left foot as you laterally hop 18-24 inch es to your right. Land softly on your right foot and swing your left foot behind your right leg slightly. Keep your right knee slightly bent as you land and then move into a slight squat ting motion with the right leg as your left foot is still behind you.

As you balance in this position, begin to engage your right leg to push off and hop onto your left foot in the same motion on the opposite side. The motion is similar to that of ice skating, hence the name. Continue to hop and squat from side to side for your desired time goal or repetitions.

Mountain Climbers

Mountain Climbers engage your core and upper body as you stabilize during rapid, alternated pulling of your knees to your chest. The opposite leg will be helping to support as well in a modified plank position. Doing planks regularly can also help increase cardiovascular fitness. Start in a plank position while distributing your weight evenly between your hands and your toes. Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart and your core engaged. Keep your head in alignment with your spine and pull your right knee up toward your chest. Return your right foot to the starting position and switch legs, pulling your left knee up to your chest. Keep your hips down and quickly pull your knees forward and push them back as fast as possible alternat ing between your right and left knees. Continue for your desired time or repetitions.

Conclusion

Lacking access to a gym, being away from home, or simply not having time to travel to and from a gym for workouts does not need to prevent you from getting in a great workout. Using simple bodyweight exercises can help you build muscle and increase endurance so you can perform well on your hunts. Weights are incredible tools for strength training, but spending some time using these simple exercises will increase not only your muscle mass but also your appreciation for the potential of utilizing just your body weight.

Supermans build much needed strength in the core and back for carrying packs and good posture.

Handstands can be made easier by doing against a wall until your balance and strength improves.

Skaters help build power for explosive movement and challenges stabilizer muscles.

Mountain Climbers and challenge your cardio fitness level while building strength in your core and stabilizers.

Jason Lewis

Where you grew up, where you live now, how you got started with your art...

JASON: I was born and raised in Show Low, Arizona, right in the heart of the best elk country on planet earth. I loved growing up in Arizona. I live in Alaska now and enjoy the epic beauty and never-ending adventure that Alaska offers. As far as my art goes, I don’t ever remember a time when I wasn’t making art. I’ve drawn and colored and created and dreamed since I was little. I barely made it through school because I always ended up doodling in the margins of my homework. I draw, paint, sculpt and carve.

WHM: How has hunting influenced your artwork?

JASON: My hunting adventures have always been the secret sauce to my serious art. All the sights, smells and interactions with the mountains are the source of my ideas and inspiration. I love the writings of Aldo Leopold. He wrote of the “fierce green fire” that he saw in the eyes of that she-wolf. That “green fire,” which is basically wildness and power that all living creatures are created with – that fire is what I want to show and portray in my art.

they see my work. I’m working toward being an artist that can make people feel emotion when they see my work. That’s hard to do, but those of us who hunt know the deep emotion we feel when we are out in the wild place we love. When we kill an animal, and have success, we feel emotion. When we don’t harvest an animal, we feel different emotions. But... every hunt binds us with the natural world. I want my art to be an extension and a tangible reminder of that bond that we feel as hunters.

WHM: What makes your art unique?

JASON: Although I make all kinds of art, carving antlers has been my main focus the last few years. It’s been a process of trial and error. Antlers, in and of themselves, have value – they are a commodity. Antlers are basically nature’s perfect sculptures.

So, each and every piece of art I make is inherently unique. I use my talent and my abilities to make that antler into something better than it was to begin with. I’ve tried to develop a certain “look” so that when someone sees one of my carvings, they will know that Jason Lewis made it. Each antler is different, and every single time I carve one, I run into challenges. I love that part of the process. Making an artwork in an antler is way different than making a painting on a stretched, flat canvas.

JASON: When I think back over my years of hunting, my favorite memories are always my “firsts.” I think that my favorite hunting memory has got to be my first deer. I had tried for several years to kill my first deer, and had fallen short. It was August, up near Big Lake, in Arizona’s White Mountains. I had slipped in and gotten close to a little herd of deer. A little buck stepped into an opening, and I was able to come to full draw and make a good shot with my bow. When I knelt down beside that little spike... I was almost overcome and I had big crocodile tears roll down my cheeks. I was proud. To this very day, I love that deer, and I am proud I used my bow. Other than that, being with my kids when they all killed their firsts has created my best and favorite hunting memories.

WHM: What is your favorite piece you’ve done?

JASON: People ask me what my favorite piece of art I’ve made is. I always say, “My next one.” I’m always evolving and getting better. So, usually the last piece I’ve done is what I’m proud of. But, if I had to say, I would guess that my favorite is a moose paddle that I carved two bull caribou in. I love caribou, and it all came together on that one.

You can learn more about Jason and his artwork at JasonLewisCreatives.com

dawn of time. We decorate with them, wear them,

WHM: What is your favorite hunting memory?

PEDRAM PARVIN FIELD EDITOR

Western Hunter Subscribers – Featured Artist Giveaway

Lewis.

