sportsman's news digital edition march 2016

March 2016 Volume 12 Issue 3

SportsmansNews.com

Big Antlers In The Big Horns of Wyoming

continued on page 5

By Mike Deming

Two hours into our first morning of the hunt, my guest, Justin Lees-man of ALPS Outdoorz said, Ive seen more mature whitetail bucks today than Ive seen in 10 years of hunting at home in Missouri. Thats a pretty bold statement, but one I would have to agree with. We were hunting prime rut dates in November and had seen well over 25 mature bucks since daylight. It was obvious that we were in for a great week of hunting.

Choosing a destination, as well as an outfitter to burn your hard earned bonus points with, can be a daunting task. When you only get one point per year, per species and you want to make the most of it, you definitely want to make the right choices. Big

Leupold Mark AR MOD 1Award-winning tactical functionality and durabilityPAGE 2

Justin Leeseman of ALPS Outdoorz was able to connect on a huge whitetail buck the first day of the hunt. He said he had seen more mature whitetail bucks the first four hours of the hunt than he had seen in 10 years of hunting at home.

March 2016 | SPORTSMANS NEWS2

By Dave Domin

Unless you have been hiding un-der a rock for the past few years, you should know that tactical style weapon systems have been all the rage lately. Like them or not, they have entrenched themselves in the hunting and shooting community and will not be going away anytime soon. Tactical style weapons go by many names; black guns, modern sporting rifles, ARs, precision rifles, long guns, and sniper rifles. Call

The Leupold Mark AR Mod 1, Tactical, Durable, Affordablethem what you will but most of us will agree, regardless of what we call them, they will all perform better with a quality scope installed. But what kind of scope? A tactical scope of course.

Tactical scopes have been around for decades and during that time they have undergone drastic changes in functional-ity and durability. These changes came at a price. Can you guess what that is? You guessed it, price. Sometimes a few thousand dollars or more. That is why Leupold developed the Mark AR MOD 1

line of riflescopes. A scope line that delivers tactical functionality and durability at a price that wont have you dipping in to that home eq-uity line of credit.

Leupolds Mark AR MOD 1 line of riflescopes offer four magnifica-

tion ranges. The 1.5-4x20 and 3-9x40 options are ideal for close to mid-range scenarios that require rapid target acqui-sition and the 4-12x40 AO (Adjustable Objective) and 6-18x40 AO are perfect for long range target identification and shot placement precision. This is the reason that they were awarded the 2015 Golden Bullseye Award for Optic of the Year by NRAs Shooting Illustrated.

The features of the Mark AR MOD 1 are plentiful and we will cover them for the remainder of this article. So, lets begin.

First off, glass. This seems to be the driving factor when making a riflescope decision. With Leupolds history of mak-ing quality shooting optics, offering the highest light transmission, clarity and resolution in the industry, this should be a no brainer. The Mark AR line of ri-flescopes feature the exclusive Multicoat 4 lens coatings. These coatings will direct more light to your eye, and minimize reflections on the outer eyepiece, making the most out of the available light, so you can make the most out of your shot.

Reticles - there are five to choose from, depending on the scope model. They con-sist of three non-illuminated versions, the Duplex, Fine Duplex, and Mil Dot, and two illuminated versions, the FireDot-G SPR, and FireDot-G TMR.

Since I mentioned illuminated reti-cles, lets discuss. The Mark AR MOD 1 features Leupolds proprietary FireDot illumination system in green, which is what the G stands for. This is a special daylight bright, push button, illumination system that offers six intensity settings and Motion Sensor Technology (MST). MST you ask? This technology automatically deactivates the illumination after five min-utes of inactivity, yet reactivates instantly as soon as any motion is detected. This feature extends battery life of the CR2032 battery, so the Mark AR MOD 1 is ready when you need it. Pressing and holding the illumination button for 3 seconds will turn the power off, for those times when you wont get to shooting for a while.

continued on page 8

March 2016 | SPORTSMANS NEWS 3

WHATS INSIDE 2 Leupold Mark AR MOD1 3 Words From The Publisher10 Platinum Approved Outfitters14 Gone Fishin Lodge20 Pacwest Outdoors: Pykes Peak24 Pro Member Update26 Show Season Staff Picks31 Fishful Thinker: Hunting Fish32 Pros Tip: Action Cameras34 Bushnells New Lifetime Warranty36 Adventures On A Budget: Bass Fishing39 J&J Pro Member Elk Hunt42 Video Product Reviews44 Business Directory45 Wild Game Recipe: Venison Steak Sous-Vide46 Beretta Nano48 Barebow! Sagas: Marsmallow Bear52 Writing Contest: Pushing It

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dave DominMark FrancisGary Lewis

Chad LaChanceJB Spilker

Steve MayerDennis Dunn

Peter E. Popieniuck

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Words From The Publisher

By Michael Deming

The March 2016 issue marks the one year anniversary of the Sports-mans News Pro Membership Sweepstakes. At the completion of this month, we will have given away $300,000 worth of guns, gear and world class trips. The success of this program has allowed us to add even better trips for 2016 and 2017. Some of our big, once-in-a-lifetime trips that are already posted and up for grabs are the desert bighorn sheep hunt in Sonora Mexico, a boat hunt for brown bears and we have even secured a Kodiak Island brown bear hunt for the future. We are in the final phases of adding a couple more sheep hunts to the rolls and as always, we will have great elk, deer and antelope hunts throughout the year dur-ing the best dates with the best outfitters.

During the 2015 year, we got a lot of feedback from people who wanted to see more fishing trips. We picked the very best trips we have ever been on and we usually do these trips for two, so you can take your spouse, a buddy or anyone you like along on these trips. We think you will be very happy with the selective trips that we are rolling out. Every time we do a drawing, we add another adventure to the next years prizes, so make sure you save the promembershipsweepstakes.

com website to your favorites and see what we are adding after each drawing. If there is something you would like to see in the drawing, please let us know as well. We want to make this the very best outdoor sweepstakes in the world and we can only do that with your help and input. Doing a drawing every ten days gives people something very exciting to look forward to each and every month. The big feedback we have heard this year is that the trips and gear that we give away are truly worth their money.

We have started to hear from a lot of our members requesting information about their renewal. When you are two weeks away from your anniversary date, you will receive an email to update your account information and validate your auto renewal. We are trying to make this as seamless as possible, so that no one misses out on any drawings. If you have questions or concerns, please call our office during business hours from 8-5 Mountain Standard Time and we will make sure everything is set up for you.

We have now completed our incentive program programming on the website and all the members should see an email on this in the very near future. This has been designed to allow you to enroll your friends and family into the Pro Member-ship Sweepstakes and earn extra tickets

into the drawing. For every three (3) referrals you provide, you will gain five (5) more tickets in every drawing for the full year. It should make for another exciting year with the sweepstakes. You will all be very ex-cited to see the valuable package you get in the mail when you renew.

The March issue of Sportsmans News has a great article from our team on the new prod-ucts that caught their eyes during this years show season. When you spend a couple of weeks going to shows and see-ing what is out there, it can become sensory overload. We also weed through the items to see if they just added a new coat of paint to an old

product or if it is something that is truly innovative. There are some pretty cool items headed to the shelves of the Sports-mans Warehouse stores this year and this is just a glimpse of some of those items. We will be doing some more extensive articles on these items later in the year, once we have some hard-core field testing experience with them. If there are items you have heard about or seen elsewhere that you would be interested in seeing us review, please send us as email at [email protected]. In the subject line use New Product Test and we will look into including these items in future reviews for the year.

