petersen's hunting- april-may 2016
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TROPHY ELK40 0 INCHES
BACK-TO-BACK
DOESARE W E KILLING
TOO MANY?
HUNTINGHORSEBACK
DO-IT-YOURSELF
FIELD TESTFIND THE RIGHT
HIKING POLE
HANDLE A HORSE
START A FIRE
QUARTER AN ELK
MAKE A LONG SHOT
DIY
ESSENTIAL
SKILLS
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Designed under the discerning ear of our bird-obsessed team, the calls that come out of
the Zink workshop speak the worlds most devastating language. www.zinkcalls.com
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The first of its kind with devastating-realism, from the head and feathers
to a breeding posture that puts longbeards right where she wants them.
Learn more about the new Avian-X LCD Laydown Hen and our full spring line-up at...
www.avian x.com
New from AVIAN-X LCD Laydown Hen
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13Go Big or Go Home?
Big buck kills soared in 2015.Is it science or are
hunters being picky?
DAVID HART
44Stranded in Scotland
A group of hunters facethe ultimate challenge:
Hunt to survive.
SIMON BARR
52Must-Know Skills
Channel your inner woodsmanwith these DIY skills.
CRAIG BODDINGTONDAVID DRAPER
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
KEITH WOOD
62Utah Trophy Elk
A draw of a lifetime, a fleetingshot, and 400 inches of bone.
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
44CASTAWAY!
No food, no shelter, and
a powerful hurricane.
Could you survive?
APRIL MAY 2016 | VOL. 44 | NO. 2
Tweed
Media
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s shown are recommended or use only by riders age years and older. amaha recommends that all riders take an approved training course. or sa ety and training in ormation, see your dealer or call the a ety Institute at - - -2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing; never carry passengers; never engage in stunt riding; riding and alcohol/drugsdont mix; avoid excessive speed; and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. For Side-by-Sides: Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owners manual and product warninglabels before operation. peci cations subject to change without notice. ro essional riders depicted on a closed course. odels shown with optional enuine amaha ccessories. amaha otor orporation. . . . ll rights reserved.
For your nearest Pro Yamaha dealer and to learn more about the full lineof Yamaha ATVs and Side-by-Sides, visit YamahaOutdoors.com
WOLVERINE
NATURAL BORN HUNTERS.
The 2016 Wolverine and full line of new Yamaha ATVs & Side-by-Sides.One of the wilds most tenacious and aggressive creatures, the Wolverine is designed to traverse extreme terrain with superior handling,
unparalleled off-road capability and all-day comfort. It features Yamahas legendary, ultra-durable Ultramaticautomatic transmission, exclusive
On-Command4WD, fully adjustable long travel suspension, best-in-class terrainability, and so much more. Plus, just like the full line of new
Yamaha ATVs and Side-by-Sides, theyre all Real World Tough. The 2016 Wolverines. Hunting is in their bloodline.
KODIAK700VIKINGVIKING VI WOLVERINE GRIZZLY
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14BULLET BOARD
NOSLER .277 140GRAINBALLISTIC TIP
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
16RACK ROOM
NEW MEXICOBIGHORN SHEEP
MASOUD YOUSEFI
16CARTRIDGE CORNER
30 NOSLER
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
17VERSUS
TO SUPPRE SS OR NOTTO SUPPRE SS?
MOLNAR KLAUBERT
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
18NEW GEAR
A BACKPACKING TIPI,PORTABLE STOVE, & MORE
KALI PARMLEY
22FIELD TEST
HIKING STICKS: WHICHARE RIGHT FOR YOU?
KALI PARMLEY
6LETTERSHeres what Hreaders have to say.
10FROM THE EDITORCan you survive?
MIKE SCHOBY
24OPEN COUNTRYHunting from horsebackcan be beneficial. Heresa dummies guide topicking your noble steed.
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
28GUNS & LOADSRemingtons 200 years ofexcellence reigns supremewith the Model 700 action.
CRAIG BODDINGTON
40WHITETAILSShooting does is trendyand fills the freezerbut should you?
JEFF JOHNSTON
72BYGONES
A trophy polar bear forthe record books.
BOONE & CROCKETT
30SPECIESSPOTLIGHTThe Alaska brown bear is
big, beautiful, and deadly.CRAIG BODDINGTON
34FARE GAMETurn your game meat intomore than steak with thissausage making how-to.
DAVID DRAPER
30 3424
40
APRIL MAY 2016 | VOL. 44 | NO. 2
28
Hunting (ISSN 0146-4671)April-May 2016, Volume 44, Number 2. Copyright 2016. Published 8 issues per year with three double issues (March,April/May, June/July, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Outdoor Sportsman Group, 1040 6th Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018-3703. Periodical po st-age paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change (Form 3579) to Hunting, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, Iowa50037-0539. Return undeliverable Canadian addressess to: 500 Rt. 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 41405030.
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06 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
An Outdoor Sportsman Group Publication
PUBLISHERKevin E. Steele
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR Mike Schoby
ASSOCI ATE EDITOR Kali Parmley
ART DIRECTOR Tim Neher
GROUP ART DIRECTOR David A. KlecknerSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Anschuetz
COPY EDITOR Mike Brecklin
FIELD EDITORS
EXECUTIVE FIELD EDITOR Craig Boddington
WESTERN FIELD EDITOR Joseph von Benedikt
CONTRIBUTORS
Michael Waddell, David Hart, David Draper,
Jeff Johnston, John Hafner, Dusan Smetana,
Tom Martineau, Lee Thomas Kjos
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Petersens Hunting, Editor, 2 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61614.
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
LETTERS
Thanks for your near-perfect timing in
publishing Dwight Van Brunts article on
Africa. You should be inundated with letters
complimenting that article.
Robert Ruark described how the hunters
horn sounds for some, and Mr. Van Brunt
described how that call inevitably leads some
of us to Africa and the quest for dangerous
game. How each individual arrives at that
point is the question rightly posed at the
beginning of the article and should be cause
for many of us to reflect on our journeys past
and our hopes for the future.Most importantly, though, the article
provides an incentive for people to consider
Africa, to expand their horizons and con-
template the challenges of hunting danger-
ous game from our big bears to the big five.
W H
Pasadena, Maryland
Your recent issue on hunting in Africa was
spot on! I have been blessed to hunt Africa
two times and will be returning this summer.Pursuing game there is a hunters utopia. The
game and the adventure are plentiful, sur-
passing any expectation, and experiencing
life there brings fulfillment to the soul.
I am so happy that by hunting I am
creating many jobs in an area where jobs are
not easy to come by. Aside from employing
the well-known trackers and skinners, my
hunting activity allowed the safari outfitter
to offer employment to housekeepers, land-
scapers, secretarial staff, cooks, scullery
assistants, taxidermists, and taxidermists
assistants. In fact, on my last safari, I noticed
an older gentleman chopping wood for our
evening fire. The man looked to be about
sixty and was attacking the wood with
fervor. He worked hard every day with a smile
and always had a warm greeting. This man
only had one arm. My PH told me that the
woodchopper was a good worker with a
family, and without this job, he probably
would not find another source of income.
The taxidermy shop, which is owned
by the safari outfitter, employs about fif-
teen apprentices to the taxidermist. A
few of the apprentices have already gone
off to head their own shops. Its a great
success story. Im proud to call myself a
hunter. Not only does our hunting help
to conserve the beautiful wildlife of this
world, but also it has humanitarian ben-
efits beyond measure. I hope everyone has
the chance to hunt Africa and see just howmuch of a positive impact our sport has
on the world.
T M
Lancaster, California
RESTORED IS NOT ORIGINAL
Justin Karnopps Guns & Loads column in
the November 2015 issue on the restoration
of his grandpas .30-.30 was good, and I am
glad he salvaged his familys Winchester 94.
Turnbull and others can do amazing things
in restoration.Here is the rub: Restored is not original!
