AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

76
INSIDE: An Interview With Jana Waller Best Hunting Day Packs of 2016 Preparing for Bighorn APRIL-JUNE 2016 HUNTAVID.com HUNTING | FISHING | GEAR | OUTDOORS | PREPAREDNESS

description

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting in Southern Utah. You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world. But what about the rest of us, the DIY hunters, and the hunters that don’t have an endless bank account? Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too. The hunters right here in Southern Utah where we have world-class hunting in our own backyard. You’ll find articles on Hunting, Fishing, Gear, and the Outdoors, Hiking and Camping. While you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine, you will see local people and families hunting and enjoying the outdoors right here in Southern Utah.  We will strive to bring you updated information, rules, regulations and local success stories. If there is a story you would like to see in the AVID Hunting & Outdoors magazine, please submit it to us.

Transcript of AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Page 1: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

INSIDEAn Interview With Jana WallerBest Hunting Day Packs of 2016Preparing for Bighorn

APRIL-JUNE 2016HUNTAVIDcom

HUNTING | FISHING | GEAR | OUTDOORS | PREPAREDNESS

wwwhuntavidcom2

Biggest Beard (turkey) Contest Date June 4th

Biggest Bull Contest Date Dec 3rd

Big Buck Contest 2016 Date Jan 7th

Must be present to WIN (prizes for general DIY tag winners)

DIXIE Gun amp Fish

1094 East Tabernacle St

St George UT 84770

Contact Dixie Gun and Fish today for guidelines and regulations

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 3

ContentsTable of

APRIL-JUNE 2016

08 Brotherly Luck12 Preparing for Bighorn16 Running Out of Luck20 A Buck Moment24 Hunting the Gray Ghosts26 Chasing the Winter Blues Away29 An Interview with Jana Waller32 Giving Back First Hunt34 Now or Never38 Ups amp Downs of Bowhunting

HUNTING

42

64

8

56 Cool in Camo Muzzle Loader Adventure 201458 Wishes for Warriors62 Gold Prospecting

OUTDOORS

68 Spot the Hunters73 Business Directory

DEPARTMENTS

64 Wilderness Athlete66 Turkey Season is Here

PREPAREDNESS

62

40 Topwater Addiction42 Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

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The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

46 Best Hunting Day Packs of 201650 Hanwag Boots51 Kershaw Knives52 Sneek Boots54 Otis Cleaning System55 YETI Introduces New Rambler

Bottle Collection

GEAR

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

24

16

46

34

Letter from the Editors

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 5

Above left to right Executive Editors Justin Walker Brandon Walker Casey Stilson

Associate Editors Nicole Brown ndash Not Pictured

Amyanne Rigby ndash Shown Below

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

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kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

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BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

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Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Design Alternative Designs for Construction

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 2: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom2

Biggest Beard (turkey) Contest Date June 4th

Biggest Bull Contest Date Dec 3rd

Big Buck Contest 2016 Date Jan 7th

Must be present to WIN (prizes for general DIY tag winners)

DIXIE Gun amp Fish

1094 East Tabernacle St

St George UT 84770

Contact Dixie Gun and Fish today for guidelines and regulations

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 3

ContentsTable of

APRIL-JUNE 2016

08 Brotherly Luck12 Preparing for Bighorn16 Running Out of Luck20 A Buck Moment24 Hunting the Gray Ghosts26 Chasing the Winter Blues Away29 An Interview with Jana Waller32 Giving Back First Hunt34 Now or Never38 Ups amp Downs of Bowhunting

HUNTING

42

64

8

56 Cool in Camo Muzzle Loader Adventure 201458 Wishes for Warriors62 Gold Prospecting

OUTDOORS

68 Spot the Hunters73 Business Directory

DEPARTMENTS

64 Wilderness Athlete66 Turkey Season is Here

PREPAREDNESS

62

40 Topwater Addiction42 Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

wwwhuntavidcom4

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

46 Best Hunting Day Packs of 201650 Hanwag Boots51 Kershaw Knives52 Sneek Boots54 Otis Cleaning System55 YETI Introduces New Rambler

Bottle Collection

GEAR

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

24

16

46

34

Letter from the Editors

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 5

Above left to right Executive Editors Justin Walker Brandon Walker Casey Stilson

Associate Editors Nicole Brown ndash Not Pictured

Amyanne Rigby ndash Shown Below

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKUTAHGMAILCOM GUARANTEED SUCCESS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 3: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 3

ContentsTable of

APRIL-JUNE 2016

08 Brotherly Luck12 Preparing for Bighorn16 Running Out of Luck20 A Buck Moment24 Hunting the Gray Ghosts26 Chasing the Winter Blues Away29 An Interview with Jana Waller32 Giving Back First Hunt34 Now or Never38 Ups amp Downs of Bowhunting