A quick reminder to all of the people who would like to be included in the Tazin Lake Lodge fishing trip giveaway. You dont have to write an article, but can if you want to. Another way to win is to log onto the sportsmansnews.com website and a popup will appear, which makes signing up for the free expanded digital edition quick and easy. This aut-matically enters you into the free draw-ing. We will do this drawing later in the year. Good luck and have a great year.


SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE7035 So. High Tech Drive

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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHERMike Deming

President/Publisher435-669-4624

[email protected]

SENIOR EDITORKent Danjanovich

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NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGEREric Christensen435-879-1212

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MANAGING EDITORDan Kidder

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EDITORIAL ASSISTANTLisa Deming

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PRODUCTION MANAGERJames Dansie

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Horn Outfitters was our choice for this prime whitetail hunt, but we werent leaving this decision up to chance. Big Horn Outfitters was previously known as A Double J Outfitters and when the old owner decided that it was time to move onto other things, his head guide, Rich Sweeney was a great fit to buy his operation. He had already worked the operation for nearly half a dozen years and knew the ins and outs of how things operated. He also grew up in the area and had connec-tions the old owner hadnt tapped into yet. He partnered with longtime friend and hard core hunter, Dustin Decroo. Dustin had been in the outfitting in-dustry for a number of years and their combined vigor to run a successful operation turned out to be a mixture of drive and quality not often seen in this industry and something I looked forward to experiencing.

I already knew the Bighorn Moun-

tains were home to some quality ani-mals. I had hunted with the previous owners for whitetail, antelope, and even elk. In 2012, I was able to harvest the largest archery bull taken in the state of Wyoming, due to the hard-core scouting done by Rich Sweeney. My bull stretched the tape at over 370 B&C Inches and was a true trophy of a lifetime. So, I knew that a change in the business name wasnt going to give us any difference in a hunt. At least this is what we thought.

We arrived in Buffalo, Wyoming in the middle of November. Dustin and Rich informed us that the rut was in full swing and that they had been out pulling trail cameras the past couple of days to see where the big boys were concentrated. I had no idea that these guys had leased so much property to chase these rut crazed whitetails on, but by the looks of all the pictures, we were going to have our pick of some pretty good bucks. This area isnt known for Boone and Crocket white-tail, but sheer numbers and good ma-

ture animals is the norm. Killing a buck in the 150s or even the 160s isnt out of the question, but you have to weed through a lot of 140 class deer to get to them. You will have the opportunity to see these guys out in fields nearly all day long.

Justin was chomping at the bit to get out and hunt the first morning. We pulled off of the county road and onto a lookout, which gives an elevated view of a couple miles of river bottom. It was still dark, but the glow to the east said that we would be legal enough to shoot in the next fifteen minutes. There were literally hundreds of bodies moving in and out of the corn and crossing the river to the thicker cover. You could finally start to make out the antlers on the bucks and see which ones were pos-sible shooters and which ones werent.

By the time the sun crested the hill, we had already seen fifteen mature bucks and one possible candidate. He was rutting a doe pretty hard and had crossed the river. He was still on property we could hunt, but at this

point in time, we were still taking an inventory on the deer we had to hunt. Id never seen this many deer out and active except in a controlled environ-ment. Since Dustin and Rich manage for a high quality experience and good opportunity, this is a pretty controlled environment as well, but without the fences - just lots of private property.

An hour after the sun was up, we decided to move locations and check areas of the ranch not visible from our previous lookout. When we pulled up to the lookout, Dustin immediately spotted a big, mature buck laying on the edge of the river. He tried to peak through the bushes as if to hide even more. It was obvious that he was ex-hausted from the nights rutting activ-ity and would rather try to hide than break from cover. He had great main beams, long tines, but was only an eight point. Justin was squirming in the back seat of the truck and affirming with all that would listen that he was

BIG HORNcontinued from cover

continued on page 6

This was the largest bull elk taken during the 2013 archery elk season with Bighorn Outfitters statewide.


more than willing to put his tag on this deer. The old buck just wouldnt break his discipline and stayed in the cover. We scoured the terrain for other bucks and they seemed to be everywhere in the timber chasing does. Im sure that some of these bucks were ones we had seen in the corn at first light, but Im sure many were not. We decided to check out another ranch since this was only our first day of hunting.

As we pulled away from the bluff, Justin just shook his head in disbelief. He said, I cant believe we are letting that buck go! That was followed by the statement, Ive seen more mature whitetail bucks today than Ive seen in ten years of hunting at home in Missouri. It made us feel pretty good about endorsing Big Horn Outfitters as one of our Platinum Approved Outfitters.

Dustin wanted to give us a bit more time to find one or two specific bucks that he really wanted us to tag out on. He knew that there were a couple of

bucks approaching that 160 mark in the area, but he hadnt seen them since the rut got into full swing. We knew that we had four days to hunt, but it was obvious that letting the Big 8 walk was really starting to bother on Justin. He truly wanted to shoot it from the minute we saw him, but none of us wanted the hunt to be over that soon. We were filming for an episode of SNTV and its just too hard to produce a show with only an hour of footage.

After a short trip to another ranch and not finding one of our big target bucks, I asked Justin if he still wanted to tag the Big 8. He assured me that if we were to head back to that ranch and find him, he was more than willing to put his tag on the buck. We drove back over to the original ranch and pulled up onto the bluff where we had originally spotted him lying next to the river. I was sure he would be gone by now and we could focus on another deer. However, Rich spotted him back in the trees. He had risen from his bed and was watching some smaller bucks chas-ing does in the bedding area. With no foliage on the trees, we could catch bits

and pieces of antlers, but it didnt take long for him to step into an opening that revealed those long main beams.

Justin confirmed that he was still ready and willing to fill his tag on the first day of the hunt with this mature warrior. He grabbed my .26 Nosler out of the truck and settled in behind the scope. The buck needed to give us a clear shot to send the 127 grain Barnes bullet his way, as well as a little time to get some good footage. As if on que, the buck took a few steps to the right and presented a perfect quartering away shot and Justin dropped the buck in his tracks. We had filled our Wyoming deer tag in a matter of three hours of hunting and had passed on thirty plus mature bucks. There arent many places you can do that and especially at a very affordable price!

Over the next few days, we had the opportunity to see several other ranches and fill plenty of whitetail doe tags. Corn and alfalfa fed whitetail does are one of the very best table fare you can ask for and when the ranchers are happy to see you manage the herd, it is a big win for all.

Rich and Dustin run a fabulous op-eration for antelope, deer, elk, turkey and moose. Since the majority of their operation is on private property, you can draw tags for most of the species without any sort of bonus points in the drawing. Elk hunting is their true pas-sion and big bulls are what these guys live for. However, this game will take a

few points and as many as maximum to be guaranteed to draw. But, they are worth every bit of points you want to spend on them and this is truly a place I will hunt again as soon as I get enough points built. For your opportunity to hunt with Big Horn Outfitters, look them up online at www.bighornoutfit-ters.com or give them a call at 307-620-0390. We have purchased a whitetail hunt for two hunters for our Pro Mem-bership Sweepstakes Giveaway and this drawing will take place May 10th, 2016. The hunt will take place during prime rut dates again in the fall of 2016.

