Big Game

Chasing Antelope With a CVA Firearm

Mathew Brost — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 14:01:08 +0000

Chasing Antelope With a CVA Firearm

Mathew Brost Tue, 06/25/2019 - 09:01

Category

Hunting around the world with a muzzleloader, you face some harsh conditions – Changing humidity levels, rain, snow, sunshine, drastic sudden changes in temperature that can cause your barrel to sweat, and much more. From Alaska to Africa, with your muzzleloader, or (as I have just described) during a typical October afternoon in my home state of Montana, moisture and condensation are hard on your muzzleloader.

CVA Optima V2 Muzzleloader with Scope

Over the years, companies have tried to make their muzzleloaders more and more weatherproof, or shall I say, rustproof. Being the past editor of a popular muzzleloading magazine, I got to test the latest and greatest being introduced to the consumer, and can assure you that I have never seen a barrel withstand the elements inside and out as well as the CVA V2 lineup of muzzleloaders. After all, the inside of the barrel is where corrosion likes to start. Let's look at the nitride process.

Tip: Specifically made for big game hunting, the Optima V2 muzzleloader features a 416 stainless steel, fluted barrel that resists corrosion and makes the bore easy to clean.

Tackling the Plains With a Nitride Treated Barrel

CVA introduced the latest in high-tech barrel treatments to its Accura line of muzzleloading rifles, a technique known as salt-bath nitriding. Already widely used in military applications, the nitride process actually hardens the outer layer of the steel, making it significantly more durable and more corrosion-resistant than even chrome lining – which was previously the highest standard in bore-toughening techniques. With muzzleloaders being particularly susceptible to corrosion, CVA's application of this new technology to its premium Accura MR and Accura V2 thumbhole models and Optima line advances these top-selling, premium-quality muzzleloaders to an even higher level.

According to Dudley McGarity, CEO of BPI Outdoors, owner of the CVA brand, the move to using the nitride process on a muzzleloader was a natural for the company. "We've been using the nitride process on a good many of the OEM barrels that we now produce for other manufacturers under our Bergara Barrels brand, so we were well aware of the benefits for centerfire barrels, and felt it would even be a greater enhancement for muzzleloaders," he said.

Even though these barrels are made of 416 stainless steel, the nitride process turns them matte black in color. According to McGarity, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and lubricity are much better than blued carbon steel or untreated stainless steel. And, unlike the currently popular exterior ceramic coatings, nitriding protects the outside and the inside of the barrel, and it will not shoot out, even with thousands of shots. "Best of all," McGarity continued, "this is the closest thing we've ever seen to a rustproof muzzleloader barrel. While some surface rust might occur in extremely humid and/or salty air conditions, the rust does not penetrate the steel, so it just wipes right off. Rust-pitted bores are now a thing of the past."

Cabela's Ambassador, Marsha Shearer's antelope ranked No. 3 for the women's muzzleloader world record.

So with this great new technology, it was time to put it to the real test. After applying for several years with Quentin Smith of QRS Outdoors in Wyoming, my wife and fellow Cabela's Ambassador Marsha Schearer and I each drew antelope tags. I was up first, and we glassed the sage-covered open hillsides for the beautiful pronghorn antelope.

After a few minutes, I realized the question wasn't if I was going to get a buck, it was just how picky did I want to be. After all, I have guided antelope hunters for years and have had my share of cactus stuck into my knees to prove it. Early that afternoon, we spotted a nice buck feeding along the edge of a creek bottom.

PowerBelt AeroLite
AeroTip Bullets

We had just enough terrain to get within muzzleloader range. As smoke filled the air, the PowerBelt Aerolite hit its mark, and within minutes I was punching my tag and applying it to the dandy speed goat of the prairie. We spent rest of the day looking for a buck that Quentin had been scouting. It was a heavy-horned buck with dandy prongs that he had seen off and on during the summer. It wasn't until the next day that we spotted him tending to a doe with the rut in full swing. It took three stalking attempts by Marsha to get within muzzleloader range. Rain started to hit the end of her barrel. With the pronghorn's incredible eyesight, staying low and using the terrain was of utmost importance.

Tip: PowerBelt AeroLite AeroTip Bullets are the most advanced muzzleloading bullets have all of the benefits of saboted bullets but none of the problems. The PowerBelt Bullets are full-caliber sized, easier to load, and don't require cleaning after every shot and they are designed for standard loads.

As Marsha slipped through the damp sage, she set up for a shot. As the hammer dropped on her CVA Accura V2, the buck dropped in its tracks. She had just dropped the potential new women's muzzleloader world record. Excitement filled the air. We knew it would be close and a tape around its horns proved it was in contention, but there was a drying period ahead. Nevertheless, it was a magnificent antelope. After the drying period ended, the official score found it had ranked No. 3. Her buck was bigger than my buck, but when you hunt together as a family like we do on "Shoot Straight TV," we're always happy for each other. Well, maybe..

But no matter where you decide to hunt with your muzzleloader, try the new CVAs with nitride. Also, check out their new Accura V2 LR with 30" nitride corrosion-resistant barrel. We prefer ours with the thumbhole stock.

What is Nitride? Roger Raglin explains CVA's Nitride in this video by CVA

By Chad Shearer

Region

International

Tags

Hunting

Big Game

Video

hunting gear

Muzzleloader Maintenance

Mathew Brost — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 20:25:17 +0000

Muzzleloader Maintenance

Mathew Brost Sun, 06/23/2019 - 15:25

Category

Big Game

Keeping your muzzleloader clean is often key to the accuracy, performance and longevity. Failure to do so can result in misfires, corroded parts and wasting money on a problem that could have been prevented.

Cleaning your barrel after each shot is often the first step to ensuring accuracy on a shot-to-shot basis. Because muzzleloaders burn powder at a slower rate than centerfire rifles, excessive fowling inside the barrel can prevent a consistent bullet seat. Avoid this by running a patch soaked in solvent followed by a dry patch when sighting in at the range. Although necessary for consistent performance at the range, shot-to-shot cleaning is only the beginning of proper firearm maintenance.