Teaching younger readers there is an equiv-
alency is wrong! If you dont believe me, ask
George Madis or Felix Bedlan.
E C
Oroville, California
Erle, You are correct: restored is not original.
(Even though the definition of restore isrepair or renovate so as to return it to its
original condition.) Even so, Justin said no
such thing in his article. In fact, he stated
that certain restoration processes do dimin-
ish a guns historical appeal and value. He
specified that applying restoration to a gun
simply preserves and enhances the fire-
arm. It is true youll never have an original
firearm after restoration, but that doesnt
mean you shouldnt shoot for near perfec-
tion. Kali Parmley, Associate Editor
AFRICA:
A Hunters Utopia
Write us at HUNTING LETTERS, 2 News Plaza, Peoria, IL 61614, or [email protected] include your ful l name and town and state of residence.Letters may be edited for brevity or clarity. Personal replies are not possible.
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Copyright 2016 by Outdoor Sportsman Group
All Rights Reserved. No pa rt of this book may be reproduced without
written permission.
His a registered trademark of Outdoor Sportsman Group, in
the United States.
The Publisher and authors make no representations or warranties
regarding the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the informa-
tion contained in this publication. Any reliance or use of the information
is solely at your own risk, and the authors and Publisher disclaim any
and all liability relating thereto. Any prices given in this issue were
suggested prices at the press time and are subject to change.
Some advertisements in this magazine may concern products that are not
legally for sale to California residents or residents in other jurisdictions.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jeff Paro
EXECUTIVE VP, GROUP PUBLISHER,
HUNTING & SHOOTING Mike Carney
SENIOR VP, TV OPERATIONS,
GROUP PUBLISHER, FISHING Steve Hoffman
VP, FINANCE & OPER ATIONS Derek SevcikVP, CONSUMER MARK ETING Peter Watt
VP, MANUFACTURING Deb Daniels
VP, CONTENT DEVELOPMENT Todd Smith
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OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN GROUP DIGITAL
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For questions regarding digital editions, please [email protected]
COVER PHOTO:TONY BYNUM
MEDIA
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That first crack of thunder sounded like abomb just fell on Ramshorn Peak. Blackclouds rolled in and the wind shook thetrees. I had ventured off the trail on my own,
gambled with the weather and now I wastrapped in the forest. Miles from camp.Surrounded by wilderness and watchingeyes. I knew that if I was going to make itthrough the night I needed to find shelterand build a fire... fast. As the first raindropsfell, I reached for my Stag Hunter Knife.
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10 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
Texas, USA
.airforceairguns.comor contact us today at 877-247-4867
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I am worried about the next generationof hunters. They seem overly fascinatedwith technology while neglecting basicwoodsmanship. Many are more in tunewith how to program a trail camera than
in actually knowing how to follow agame trail. They can boil water as longas they have a stove with a pietzo igni-tion switch, but they re helpless if theyhave to light a real wood fire. Dont even
get me started about building a shelterfor the night with a hatchet and naturalmaterials at hand.
In my youth, my favorite book wasHow To Stay Alive in the Woodsby Brad-ford Angiers. It was written in 1956 andis full of useful skillsfrom determining
true north with a leaf and needle tomaking shelter out of branches to catch-ing fish with a trotline. The grocery list
for a six-month British Columbia canoetrip was probably a bit impractical, butI still read the book from cover to coverprobably 20 times between the ages of10 and 20. And I ll admit I still reread achapter or two each year. Impracticaland archaic in today s age of high-techtools? Hardly.
On an elk hunt in my late teens, I hada pack full of the latest high-tech gear,including an early GPS, a bivy sack, andmilitary freeze-dried MREs. I was havinglunch in our main camp when a herd of
elk strolled through. I grabbed my bowand, in the rush to pick up the fresh trail,left my pack. Since the elk werentspooked, I didnt plan on venturing more
than a few hundred yards from camp.Ten miles later I lost the trail and realized
three things: 1) It was quickly getting
dark, 2) I had no survival gear, and 3) Iwas hopelessly lost.
As the sun set behind the mountain,I stuffed my cotton shirt and pants fullof grass, laid some pine boughs againsta ponderosa, and filled the space witha huge pile of dry pine needles. Burrow-ing deep inside, I shivered my waythrough a cold September night in thehigh country with no fire. At dawn I gotmy bearings from the rising sun andstarted my long hike back to camp. Ieventually made it and then assessed
my decisions from the previous 24 hours.Clearly, I did many things wrong. I
didnt leave a note in camp as to mydirection of travel. I didnt grab my packwith it I would have been warm and fed.Possibly most important, I didnt havethe basic items, such as matches, knife,and compass in my pocket. But I did doa few things rightthings I learned from
reading that old book. I stopped when Iknew I was lost, I used natural materialsfor insulation, and I determined my loca-
tion by using the sun.While modern technology is a fan-tastic thing, it can go down, be lost, or,in moments of excitement, simply leftbehind. But what is never left behind areknowledge, determination, and basicwoodsmanship skills.
In this issue we are focusing on DIYhunting and survival skillsfrom show-casing the 20 skills every hunter shouldknow to chronicling a really cool sur-vival hunt on the Hebridean Islands ofScotland, where putting meat on thetable is far more important than puttingantlers on the wall.
I hope you enjoy this issue and pos-sibly even learn a thing or two along theway. But if you already know everythingwe cover here, please pry the iPad out ofsome kids hands and pass this issuealong. It just may save their life.
Can You Survive?
FROM THE EDITOR
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AS WE CELEBRATE TWO CENTURIES IN AMERICA, ITS HUMBLING TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE GROUND
WEVE COVERED. FROM THE INFANCY OF OUR NATION, WEVE JOURNEYED WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY, HELPING SHAPE THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY. REMINGTON COUNTRY IS
MUCH BIGGER THAN A PLACE, AND FOR THE PAST 200 YEARS, ITS BEEN OUR HIGHEST
HONOR SUPPORTING YOUR FREEDOMS, AND YOUR WAY OF LIFE.
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HUNTING NEWS | TIPS | INSIGHT
T Y B D?Its a good year to be a taxidermist. Just askHarry Whitehead. A taxidermist in Nicholasville,
Kentucky, for 30 years, the 2015 season is shaping
up to be his best ever.
Id say the number of deer heads broughtto my shop was up 30 percent this year, he says.
The average size is up, too. I used to mount a lot
of 140-inch deer, but this season, the averagewas closer to 150.
Whitehead isnt alone. Far from it. Countless
hunters throughout whitetail country made a trip
to the taxidermist. Thats nothing new, of course.
But this year? Big bucks were everywhere. It seemed
like every social media outlet and every website
dedicated to deer hunting was crammed with beam-
ing hunters posing with giant bucks.
They came from the obvious places, like Kansas,
Illinois, and Ohio, including the 300-inch, non-
BULLET BOARD
RACK ROOM
CART RIDGE CORNER
NEW GEAR
FIELD TEST
14
16
16
18
22
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14 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
typical giant taken near JunctionCity, Ohio, by bowhunter Dan Coffman.
Although details were few at press time,its reported to be the biggest buck evertaken by a bowhunter. A 14-year-old Okla-
homa girl killed the states fourth-largest
buck and the largest taken by a woman.It scored 179 7/8 Boone & Crockett points.
Even states that arent known for
producing trophy-class whitetails werecranking out a run of big deer. A WestVirginia hunter killed what is likely to be
the new state record typical whitetail,
green-scoring 191 2/8, and a Louisianabow hunter arrowed a 172 6/8-inch pub-
lic land giant, possibly the second-largest
bow kill in the state.
Part of the plethora of big bucks hasto do with social media itself, figures Qual-
ity Deer Management Association Direc-tor of Education & Outreach Kip Adams.
We seem to be sharing our deer a lot
more on social media, he says, and a
photo of a really big deer gets circulatedover the Internet, so it may seem like
there are a lot more big deer being killedthan in the past. With that said, I really
do believe we are starting to see a trendtoward really big deer thats been in theworks for several years. I think a number
of things came together this last season.