BIG HORNcontinued from page 5

Big mule deer call this place home and are available to a select few hunters.

Rutting whitetail bucks are the norm during the November whitetail hunts. Our hunters passed numerous bucks of this caliber.


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All Mark AR MOD 1 riflescopes feature the 0.1 mil P5 dial system with Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC). This system ensures that you will get tactile, audible, and repeatable adjustments for both windage and elevation ideal for your .223/5.56 cartridge.

You say you dont shoot a .223/5.56? No problem. The Leupold Custom Shop can make you a new BDC dial for any cartridge you desire. The first step in getting this done is to determine the best load for the rifle. Since no two guns will

shoot the same load identically, it is im-portant to get the most accurate ballistic data possible. Since the BDC dial will be as accurate as the information the shooter

supplies to Leupold, loads should be chronographed and the elevation and tem-perature, +/- 2,000 feet and +/- 20 degrees Fahr-enheit respectively, should match the intended use area. Leupold will need the following data; cartridge, bullet type, bullet weight, ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, average altitude, average temperature and

sight height. The dials will have a 100 or 200 yard zero in most cases (determined by the customer), then read in 50 yard increments out to the maximum yardage that can be reached in 5.8 mils. The BDC dial itself is a one turn dial with a built in zero stop. This allows the shooter to come back to zero without looking or counting clicks.

Mark AR MOD 1 riflescopes are pro-duced out of aircraft-grade aluminum and feature one piece, one inch maintubes for the utmost in structural integrity and ease of installation. The large power selector dial, with aggressive knurling, provides a sure grip in all weather condi-tions, with or without gloves.

While many Leupold scopes are still filled with nitrogen to keep them water-proof, the Mark AR MOD 1 line features Leupolds exclusive, proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend. Its advantages are twofold: it nearly eliminates the effects of thermal shock, and the Argon/Krypton molecules are significantly larger than ni-trogen molecules, reducing the diffusion of gases sealed inside the scope even more than proven nitrogen technology already does. Leupold pioneered riflescope water-

proofing, and now with Argon/Krypton theyre exceeding the standards that they themselves set. As with all Leupold Gold Ring Tactical products, the Mark AR MOD 1 is proudly built at Leupold & Ste-vens state of the art facility in Beaverton, Oregon and are backed by the Leupold Gold Ring Full Lifetime Guarantee.

So, the next time you are in the market for a tactical scope that gives you the op-tions you demand, and you wont have to mortgage the house for, stop by your local Sportsmans Warehouse and ask to see the Leupold Mark AR MOD 1 rifle-scope series.

LEUPOLD MARK ARcontinued from page 2


GIVE A HUGE BOOST TO THE ACCURACY OF YOUR MSR/AR OR BOLT-ACTION RIFLE WITH THE MARK AR MOD 1. Youll dominate in even the most demanding shooting situations, with its illuminated reticle options, 0.1 Mil adjustments, bullet drop compensation matched to mil-based reticles for fast, accurate elevation correction, and lifetime durability.

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The Sportsmans News Platinum Approved Outfitter is an outfitter that has excelled in every aspect of their business. They put people and customers before profit. They do what it takes to make sure that they will be in business for the long haul and ensure that they have repeat customers. They practice good game management, which will ensure a top quality trip with them every time you

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There is only one place in Alaska (that I know of) where you can experi-ence a totally differ-ent adventure every day of the week and that place is the Ke-nai Peninsula. Now I know that some will say that this is true of other areas of Alaska as well, but when it comes down to it, there really just isnt another area where you can lit-erally experience a dif-ferent and even more importantly, unique experience quite like you can on the Pen-insula. Your starting point will be Anchorage, but your destination is Soldotna.

Now believe me, there are plenty of choices when you start delving into lodges and guides along and around the Kenai River area. Many of them special-ize in one area or another and many will be able to satisfy most would-be Alaska visitors. But if you are looking for a true adventure, one that will take you to as many as six different venues during your weeks stay, well why not book with the lodge that created the idea in the first place The Gone Fishin Lodge.

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

A good starting point to find out a lit-tle bit more about their operation is on their website at www.gonefishinlodge.com. You will find that they have nearly twenty different packages available and even with all of those options, you can

Gone Fishin Lodge Six Adventures in Six Days

still customize just the trips that you are interested in as well. And yes, you fly fishermen and women are covered on many exciting trips also!

This past August I found myself and a couple of my fishing buddies joining up in Anchorage for our return visit to the Gone Fishin Lodge. This has be-come my favorite time of year because although the king salmon season has ended, all of the other species in both saltwater and freshwater are hitting on all cylinders and it also affords me the best opportunity to search for silvers, big rainbows and Dolly Varden with a fly rod during my stay.

Now, you can choose to catch a flight out of Anchorage to the town of Kenai if you prefer, but this is one of the few places that you can drive to in Alaska and I absolutely love the 2 hour drive through some of the most beautiful sur-roundings that I have ever seen in all of my travels. Also, you will need to have a rental car to get you to your different venues every day anyway, so in the long run, when you are with a group, you will be money ahead renting your car in Anchorage and making the drive to

continued on page 16

Mark Francis couldnt be prouder of this big rainbow on his trip to the middle Kenai.


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the lodge.All of the packages at the Gone Fishin

Lodge start on Saturday and run to the next Saturday. Packages can be custom-ized for shorter stays if desired, on space availability, but standard stay is seven nights lodging and either five or six days of fishing. My normal trip finds me ar-riving on Saturday evening, checking in to the lodge, grabbing a great meal at one of the nearby restaurants, check-ing in with Ralph or Dick for my first days adventure and then hitting my bed for a good nights sleep before my first adventure, early the next morning.

Our first morning found us pulling up to our floatplane/air taxi service at 6:30am, located just a short 10 min-ute drive from the lodge. By 6:45am our gear was loaded into our waiting floatplane and eight of us, along with Ralph and Dick as our guides, hopped into our seats for the scenic, 25 minute flight to the Kustatan River. Our target species would be silver salmon, with a few Dolly Varden thrown in for good

measure.The Kustatan River is very unique in

many ways, but one of the most interest-ing parts of the trip is the landing. Yes, you will be in for one of the most unique landings you may ever encounter. When the river comes into view, your pilot will make a circle around the area, losing a little altitude, before making his final approach to a sliver of a piece of water, lined by thick Alaska growth on both sides and then gently touches down and glides into a small slough, with a line of awaiting skiffs. You then quickly exit the floatplane, grab you gear and load into your designated boat. Its then off to the main river to one of Ralph or Dicks favorite spots for about six hours of non-stop action. Spincast outfits set up with a 2oz weight, about 18-inches of leader and a hook with a loop on it to hold a ball of roe were set up for each of us. It didnt take long for the first tap, tap, tap of a rod to begin and a feisty silver soon could be seen flying through the air, the first of a many to come to the net. In all, over 30 silvers were landed by noon in our group. What a great way to start our week of adventures.