HUNTING

42

64

8

56 Cool in Camo Muzzle Loader Adventure 201458 Wishes for Warriors62 Gold Prospecting

OUTDOORS

68 Spot the Hunters73 Business Directory

DEPARTMENTS

64 Wilderness Athlete66 Turkey Season is Here

PREPAREDNESS

62

40 Topwater Addiction42 Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

wwwhuntavidcom4

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

46 Best Hunting Day Packs of 201650 Hanwag Boots51 Kershaw Knives52 Sneek Boots54 Otis Cleaning System55 YETI Introduces New Rambler

Bottle Collection

GEAR

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

24

16

46

34

Letter from the Editors

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 5

Above left to right Executive Editors Justin Walker Brandon Walker Casey Stilson

Associate Editors Nicole Brown ndash Not Pictured

Amyanne Rigby ndash Shown Below

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

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until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

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Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

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wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

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I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 4: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

ContentsTable of

APRIL-JUNE 2016

08 Brotherly Luck12 Preparing for Bighorn16 Running Out of Luck20 A Buck Moment24 Hunting the Gray Ghosts26 Chasing the Winter Blues Away29 An Interview with Jana Waller32 Giving Back First Hunt34 Now or Never38 Ups amp Downs of Bowhunting

HUNTING

42

64

8

56 Cool in Camo Muzzle Loader Adventure 201458 Wishes for Warriors62 Gold Prospecting

OUTDOORS

68 Spot the Hunters73 Business Directory

DEPARTMENTS

64 Wilderness Athlete66 Turkey Season is Here

PREPAREDNESS

62

40 Topwater Addiction42 Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

wwwhuntavidcom4

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

46 Best Hunting Day Packs of 201650 Hanwag Boots51 Kershaw Knives52 Sneek Boots54 Otis Cleaning System55 YETI Introduces New Rambler

Bottle Collection

GEAR

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles in AVID Hunting amp Outdoors Magazine The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance of this material Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making decisions Outside of our staff authors articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual business group or organization If an article is a paid ldquoadvertisementrdquo or ldquoadvertorialrdquo it will be identified as such copyCopyright 2016 AVID Hunting amp Outdoors

24

16

46

34

Letter from the Editors

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 5

Above left to right Executive Editors Justin Walker Brandon Walker Casey Stilson

Associate Editors Nicole Brown ndash Not Pictured

Amyanne Rigby ndash Shown Below

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

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kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

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until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

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For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

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GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 5: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Letter from the Editors

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 5

Above left to right Executive Editors Justin Walker Brandon Walker Casey Stilson

Associate Editors Nicole Brown ndash Not Pictured

Amyanne Rigby ndash Shown Below

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine was started by people who are passionate about hunting and our great outdoors You can pick up any hunting magazine and read all about the biggest and the best animals taken in different parts of the world But what about the rest of us the DIY hunters and the hunters that donrsquot have an endless bank account Those are the hunters and outdoorsmen we would like to appeal too

Hunting used to be about spending time with family and friends and enjoying the outdoors These days it has turned into a competition and is all about the trophy animals Not that we donrsquot all want a trophy animal but we want to bring the ldquomeat and potatoesrdquo back into hunting Get people back to simply enjoying the outdoors and sharing that vision with our family and friends We want to show our newer generations the excitement of seeing big game in the wild and being outdoors instead of just seeing it on TV

So while you might not see the biggest and the best animals taken in this magazine you will see individuals and families hunting and enjoying the great outdoors We will strive to bring you updated information rules regulations and hunting success stories If there is a story you would like to see in AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine please submit it to us Thank you for taking the time to read and look through AVID Hunting and Outdoors magazine

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

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until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Design Alternative Designs for Construction

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Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 6: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom | Utah Edition6

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKUTAHGMAILCOM GUARANTEED SUCCESS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 7: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015 7

Thank You

Thank a Veteran

We want to thank all of our MILITARY that has

served and is currently serving our COUNTRY

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

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YEAR ROUND HUNTS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKUTAHGMAILCOM GUARANTEED SUCCESS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 8: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom8

BrotHErly

luckBy Jordan Mecham

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

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BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

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Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

Field Observation amp Construction Management

Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

JAYCO BLUE TAGSALES EVENT

MOTORHOMES STARTING AT$499MO STK SGU1232010 - Based on 20 down

499 APR for 240 mos

TOWABLESSTARTING AT$105MO

STK SGU1261389 - Based on 20 down 499 APR for 144 mos

LOW FINANCING AVAILABLE^^ bull SAVE ON NEW 2016 JAYCO INVENTORY

of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

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From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

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BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 9: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 9