Kansas Whitetail Adventures ownerGene Pearcy agrees. There was food andcover everywhere in 2014 where I hunt in
Kansas. The deer didnt have to travel
This season was exceptional.
season. Ohios was lower, as well.
from any data we might have.
there might be a link.
a positive impact on local deer herds.
140-grain
Bullet BoardB U L L E T B A S I C S
Noslers Ballistic Tip was the first big-game bullet
to successfully utilize a polymer tip, which aids
expansion, and boosted aerodynamics beyond
the norm. Combined with the designs modest
boattail, the tip makes for a bullet that is good
for distance yet accurate. At its tip the jacket is
very thin, further enhancing the effective expan-
sion. The jacket thickens to prevent complete
fragmentation so the bullet maintains enough
integrity and weight to enable the bullet to
drive through vitals.
T E S T I N G G R O U N D
The bullet pictured flew 561 yards up a steepArizona mountain and impacted a mature coues
whitetail buck in the rear portion of the ribs,
angling forward through the vitals.
F I E L D P E R F O R M A N C E
Impacting at an estimated 1,850 fps, the bullet
passed through some 17 inches of stomach,
diaphragm, vitals, and ribs before coming to
rest against the hide just behind the off shoulder.
S T A T S
Retained weight of the recovered projectile is
106.7 grains, or about 76 percent of original
weight. Average expanded diameter is 0.55inch, not quite double original bullet diameter.
With a BC of .456 this Ballistic Tip scores better
than the usual hunting projectile, yet its not in
the same league as long-range super-bullets
touting BCs above .600.
N O T E S / O B S E R V A T I O N S
In my experience, the bullet performs beauti-
fully in most factory ammo and is easy to gain
excellent accuracy in handloads. Current Ballistic
Tips hold together better and perform beautifully
on deer-size game.Joseph von Benedikt
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16 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
Theyve changed the game, says
Watterson, who is also experiencing aspike in business this year. Hunters
now know whats out there. If they knowthere is a 140- or 150-inch deer running
around, they are less likely to shoot the
first 120- or 130-inch buck that comes
by. Im up 20 percent over last year.
I had 70 deer between 140 and 160brought to me, including three or four
between 180 and 190 inches, so it cer-
tainly seems like this year was a verygood one.
One good year doesnt necessarily
make a trend, but Whitehead and Wat-
terson are convinced the most recentdeer season is a look at the future.
Ive been a taxidermist for 15 years,
and every year seems to be a little better
than the last, says Watterson. I think the
increase in leasing is also playing a role
in this. When people pay good money to
hunt, they are less likely to shoot the first
buck they see. Others also realize that if
they want meat, they can shoot does and
save their buck tags for something worth
shooting. David Hart
of yearlings, according to data com-
piled by the Quality Deer ManagementAssociation. That number has been fall-
ing ever since. Just 33 percent of the ant-
lered bucks killed in 2014 were yearlings,
the lowest ever recorded. Incredibly, the
yearling buck kill in Arkansas was justeight percent of the total buck harvest in
2013. Whats more, the average age ofbucks being killed by hunters has in-
creased dramatically in recent years.Thirty-four percent of all bucks killed in
the 23 states that record age structure
were 3 years old or older. More thantwo-thirds of the bucks taken in Arkansasand Louisiana were at least 3 years old.
It seems like everyone is practicing
trigger management, says Adams. Theyare passing up younger bucks and shoot-
ing older deer. It makes sense that asmore deer make it to 3, more deer will
also make it to 4 or 5, when they can
really reach their full potential.
Whitehead and Ohio taxidermistCasey Watterson credit another factor to
the increase in giant bucks in recent years:
trail cameras.
WHERE:New Mexico
WHEN:August 2012
RIFLE:.270 Weatherby Magnum
HUNTER:Masoud Yousefi
RACKROOM
30 Nosler
H I S T O R Y
Based on the .404 Jeffries case, just as its 26- and
28-caliber siblings, the 30 Nosler is a standard-
length cartridge (fits in .30-06-length actions)
with no belt and a rebated rim, which gives it
considerably more capacity than the equal-length
.300 Win. Mag. Offering conceivably the best
engineering of the entire crop of fast .30-caliber
magnums, the 30 Nosler is shorter than the .300
Weatherby, .300 Remington Ultra Mag, and .300
H&H yet is as powerful. Its both more efficient
and more powerful than the aforementioned
.300 Win. Mag. and offers considerably more
horsepower than short .300 magnums.
A P P L I C A T I O N
No hooved game is out of the 30 Noslers reach.
While near-sighted hunters will consider it too
much for deer-size game, it does give an advantage
in heavy wind or on dicey shot presentations.
Outstanding performance can be found on elk,
moose, and the largest African antelope, and
with careful shot placement, the cartridge will
do just fine on big bears.
Due to its high muzzle velocities, careful thought
should be put into bullet selection. Tough bonded
or monolithic bullets, such as the Swift Scirocco
II and A-Frame, Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX, and
Federal Trophy Bonded Tip and Trophy Copper,
and Nosler Partition and E-Tip, are good options.
B A L L I S T I C S
Heavy bullets will get the best out of the 30
Nosler. So far Ive shot 180- and 200-grain Nosler
AccuBonds (3,200 and 3,000 fps respectively)
and 210-grain AccuBond Long Range (3,000fps) bullets out of it. All performed admirably,
with the 200-grain AB carving tiny, sub-half-
MOA groups out of the Nosler M48 Heritage
rifle. Exiting the muzzle with just over 4,000
ft.-lbs. of energy, it carries 1,500 ft.-lbs. of
elk-dropping impact all the way to 800 yards.
Zeroed at 200 yards, it drops only 6.2 inches at
300, 17.8 at 400, and 35.7 inches at 500 yards.
Joseph von Benedikt
Rack Room winners will receive an Aimpoint hunting sight.Enter your trophy photo at PETERSENSHUNTING.COM/RR
Hunting bighorn sheep is often a
once-in-a-lifetime experience for many
hunters. The chances of drawing a tag
are slim, and even when luck is on your
side, the chance at a trophy are few due
to the grueling nature of the hunt. For
Masoud Yousefi, his luck was on the rise
four years ago.
In 2012, Masoud would draw a tag for
a New Mexico Rocky Mountain ram in a
newly added unit with one catch: sheep
had never been hunted there before.Placing his luck on the scouting abilities
of one of the top outfitters in New Mexico,Masoud found himself glassing for sheep
on the Culebra Range at 12,700 feet.
After days of hard hunting, it would be
from that peak that Masoud would con-
nect with a ram at 400 yardsmakinghistory as the first ram taken in that unit.
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AGAINST SUPPRESSORS
Installing a suppressor on ones favored
hunting or shooting tool is much en vogue
today. But for most shooters, its simply
impractical.
Although the advantages in protecting
ones hearing and aiding alertness in the
field are undeniable, the cost of a good
suppressor is prohibitive and the applica-tion process onerous and expensive. Plus,
even the lightest, most svelte suppressors
are bulky and will add nearly a pound to
ones rifle.
Sticker shock alone turns most hunters
away from owning a suppressor. When the
product is a cylindrical piece of metal with
threads in one end, a little hole in the other,
and a bunch of baffles in-between, it just
doesnt seem worth the $700 to $1,400 price
typical of a good suppressor, especially with
the $200 cost of a Federal NFA tax stampatop it. Most hunters prefer to spend the
money on another rifle, and when one con-
siders that a Kimber, Sako, or other upper-
crust rifle can be had for the cost of a can,
one may hardly disagree.
Add to that the headache of filling out
appropriate NFA forms, getting notarysignatures, fingerprint cards, passport
photos, and so forth, followed by six months
to one year of waiting for approval. Brand-
new foam ear plugs cost a quarter. Stick a
set in the pocket of your camo trousers,
take your lovely new Sako out of the cabinet,
and enjoy a day in the woods or at the range.