After shooting, removing and cleaning the breech plug is extremely important. If overlooked, the breech plug can corrode and seize to the barrel. Once removed, wipe the breech plug with a cleaning patch soaked in cleaning solvent, and then pick any fowling from the inside of the plug with a nipple pick or stout needle. Removing the residue or fowling near the primer will lead to cleaner burns, quicker ignitions and fewer misfires.

Finally, coat the breech plug with a liberal amount of breech plug grease and screw back into the gun, making it easier to remove and clean in the future.

Make your muzzleloader easier to load by conditioning the barrel with a product such as Thompson Center's Bore Butter. After you have cleaned and replaced your breech plug, run one patch coated in Bore Butter thoroughly up and down the barrel, coating the inside completely. By doing this, you are essentially greasing your barrel and making it easier to slide your projectile of choice completely down it. Over time, loading will require less effort and bullets will seemingly glide into their seat.

Finally, consult your firearm manual to remove and clean the trigger assembly. Wipe the assembly clean of any residue and fowling with a dry cloth and re-install into the gun. If possible, store the gun horizontally or with the muzzle facing down. By storing it horizontally, all lubricant will be prevented from running into the breech and leaving the barrel unprotected. Storing a muzzleloader barrel down will ensure dust and other foreign particles cannot contaminate your clean weapon.

Always review your firearm manual for tips and suggestions offered by the manufacturer. Never store your firearm without cleaning, as doing so can deteriorate its quality quickly.

How To Layer – Apparel Buyer's Guide

Mathew Brost — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 21:44:05 +0000

How To Layer – Apparel Buyer's Guide

Mathew Brost Sat, 06/22/2019 - 16:44

Category

Big Game

Layering apparel for cold-weather situations can not only help maintain a moderate body temperature, but it could save your life in an emergency situation.

FIRST LAYER: Base Layer

Cabela's ECWCS Thermal Zone Top

Sometimes called longjohns and long underwear, this is the first layer you put on. It should have a close fit that contours to your body to wick moisture away from the body, and thereby keep you warmer. Available in natural and synthetic fabrics and blends, such as polyester, silk and wool, many base layers have four-way stretch and ascending fabric weights that accommodate varying levels of activity. An antimicrobial treatment gives you extended-wear comfort. Choosing the best fabric and style comes down to personal preference and your outdoor activity.

Shop Cabela's ECWCS Base Layers

SECOND LAYER: Fleece

Worn semifitted, this layer is worn over a base layer, and is meant to provide additional warmth and still maintain breathability. It’s also great worn without a base layer, thanks to next-to-skin, brushed softness and different weights and finishes, such as water repellency and wind resistance. Anti-pilling construction not only keeps even more body heat in, but upholds the lifespan of the garment. Styles vary from 1/4-zip pullovers to full-zip jackets, and some are even zip-in compatible with heavier parka systems.

Shop Cabela's Fleece Mid-Layers

Cabela's Instinct Active Top

THIRD LAYER: Outerwear

The final layer is a protective shell worn over the base layer and fleece layer. This defends you from the penetrating, chilling effects of wind and water, while still maintaining breathability to wick away the moisture evaporated from your skin by the base layer.

The shell’s ability to guard against moisture is a major consideration - preventing water from soaking through to your skin is ideal not only to optimize your cold-weather comfort and performance, but also to ensure your safety in extreme cold weather.

An outerwear garment’s level of water protection is measured in millimeters (mm), in conjunction with specific treatments that bond the fabric weave for varying degrees of water protection. Knowing the different levels helps ensure you’re wearing the best type for your winter outdoor activity:

Cabela's Instinct Puffy Jacket

Water-repellent – Tightly woven and sometimes chemically treated with a durable water-repellent finish. Provides minimal protection against rain and snow. Once saturated, this fabric loses its effectiveness.

Water-resistant – Similar to water-repellent fabric, but resists water saturation for longer periods of time before losing its effectiveness.

Waterproof – Tightly woven and chemically treated with a higher amount of durable water-repellent finish to completely block water. Maintains water-protection properties even after prolonged exposure to rain, sleet or snow.

Specialized laminates, such as GORE-TEX®, Omni-Dry®, HyVent™ and Dry-Plus®, can also be applied to synthetic fabrics to provide added waterproof protection. These laminates reduce fabric pores so they’re smaller than a drop of water, but still larger than a vapor molecule. The effect is a waterproof yet breathable garment. To be considered 100% waterproof, a garment must also have all seams sealed with waterproof tape.

Your final layer can also include varying levels of insulation - synthetic and natural - for added warmth when needed. Some parkas come with adjustable, removable hoods and zippered ventilation to help control body temperature when needed.

Create your own layering system with Cabela's Instinct hunting apparel

Big Game Cover and Attractant Scent Buyer's Guide

Mathew Brost — Sat, 15 Jun 2019 21:59:12 +0000

Big Game Cover and Attractant Scent Buyer's Guide

Mathew Brost Sat, 06/15/2019 - 16:59

Category

Big Game

No matter what four-legged critter you’re pursuing, the one thing that will get you busted most often is invisible and drifting on the air. From varmints to big game, it’s the defensive sense of smell that can either ruin your day or work amazingly well in your favor. With the right combination of cover and attractant scents, you can keep your presence concealed and draw the unwary quarry close enough to distinguish detail in their fur.

For the majority of animals we hunt, be it deer, elk, bears, or even antelope, human scent plays a major portion in our success/failure. However, with modern scent-management strategies hunters have more advantages than ever. Scent control is a genuine science today, allowing bow hunters to fool a critter’s keenest survival sense.

I have said it many times before, and I will say it again. I do not believe a hunter can cover his human scent 100 percent. If the wind blows directly from you to a whitetail, muley, elk or moose, the sharp-nosed animal will smell something suspicious. This is especially true if you are hunting on foot, perspiring and giving off more than average amounts of human body odor; however, in most cases, your scent can be managed around a tree stand or ground blind to allow effective bowhunting.

Animals expect a big whiff of scent from humans when they’re close and just a hint when they’re far away. When you take every step to reduce odor, the minimal amount that you are dispersing will make it appear to the animal that you are in the area, but too far away to put it on alert. Consider the following tips for minimizing odor and maximizing success in the field.