Our next morn-ing would find us driving to the town of Anchor Point, about 55 miles southwest of the lodge for a halibut trip at Cook Inlet. Al-though the tides were a little tough and the seas a lit-tle rough, our c a p t a i n c a m e through for us in flying colors, as everyone on the boat was able to land a couple of great keepers, with the biggest of the day a beautiful 80 pounder. Stout rods and smooth reels made it easy to get our three pound weights and circle hooks with strips of cod and herring to the bottom and then again retrieve them after each hook-up. The six of us were able to take home over 30 pounds of halibut apiece for the day, nearly filling

each of our boxes back at the lodge with our salmon filets from the day before.

Tuesday morning found us again headed from the lodge early, on our way to the middle Kenai River. As usual, we found our guide patiently waiting for

GONE FISHINcontinued from page 14


Just another day on the water with the Gone Fishin Lodge. Big halibut and silvers on a combo trip to Resurrection Bay.


us at the boat ramp and in a matter of minutes, we found ourselves cruising up river to one of his favorite hot spots. On this day, we would abandon the usual back-trolling techniques and instead, used spincast outfits while casting size-15 Quickfish with a piece of sardine wrapped around its belly. Our first two stops resulted in a half a dozen hook-ups, but only one shiny silver in the fish box. Since our trip on this day was a Kenai Combo (silver salmon/rainbow trout/Dolly Varden), we decided to head up to Rainbow Alley to try for a few more salmon before switching over for an afternoon of big rainbows and dollys.

The next hour produced five more silvers in the box, as well as a couple of nice, shiny, sockeye (red) salmon. Next, we were each handed a lightweight spin-ning outfit, set up with a slinky weight, about 18-inches of leader and then to a hook holding a piece of cooked shrimp. The technique used here would find our guide holding the boat sideways in the current with the motor, as each of us cast our lines up river and then let them start to bounce along the bottom, as we slowly drifted down river. Nearly two dozen trout were landed by the three of us during the next three hours, with the biggest about 24 inches and weighing nearly six pounds. Salmon, rainbows and dollys, what more can you ask for!

Day four had us headed over to Se-

ward for a multiple species trip, which gave us the opportunity to fish for hali-but, lingcod, silver salmon, yelloweye and assorted rockfish. This is billed as a long range fishing trip in the Gulf of Alaska. On this day, all of the above would be found in our box at the end of the day, with a limit of black sea bass thrown in for good measure. The weath-er was good, giving us the opportunity to move from area to area on fairly calm waters, making it possible to fish for all of the species in one trip. If you have not had the chance to fish the waters of Resurrection Bay in the beautiful port of Seward, you are really missing out. Not only is the fishing superb, but the wildlife sightings can be just as exciting, as whales, puffins, sea otters and even mountain goats are sighted on just about every trip.

Thursday morning again found us headed to our floatplane/air taxi service and a trip to Big River Lake. This trip is one of my favorites, as not only are you treated with beautiful surroundings, but also usually a few bear sightings and plenty of fly rod action for silvers.

Soon we found ourselves landing on the calm waters of Big River Lake, a glacier-blue lake with freshwater tributaries in different locations around it. Our destina-tion on this day would be the south end, which would provide us with the best fly fishing opportunities. Thirty minutes later, we were each jumping out of the boat, with fly rods in hand, looking for fins and swirls of big silvers in the water.

The conditions were perfect with no wind and slightly overcast skies. As soon as we found the seam where the freshwater merged with the milky blue glacier water, we each began to cast our lines towards the weed beds. A quick strip, strip, strip and bang, the first of 60 or seventy silver balls of muscle ex-ploded to the surface, filling our next five hours with non-stop action on the fly. Pink and purple bunny leaches were the ticket on both floating and sink-tip lines aboard 8wt. rods. Big smiles, sore arms and plenty of pictures accompanied our ride back to the awaiting floatplane and our flight back across Cook Inlet in the early afternoon.

Our last day of the week found us making our way to the upper Kenai for a day of fly fishing for rainbows and Dolly Varden. We met our guide at our takeout point and then loaded up in his van and headed to the Sportsmans launch at the confluence of the Kenai and Russian Riv-ers. After a quick tutorial, we each took our place in the drift boat as we grabbed our rods and soon made our first casts with six weight rods and floating lines. Our guide would do his best throughout the day to make sure each of us would be offering just the right size of bead (salmon egg imitations of varying sizes and colors) positioned about 2-inches above a size-6 snelled hook, all of which is below a strike indicator.

At the slightest movement of the indicator, the hook was set, resulting in great battles with lively trout of all sizes from 10 inches to some nearly thirty. The beauty of the fish were rivaled only

by our gorgeous surroundings as we slowly floated down the famed Kenai River. Most of the fish were landed as we floated, but when one of us hooked into a big one, our man at the oars quickly had us to the bank and then out of the boat in hopes of fighting our fish to the net.

During our eight hour float, we fished both from the boat and from the shore along the way. Both options resulted in big numbers of fish, with our guesstimated total number by the end of the day for the three of us at well over 100. And if you havent had a chance to fish for rainbows in Alaska, they arent just your run of the mill bows most of them are beautiful leopard rainbows, with spots literally covering their whole bodies, offering an awesome contrast with their colorful side slashes of reds, oranges and yellows. A perfect week, culminated with a perfect ending on the perfect river.

Well, if this article doesnt spike your interest in visiting the Soldotna area of the Kenai Peninsula, I dont know what will. The Gone Fishin Lodge offers some of the most com-petitive pricing you will find any-where in Alaska, to go along with just about every option you can think of. So, when you are thinking about booking your next trip to Alaska, give the guys at the Gone Fishin Lodge a call to talk about all of the possibilities at 877-462-5752 and you can also visit them on the web at www.gonefishin-lodge.com.

A trip to Seward will fill your day with wonderful sights, along with a great mixed-bag of ocean species including lingcod, yellow eye and silver salmon.

GONE FISHINcontinued from page 16

Rob McGreer, Kent Danjanovich and Mark Francis after a big day on a fly-out to Big River Lake with the Gone Fishin Lodge.


Deer Hunting in Pykes Peaks

Deer hunting principles; a look at what it takes to bag a benchleg buck in the Cascades.

By Gary Lewis

Looks like the weather is going to be bad, Im going up. October is tough on Sam Pyke. The 26-year-old Sisters-area hunter makes his living with a camera in the outdoors. I know, I keep him em-

ployed filming episodes of our TV show, Frontier Unlimited.

In between shoots, he hunts blacktails, the deer we call benchlegs. Any buck up there could likely be a cross between a blacktail and a mule deer. They are mi-gratory, scarce and tough to get.

When Pyke saw a low pressure system headed his way, he decided to head for the mountain. No one else could drop everything at short notice, so he headed up alone.

I knew it was going to get wet and cold, so I put on a neoprene shirt like I wear rafting or sailing. At the trail-head, Pyke cinched a bivy sack onto his backpack, then covered the pack with a rain cover.

A wet snow cast its blanket. Down on the trail though, the wind blew sleet and clouds rolled low through the tree tops. Pyke pushed on through most of five miles from the trailhead to try to make it to his regular camp site by dark. He reckoned hed have thirty minutes to hunt before night fell.

C a m p w a s about five min-utes further on, Pyke said, when he reached one of his favorite spots to watch. Hed seen deer here be-fore. He paused next to a pine tree and tried to make sense of the scene.