Finally, while suppressor use duringsome types of hunting is practical, such
as while riding the high rack of a pickup in
Texas or Africa or while on stand over a
whitetail food plot or during a driven hunt
in Europe, adding one to the end of a
mountain rifle is almost a travesty. Doing
so adds weight and awkwardnessthe last
thing a hunter needs when scaling the Rocky
Mountains for alpine mule deer or Ger-
manys Alps for chamois. Molnar Klaubert
IN FAVOR OF SUPPRES SORS
Unknown to most Americans, suppressors
were not made a National Firearms Act (NFA)
regulated item because they are the favored
tool of assassins and spies. Thats a notion that
didnt exist until Hollywood created it. Among
other reasons, purchasing a suppressor was
originally made difficult and expensive in an
effort to curb the poaching rampant duringand after the Great Depression. Yep, officials
were concerned that it was just too hard to
catch out-of-work fathers attempting to feed
their starving children.
One has only to venture outside the U.S.
to realize that shooting and hunting with a
suppressor not only is the civilized thing to
do, but also is practical and accepted. Itprotects ones hearing and the hearing of
those nearby. It makes it possible to stalk
game without muffs or plugs installed,
increasing the hunters awareness anddecreasing reaction time. It makes it easy to
communicate while teaching new shooters
about safety and shooting skills.
Arrive at a European range without a
suppressor, and youre likely to be thought
rather uncultured and positively impolite.
You can walk into a hardware store in many
countries, including those where firearms
are heavily regulated, and for the price of an
expensive dinner purchase a can to screw
onto your rifle and walk right out.
Shooter perception in America has under-
gone an awakening. Currently, suppressor
ownership is one of the fastest-growing trends
among shooters and hunters. When the $200
cost of the required tax stamp was estab-
lished, it was equivalent to the price of a new
car. That cost hasnt changed, and inflation
has brought it within reach of the average
shooter. Obtaining suppressors via a trust has
streamlined the purchase process.
So step down from your high horse and
get yourself a suppressor. Big game wont
thank you, but your ears will.
Joseph von Benedikt
THE QUIET
RIOT DEBATEHUNTING WITH A SUPPRESSO R:IS IT WORTH THE COST AND EFFORT?
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W E I G H T, S PA C E, A N D P O R TA B I L I T Y are three important factors
when choosing the right tent for your hunting adventures. Insert Seek Outside
and their Ultralight Tipi. Thats right. Theyre going old school but with an
updated twist: a portable backpacking tipi. Made from high-quality, lightweight
materials, including a two layer DX40 Dyneema Reinforced canopy, the tipis
start at 4 pounds, 2 ounces and work their way up from there. Heres the best
part: Its equipped to house a titanium wood-burning stove (see next page).
Choose from a tipi for four all the way up to one that accommodates 24.
Is your mind blown yet? $639$2,500; see kou ts ide.c om
pitchperfectKALI PARMLEY
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A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6 | P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M 19
NEW GEAR
STAYING WARM in the backcountry is a beautiful but rare thing. However,
not anymore, thanks to Seek Outside and their portable, packable Titanium
Wood Stove. Weighing as little as 20 ounces, the stove packs flat for easy
carry and includes a roll-up pipe that fits nicely through the stove port located
on the companys Ultralight Tipi. It stands 12 inches and is made to heat y our
tipi and will burn for hours. $324$445;see koutside. com
B A C K C O U N T R Y F O O T W E A R is a very important piece of gear. No one
wants to end their hunt early because of a blister or twisted ankle. Made of
breathable GORE-TEX membranes and 100 percent waterproof, the Cabelas
Western Guide Hunting Boots by Meindl breathe fresh air in thanks to Air
Revolution technology. Not only that, but soft, flexible uppers help prevent
uncomfortable pressure and sore areasno blisters, baby.$399; cabelas.com
W E A R A B L E T E C H N O L O G Y is a hunters new best friend. Using GPS
technology, the Garmin Fenix 3 is able to show weather forecasts, barometer/
altimeter readings, record distance, and so much more. It even offers a TracBack
feature for a safe return to camp. Pair the Fenix 3 with your phones Bluetooth
to show texts, calls, and emails. This watch does everything except shoot
lasers. Hopefully, that comes with the next update. $499$799;garmin. com
T H E S T R Y K E R S T O V E and four-piece cook set assure eating well in
the backcountry. Weighing in at just 18.3 ounces, it boils water in less than
two minutes. Matchless ignition and added wind protection help make this
a must-have for the wilderness hunter. Connect the cook set frying pan us ing
the adapter (sold separately) and saut wild mushrooms to go with those
fresh backstraps. $68 (stove),$58 (cook set),$27 (adapter) ; campchef.com
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22 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
BOGPOD QSTICK
The Q-Stick by Bog-Pod serves double-duty as both a hiking stick and a monopodshooting stick. Thanks to its trademarkedSwitcheroo Shooting System, users canquickly switch between the shooting rest,foam-covered bino rest, camera adapter,and a compass. Made of lightweight alu-
minum, the Q-Stick is strong and durable,
holding my weight with no evidence ofbending from the pressure. Consisting ofthree sections and a thick rubber handlefor easy gripping, the pole has rapid-adjusttwist locks to change the length of the pole
to fit all heights and needs.Weighing in at 15 ounces, the pole is a
little heavier than the others tested, but dueto its multiple function use, strength, anddurability, this pole reigned supreme amongthe rest in my test.
Height: 29.568 in.; Weight: 15 oz.
$120; bog-pod.com
CABELAS HIKING STAFF
If youre looking for a less-expensive option
to keep you on your feet, Cabelas offers theirHiking Staff at an affordable price. However,my tests found that although lightweightand durable, these sticks are best suited for
simpler hunting trips, not the mountainside.Made of ultralight aluminum, the sticks
felt durable, but the double quick-lock
system that controlled the length of thepole was known to loosen and change theheight of the pole while in use. A quicktightening of the screws fixed the problem,
but concerned me about its use in thebackcountry. The pole comes completewith a tungsten tip to dig deep into icyterrain or a rubber tip cap to resist slippage.
The adjusting wrist strap was a nice feature,
as was a wide head that could serve as arifle rest if needed.
Height: 2650 in.; Weight: 8 oz.
$35; cabelas.com
BLACK DIAMOND ALPINE FLZ TREKKING POLES
True trekking poles, the Alpine FLZ poles are
available in three different sizes and start atjust 10 ounces each. Dont let their lightweight scare you. These poles are strong,and I could feel the durability as soon as Ibegan my testing. On steep inclines, the poleshad no problem digging deep and sticking
thanks to their Flex Tech Tips. Additionally,
the poles rapidly expand with the FlickLockmechanisma lever found at the top of thepole. Best part: The trekking poleshave a one-pull, speed cone deploymentthat snaps into place with a metal lock,making it almost impossible for the polesto contract without warning.
Although not specifically shooting sticks,
the poles have a natural cork grip and awide rubber head that could serve as a quickshooting rest in a pinch.
Height: 3755 in.; Weight (per pair): 2021.5 oz.
$140; blackdiamondequipment.com
Trekking and hiking poles are pieces of equipment that often are overlooked or
discounted by hunters. However, when your feet hit falling shale as you climb a moun-tainside chasing a bighorn sheep or as your body slips while traversing steep inclines
covered with loose dirt in pursuit of a monster Colorado bull, youll be searching for
that extra piece of stability. Not only that, but they also double as shooting rests when
your crosshairs bounce back and forth over the vitals of a trophy class muley.
We gathered trekking, hiking, and shooting sticks and put them to the test to see
which fit the bill for your next hunting adventure.
KALI PARMLEY
Extra support goes
a long way when
chasing game in
rough terrain.