The laundry
A good scent-control program begins in the laundry, so start with a clean slate. You’ll find a number of products in which to wash your hunting clothes, reduce odors in them and reduce the amount of scent that is present after they’re dry. Once your clothes come out of the laundry, spray them with a scent-controlling spray and then bag and seal them tightly. Top-quality scent-control laundry soaps and dryer sheets not only reduce odors in the washer and dryer, they have special inhibitors that continue to reduce odors for several days Scent-controlling sprays work for days, even after the spray has dried, but it’s a good idea to give your boots and clothes a quick dose once you’re ready to leave your vehicle.

Personal hygiene
Even a little perspiration is too much, so begin maintaining an unscented trail in the shower. Wash with a scent-free body soap and shampoo. Then use a scent-free deodorant that will provide protection no matter how much you tend to sweat. Your body produces and dispenses odors like a game feeder scatters corn. As you walk into any area, you leave your scent on the ground, on tree leaves and on the air. So using scent-free soaps and deodorants are essential steps in minimizing human odor.

Towels
During the day you’re going to handle things that will leave odors on your hands. The worst of these is filling up at the gas station and having the smell of gasoline or diesel spending the day with you. You’ll also eat something during the day and maybe slip a pinch between your cheek and gums. To reduce the lingering scent on your palms and fingers, take along a pack of scent-free towels. They come in a resealable plastic bag and don’t take up much room in your pack. Plus, they’re very handy for multiple-day hunts when no shower is available.

Animal and plant-based cover scents
Cover scents can be either environment related, such as cedar or pine scents, acorn and earth scents or those derived from animals. Animal scents such as the aroma of skunk, fox urine, coon urine and others do a good job of concealing your presence, especially for varmint hunters.

A little red fox or coon urine applied to your boot soles or a pin-on scent pad can certainly help to mask the foot trail to and from your stand. These will mix with your airborne human scent, too, possibly confusing game.

Sex attractants
Sex attractants for big game disperse scents that lure in a testosterone-charged quarry. Attractants can be the scent of a female in estrus, female urine or male urine that causes a buck to think a philanderer is in his territory. Attractants are also available in liquids, sprays, dust applications and smoke sticks.

For best results, use an attractant scent in a combination of several presentations, including making mock scrapes or enhancing active scrapes, elevated scent strips and dragging a strip enrooted to your stand or blind. Sex lures draw rutting animals like flies to honey. Placed on scent wicks around your stand, dripped in active scrapes, distributed with scent, applied directly to deer decoys, or misted from a spray bottle periodically, such powerful lures clearly turn a rutting male’s head. If rutting doe urine is fresh and extracted from a single animal, it can draw bucks as surely as a real estrous female.

Another benefit of using attractants is the distraction they create that allows you to set up a shot. While a buck is focused on a hot scent, you have the opportunity to make your final adjustments required to squeeze off a shot.

Scrapes
If you’re fortunate enough to locate an active scrape that a buck is checking regularly, the most effective technique is to add a doe-in-estrus scent to make him think he has a receptive doe waiting for his return, and throw in a little buck scent to create a sense of urgency.

Lacking an active scrape, you can create your own by "pawing" away the leaves with a stick and adding the appropriate scents. The disperse the scent is with a hanging scent bag. A drip bag positioned over the scrape will allow you to influence a buck’s nocturnal habits. Heat-triggered bags release drops of scent only during the daylight hours, convincing the buck that the doe is showing up during shooting hours. With this type of regulation, an ounce of scent will last several days.

Scent strips
Felt strips or pads dipped in doe scent should be placed on tree branches about 5 ft. high. At this height the scent will carry farther and draw bucks from a greater distance.

Wafers
Wafers are another convenient way to cover your scent These wafers are pinned to your hunting clothing to help effectively mask human odor with a natural cover scent or attractant. Solid-scent wafers use a concentrate that will not spill, freeze or wash away.

Drags
Another effective technique is to drag a felt strip dipped in doe estrus. Simply tie the wet strip to a stick with a string. Drag the doe scent away from your path. With a trail of doe scent to distract a buck and your own trail concealed with cover scent, you can be confident that the trip to your stand won’t give you away.

Freshness
It takes a bit of effort to implement an effective cover scent and attractant program, so don’t waste that time and the opportunity it presents by using last year’s leftover scents. This is especially true with attractants. You want your estrous scents to be as fresh as possible so the buck that sniffs them will be convinced that romance is just around the next tree.

Once you develop a scent-control system and a routine to implement it, you’ll be well on your way to bagging that long-sought trophy.

The Hunter's Guide to Social Media

Brenden Kanies — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:42:57 +0000

The Hunter's Guide to Social Media

Brenden Kanies Thu, 12/20/2018 - 10:42

Category

Big Game

There are few moments more rewarding to the big game hunter: you’ve finally taken that trophy buck or bull and a little bragging to your buddies is in order. Long gone, however, are the days of the meat pole, and gathering around a truck bed at the local check-in station is mostly a thing of the past. We now carry our braggin’ boards around in our pockets—and punch our tags with a #.

Before you hit that “Post” button on Facebook and Instagram, however, take a moment to fine-tune your message. It’s no longer just the guys at the barber shop who will be subject to your bragging. For many, you may be one of the only glimpses into the hunting world they ever experience. Soccer moms, youth hunters, and that aunt who types in ALL CAPS will be in on your story. Post as if the whole world is watching, because, well, they probably are.

Set the Stage to Tell Your Hunting Story

If a picture is worth a thousand words, you’d better take the time to tell the whole story. Did you harvest your trophy in the bed of a pickup truck? Didn’t think so. Big game has a habit of expiring in the gnarliest timber and deepest ravines. Even if it takes a little extra dragging, pose your photo in a way that showcases the landscape. You won’t regret it.

Carefully consider the landmarks and scenery in the background of your photos. Some details are best kept a secret. This may ensuring your keep a good relationship with a landowner or that your public land spot stays productive for years to come.

If you recover your animal after dark, do all you can to have adequate lighting in your photos. Some hunters even return the following day to capture images in the daylight. Just remember to compensate for the effects of rigor mortis, especially on a hanging deer.