Continued on Page 10

HUNTING

SUCCESSFUL The long awaited result of which all hunters dream When the draw results were released last April we had thought it was a mistake my brother and I had both drawn limited entry muzzleloader elk tags on the Wasatch Unit I thought I had received his email by mistake because I used my credit card for both of our applications However luck was on our side it

was one of the best days of our lives It had been four years since we had been able to hunt together and now we were going to be chasing big bulls

While my brother and I have hunted in central and southern Utah all our lives we had never stepped foot on the Wasatch unit However my dad and grandpa had hunted this particular area for nearly 40 years but they mainly hunted mule deer and the occasional spike elk But as luck would have it our cousin Darren had been hunting elk in the area for a few years We scouted the areas that our family members Nate and Darren had suggested over the next three months We set our sights on three different bulls two of them being bigger than most of the bulls that we had scouted The rut was coming in full swing and the bulls were going nuts So with only three days left before the hunt we were chasing 3 bulls a six point that we named Big 6 a big and unique 8x7 that we named Machado and a beautiful dark horned 6x7 Any of these bulls we would be happy to tag

Opening morning finally came I set out after the Machado bull and my brother headed out after Big 6 and the 6x7 At first light Nate and I headed out on horses but only heard one bugle and didnrsquot see any of the bulls that we were hoping to see I made the mistake of turning my radio off that afternoon figuring the elk would not be out and missed the opportunity at a monster five-point bull and Big 6 It was a long ride back to camp The entire time we were wishing I had not turned our radio off When we arrived back at camp my brother told me that he and Mark were within a few hundred yards of the big 6x7 the entire day but couldnrsquot get any closer It was an unlucky day

After our unlucky day we went around the opposite side of the mountain to see if the elk had been pushed over the top From the moment that we went around the mountain we were in elk all day Bulls were screaming and chasing cows There were so many bulls bugling that it was hard to decide which bugle to chase As the

day went on we realized both my brother and I had passed five or six 300-330 class bulls With only an hour of light left my uncle Shane called us on the radio and told us to get to where he was because he had spotted a different 360-class bull And so the chase began

We only had 20 minutes of light left so we were in a hurry We caught up to the bull wallowing in a spring He had a hot cow that he wasnrsquot going to leave Nate and I were able to sneak within 120 yards before he spotted us With one quick glance at his antlers I could tell he was a big bull and one that I would be happy tagging Being in such a hurry to get to this bull I had forgotten my shooting sticks I let out a quick cow call he stopped and turned broadside Not having my shooting sticks I was stuck taking a freehanded shot I gently pulled the trigger The bull took off down the hill and out of sight We walked over to where the bull had been but we couldnrsquot find any blood We checked the rest of the evening with flashlights for a blood trail but we again found nothing Given the quick shot and the bull not acting injured I must have missed

The next day we went back to the spot to see if we could find any blood but again found nothing after hours of searching After coming up empty handed with the search for blood and no sign of the bull from the night before we decided to head back up to a spring that we hoped Big 6 was at though we hadnrsquot seen him in days My brother decided to stay a few hundred yards above the spring as Mark and I dropped down to be level with it We had only been sitting down for 20 minutes when we heard a deep bugle It sounded more like a growl than a bugle We sneaked down a creek bed and got within 80 yards of the bull that was growling

After setting up the cows started to feed forty yards from us in a big clearing and the growler bull started coming towards the cows I threw up my binoculars as quick as I could It was Big 6 I could see his bladed 4ths and 5ths and I knew it was him I got ready and set the hammer back and waited for him to enter the clearing After what seemed like an eternity he came right behind the cows He stopped broadside at 40 yards He was mine With a dead rest I put the cross hairs right behind his front shoulder and squeezed the trigger

Waiting for the smoke to clear I expected to see the big boy stumbling or tipping over However I didnrsquot see any of that He had his shoulders pulled back and he was looking around to see where the loud noise came from He started walking away from us very slowly and started bugling again I thought ldquoAre you freaking

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

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WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

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For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

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Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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MOTORHOMES STARTING AT$499MO STK SGU1232010 - Based on 20 down

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LOW FINANCING AVAILABLE^^ bull SAVE ON NEW 2016 JAYCO INVENTORY

of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 10: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Continued from Page 9

wwwhuntavidcom10

kidding me I missed I really missedrdquo He was a bull of a lifetime and I missed at 40 yards Tears were definitely shed that night I had missed twice in two days at a 360 bull and a 380 plus bull

After little sleep that night I awoke early the next morning and decided to sight my gun in again Turns out I was shooting a foot and a half left and a foot high at twenty-five yards Now with the gun sighting in correctly and seven guys now helping us we combed the area from morning until night We did not leave the mountain But we were only able to turn up Big 6 once more and could not get close enough for a good shot After three full days of searching for him and not finding him or a blood trail or hearing an elk bugle we made the hard decision to leave Big 6 and see what the other canyons offered