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FIELD TEST
Mik
eA
nsch
uetz
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24 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
Many hunters dont have the financesto spring for a guided horseback hunt
in the West, but hunting elk or evenalpine-country mule deer deep in wil-
derness without a horse can be anexercise in foolishness. So whether
you borrow a neighbors animal, rent a much-ridden equine,or take the plunge and purchase a horse outright, here are ahandful of tips to help you survive and succeed.
CINCH UP
Keep your saddle cinch tight. Few things are worse than lurching
to the side as your formerly predictable equine companion takes
an unexpected flying leap over a log or creek and having yoursaddle roll, dumping you in said creek and dragging your prizedsaddle and rifle through the rocks and deadfall as your shockedpony dashes away in fright. Check that cinch frequently and keep
it snug, especially on round-backed horses with low withers.It doesnt hurt to use a breastcollar to keep your saddle from
creeping rearward while climbing long, steep slopes, and insome cases a crupper (strap that runs rearward from the sad-dle and loops around the tail) can keep you from riding your
chargers ears if you ever have to Snowy River off a steep ridge.
New to horses? Follow this sage adviceto DIY horsemanship success.
GUN TOTING
Traditionally, horsemen hung rifle scabbards on the side ofthe horse, passed beneath the stirrup leather and slanted tokeep the rifle from sliding out. This works beautifully withslab-sided, rifles such as a lever-action Model 94 Winchester.
Modern scoped bolt-action hunting rifles are much bulkier,and while you can hang one in this traditional position, beaware that it will be uncomfortably large beneath your knee,making long stretches in the saddle unpleasant.
Another place to hang a rifle is off the pommel pointingstraight down alongside the horses shoulder. While less com-mon, its still a traditional way to carry a long gun, and its amethod I prefer when carrying my scoped bolt-action rifles.
GANGSTA YOUR BOOTS
Few things are worse for hunting than cowboy boots, and fewboots are less suitable for riding than hunting boots. Cowboyboots have defined heels that prevent your foot from slippingthrough a stirrup and getting stuck; hunting boots have bulky,flat-bottomed soles that seem engineered to enhance theirability to stick in a stirrup. Getting thrown and having a boothang up in a stirrup as you go off is absolutely life-threatening.
Since carrying two pairs of boots and switching back andforth isnt practical, the solution is to loosen the laces of yourhunting boots before mounting so that even if your boot hangs
up (if you fall off ) your foot will pull out of the boot. Its betterthat your panicked horse races frantically away with one ofyour boots than for you to go bouncing along with it.
STALK ON FOUR HO OVES
Horses have four feet, and their gait is far less alarming to wildgame than the sound of a human heading up a trail. Numeroustimes Ive had elk bugle at me while on horseback, and notuncommonly a lone bull will move in for a closer look. Ridingslowly through elk country and blowing a soft cow-call on occasion
is a great way to cover a lot of ground without unduly alarming
its inhabitants and, in some cases, to ride right in amongst em.
When tying up to stalk, two horses left togetherare far quieter than one left alone. Plus, with gamein the bag, you can mount up and ride home.
DUMMIES GUIDE TO:
DIY Horseback Hunting
JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT
OPEN COUNTRY
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For the full story on the Heat Shieldtip and ELD-Xbullet,go tohornady.com/heat-shield 800.338.3220 | HORNADY.COM
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26 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
O P E N C O U N T R Y
TIE ONE ON
packing meat.
your horse when it jumps a log.
BAIL AND BANG
securely for those times when you hunt alone.
TAKE TWO
by nature very sociable, and rare indeed is the mount that will
stand contentedly munching bark when left alone tied to a treein the wilderness.
With two horses, once youve got meat on the ground, you canload the pack animal, swing aboard your saddle horse, and ride
to camp rather than hiking and leading one meat-laden horse.
DAYPACK SADDLEBAGS
Nothing says greenhorn more effectively than carrying your
own daypack while riding a horse. Spring for a quality set of
saddlebags. Carry water, food, spare ammo, camera, first-aid kit,
and so forth in the bags. Just in case you get tossed and becomehorseless, keep a weatherproof lighter or waterproof matches
and a compact headlamp in your pocket and a knife on your belt.Not to say that you cant have a daypack with you, too. In
fact, I often hang one from the saddle horn opposite the side
where my rif le hangs, where it s easily accessible and partlybalances out the load, minimizing the saddles tendency to list
to one side. Just be sure that the handle atop it can take the
weight without tearing out and dumping your daypack.
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Americas most trusted scent-elimination system, Scent-A-Way MAX, features
supercharged odor scrubbers that aggressively attract and attack human bacterial
odors, while neutralizing the broadest possible spectrum of environmental odors.
Its bioengineering at its best, for serious hunters like you.
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28 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
Hey, we all have our favorite rifle actions.Some of us go for classics like Mausers andPre-64 Model 70s. Others, both hobbyists
and custom makers, gravitate to the Rem-ington Model 700 action. There are goodreasons for this. The Model 700 action is
strong and, mated with a good barrel, is likely to deliver excep-tional accuracy. It is also available. Manufactured continuously
since 1962, it is the best-selling and one of the longest runningof all bolt actions. There are millions of them out there.
If you happen to be a lefty,you are probably even more
likely to gravitate to theModel 700 action. Over the
years, Remington has beenvery kind to us downtrodden
and neglected left-handers,but even so, not every imag-
inable cartridge and con-figuration has been available
in a left-hand action. Still,there are plenty of actionsout there, whether the basisfor a full-up custom job or a
simple rebarreling.I was just a kid when I got
my first Model 700. It was a
.264 Winchester Magnum,only slightly used when Iacquired it in 1966. It was a
right-hand action. Like mostlefties back then, I started with right-hand actions, reaching over
the top to work the bolt. That rifle, along with almost everything
else, went out the door in a burglary in about 1981. By then, Idacquired a couple of left-hand actions. I preferred the convenience
and the obvious safety factor of being on the correct side of the
The southpaws best friend!
action in case of a catastrophic failure. Since I had to start over,
I made a conscious decision to switch to left-hand actions. Mynext two rifles were purchased from a left-hander who had lost
the sight in his left eye and was switching to right-hand actions.One was a Model 700 in 7mm Remington Magnum.
I have no idea how many rifles Ive owned since then thatwere based on Model 700 left-hand actionsbut almostcertainly more than all other actions combined. Several have
been from name makers. I had a gorgeous David Miller 7mm
Remington Magnum on a left-hand ADL (blind magazine)
action. And my first KennyJarrett rifle was a .30-06 based
on a left-hand RemingtonBDL action. One of my first
synthetic-stocked rifles wasa .338 Winchester Magnum
by Chet Brown, also basedon a left-hand BDL action.Donna and I share the afflic-tion; the Remington 700 is a
favorite action of Kerry andCarole ODay of MGA, andweve enjoyed using several
of their rifles over the years.Other rifles have been a
simple rebarreling, and some
have been more complex.The cool thing about thestandard Model 700 action
is that, unlike many others,the bolt and magazine box
are long enough to accommodate .375 H&H-length cartridges.
There are also short M700 actions, and there have been afew runs of left-hand short actions. Unfortunately, these areuncommon. Ive only had my hands on one, made into a
really cool .350 Remington Magnum by MGA.
Today Kenny Jarrett makes his own actions, but for many years,he preferred Remington M700 actions because it wasnt difficult
to make them shoot well. Boddingtons first Kenny Jarrettrifle was chambered to .30-06.
Te Model 700 Action
CRAIG BODDINGTON
GUNS&LOADS
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A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6 | P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M 29
G U N S & L O A D S
The standard-length actions, well, Ive used them as thebasis for a bunch of rifles in chamberings that just werent avail-able in left-hand form. The first was a .458 Lott back in 1983,
pretty much at the urging of Jack Lott himself. It was open-sighted and stocked in a nice piece of wood from E.C. Bishop.Ill be totally honest: It was too light and kicked too much. I
should have kept itand I also should have learned my lesson.