Respect the Animal, Keep It Clean

Show respect for the animal by cleaning him up a bit. Death is a messy business, but tucking the tongue in and taking the time to wipe up visible blood and allows the majesty of the animal to shine through.

After cleaning him up, do the same for yourself. Wash excess blood from your hands and straighten your camo hunting clothing. It’s not vain to look your best—this is a memory you’ll want to cherish for the rest of your life.

Sit Up Straight and Behind the Animal

Position yourself behind the animal to showcase his strength and size. Hold the antlers securely, and take at least one photo looking directly into the camera. No matter how hardcore of a hunter you are, be sure to muster up a smile. Victory is worth celebrating!

Many hunters like to include their gun, hunting bow, or hunting pack in their photos. You’ve spent good money on your hunting gear, there’s no shame in showcasing it. Just ensure that the animal is still the star of the show, and your rifle is always pointed in a safe direction. For more information on taking the perfect hunting photography, check out these photography tips.

Tell the Whole Hunting Story

A successful hunt is much more than simply harvesting an animal. There are little moments all season that led up to pulling the trigger. Do your best to document the entire hunt, and include these photos in your posts. It allows others to experience the entire journey.

As most hunters know, the work really begins after the animal is down. The process of getting game from the field to the table is fascinating to many folks, and helps to show that your harvest is more than just a trophy. Don’t be afraid to share a few photos or your favorite wildgame recipes!

Optimize Your Social Media Hunting Posts

Let’s face it, we all enjoy receiving “likes” and comments on our social media posts. Plus, if you’ve followed the steps above, your photos are showcasing the hunting community in a positive light—which is great for everyone. A few simple enhancements can help your content to receive more views and gain the attention of companies in the hunting industry.

Keep captions to a paragraph or two on Facebook, and even less on Instagram or Twitter. Folks don’t like to spend too much time reading, especially in the middle of a scrolling binge.

Be sure to tag your hunting buddies so they can revel in the glory with you. Don’t hesitate to tag sponsors or your favorite hunting gear brands as well. Many will be on the lookout for content to use on their own channels. Hashtags can also be a great way to gain interest and new followers on Instagram.

Take the Time to Answer Questions and Encourage Other Hunters

Addressing feedback, both positive and negative, is a responsibility that now rests squarely on your shoulders. Take the time to answer questions and encourage others, as some folks will be genuinely curious.

Some battles, however, are not worth fighting. If you begin getting attacked, it’s often best to ignore the remarks completely. In some cases a “block” may be in order. How you handle the situation will set a positive example for other hunters, and could sway anyone else on the fence.

Your hunting achievements are certainly worth showcasing, and the world deserves to see the beauty hunters experience. Perfecting your hunting posts on social media will protect the image of the hunting community and pass along our traditions for generations to come.

Along with your social posts, don’t forget to share your hunting and fishing photos on our Bass Pro Shops trophy Braggin’ Board!

Tags

Deer Hunting

Elk Hunting

Hunting Tip

Planning Your 1st Western Big Game Hunt? Consider These Tips First

Gerald Almy — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:56:00 +0000

Planning Your 1st Western Big Game Hunt? Consider These Tips First

Gerald Almy Mon, 06/26/2017 - 09:56

Category

Big Game

If the urge to hunt the Rocky Mountains, the craggy badlands, or the sweeping prairies has risen inside you to a point where you can’t contain it, it’s time to get moving and plan your first western big game hunt. Here’s how to go about it.

Is it Your Time to Take a Western Big Game Hunt?

It may be five, ten, even 15 years after you first pick up a gun or bow, but for almost every hunter living East of the Mississippi, there comes a time when you know you can’t control the longing any more. It’s time to make that first western big game hunt.

This is no reflection on your love of hunting whitetails, turkeys, squirrels, and ducks back East. It’s simply the thirst to expand your hunting sphere in a way that can only be quenched by a trip West to experience the grandeur of that vast setting and a new, intriguing game species. A book could be written on this subject, but here in a nutshell are some of the key things to consider as you plan your first western big game hunt.

Planning & Timing the Hunt is Important

It may be too late in some states to obtain licenses for certain species and special permits. But that’s fine. Other licenses are still available, sometimes up until the day of the hunt. And the fact is, it’s really not too early to start planning now for next year.

Researching What, Where & When to Hunt

This is the first step and requires lots of time and effort. Fortunately, much of this can be done on the internet today, instead of by writing letters and waiting for answers and packets to come in the mail. All states and many regions, counties, tourism groups, chambers of commerce, and guide associations have either material on the web or pamphlets and brochures they can send to get you started. For example Colorado Parks & Wildlife provides a Big Game Hunting Planner. Many satellite and topographic maps are also available online. Focus on a few prospective areas, and then get all the information you can, including highway, BLM, topo, and satellite imagery maps.

Tip: Game and fish departments will send you their regulations for each species for free with maps, quotas, time frames for applications, fee information, and lots of contact addresses for additional help. Select a few states you’ve thought about hunting and take this step right away to get started.

Where to Hunt

The decision of where to go will depend a lot on what species you are interested in hunting, whether you’d like to hire an outfitter or go on your own, and how late in the year the licenses are still available in that state. Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Idaho top most hunters’ lists and offer the true essence of a western hunting experience. But don’t overlook other top destinations such as Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska, Utah, Washington, and Oregon.

Tip: Click here for links and phone number list of popular states with Western Big Game Hunts

Tip: Once you focus on a state, start narrowing it down to a region, then a specific mountain range, county or other more specific area. You need to get the most focused data available to help your hunt be as successful and enjoyable as possible.

Deciding Which Big Game Species to Hunt

Deciding what species to go after is a sweet but difficult decision. Of course eventually you’ll probably want to hunt them all, if possible. Some game animals such as bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and moose, however, can be difficult to draw licenses for and expensive to hunt.

The top species for a first or second-time hunt in the West for most sportsmen would be mule deer, pronghorn (antelope), and elk. Elk hunts will be higher priced and more time-consuming, with 7-10 day hunts often typical. In many cases you can hunt pronghorn and enjoy a great trip in just 3-4 days. Doubling up and going after mule deer as well requires a 5-7 day hunt to have good odds for success.