Wind roared and tree limbs lashed back and forth in 40-mph gusts.

I think the deer were mov-ing over to the east side because the weather was coming from the west, Pyke said later.

A small doe appeared on the tree line, 35 yards away, then a fawn bounced by him. Visibility came and went with the puffs of cloud, down to 40 yards for a time, then 200 yards. Pyke moved again, slower now. He started to think about building a fire when he got to camp and then he saw it.

A buck was laying at about 150 yards. He didnt see me.

Between them was a log and Pyke walked straight to it and rested his rifle. He was afraid to shrug out of the pack, lest the extra movement would alert the buck. In the scope, he counted antler points, three on one side, four on the other.

Then he barked. It might not have worked with a blacktail, but it worked with this high country, west-of-the-trail, mule deer. The buck stood to his feet. Pyke took a breath, held the crosshair centered above the front leg, squeezed the trigger and saw the big deer crum-ple.

When he notched his tag and tied it to the antler, it was the third time in three years he had taken a buck in one of Or-egons toughest backcountry hunts. The common denominator was bad weather. In 2015, he made it four in a row.

Its better when its wetter

Pyke has hunted the area five seasons straight and learned a few things about the high country.

If you dont get out in the weather,

youre losing eighty percent of the chance youre going to get a nice buck, Pyke said.

On his second year in the peaks, he shot his first buck, a forked horn.

That year it was rainy, then sunny, then rainy and windy. The deer were moving in the weather.

We learned to stay out until its very dark, hunt all day, dont take breaks. Then we get out again before first light.

Rather than watch large openings, Pyke prefers to sit in timber.

I listen for sticks to break, for hops, for bounces, for anything out of the normal. And I watch for dust in the air.

He expects to see deer. Maybe not a whole deer, but part of the animal.

I look for bent legs and angles of antlers, he said. Sometimes those antlers are wet and when theyre wet, they shine.

Three-for-three on opening dayOpening weekend in the 2013 sea-

son, the rain came in sheets. In eastern Oregon, the roads turned to gumbo and hunters that didnt leave got stuck. Trailers tipped over. Tents blew away.

Up in the mountains, the storm brought snow. The day before the opener, Sam Pyke, his brother Eli and their friend Blake, started up away from the trailhead with their camp on their backs. They looked at the forecast, knew it was going to be nasty, but they also knew this was their only chance for the three of them to hunt together.

A thorough knowledge of the trail systems in conjunc-tion with topography and feeding areas will make the difference for the hunter looking to tag a buck in the high Cascades.

Photo by Gary Lewis


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As they started into the wind and the driving snow, one of them joked, Wouldnt it be terrible if we all tagged out tomorrow and we each have to carry our own deer out? They laughed.

Throughout the long night the weath-er deteriorated. The bottom of Elis tent filled up with rainwater. Snow and sleet found its way through seams.

In the morning Sam headed to high ground.

I picked my spot because I could see pretty far down the slope on both sides. I posted up by a huge pine and watched and listened to the rain and looked for any kind of movement. It was hard be-cause all the tree limbs were moving.

Instead of looking for movement, he looked for what wasnt moving, some-thing not blowing in the wind.

I dont think deer are used to hunters up there. In bad weather they are pretty clueless.

The ground was wet as a sodden sponge. As the sun came up, he could see a bit farther. Sixty yards away, he saw the fork of a shiny antler, very near the ground. Then the deer came out from behind the tree, with its head down.

Pyke missed the first shot, but con-nected on the second.

He tied his 2013 general season tag on a heavy-horned 3x3, with blacktail coloration and a strong mule deer influ-ence in its face and ears.

In the howl of the wind, Eli didnt hear his younger brother shoot, but he worked his way uphill and ran into Sam. After the congratulations, Eli walked away and walked right into a buck. Sam heard the boom of that shot and strolled down in time to see Eli tie his tag on a 3x3.

As they both worked in the storm to put their bucks in game bags, they heard a shot in the distance. And another. And another. Blake had his first buck down. All three had filled their tags on open-ing day in the nastiest storm they may ever hunt in.

We thought that totally wasnt going to happen, but it did, Pyke said.

Pykes PrinciplesBesides a bivy sack, a tent and a rifle,

Pyke carries a tarp, freeze-dried meals, a water bladder, game bags, a stove, a compass and a lighter. In a chest pack, he

carries more wa-ter, a headlamp, a beanie, gloves, snacks, a knife and his phone.

Go when you dont want to, Pyke said. Thats what I learned.

Then be si-lent and hope to see the shape or shapes of a deer.

O n h i s s o l o 2014 hunt, Pyke weighed his pack when he arrived back home. On the five mile pack-out, he carried 30 pounds of gear and 66 pounds of deer on his back. On his solo 2015 hunt, he stayed as long as he could, feeling the hypothermia set in. He tagged a 3-point, cut it up in a driving rain and started back down the hill.

I think a guy has to realize theres a price to pay for hunting the wilderness,

Pyke said. Its going to hurt. But, it hurts so good. To order a signed copy of Gary Lewiss

Hunting Oregon, send $24.95 (includes S&H) to GLO, PO Box 1364, Bend, OR 97709 or visit www.GaryLewisOutdoors.com.

Sam Pyke watched the weather and when the forecast turned sour, he dropped everything and headed up into the mountains alone. He found this buck at the end of the trail.

Photo by Sam Pyke


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Show Season Staff PicksSIG SAUER ECHO1 Thermal Reflex Sight

The ECHO1 Digital Thermal Imaging Reflex Sight from SIG SAUER is the most inno-vative direct view thermal sight in the world. Based on the newest generation of thermal imaging sensors, the digital sight provides for day or night time predator and hog hunting, while functioning similar to a conventional reflex sight using both eyes open for fast and intuitive target acquisition with greatly improved situational awareness. The sight is also perfect for home defense, law enforcement, military, and search and rescue situations. The features this great unit includes are: 206x156 Uncooled VOx Bolometer Array 5 default reticles and the ability to design / upload new reticles Sight can take pictures, individual and burst mode Color LCD display for day / night time direct view targeting White or Black hot menu selectable plus color palette and game highlight Top mount peep sight and ROMEO1 adapter plate for backup

sights Includes a M1913 Picatinny cross-slot STANAG compliant

mount Thermal detection >1000 yards, Targeting range >300 yards Electronic zoom from 1x to 2x IPX-6 waterproof 30 Hz frame rate 8 hour minimum runtime.

Sitka Gear Waterfowl Timber Concealment Pattern

Sitka Gear, the industry leader in performance hunting gear, has just an-nounced that after years of research, study, design, and testing in flooded timber environments, the GORE OPTIFADE Concealment Waterfowl Timber pattern will be made available to the public. Waterfowl hunters spend count-less hours hugging tightly to a tree with water up to their knees. This style of hunting requires a dedicated system of gear and a specific pattern to confuse waterfowl vision in these unique environments. The scientific approach that Sitka takes to developing all its gear was again used with the development of the Timber pattern. Optimized for engagement at distances of 10 to 40 yards and the color perception of birds in the dark timber, the pattern is designed to inhibit the stimulation of waterfowls visual spatial awareness and object identification as they drop through holes in the canopy. Sitka has developed a full system of gear to keep hunters comfortable and protected in the timber environment. At the foundation, next-to-skin pieces like the CORE Midweight Zip-T and CORE Heavyweight Hoody wick moisture, fight odor, and add warmth. Mid layers like the Gradient Pant and Duck Oven Jacket provide ample insulation and are designed to fit comfortably under waders. When waders arent necessary, the Grinder Pant provides rugged, articulated mobility. The Timber outerwear line offers upper body protection for all conditions from mild to extreme. In order of protection level, they are:

the Dakota Vest and Hoody built with WINDSTOP-PER, the Delta Wading Jacket with GORE-TEX, and the Hudson Insulated Jacket with GORE-TEX. To complete the system and keep hunters warm, protected and concealed, Sitka is also offering a full selection of necessities, including gloves, caps and beanies in the Timber pattern, as well as the Timber pack, which is specifically designed to keep hunters gear including their gun safely above the waterline. This new Waterfowl Timber Line will be available summer 2016.