The next was a .416 Hoffman, built by Randy Brooks ofBarnes Bullets back in 1985. This was before the .416 Remington
and before the rebirth of the .416 Rigby, when Barnes wasjust about the only source for.416 bullets. I used it to take
several buffalo and my firstelephant, but in that period
I did several safaris in theOkavango, so it was my con-
cept of a swamp rifle. Thestock was synthetic, and itweighed around six pounds.Although light and handy in
the mokoro(dugout canoe),
the recoil was ferocious. Ieventually surrendered andput a muzzlebrake on it. Thismade it more manageable to
shoot, but it went throughscopes and mounts like armyants through sugar.
Just before I made theswitch to left-hand actions,I had a brief fling with a right-
handed M700 in 8mm Rem-
ington Magnum. I loved the
cartridge, and in the mid90s a left-handed M700 .375became the basis for a left-handed 8mm Remington Mag-
num. This was a very specialrifle. Rebarreled with a 28-inch
Pac-Nor barrel and stocked inEnglish walnut by our greatPaso Robles gunsmith, NormBridge, it was my concept of a
long-range elk rifle.Although it accounted for
a number of elk, I must admitthat I used it to miss the biggest
elk I ever got a shot at. Thatwas my fault, not the rifles.Although it was heavy, I lugged
it on several mountain hunts,including my first Marco Polo sheep hunt in 98 and my second
mountain nyala hunt in Ethiopias high country in 2000. That riflewas incredibly accurate, producing the best group Ive ever shot,
an honest .052 inch. Do the maththats one-twentieth of an inch!In full disclosure, that was just one group out of many. I suppose
it was a fluke, since I could never come close to duplicating it, butI could count on that rifle to group between a quarter- and a half-
inch, so of course I had great confidence in it and used it a lot.
Ultimately, I decided, sensibly, that, at nearly 12 pounds
with scope, it was just too heavy to carry in rough country.Honestly, Ive always been more of a fast .30 guy and pretty
much equal opportunity. I ve used .300 Winchester Magnumsand .300 Weatherby Magnums with equal satisfaction, and a
factory left-hand M700 in .300 RUM was spectacularlyaccurate. But there was one .30-caliber magnum I hadntused, so about a dozen years ago another left-handed BDL
became the basis for a .300 H&H. Also with a good Pac-Norbarrel, this turned into another quarter-inch rifle. It shot
equally well with 150- and200-grain bullets so, unchar-
acteristically, I bypassed mycustomary favorite: the180-grain .30 caliber.
I used it for my first desert
bighorn in 2003 with the 150-grain bullet, a difficult quar-
tering-to shot at about 330yards. Later, with 200-grainbullets, it made a couple of
trips to Africa and the SouthPacific and, of course, per-formed perfectly.
Its been a little whilesince Ive made a project
rifle on a Model 700 action,but Im sure there will bemore. In the used-rifle mar-
ket, the M700 remains themost available left-handaction, and while it is notinexpensive, it is much
more affordable than manychoices. In my experience,
mate a 700 action with agood barrel and its going
to shoot.Most of the time, it s also
going to feed. Like all push-feed actions, in the rebarrel-
ing process a radical changein cartridge dimensions mayrequire work on the rails or
follower. But heres the deal:
So much is made of con-trolled-round-feed versuspush-feed, especially in rifles
that might be used for dan-gerous game. I can assureyou most of this hullabaloo
comes from right-handed shooters. Until fairly recently,we lefties have had almost no left-hand controlled-round-
feed actions to choose from, and weve done just fine with
Browning A-Bolts, Savage 110s, Weatherby Mark Vs, and, ofcourse, Remington Model 700s. The Model 700 feeds with
perfect reliability, and although Im not quite sure why this isimportant in a sporting rif le, it feeds upside down and sideways
just as well as a 98 Mauser. Try it and youll see !
Boddington used a Remington M700 BDL rebarreled to.300 H&H to take his first desert bighorn in 2003.
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30 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
T
he sight of any fresh bear track islikely to send shivers up onesspine, but when you see the foot-
long track of a coastal brown bear,your imagination goes to work.Add in a freshly caught salmon,
still flopping and hastily abandoned, and suddenlythe dense alders seem a lot more sinister. You arein the presence of giantsand youre on their turf.
Although numerous worldwide subspeciesand races are identified, there is just one brownbear: the long-clawed, dish-faced Ursus arctos,ranging in the Northern Hemisphere from thePyrenees of Spain discontinuously eastward towestern Canada and our Northern Rockies. Sizevaries regionally, depending largely on diet andlength of hibernation. Biologically, the grizzly bear
and the brown bear are the same animal, but thecoastal bears are blessed with a high-protein fishdiet much of the year and, thanks to the warmJapanese current, enjoy a milder climate andshorter winters nap.
As hunters, we have always distinguished thecoastal Alaska brown bear from the interiorgrizzly simply because they get a whole lot bigger.
In fact, the Alaska brown bear is considered thelargest grizzly/brown bear in the world. That said,the coastal brown bears of Russias Kamchatka
Peninsula are only slightly smaller, and the extinct
Large and in charge
all you needto know about the brown giant.
California grizzly is believed to have been bigger.Just how big is a matter for some conjecture. Aswith all bears, spring and fall weights vary con-
siderablyreferences suggest 800 to 1200 pounds,with outsized boars occasionally reaching 1,500pounds. Thats a lot of bear!
A big bear may approach 10 feet from nose totail and stand nearly five feet at the shoulder. The
standard hunters reference for bear size is usu-ally the squared hide. This is done by laying afresh skin out flat and measuring nose-to-tail,then front paw to front paw (usually the largermeasurement). These numbers are added andthen divided by two. Depending on where one ishunting, an eight-foot bear may be good, and anine-foot bear is always good, but a few bearssquaring 10 feet are taken every year, and oncein a while a genuine 11-footer pops up.
Since hide measurements are impossible toverify, all record book systems use skull measure-
ments, length plus width. Although irrefutable,skull size does not always match body size, but askull in the upper 20s is big, with the Boone andCrockett minimum for the all-time book a whop-ping 29 inches. Long a popular campfire argument,it isnt clear whether the polar or the Alaska brownis the largest bear. The polar bear is rangier, while
the Alaska brown is probably heavier. Largest
recorded skull sizes are very similar.
Donna Boddington took this 10-foot bear on AdmiraltyIsland with guide Alisha Rosenbruch-Decker (left).
Thats a big bear anywhere, but unusually large inthe ABC Islands and Southeast Alaska.
Alaska Brown Bear
CRAIG BODDINGTON
SPECIESSPOTLIGHT
BESTHUNTING
OPPORTUNITIES
Kodiak Island and the
Alaska Peninsula are
the most famous
areas for the biggest
brown bears, but
current populations
are high and there are
big bears throughout
the range. Realisti-
cally, coastal brown
bear hunting is much
more successful than
hunting interior
grizzlies, but Alaska isAlaska, so its always
a matter of having
some luck with the
weather. Aside from
area, the next
question is spring or
fall? Both have their
advantages, but
although my best bear
was taken in the fall,
spring seems to offer
more consistent
weather, and the long
daylight is a plus.
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The brown bear is hunted primarily by glassing
or, in thicker cover, spot-and-stalk techniques.Although baiting is not allowed, it isnt uncommon
to find a bear on a moose kill, which it will usu-ally defend. By any means, this is an exciting hunt
with at least a hint of danger, and the Alaska brownbear is a magnificent creature, rating placementon any short list of the worlds great game animals.
I have been fortunate to hunt them several times,
both spring and fall, and although I wasnt alwayssuccessful, I count each brown bear hunt among
my favorite hunting memories.