Tip: Don’t neglect the idea of hunting black bears, either as your main species sought or as a possible second animal. In many states you can purchase a bear tag for a reasonable fee and have it in your pocket if the opportunity for taking a good animal arises. And if you just focus on bears, a spot-and-stalk hunt is a truly unique western experience.

Hiring a Hunting Guide or On Your Own

This is a major decision, with pros and cons for each choice. Finances are clearly a factor. Time available is another thing to consider. Do you have days to devote to scouting, getting equipment organized and locating prime areas? A good guide will do all that for you ahead of time.

On the other hand, some people simply get more satisfaction from planning and executing the hunt totally on their own. You can hunt exactly the way you choose, as hard as you like, in the style you prefer—and save money in the process.

Tip: Yes, you’re in control. But realize that success rates for self-guided hunters are always lower. If you’re okay with that, fine. Go for it.

Transportation Decisions

Think about this early in the decision process. Will you fly and rent a car? Be picked up by the outfitter at an airport? Drive the whole way? If flights are involved, the earlier you book the trip, the better the chance for obtaining the lowest fares.

Driving is a good option with no hassle from airport parking, security, checking bags, etc. This is a particularly good choice if you have a group and can split up the driving without having to stop overnight.

Consider Your Budget

Plan out a realistic budget by figuring all the basics of the trip and round up. Make sure you include the cost of tags, food, fuel (suggest you factor 5-10% higher cost in case gas goes up), transportation, guide services (if that's what you decide to do), meat processing fees. Also budget for miscellaneous stuff such as an article of clothing you could forget or extra lodging in case of bad weather. Just allow yourself enough expense cushion for the what if's.

Time Off Work & Physical Conditioning

Be sure to correlate the dates of your hunt with a time you can get off work and request that well in advance of your trip.

Let’s face it. The type of hunting many sportsmen do for big game back east is not too physically demanding. We sneak into a treestand or blind. And we sit. Sometimes we call or lay a scent trail for bucks. But none of this gets us in the best physical shape.

Western hunting can be far more demanding on the body. Start an exercise program at least three months before the trip. Start with simple activities, and then expand it to more arduous cardiopulmonary workouts. I've gathered a few links to tips to help you to get started.

Tip: No Membership Required: At-Home Hunter Specific Workouts

Tip: 4 Exercises You Can Do Without a Pricey Gym Membership

Tip: Get in Hunting Season Shape

Tip: Be sure to get a physical before the hunt if you haven’t had one recently. This is especially important if you’re over 40 years old. Get your doctor’s approval for the type of activity you expect to be involved in. This can vary from modestly hard for pronghorns on the prairie to extremely difficult for elk in steep mountains.

Follow these planning tips and you should be able to enjoy a western hunt that can be relived with rich memories for years to come, and one that will draw you back to those unique regions again and again for other hunting adventures.

States with Western Big Game Hunts

Alaska Department of Fish & Game (907) 465-4190

Arizona Game and Fish (602) 942-3000

California Department of Fish & Game (916) 928-5805

Colorado Division of Wildlife (303) 297-1192

Idaho Fish & Game (208) 334-3700

Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (620) 672-5911

Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks (406) 444-2612

Nebraska Game & Parks Commission (402) 471-0641

Nevada Department of Wildlife (775) 688-1500

New Mexico Department of Game & Fish (505) 476-8000

North Dakota Game & Fish Department (701) 328-6300

Oklahoma Dept of Wildlife Conservation (405) 521-2739

Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (800) 720-6339

South Dakota Game Fish & Parks (605) 773-3485

Texas Parks & Wildlife (800) 792-1112

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (801) 538-4700

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (360) 902-2200

Wyoming Game & Fish (307) 777-4600

Region

United States

Tags

Hunting Tip

How To Guide

hunting gear

Don't Break The First Rule of Big Game Hunting

David Lee — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Don't Break The First Rule of Big Game Hunting

David Lee Tue, 07/21/2015 - 00:00

Category

Big Game

How often have we as hunters sat in our deer stand, wind blowing the wrong direction, hoping that the animals won’t pick up on us? I have to admit, there have been more times than I can remember. Whether it was a switch in the wind while in stand or just plain laziness, we have all broken the number one rule of big game hunting.

First hand experiences have sharpened my knowledge of this unseen dictator. We have to remember that everything in an animal’s world revolves around their nose and to be proficient as a predator we have to do everything in our power to prevent detection.

Colorado

A few years back I was bow hunting the Rocky Mountains in North Western Colorado. I was perched in an old dilapidated wooden stand, overlooking a rock slide where the loose material had formed a bench. My outfitter had mentioned that a rather large chocolate boar had been seen in the area several times and I had a bear tag burning a hole in my pocket.

When I arrived in the stand, the mountain thermals were pushing the air currents straight up the mountain. A perfect situation because I was hunting over a water hole which had formed in the shale slide thirty yards below.

An hour after I had settled in, the wind switched to the north gusting lightly across the mountain face. As I was pondering the thoughts of this latest development, that very same bear rounded the corner of the farthest draw directly downwind.

Even at a thousand yards I could see the big boar swinging his head from side to side as he stood tall on his back legs. At that distance, I could have done a dance and he would not have seen, but he nailed me with his nose, unbelievable!

Missouri

My quest for trophy whitetails brought me to Center Line Missouri. I was hunting whitetails during the first week of the gun season. I was situated at the top of a draw overlooking a cedar swamp and the neighboring properties CRP field that bordered the oak stand I was hunting.

As the sun broke the horizon I watched a mature 150" ten stand up in the thick brushy field only to drop to his belly and scurry to an over grown hedge row, look back, and drop down into another draw. On the way in, I walked a half hour out of my way to make sure the wind was in my favor, frustrating!

All I could think was "coyote". I sat for an hour with a sickening feeling when an unsuspecting hunter on the bordering property worked his way slowly up the same hedge row with the wind at his back. He had no clue that he had let a world class animal wind him from a half mile away.

I sat for the next two hours from my high vantage point and watched two other bucks work their way under me and up the same draw only to wind the clueless hunter and change direction.