TTHE WILD KITCHEN p

Venison Reuben Patty Sandwiches

his sandwich is a twist on the traditional Reu ben. It has a similar flavor profile with a wild game twist. I like to make these as a simple weekday dinner, and they are a hit with my crew. The homemade Russian dressing and slight kick from pepper jack cheese add a lot of flavor, and the venison patties provide yet another great way to use all that ground meat. This variation also exchanges the common sauerkraut with caramelized onions, but if you wanted to substitute the onions for sauerkraut, it would also be delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 Pounds Ground Venison

• 1 Large Onion – Sliced

• 2 Tablespoons Butter

• 8 Slices Pepper Jack Cheese

• 8 Slices Rye Bread

• Salt and Pepper

• Granulated Garlic

Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons Mayo

• 1 Tablespoon Ketchup

• 1/2 Tablespoon Sweet Relish

• Pinch of Sugar

• Salt and Pepper to taste

Serves 4

Instructions

Shape venison into four oval patties. Place on a greased sheet pan and freeze for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat butter in a skillet over medium heat and sauté onion until soft and caramelized. Set aside. Season venison with salt, pepper, and garlic. Place in skillet and cook until almost done through. Flip, top with onions and a slice of cheese on each patty. Cover and turn off heat.

IDIALING IT BACK

BATTLES IN THE WAR

t’s counterintuitive to most hunters to want to be engaged in conflict. We head to the mountains, forests, deserts and prairies in search of many things – a challenging hunt, a fulfilling experience, meat to nourish us and share with others and a camaraderie with friends and family. That list could go on, as the motivations that drive us as hunters sometimes carry intangibles that are hard to articulate to others but are what we know fulfill us as human hunters. What we do know is that, in general, the pursuit of conflict is not part of our quest in the outdoors.

Origins

Unfortunately, conflict is at our doorstep. Right now, we are in the midst of the greatest push against hunters that has ever occurred in history. An additional part of the issue is that the fabric of the opposition is woven into the culture war that exists all over the world. The issues are pretty much entrenched along party lines, and most of the opposition against hunting seems to come from the far left of the political spectrum. There is a strange lack of desire to find common ground by the extremists,

Currently, there is a great deal of organized opposition against hunting from animal activist individuals and organizations, and a sympathetic ear has been found in the more extreme aspects of the Democratic party. Colorado is ground zero in this political and social war against hunting. Issues continue to arise in the coastal blue states of California, Oregon and Washington. New York always is experiencing some form of political activism towards hunters, and most recently an issue has arisen in Arizona that has a surface appearance of class warfare and threatens to eliminate millions of dollars of revenue that would be used specifically for wildlife habitat and conservation projects.

Tactics

Each of these battles is generating awareness, much to the credit of social media platforms. While social media has an incredible amount of fault and creates concern in most reasonable people, the ability to reach thousands and thousands of people and communicate issues is in a timeframe we’ve never seen. No robocalls are needed like in the past. Prohunting organizations can reach followers instantly through direct messaging, and taking advantage of inherent algorithms on which these platforms operate allows organizations to push messaging out there.

The animal activist industry is willing to exaggerate, gaslight, lie and offer up incomplete data sets simply to affirm their belief structures and comfort those who exist in the same intellectual bubble. The uninformed and ignorant folks of our society that aren’t invested in truth seeking in regard to hunting, the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and wildlife management are at the mercy of the propaganda that comes from the animal activist industry.

Empathy is one of the greatest of human traits, but when empathy is solicited under false pretenses and intellectual dishonesty, there are biases established that are difficult to compete with. Hunters must learn to articulate their “why” and be involved in helping those groups at the tip of the spear fight the battles in this larger war. We all have a circle of influence and acquaintances, and sharing good information with these people might appeal to their sensibilities.

Be an Advocate

Howl.org is one of these groups that has a grass roots origin and is driven to inform and motivate hunters to become engaged. Howl has an easy-toaccess and intuitive website that allows people to become involved in individual battles within this war on hunting. An “Action Link” is established for an individual issue that allows hunters and participants to easily email the appropriate decision makers in the political circles in which these issues have been discussed and decided upon. If you take the time to do these Action Link communications, I will strongly encourage you to customize the message to your own words. These messages should be brief and to the point, as you can imagine the tendency of these decision makers to skim over longer messages and all-out rants. We all have the desire to be heard and feel like our message matters, so if you really want your message to be read in entirety, less is more.

One more thing. In my opinion, one of the greatest gestures we as hunters can make towards the voting, non-hunting people we know is to share meat. The message is primal, and I strongly believe that non-hunters respond to this gesture with great appreciation and some primitive tribal reverence. Get involved in these battles even if your priorities lie elsewhere. The future of hunting hangs on our ability to defend and articulate our purpose, and nothing says “hunting is good” like elk tacos. p

Scan this QR Code with your smartphone to get connected to Howl For Wildlife.

GEN 2

MIKE DUPLAN HUNTING EDITOR