NATURAL HISTORY
Although we consider the Alaska brown beartogether with the polar bear as the worlds largest
predators, technically the Alaska brown bear is anomnivore. They are hard on moose populations
and, if they plan ahead, probably look forward tothe annual salmon run. However, they also feed
on grass, tubers, and berries in the autumn months.The primary mating season is late May and
June, but only a percentage of sows are availablein any given year. Cubs, born during hibernation,
will stay with the mother from two to four years,
so on average, sows will mate only about every
three years. The average litter is two, but thenormal range is one to three cubs, with more
possible in good years. Females are sexuallymature between four and eight years, males
between five and nine. While obviously a slow-breeding animal, the brown bear has a long life
span. In the wild, 25 years is normal; a big boarI took back in 1981 was aged, by tooth section,
at 27. Females tend to live longer, with sowsoccasionally reaching 30 and more.
Like many predatory species, male bears prac-
tice infanticide, theoretically to bring the mother
into heat more quickly. Male bears are thus amajor factor in cub mortality, but otherwise, the
brown bear has little danger from other predators.The boar plays no role in raising cubs, but sows
are highly protective of their young. As far asdanger to humans, bears attack for threeprimary reasons: territorial intrusion (meaning
you got too close), defense (usually meaning yougot too close to or between a sow with cubs), and
predation (meaning you are going to get eaten).This last is clearly the most ominous and, fortu-
nately, least commonbut over the years severaldeer hunters have been jumped while calling, so
its not a good idea to hunt alone in bear country.Others have been attacked while packing meat,
and others have been harassed at random. In bigbear country, stay alert, avoid presenting a target,
and carry bear spray.
The front foot of the Alaska brown bearcarries claws like four-inch stilettos. The hindfoot, longer with shorter claws, leaves atrack that may be a foot long.
S POTL IGHT
BROWNBEARFACTSPOPULATION
Since no official agency
differentiates betweencoastal brown bear
and adjacent interiorgrizzly populations, its
tough to tell the exactnumber. Nor should
they,because one daya bear is a grizzly,
the next day he stepsacross the boundary and
is a brown bear. World-
wide, there are some200,000 brown/grizzlybears; the Alaskan
population is estimatedat 32,000. Because of
better food conditions,the coastal and island
populations are denserthan in the interior, so
there are probably atleast 15,000 Alaska
brown bears.
MOST
EXPENSIVEHUNTS
The famous areas,
Kodiak Island and theAlaska Peninsula, are
hunted by quota, withthe Peninsula hunted
only every other year.
LEAST
EXPENSIVE
HUNTS
For nonresidents there
are no cheap brownbear hunts, but huntsin Southeast Alaska
and the ABC Islandsaverage less than
on Kodiak and the
Peninsula. Althoughthe reputation is for
smaller bears, the actualaverage is similar, and
there are big bearsthere. My wife, Donna,
took an honest 10-footer on Admiralty
Island in 2013.
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TessRousey
ubed meat gets a bad rap. Consider the much-maligned hot dog and its vile reputation as the
endgame for pig lips and ani. The truth is, thecraft of turning ground meat into a sublime
sausage is high art, even when it comes to thelowly wiener. And while it may be art, making
sausage is not difficult. With a little equipment and some basicknowledge, hunters can turn deer, elk, and other venison intosomething so much more than the usual steaks and burgers.
First, lets tackle the misconception that sausage is madefrom suspect ingredients. Like any worthwhile endeavor, youget out what you put inor put more simply: quality in equalsquality out. While sausage is a great use for butcher scraps andtougher cuts like shoulders and the neck, it pays dividends totrim judiciously, removing any bloodshot material, stringysinew, or otherwise poor or damaged meat. As for the deers
intake and output ports? Best leave them for the dogs.
Making sausage takes skillbut that doesnt mean its difficult.
Another ingredient that cant be skimped on is some type
of fat, and that goes double for sausages made from otherwiselean game meat. We all know fat adds flavor, but its also es-sential for creating the proper texture. The No. 1 complaintwhen it comes to sausage made from deer is that it is often toodry, and biting into a game sausage without enough fat addedwill feel a lot like getting a mouthful of sand. To prevent that,plan on adding as much as 30 percent fat, which can come inthe form of ground pork fat, beef tallow, or even bacon.
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different typesof sausages from around the world, but they all fall into one ofthree categories: fresh (think loose breakfast sausage or links ofItalian sausage), smoked, or dry-cured (generally in the form of
hard salami). The borders between these types are often blurred,especially the line between smoked and cured, but there are acouple rules. Fresh sausage, either cased or loose, is left uncooked
until it comes time to prepare it for the table. Dried sausagesare always made with some type of curing agent, generally avariation of sodium nitrate, to prevent bacteria growth duringthe weeks (or months or years) it takes them to cure.
There is a singular rule covering all types of sausages, andthats keeping everything cold. Abundant fat and the pri-mary bind (more on this later) are essential to creating theperfect sausage, and each of these elements is threatened
when the meat temperature gets too warm. The slightestamount of heat during the sausage-making process will cause
the proteins and fats to separate. This is called breaking, andit results in a sausage that will dry out when cooked or cured.To prevent it, place the meatalong with the grinder throat,auger, and bladein the freezer for 30 minutes before grind-ing. It also helps to grind the meat into a bowl placed insideanother bowl or tub filled with ice.
Te Lost ArtOf Sausage Making
DAVID DRAPER
FAREGAME
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Once the meat and fat are ground and the seasonings add-ed, its time to mix everything together. This seems like a sim-ple step, but its actually one of the most importantright upthere with keeping your ingredients cold. Mixing is more than
just incorporating the ingredients; it also creates what is called
the primary bind, a complex network of proteins that holdsthe meat together during the cooking and curing process. Youll
know youve achieved a primary bind when the sausage mixbecomes sticky to the touch and has a shaggy appearance.
While some sausage can be left loose, its when the meatis stuffed into a casing that it transcends mere burgers. There
are a number of casing types available, but naturalthosemade from (cleaned and sterilized) animal intestinesare by
far superior, with that distinctive snap they make when youbite into them. The style of casing will also depend on thesausage. Whichever you choose, be sure to prep them accord-ing to their directions, including soaking them in warm water
for at least 30 minutes. Also, keep everything wetthe stuffer
tube, the counter, your handsto ease the stuffing processand reduce the chance of blowouts. Getting it just right takessome skill, but with practice youll be creating perfectly stuffed
links in no time.These steps may seem basic, and to some extent, they are.
Theres a bit more to it, such as the blend of seasonings and salt,but at its core, sausage making is simple, even if what comesout is not. Like any type of cooking, creating sausage is partlyalchemy, where meat, fat, and flavor all come together to createsomething so much greater than the sum of its parts.
VENISON JALAPEO COUNTRY SAUSAGECombine the venison and pork cubes in a large tub. Whisk thedry ingredients together and distribute evenly over meat.Mix thoroughly.
Grind the meat through the grinders wide or coarse plate.Run half the ground meat back through the grinders fine plate.
Add the diced jalapeos and half the ice water to all theground sausage. With a mixer (or your hands), mix thor-oughly until the sausage starts getting sticky and forms theprimary bind. If necessary, add more water, a little at a timeuntil a fistful of meat squeezes through your fingers.
Stuff into hog casings and twist into either 6-inch links or12-inch loops.
Hang or place on drying racks in refrigerator overnight to dryand to let flavors develop.
To cook, saut or grill over medium-high heat until well-browned,but not bursting, until the internal temperature reads 155.
INGRED IENTS3 lbs. venison, cubed
2 lbs. pork shoulder,cubed
3 tbs. kosher salt
1 tbs. onion powder
1 tbs. paprika
1 tsp. black pepper
tsp. allspice
tsp. nutmeg
cup dry milkpowder
cup diced jalapeos
1 cup ice water
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40 P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
R
ecently, I ve heard several well-intended friends
proclaim I should take a bunch of does off my
hunting property. Weird thing is, they said itwithout ever having seen my property. Whenpressed, one buddy admitted he didnt havea clue how many deer I had, the propertys
carrying capacity, or even how a robust doe harvest mighthelp the hunting.