Ohio

On the third day of the 2011 Ohio muzzleloader season I had a switch in the wind at 10 am. I decided to vacate my location, drive around the small mountain, and work my way straight up a steep slope in order to get the jump on a buck I had been hunting for the last two seasons. By noon I was soaked in sweat, knowing that all the preventative measures I took to stay scent free were totally reversed.

An hour had passed when I heard the faint snap of a twig followed by the bark of a fox squirrel a few hundred yards to the north. Moments later, I saw the buck I was after, wind checking and getting nervous. He stomped his hoof and instantly evacuated the area.

It took me a while to figure out what had just happened. After rechecking the wind direction, I knew he had pinpointed the exact location where I was perched a quarter mile away—two hours earlier! If I was still in that stand I would have never even seen that deer.

Montana

This past November, I had the privilege to hunt the Southern Rocky Mountain Front for mule deer. I positioned myself in a similar situation. I was half way up a mountain overlooking a lush meadow riddled with big buck sign, wind in my face.

The morning’s deer movement slowed so I decided to switchback my way up the mountain to the next ridge above. After gaining a few hundred feet in elevation I cut a set of really big mountain lion tracks.

I followed the extremely fresh cat tracks in the newly fallen snow. Stopping where the big tom had sat down in order to watch the valley below. Five minutes went by before I realized that he was watching me! I looked straight down a hundred yards only to see my own tracks from where I sat for the morning hunt!

After surveying the tom's movements, I found that he had crossed two peaks, face in the wind. He stopped only to size me up then go on with his day. If that big cat wanted, he could have easily pounced on me. Talk about a hair raising experience! Gives one an uneasy feeling knowing that you're not on the top of the food chain.

Washington

One hunt really haunts me to this day. I was hunting Roosevelt elk in the Cascade Mountains located on the Olympic peninsula in Washington State. It was muzzle loader season and the state laws require non scoped traditional rifles only.

We were hunting on the west side of the cascades which is one of our country's few full-fledged rain forests. The landscape is similar to the forests of northern Michigan with one exception. Everything is much larger due to the massive amounts of rain fall.

Big bull sign was everywhere but the ten foot tall grass, ferns, and underbrush in the mountain valley were so thick there was no glassing or long range shots like traditional elk hunting. It took me five days to position myself to get the jump on the animals.

Two hours into the morning I could hear what sounded like a bus barreling through the jungle of green. Firearm shouldered, I watched a magnificent heavy rack appear above the foliage. The 360” class bull was working its way directly to me when he stopped dead only forty yards away, vitals covered in underbrush.

The wind was in my favor and "it was only a matter of time", or so I thought. Ten minutes into the standoff the giant bull turned directions and disappeared in to the landscape. Thirty minutes later two hunters wandered down the same game trail from the opposite direction the bull had fled, wind at their backs.

Conclusion

I have seen firsthand how nature has equipped our quarry with extraordinary senses. Being a hunter who pursues mature animals, I have learned through trial and error that you have to play the wind if you want to be proficient.

There are many quality products on the market that will help with scent control but when hunting demanding environments perspiration sets us back. Everything we touch in our days in the field will add odors to the animal’s environment. More so than one might think.

Wind is the determining factor in every hunt. As hard as it may be, stands with the wrong wind direction should be left for another day and a missed hunt is much better than educating the buck you’re after. Lack of consideration will ruin your hunt and ultimately enhance that big bucks awareness of his surroundings, leaving you empty handed.

Region

Mountain West

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hunting gear

Hunting Tip

7 Must Haves for DIY Big Game Hunters on a Budget

Randy Newberg — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 19:34:24 +0000

7 Must Haves for DIY Big Game Hunters on a Budget

Randy Newberg Fri, 11/07/2014 - 13:34

Category

Big Game

If you want to go western big game hunting but must stick to a budget, the following tips will help you stay comfortable and hopefully fill your freezer.

Don’t skimp on hunting optics. These days, you can stay within budget and still get good glass.

From a budget perspective, it’s important to have a long-term focus on your gear needs. It can take years to get outfitted in quality equipment, and finding the best gear is part of the fun. Take the time to read gear reviews, talk with fellow hunters and determine what works best for you. I would rather buy quality now and have it working well a decade from now.

If you looked at the items in my “don’t leave home without it” pile, it would be pretty small. Yet, those items would get a lot of use. In addition to your bow or rifle, below is the absolute minimum for my kind of hunting: self-guided public land western hunting.

Learn How to Make Your Western Dream Hunt a Reality With the Right Gear

Vortex Diamondback HD Binoculars

Hunting Optics & Scopes

Buy the best hunting optics and scopes you can afford is good advice, whether you’re shopping for binoculars, rifle scopes, or whatever. I see many guys who have no binos or binos that cost less than the gas they put in their $8,000 ATV. No need to break the bank, but there is a lot of good value in optics these days. Every rifle I have ever owned was, and is, topped with a Leupold riflescope.

Tip: The Leupold VX-R rifle scope provides the enhanced light transmission, resolution, and color fidelity of Leupold's Quantum Optical System for razor sharp imaging across the typical light conditions experienced on any hunt.

Randy Newberg is a hunter and host of his popular hunting TV show.

Tip: The Vortex Diamondback Binoculars has an HD optical system that improves resolution plus the multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces and multi-layer prism coatings enhance light transmission.

Hunting Boots

Like all things, get the best you can afford. I don’t use insulated boots. My hunting is very active. Plus, I grew up in northern Minnesota, so cold is not an issue for me.

A non-insulated boot is lighter. Using a good sock system will keep your feet dry and well cushioned. Don’t wear your boots while driving to the trailhead. Your feet will sweat, causing cold feet in even the best boot.

Primos Hoochie Mama
Cow Elk Push Call

For mountain hunting, get a stiff boot so your ankles don’t roll when sidehilling. If you’re lucky, you will be carrying heavy loads, so the more support your boots provide, the less energy your body will expend. I use Kenetrek Hunting Boots.