Petzl Tactikka +RGB HeadlampA lightweight headlamp with superior brightness and the addition

of red, green, and blue LEDs for protection of night vision and track-ing blood trails are just some of the features of the Tactikka +RGB from Petzl. Weighing just 2.9 ounces, the rugged Tactikka +RGB comes with an included padded Multicam elastic headband with a snap buckle. The superior brightness of the single LED white light features adjustments of 5 lumens to a boost mode of 160 lumens. The focused white LED provides illumination on high for up to 160 feet and on low it will illuminate 32 feet for more close-up tasks. The colored LEDs shine at 5 lumens and feature a flashing mode for signaling. The real star of the Tactikka +RGB is its Constant Lighting Technol-ogy, which ensures that the brightness will not gradually decrease as the battery is depleted. The brightness of the light will stay constant, until the battery reaches a certain level and then the light switches into reserve mode, offer-ing up to 40 hours of lighting at 5 lumens to safely see you back to camp and fresh batteries.

Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory Target PistolOf all the guns I own, nothing is as fun to shoot as my bull-barreled .22 LR semi-auto target

pistol. For years, the majority of semi-auto pistols chambered in .22 long rifle have been cheaply made affairs, and those designed for serious shooters, while of higher quality, had issues with basic assembly and dis-assembly. For 2016, Smith & Wesson took on the challenge of making a user friendly, high quality target pistol and the result is the SW22 Victory. Made of stainless steel and steel reinforced polymer, the SW22 Victory features an easy to dis-assemble design using a single Allen head screw; with rugged construction, precision machining, and superb accuracy. Fiber optic sights, with adjustable rear target sights, and an included Picatinny ac-cessory rail let you easily adjust or use optics. The trigger was crisp and smooth and features

an adjustable trigger stop so to customize length of pull. The way the grip meets the hand was comfortable and created a natural point of aim and textured front and

back straps make it easy to hold. The grip panels are removable and can be customized for different sizes and textures. The heavy 5.5-inch

bull barrel gives it mass to overcome movement during recoil and reduce harmonic vibration, to further improve accuracy. Look for it in the coming months.


Winchester Ammunition Celebrates 150 YearsIn 1866, America was still rebuilding from the recently concluded Civil War and citizens were pushing

west in an effort to find their fortunes and settle the frontier. At the same time, Oliver Winchester established the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Winchester brand went on to help Americans set the West, win two World Wars, help law enforcement keep our communities safe and, to this day, continues to revo-lutionize the way hunters and shooters succeed in the field and on the range.

Like few other brands, Winchester has helped shape America and in 2016, the iconic brand celebrates this important milestone by introducing one of its most collectible editions on ammunition in history, featuring classic Winchester artwork and embossed packaging, making these offerings truly unique.

Along with some great new offerings for 2016 including Deer Season XP, .17 WSM Power Core, M-22 Subsonic .22 LR, Varmint X and the new Expedition Big Game brand, keep an eye out for your favorite loads to hit the shelves of your local Sports-mans Warehouse throughout the year in this special packaging. 150 years and still going strong Winchester, The American Legend!


Designed with the latest U.S. Military standards in mind, the Ruger American Pistol is built

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testing in the determination of the form, function and features of this firearm. The resultant

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Zippo 4-in-1 WoodsmanZippo is well known for their lighters, offering a wide selection of styles. They

have been branching out into outdoor categories over the past few years and have come up with some innovative products. The 4-in-1 Woodsman is a great camping and survival tool. Zippo has combined several different products into one usable multi-tool. The handle and heal of the axe blade allow you to attach a saw blade securely and they added comfortable pads for the bow saw handle around the axe blade as well. You can even store extra blades inside the handle. The poll end of the axe is a mallet that can be used for pounding in stakes and the bottom of the handle is used for pulling them out very quickly. Remove the blades and cover and you have a very sturdy 5-inch hatchet to use around camp.

Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System Pivot Response Perfect Angle Sharpener

For proper knife and tool sharpening, the hardest aspect for most people is to achieve the proper sharpening angle. Making it even more difficult is the different shapes of blades and the difficulty in maintaining the proper angle along the curve of a blade. Work Sharp has come up with an innovative solution to help maintain the proper angle along curved tips by building a sharpening surface that pivots as you sharpen to ensure the proper angle is maintained throughout the stroke. The heavy-duty base features a locking pivoting bed with a magnetic base plate to accept either of the two included diamond sharpening hones, a 220 grit and a 320 grit. The more aggressive 220 grit is used to repair or re-edge damaged blades, and the finer 320 grit is used to touch up a knife that has gotten dull from use. An included field hone can be snapped into the base or used separately to finely polish your edge. The field hone includes multiple honing surfaces for serrated

knives, fishhooks, scissors, and recurve knife blades. The system also includes two changeable angle guides; a 20 degree for outdoor and pocket knives, and a 17 degree for kitchen and filet knives. These guides help you align the blade to the proper sharpening angle for a perfect edge every time.

Hells Canyon Speed SeriesBrownings Hells Canyon camo line has made a name for

itself as tough, dependable all-conditions gear. Many mem-bers of the Sportsmans News Team have been wearing the line for years and we have loved its performance features and durability.

Brownings new Hells Canyon Speed Series includes a radi-cal change in design, while incorporating a much more athletic, Hero Fit, for those who demand the highest performance in their gear.

The Hells Canyon Speed Series includes ultra-light rain wear, PrimaLoft insulated models, lightweight styles for warmer tem-peratures, tough 3-Layer gear and even base layers. Technical

fabrics offer the tough performance a name like Hells Canyon implies. PrimaLoft insulation provides an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio.

Brownings Hells Canyon Speed line includes jackets, vests, pants, rainwear, hoodies, base layer tops and bottoms, caps, beanies and gloves and features the exclusive ATACS camo patterns in both FG (green) and AU (tan and brown), which is designed with the western hunter in mind. The line gives both archery and rifle hunters alike a complete offering of apparel that pro-vides unmatched durability, mobility and comfort.

Browning AmmunitionJohn M. Brownings vision and uncompromising pursuit of excellence have fueled

the Browning culture and generations of American hunters and shooters for more than 125 years. Now Browning introduces its own line of branded ammo. Consumers will see several lines hit the shelves: centerfire rifle ammo for big game, shotshell loads for waterfowl and upland birds, target loads, rimfire loads for hunting and target shooting, centerfire hollowpoint pistol loads for personal defense and centerfire full metal jacket loads for target shooting. Each is focused on its intended use, with designs engineered for higher efficiency with maximum effect.