It seemed hed watchedtoo many hunting shows.
Fact is, whitetail popula-tions are leveling out in some
areas and even falling belowwhat professional game man-
agers consider ideal in others.In these areas, harvestingdoes is detrimental to theherd and to hunting.
In this column Ill explainthe impact doe harvests haveon habitat and how to tell the
difference between proper-ties that need deer reductionand those that dont.
THE SCIENCE OF
SHOOTING DOES
Taking does controls impacton habitat more so than tak-ing bucks because each doekilled also eliminates thepotential to produce futuredeer. Conversely, taking abuck eliminates only thatdeer and not necessarilypotential offspring becauseother bucks will breed in its place. Doe harvesting helps balance
the buck-to-doe ratio, which makes it easier to hunt trophybucks. This is because bucks must work harder and travel more
to find a mate in areas with less does.
Shooting does is encouraged by state gamedepartments and trendy among hunters.But should it be?
Also, where the buck-to-doe ratio is in balance, more does willbreed on the first estrous cycle, which produces a consistent fawn
birthing period. This consistent fawn drop allows those fawnsa greater survival rate because predators have a brief surplus offood. After a couple of weeks, when the predators are looking forfood again, fawns are stronger and more capable of escape. Andhigher fawn survival rate means more bucks will survive.
All this means that inplaces where there is a sur-plus of deeror more deerthan the land can carry foroptimal health of both theherd and habitatoftenhunters can improve their
lands trophy potential bytaking more does. The trickis knowing if your huntingproperty has a surplus or ashortage of deer.
Brian Murphy is a wildlife
biologist and the CEO of theQuality Deer ManagementAssociation (QDMA). Hes
one of the worlds foremostexperts on whitetails, white-
tail habitat, and how the two
relate to hunting. While aby-product of the groupsmission is older bucks withlarger antlers, its not its pri-
mary goal. Rather, its goal is to promote a healthy deer herdby way of regulated hunting.
For the last 25 years, most of America has been in a surplus
deer situation wherein the habitat in many regions could not
When Should
Hunters Shoot Does?
JEFF JOHNSTON
WHITETAILS
Sometimes harvesting does isdetrimental to your propertybut knowing when to pull the
trigger is the question.
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WH I T E TA I L S
carry many more deer without negative
consequences. Therefore, QDMAstressed a simple, win-win situation fordeer and hunters, and that was to take
does and protect young bucks. Harvest-ing female deer decreases the population,
while satisfying hunters by increasingthe nutritional value of the land and the
age at which bucks are harvested, there-
fore increasing its trophy buck potential.However, the times, at least in some
areas, are changing.
We are in a new era of antlerlessharvest, Murphy says. It used to bethat the shoot every doe you can andthree more was the right method, but
now its not for some areas. Particu-larly the Midwest.
Factors such as designed overhar-vest, predation, two severe diseaseoutbreaks, severe winters, and habitatloss of CRP acreage combined to ham-
mer deer herds, Murphy says. Some ofthe most severely hit regions were
southern Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and
Nebraska. Some of those areas docu-mented the first long-term deer declinesin decades. Some harvests were down
49 percent over the last decade.So hunters and agencies in those ar-
eas, and potentially others, must adjust.
Obviously, state game managers havethe resources to conduct local herd stud-ies, but how does the average hunterknow if the herd hes hunting is healthyor if he should or shouldnt take does?
Deer are good barometers of thehabitat, Murphy says. If deer are eatingwell, it means the habitat can support
them, and so you probably dont need toshoot a bunch of does.
So how do you tell if the deer are eat-ing like kings and queens?
Simple, he says. After harvesting deer,weigh them. Then age them [via its teeth
or a professional.] Call your state gameoffice and see how the weight compares
to same-aged deer in the area. [For max-imum herd health and trophy potential]
you want your deer in the top 10 percentof the weight range. If so, it means the
deer are eating well and healthy. Assum-
ing age and genetics are adequate, thisarea will produce big antlers.
Murphy also suggests an easier,albeit less scientific, way for hunters
to know if they should take more does
on their hunting property.If youre seeing multiple deer every
time you go out, then you probably needto shoot some does. If you are seeing zerodeer in three or four trips, be cautious
about shooting does.
Pay attention to the number of fawnsper doe that make it into the fall huntingseason. When running trail cams, note
the average fawn number per adult doe,
Murphy says. Ideally, there should beone fawn per doe. If you only see onefawn for every two to three adult does,
your deer numbers may be down.
On the other hand, some people inmany areas should still be aggressivelyshooting does. Look at the property. It mayneed a sledge hammer, it may need a tackhammer, or it may need no hammer at all.
In most cases, shooting or not shoot-ing a couple does for the freezer isntgoing to disrupt any overall manage-ment goals. But hunters should know
their property and the health of its herdbefore mowing down a bunch of does
just because it s en vogue.
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044
P A G E
P E T E R S E N S H U N T I N G . C O M | A P R I L M A Y 2 0 1 6
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as Hur r i cane Joaqu in h i t the i s l an d wi th h i s fu l l b ruta l i t y,one thought came to mind: I hope we surv i ve the n ight .
Cold, biting windwhipped across my face as I sat huddled in pitch-blackness, arms
wrapped tightly around my body, fighting for warmth. Rain poured sideways into our
makeshift shelter, hitting exposed skin with stinging force. A ripping noise echoed down
the shelterour makeshift roof made from an abandoned tarpaulin had just broken
loose, exposing us to the elements.
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Waves splashedaround The Verle Anne,
a leftover landing craft from the FalklandsWar. The well-trodden vessel rocked backand forth as it made its way to the privateIsle of Taransayan uninhabited islandoff the western coast of Scotland. I raisedmy camera to capture the moment shared
with six other huntersall of us unawareof what lie ahead once we reached shore.
Beginning our journey on the nearbyIsle of Harris in five-star luxurymarbled
bathrooms, Egyptian cotton sheets, anda five-course mealall six of us wereunder the impression that our journeyto the neighboring isle was to partake ina hunt for red stag. Little did we know
that our five-star luxury was a cruel tease
and we would soon be starving and learn-ing to survive against the elements withall odds stacked against us.
Theres something quite magicalabout hunting on an uninhabited island
on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.Something that awakens a primal senseof raw adventure. Dotted across theScottish shoreline are around 140 un-inhabited islands in total, but only one,Taransay, boasts a resident herd of reddeer. The 3,500-acre island has a popu-lation of approximately 50 stags, 100hinds (females), and 40 calves. Thebleak, treeless island is pristine, with
white sandy beaches, rolling meadows,and gargantuan volcanic rocks.
Once our small group had been depos-ited on the rocky shoreline, the organizers
revealed the true nature of the trip. Wewere participating in a social experiment.We were now marooned on the island forthree days and two nights with just theclothes we were wearing, a knife, and our
rifles. No tents. No sleeping bags. If wewanted shelter, we would have to makeit. If we wanted to eat, we had to hunt.
It was also revealed that one of myfellow hunters was not a hunter at all
he was one of the worlds leading sur-vival experts, Conrad Allen.
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af ter f i ve grue l ing hours o f swi r l ing wind an d bad for tune,the hunt ing pa r t y wou ld r et u rn em pt y -h andedonce more .
Spi r i t s were low.
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The group setout combing the isle forvessels for drinking water, items to fashion
a shelter from, and a suitable place for ourbase camp. With the tail end of Hurricane
Joaquin set to hit the island in a matter
of hours, we had no time to waste. Aftercombing the beachs rich spoils of flotsam
and jetsam, we had enough driftwood tomake a fire, some tarpaulin to make a
basic shelter, and an old biscuit tin to useas a makeshift pot for boiling water.
Three hunters were assigned to hunt-ing duty and set out to bag the firstnights meal. The three hunted until thevery last glimmer of light had disap-peared, but it was in vain. The deer were
pre-rut and extremely skittish, meaningvenison was off the menu. None of us