Backcountry Hunting Requires a Well Designed Hunting Pack

Badlands 2200 Hunting Pack

I’ll have anywhere from 15-20 pounds in my pack. It will include water, survival gear, knives, game bags and extra clothing layers. And when I get something down, I want to be able to carry a load out with me. So, I use an internal frame pack that is an effective daypack, yet can expand to a load hauler when needed.

A good pack will support the load on your hips, not your shoulders. It will have great padding on the waist belt and shoulder harness. Too many packs sold to hunters are not made for hauling loads. Many of them are better suited for schoolbooks.

Tip: The Badlands 2200 Hunting Pack has been around for more than 25 years. This pack has a removable rifle/bow carrier keeps your hands free for stability in rugged terrain, and a tighter fit lowers the center of gravity, further enhancing your agility when hiking with a heavy load. The 8 pockets let you keep everything organized and within easy reach, including a zippered back-panel access, hip-belt pouches, and a dedicated spotting-scope pocket. The hypervent suspension eases the wear and tear on your back while offering ample breathability. You'll get a lot of us with the integrated meat shelf and hip-belt pistol holster.

Layered Clothing for Hunting

My dad was a “dyed in the wool” fan of layers. I have continued that; though I have invested in new high performance fabrics. However, my base layer is always a good Merino wool top and bottom.

Tip: Sitka's Men's Merino Core Lightweight Bottoms deliver all the performance benefits of merino wool along with backcountry-ready durability.

Garmin Oregon 750t Handheld
GPS Unit

Layers are perfect for active hunters because they allow the sweat to wick so you can stay warm, dry, and comfortable. Invest wisely in clothing, and you will have them for years to come. I use the Sitka hunting clothing system.

Trekking Poles for Hunting

With all the steep or rugged terrain for mountain hunting and carrying modest loads all day, you can save energy by using trekking poles. They help you stay balanced going uphill and help put on the brakes when going downhill. When sidehilling, the additional points of balance are invaluable.

Tip: You won't have to take the easy trail when you have Black Diamond's Trail Back Trekking Poles in your hands.

Must Have GPS and Map Chip

I was slow to come around to the GPS idea. I was always a map-and-compass kind of guy. Yet, many places I hunt have a mix of public and private land, so it is not always possible to tell how close you are to private land with just a compass.

onXmaps HUNT State
Maps Micro SD Card

A few years back I bought a GPS and started using the HuntingGPSMap chips by OnXMaps. It is hard to explain how much that changed my hunting and my strategy for tag applications. Those units I previously avoided due to private land are now at the top of my list.

I use a Garmin GPS. I have every map chip from OnXMaps for every state I hunt.

Tip: onXmaps HUNT State Maps provides hunters with maps of a specific state to ultimately enhance your hunting success. You can use the card with a smartphone, computer, or handheld Garmin GPS unit. onXmaps displays 24K topo, color-coded public lands, landowner names and boundaries, state hunting units, roads, trails, streams, and more.

Hunting Game Bags Play a Huge Role in Keep Meat Clean

Alaska Game Bags

The end goal for hunting is to acquire great food. You need to know how to convert a 700-pound elk into manageable pieces that you can get to the trailhead. And when you get there, you want your meat to be clean and unspoiled. Good synthetic game bags like the Alaska Hunting Game Bag are key. Some use cotton. I don’t. If cotton gets wet, it does not dry like synthetics. Wet meat in wet bags means bacteria, which equals spoilage.

Tip: The Alaska Game Bags are heavy-duty, form-fitting bags that protect meat against insects, dirt and harsh weather. They're virtually tear-resistant, extremely breathable and odor-free.

About Randy Newberg: Randy is the voice of the public land hunter in America. Decades of chasing all species across public lands has provided both experience and perspective that has allowed Randy to become the leading advocate for the self-guided hunter; hunters dependent upon public lands for hunting access.

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International

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Bowhunting Pronghorn: Tips on Taking and Making the Shot

Bill Miller — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Bowhunting Pronghorn: Tips on Taking and Making the Shot

Bill Miller Thu, 08/14/2014 - 06:00

Category

Big Game

If you can master the shot, you'll find success in hunting pronghorn.

If you were casually belly crawling across the prairie without reason, you'd think of crazy stuff. Like, "What will I do if there's a rattlesnake under that next sage bush?" Or, "Why did God make prickly pear, and why did He put it right here?" But when the object of your crawl is wearing long and heavy, heart-shaped horns with 4-inch cutters, there's no nonsense on your mind. You're supremely focused on getting the range and making the shot.

Whether stalking, decoying or sitting in a waterhole, pursuing pronghorn is exhilarating bowhunting. Fooling those keen eyes and ears — and that nose — within bow range is an ultimate hunting challenge.

The question is, when you get there, will you be ready? If all you practice is shooting from a treestand, you won't! To capitalize on that long crawl or sweltering wait, you must master new shots.

The Fluid Prone to Kneeling Shot

Whether you stalk speed goats or decoy them, one of the most common shots you'll take is rising from your belly to your knees while simultaneously drawing and acquiring your sight picture. This isn't commonly practiced at the local range!

Break your practicing into parts. Practice from your knees until it becomes natural. Have your bow-hand knee slightly forward bearing about 60 percent of your weight. It may help to angle more into your draw hand and turn back to the target from the waist.

The prone to kneeling shot can be difficult, so practice is imperative.

Rising from prone to your knees is a clumsy maneuver. Practice nocking the arrow and attaching your release while on your belly. Practice pushing up with both hands, one hand, and no hands if you can figure out a way to do it. Making it a fluid move takes training and physical fitness. Crunches, leg lifters, pushups all help. Strengthen your core.

The Blind Sitting Shot

If you'll be hunting from a blind, chances are you'll take your shot while seated. Shoot from the chair you'll sit on in the blind. If you'll be hunting with an outfitter, find out what kind of chair he puts in his blinds and get one. Better yet, bring your own, like the BlackOut Swivel Tripod Chair.

Make sure it's comfortable for both long sits and for easy shooting. Again, practice shooting while seated until it's as natural as standing.

A bow stand is a convenience in the blind. Practice with it, too.