In 2016, expect to see: BXR Rapid Expansion, BXC Controlled Expansion Terminal Tip, BXD Waterfowl Extra Distance, BXD Upland Extra Distance, BPR Performance Rimfire, BPT Performance Target, BXP Personal Defense and BPT Performance Target loads to all become household names.

Hoppes has a new state-of-the-art formula called Gun Medic to help shooters of all disciplines clean and lubricate dirty firearms. Developed for quick use when a deep clean isnt in the cards, Hoppes Gun Medic Cleaner & Lube is a fast-acting, all-in-one product that will clean and lubri-cate a firearm in one application to quickly get the gun back into action. Its like having a first aid kit for dirty firearms, eliminating malfunctions caused by buildup of dirt and grime.

When seconds count, Gun Medic products will clean and lubricate a dirty firearm quickly and effortlessly to provide unrivaled performance. The revolutionary formula combines a bio-based lubricant developed for jet turbines with an amazing cleaning agent that scrubs away powder residue and then evaporates in 60 seconds, leaving only the thin coat of the high-performance lube. The lubricant tolerance is an astounding -65F to 500F. This cleaner and lubricant combination is loaded into a new high-pressure bottle to blast out dirt and crud. It comes in 4-ounce and 10-ounce sizes.

Filling out the line, Hoppes also packages these formulas as standalone offerings. Gun Medic Cleaner is the same quick-fix, bio-based cleaner in the new high-pressure 10-ounce can. Gun Medic Lube comes in an easy-application 2-ounce bottle. Both products are environmentally friendly bio-based formulas.

Hoppes Gun Medic


Featuring a massive 36 MM tube, the Victory V8 ASVLR riflescope from Zeiss has 92 percent light transmission for low light shooting. With SCHOTT HT glass, fluoride coatings, nitrogen purging, and a magnification range of 2.8 to 20, the 56 MM objective lens provides exceptional clarity and super fast targeting. A 1 MOA illuminated 60 reticle turns off when the rifle is lowered and instantly comes to life when the rifle is raised. Because the illumination is located on the second focal plane, the zoom does not affect the size of the dot, and an easy to use adjustment dial allows the user to adjust brightness, even while wearing gloves. The Victory V8 ASVLR comes with 10 different ballistic rings, configured for the majority of rounds on the market, and a customized ring can be laser engraved with your specific cartridge load data to make instant distance drop compensation for a specific range. A parallax adjustment dial on the side keeps your image crystal clear, and more than 100 clicks of elevation and windage allow shooting from point-blank to more than 600 yards. A locking elevation adjustment cap with a zero stop, prevents accidental movement of zero. With 3.75 inches of eye relief and a 46MM eyepiece, the V8 provides a 42-foot field of view at 2.8 magnification and 5.7 feet at 20 power. Each V8 comes

with a set of 36MM Tal-ley mounting rings. All in, this new optic from Zeiss changes the paradigm of long-range shooting.

Remington 783 Remington is celebrating 200 years in firearm manufacturing. Remington offers a 783 and scope

package built in a state of the art facility and started from the ground up to improve on the 783 platform. The Model 783 encompasses 10 different calibers for virtually any hunter. A carbon steel magnum contour barrel sends bullets down range with exceptional accuracy. Remingtons new CrossFire Trigger System comes from the factory at 3 lbs and can be adjusted down to 3- or up to 5-lbs depending on the operators preference. Firearms and gun safety are a big concern for Remington as they have three safety features built into the model 783 package. The traditional thumb safety is located by the rear of the bolt and an indicator pin is exposed on the rear of the bolt itself. The pin will be exposed for both manual and visual awareness to let you know the firearm is loaded and ready to discharge.

Coleman Esky CoolersColeman Outdoor Products have been helping people

enjoy the outdoors for as long as I can remember. Sitting around the camp at night with Coleman lanterns lighting the way and sleeping on their pads is one memory that gave me deep love for the outdoors. Coleman still delivers innovative and quality outdoor products to their consum-ers. The Esky Cooler line is built to endure the outdoors and keep your contents cold and protected. 2-inches of sidewall and 2.5 inches of lid/floor insulation lines the ESKY series for maximum cold temperature retention. The lid has a gasket, cork fitting seals along with a liner ridge to help regulate air flow, keeping the inside of the cooler chilled. Antimicrobial protection will help resist odor, mold and mildew. An integrated cutting board will stay in place when using and stores away securely. Catch free rubber latches are easy to use, yet solid and secure when riding in the back of a truck. And, the best feature Coleman offers for the ESKY coolers is the MADE IN THE USA label on each cooler.

Slumberjack Wild-Her Hunting Pack

SJKs Wild-Her is the perfect hunting pack for women looking for fit and function with just the right amount of feminine style. The pack has been tailored to fit a womens build with a contoured hip belt and shoulder straps that enhance overall fit and comfort on long days in the field. The single hand, forward pull hip belt adjusts for a per-fect fit and features a buckle that lays flat for additional comfort. Weighing 3lbs, 2oz and offering 2016 cubic inches of storage space, the Wild-Her features a single aluminum stay and HDPE frame sheet suspension system, allowing you to manage loads with ease. This durable pack boasts a stowable, versatile weapon carrying system, allowing you to transport a bow or rifle. The pack also has two low pro-file side pockets that provide additional storage and external organization. The Wild-Her is available in the Kryptek Highlander pattern.


Zeiss Victory V8 2.8-20x56 ASVLR Riflescope


ShockStrap Ratcheting Tie DownIf you are hauling expensive equipment or gear, protecting your investment with a cheap strap can cost you thousands of dollars if they fail. ShockStrap

revolutionized tie downs with the introduction a few years back of their high quality tension straps that were thicker and made of polyester strapping instead of nylon. This polyester is mold, mildew, and rot resistant; has a higher working load; and stretches and frays less than nylon. This year, ShockStrap finalized two years of R&D to release their new ratcheting strap. Featuring the same shock absorbing technology to keep the strap under constant tension. The Shock-Straps are resistant to UV rays, oils, salt, and corrosion. They stretch to absorb bumps that can work regular straps loose under normal use. The ratcheting straps now feature a super heavy-duty ratchet, with an oversized external ratcheting handle for use with gloves. Double steel hooks on the ends and soft loops to allow the strap to be wrapped and hooked on itself in places where the hooks wont fit, providing versatility in attachment. Both the hooks and ratchet are coated in yellow zinc, which lasts 10 times longer than chrome and protects against rust and corrosion. The straps have a working load of 1,553 pounds and

a breaking strength o f 4 , 600 pounds . They are available in lengths of 9 feet, 18 feet, and 32 feet. Not all tie down straps are created the same, and without a doubt, ShockStraps has put tremendous thought and effort into the design of their straps. If you need to pro-tect your expensive equipment and gear, trust your load to ShockStraps.