If you'll be hunting from a pop-up blind, you'll have to decide if you want "shoot through" mesh panels. My choice is "no" because I shoot mechanical broadheads. Even if I didn't, I'd worry about the mesh affecting longer shots more common on the prairie. If you opt for shoot-through fabric, practice with it so you know how shots will be impacted.

The Less Common Standing Shot

While likely less than 5 percent of all bow shots at pronghorn are taken by standing hunters, one hunting method growing in popularity makes it more common. Guides have learned pronghorn ignore horses meandering across the prairie, even if those horses have extra legs! So when pronghorn are spotted in the distance, guide and hunter will dismount and approach the game keeping the horses in front of them. They literally walk within range of the herd.

What makes this different than just standing and shooting a 3-D target is you must draw with the target out of sight. When the guide leads the horse from in front of you, there's a half-second to sight and shoot. Practicing this shot takes a partner and ingenuity. Rig a kids' wagon to support a sheet of plywood and block your view as you draw. When your buddy pulls the plywood, aside shoot — INSTANTLY!

You won't see this stuff every day at the local range, but then it's not every day you're blessed to experience the thrill of bowhunting pronghorn.

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International

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Bow Hunting

Pronghorn

Hunting Tips

8 Tips for Spot and Stalk Antelope Hunting

Alyssa Haukom — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:00:00 +0000

8 Tips for Spot and Stalk Antelope Hunting

Alyssa Haukom Thu, 08/07/2014 - 06:00

Category

Big Game

Ready to spice up your bowhunting with an antelope spot and stalk hunt? Then be ready to boost your skills up a notch by preparing months in advance for perhaps one of the most challenging, exciting and frustrating hunts you'll likely encounter.

The antelope is often referred to in the west as a "speed goat," and for good reason. It's the fastest North American animal with recorded speeds of up to 70 mph on the open prairie. Additionally, their eyesight is superb — comparable to 8-power binoculars — making a stalk extremely difficult on arid land that offers, at most, thigh-high grass, sage brush or cactus for cover.

#1 Stay Stealth

As you approach, be aware of wind direction, being careful to keep the wind in your face. You'll also quickly learn to use the land's natural features to conceal your approach using the buttes and valleys to your advantage. If antelope spot you — even at great distances — your spot and stalk hunt usually ends instantly; so be prepared to begin stalks up to a mile away on unwary goats.

#2 Optics a Requirement

Excellent optics are a must — plan on using a spotting scope of 15-45x60mm power (waterproof , compact with rubber armoring for protection) for locating goats and a pair of lightweight, compact binoculars in 8x42 or 10x42 magnification while executing your stalk.

Product recommendation: Oculus Spotting Scope 15x-45x60mm

#3 Keep Gear Accessible

Keeping gear out of your way but quickly accessible is imperative. Use a harness system to keep binoculars close to your upper body. If you don't attach a quiver to your bow, count on using a quiver pack on your upper body. On your belt, keep your rangefinder, water bottle and knife. Keep a license, cell phone, toilet paper, compass, flashlight and snack bars in your pockets. You must equip yourself to be mobile while keeping yourself as invisible and silent as possible.

Product recommendation: RedHead Binocular Harness System

#4 Use Decoys

Portable decoys are a key element to getting in close in open terrain. Use antelope decoys which are lightweight to carry, quickly assembled and easily held upright with just one hand, leaving the other hand free to tote a bow during a stalk.

Product recommendation: Montana Decoy Antelope Collapsible Decoy

#5 Wear the Right Boots, Clothing

You will cover miles on any given day. Wear extremely comfortable, breathable and lightweight boots for long treks on rocky, dry terrain. A cap or head mask is a must for concealing your face from both the antelope and the elements. If excessive heat is a factor, which can easily happen even in September, consider wearing a 3D suit or camo bug suit with shorts and t-shirt underneath. Other alternatives are cotton-poly "tropical" weight camouflage pants and shirt, although these lighter weight fabrics will not give knees and elbows the protection you may desire when crawling along the ground. Wearing lightweight knee and elbow pads is an alternative to consider for making crawling approaches more tolerable when wearing lightweight camo.

Product Recommendation: RedHead "Be The Tree" Jacket/Pant 3D Suit

#6 Prepare Mentally, Physically

By far, the single most important factor in preparing for an antelope spot and stalk is preparing yourself mentally and physically for the shot. Gear typically used for whitetails will work equally well on the similarly sized Pronghorn, which averages 100 to 125 pounds in weight. It's imperative that several basic guidelines be followed:

Shooting practice begins months in advance of your hunt;
Shooting is done regularly; and
Shooting to much longer distances than normal is mastered.

#7 Master the Long Shot

On the open prairies, the lack of obstacles makes long-distance bow shots easily executed. The key is executing the shot quickly and accurately, as even a small movement by an antelope 50 yards away can really mess up a shot.

Mastering shots up to 60 yards is ideal, keeping in mind your abilities and your bow's kinetic energy. If unable to execute accurate shots with the required energy for a humane kill shot, then practice to 50 yards — or whatever you determine you can confidently and accurately achieve on a routine basis. Know your limits and don't exceed them!

You'll be mildly surprised at the regularity in which antelope are encountered at distances of 50 to 100 yards and how challenging it is to creep undetected closer than 40 or 50 yards. Distance estimation skills must be superb. Expect to use a rangefinder constantly, even if you estimate distance well. The wide-open prairies make it very deceiving for guessing distances and if unaccustomed to hunting this type of terrain it compounds the problem. Don't chance blowing a shot after stalking for several hours!

#8 Know the Difference in Your Game

Keep in mind that both bucks and does sport horns. (Yes, horns. Their horn sheaths are shed annually and horns grow continuously throughout their life, unlike antlers.) Does or younger bucks are usually easily identifiable as their horns generally do not protrude above the length of their ears (about 2 to 4 inches), with the mature males sporting horns generally 12 inches or longer with curved prongs on the ends. Both sexes move sporadically during the day, making endless opportunities for a stalk possible. Once bedded down for the night, however, they will not usually move again until daybreak.

Proper gear and excellent shooting skills are keys to a successful spot and stalk. Start early by preparing yourself mentally and physically and you'll be ready for this most challenging bowhunt!

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International

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