Badlands is one of the leading backpack manufactures in todays outdoor market. They offer a wide variety of packs and hunting gear for every outdoorsmans needs. The Superday is a proven day pack and has been around for some time. It is one of my favorite day packs for many reasons. It has over 1900 CI of space and weighs in at just under 4 lbs. You can strap your bow or rifle on the pack and head into your hunting spot for the day with enough gear to be comfort-able and successful. Molded foam suspension lines the back of the

pack, giving users a relaxed ride and fit. A 2-liter water blad-der can be stowed in-side the pack. Its extra pockets are perfect for all my smaller gear to be secured. One aspect that sets Bad-lands apart is their legendary warranty. They actually want you to test the limits of their packs so they can improve on their foundation. Look for B a d l a n d s n e w A p -proach camo pattern that has launched this year.

Badlands Superday


Chad LaChance

In my world, there are two kinds of people; fishermen that hunt, and hunters that fish. Anyone not fitting into one of those categories is an also-ran; as in, yea, we can be friends, but given that the outdoors is a lifestyle, not a hobby, dont expect much as we have little in common. There are some folks who only fish or only hunt without combining the two outdoor disciplines; I can cer-tainly understand that and we can be friends, but Id bet my favorite jerk-bait that those folks have at least a basic understanding and tolerance of the other halfs passion. Statistically speaking, most outdoor enthusiasts at least dabble in both pursuits and as a lifelong angler and hunter, Im

Hunting Fishhere to tell you that lessons learned angling can make you a better hunter and vice versa. I might be called the Fishful Thinker, but much of what I know about angling I learned from hunting. Lets look at some com-monalities.

Before fish can be caught or game harvested, said fish and game must be located. Breaking down their world requires an understanding of their daily needs and preferences. Surprisingly, the exact same concepts can be applied. The understanding of daily feed patterns versus resting needs, the mating cycles, and how environmental conditions affect daily movement all need to be understood to be consistently successful in lo-cation of the target species. Note that I am not saying that game and fish have the same characteristics, just that the process of considering whatever characteristics are relevant is the same.

For instance, I primarily fish res-ervoirs, meaning that it was dry ground until some shovel-wielding overachiever built a dam. That means the inundated structure is terrestrial in nature as opposed to a natural lake where the structural elements, the actual topography of the lake bottom, may be completely different than the land around it. On a reservoir, bottom structure will be very similar to the visible terrain and I often use this, in conjunction with my Lawrence sonar, to quickly evaluate fishing locations.

It was a major turning point in my deer hunting consistency when I real-ized many years ago that I could eas-ily do the same (substituting binocu-lars for sonar) to locate and pattern the deer. Major reservoir arms are much like big draws or valleys, and creek arms and channels, pockets, flats, bluffs, etc all transfer over in a systematic way. It is not a coincidence that my favorite deer hunting area is a secondary canyon that joins the main river valley at an outside swing in the river channel, and that the canyon has a bunch of small fingers branching off each side that lead up to good feeding areas, and that there are nice bedding pockets along each of those secondary channels. If I was looking at a topo map of the 3,000 acre canyon, I would look at the ex-act same elements when considering where to locate bucks or bass.

Now, Im not saying that fish and game use the same patterns in terms of daily movement - bass dont typi-cally travel as far in daily patterns as western whitetails do - but I am saying that what defines good struc-ture for the deer also makes good structure for the bass, or walleyes, or perch, or lake trout, etc, etc.

The same consideration can be used for evaluating cover. Cover is anything that gives texture to structure, so a patch of thick brush or stand of saplings is not unlike a weedbed of hydrilla or flooded willows, and fishing pole timber is much like hunting a stand of mature aspens. Evaluating which cover is best to hunt or fish depends on the exact season, weather conditions, and especially the covers location in relation to the major structure. I love to target isolated cover located at a strong structural element whether Im hunting big bucks or targeting large bass. If I were hunting does or guiding an angler that just wants consistent action, Id look more at major resting cover located near food sources. Mature whitetail bucks and giant bass are usually loaners, pre-ferring to avoid the fat part of the population bell curve, and are willing to utilize isolated small cover areas to do so.

Breaking down this aerial photo of great structure can be done the same whether chasing deer or bass. continued on page 44


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T echnology is advancing every day and it s amazing how it changes our lives. Almost all of us walk around with a smart phone. Even the idea of having a tiny computer in your pocket was science fiction fifteen years ago. As an outdoor videographer, Im amazed at how every year, cameras are getting more advanced and more affordable. Buying a camera with 4K capabilities used to be something for only the rich, and now we have that option in tiny action cameras. The cool thing about so many cam-eras being affordable now is that we can all film our outdoor activities and make some killer home videos. In this article, Im going to talk a lit-tle about the action cameras that are carried at Sportsmans Warehouse and about some things to consider when trying to decide which camera is right for you.

Using Action Cameras To Capture Your AdventureAt Sportsmans Warehouse there

are three main action cameras avail-able; the Spypoint Xcel HD series, the GoPro series and the Garmin Virb Elite. When deciding whats right for you, you need to think about what you want the end result to be.

T h e S p y p o i n t Xcel HD camera line has three dif-ferent models - the Xcel HD, the Xcel HD 2 and the Xcel Stream hunt. The Xcel HD and Xcel HD 2 are very similar. The Xcel HD2 is a little more expensive and really the only difference is that it features a 1x to 4x zoom that is controlled by the included remote. The zoom will allow you to get a little closer to your subject matter without actually moving the cam-era. Both cameras can film in up to 1080p. 1080p is a term used for HD or High Definition. Most new televisions now display images in 1080 as long as you have an HD receiver. They can also film in 720p or 480p, so if camera battery life is more important to you than having a full HD image, you can just film in those modes. Both cameras also can take still pictures up to 5-mega pixels and both feature a time-lapse mode, which can be a cool effect for home videos. They both have a remote, making it easy to start and stop the camera up to 40 feet away.

The Xcel Stream is the cheapest of the three, but actually packs a big punch. It can record in super HD 1296p or in 1080p. It has built-in Wi-Fi, making it so you can con-nect it to your smart phone with their free mobile application. Being able to setup your shots with your smart phone is huge and will greatly improve your footage, because you know exactly what its recording.

If your smart phone runs out of battery or if you forget to bring it with you, the Xcel Stream features a 2-inch screen on the back to in-sure you know where the camera is pointing. There are also a lot of dif-ferent mounts for the Xcel cameras, making it easy to put them in just the right place to get the perfect shot

The next camera we are going to look at is the GoPro series. GoPro is probably the most popular ac-tion camera, because they were the ones that started it all. Being the first in the industry means that they have a step-up on everyone else, just because they have been at it longer. There are several differ-ent models, but the three that are carried at Sportsmans Warehouse are the Hero+, Hero4 Silver and the Hero4 Black. The Hero+ is the most inexpensive model, but still packs a big punch. You can record in 1080p

in 60 fps or in 720p in 60 fps. 60 fps means 60 frames per sec-ond and most cameras film in 30 fps. By hav-i n g a c a m e r a that films in 60 fps means that y o u r f o o t a g e is going to be smoother, espe-cially during ac-tions sequences. The Hero+ can a lso take pic -

tures at 8-megapixels. All of the GoPros are Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled through the free Go-Pro application.

The Hero4 Silver is definitely a step up from the Hero+ and is the first GoPro to feature a built-in touch screen, meaning switching shooting modes and framing your

Pros Tips

Spypoint Xcel HD is a perfect ac-tion camera for those looking for an easy setup and great looking video.

GoPro4 Black Edition. Also Available in 4 Silver Edition and Hero+.



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