Then on the sixth day of our hunt our dad received a call from his sister saying that our grandpa wasnrsquot going to last much longer We all decided to head down the mountain to say our goodbyes Our dad decided that he was going to stay with his dad until he passed but he told us that we should continue our hunt We contemplated staying with my grandpa but we had already said our goodbyes We thought it best that his children enjoy some alone time with him before he passed away

We arrived back at camp the next morning with the horses ready to go in to the canyon where Machado and some other big bulls had been spotted It was ten minutes before light when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket It was my dad I thought that he was calling to see what our morning plans were but my thoughts changed when I heard him crying He said ldquoWellhellip your grandpa just passed awayrdquo I was sad but happy at the same time My grandpa had some serious health issues and his wife had passed away 17 years ago It was just time for him to go

We must have had my grandparsquos help that day because as soon as I hung up the phone three bulls started bugling like crazy and didnrsquot stop for the next two hours Being in such dark timber and thick oak it was nearly impossible to see the bugling bulls so my brother and I decided to drop down in on them while my brother-in-law Josh and cousin Darren moved onto another spot We let out a few cow calls and two bulls started bugling like crazy We moved as fast as we could to close the distance After dropping 500 yards below the horse trail we decided that I should stop and call and that my brother should drop down on the bulls It wasnrsquot 20 minutes later that I heard him let out a cow call of his own and then a loud BOOM I completely expected to hear a yell of excitement but nothing He shot right over the top of the bull We were on a really steep incline and the bull was below his feet We spent the next thirty minutes looking for blood but found nothing It was a huge let down I had my radio sitting on my pack as we were deciding what to do next when the best words anyone could ask for after missing a bull came through from Josh and Darren ldquoHey get your butts up here We have two huge bulls spotted down below us pushing some cowsrdquo My brother decided to keep looking for blood while I got a head start

I knew I had to move fast but it was so steep The oak grew more sideways than up It was a constant fight the entire way up the hill I hiked as fast and as hard as I could to get to Josh Darren and those big bulls I finally reached the top and the 8x7 and a big 6-point were bugling about every 30 seconds to a minute There was an old horse trail 150 yards above where the elk were feeding We figured that the best plan would be for me to sneak down the horse trail above them and wait This way I would be in a better position to make a move Knowing my brother was not going to be too far

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

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Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

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BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

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Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

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wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

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sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

Structural Engineering Services

Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

Field Observation amp Construction Management

Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 11: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 11

HUNTING

QUALITY TAXIDERMY SINCE 1999

behind me I picked out a spot for Daren and Josh to send him once he reached them There were two bulls and two tags to fill Could we really pull a double on two big bulls Would the elk still be there when I made it down there It was worth a shot

I was now 20 yards from the point where I could look over and potentially take a shot I put the cap on my muzzleloader and took a minute to catch my breath I slowly walked and then crawled to the crest of the ridge and peaked over the top Nothing I didnrsquot see anything Betting that the elk had moved down the ridge I moved off the top about ten yards to stay out of sight and quickly kept working my way down Not sure where the elk would be I kept moving quietly down the ridge I hadnrsquot made it more than 50 yards down the ridge when I heard some limbs break in front of me I pulled my gun up as several cow elk started crossing the top of the ridge 75-yards away As each one of the elk went in front of me I kept waiting for one of the two bulls to cross A minute had passed and nothing followed I heard a crash above me but I didnrsquot want to take my eyes off of what might come behind the cows

All of a sudden a big bull jumped out where the cows had crossed Not wanting to shoot while he was moving I started making a deer bleating noise with my mouth After making the noise twice the bull stopped and turned and looked at me You could tell he was confused And so was I I guess my adrenaline got to me and I wasnrsquot thinking straight I couldnrsquot believe he stopped I placed the cross hairs on his front shoulder and pulled the trigger He whirled around and started running up the ridge away from me He went

through some tall oak and the only thing I could see were the tops his antlers After 50 yards I could see his antlers start to sway back and forth and then they disappeared

The crash and noise above me was my brother running down the ridge to catch up to me He had heard the shot but didnrsquot see the bull drop I was pumping my fist in excitement when I saw him We high fived hugged and hoped that the bull went down We didnrsquot want to chance bumping the bull so we waited for 20 minutes before we followed the blood trail The suspense was killing us Doubt kept going through my mind Did I hit him good enough Was this going to be a repeat of earlier My stomach was in knots

I had my brother walk to where the bull was standing when I shot and then I walked to him We started looking for blood and headed towards where the bull had hopefully tipped over Forty yards into the search we got a strong whiff of an elk and knew he had to be close The oak was so thick and tall that we could not see very well As we made our way a little farther through the oak we finally caught a glimpse of some white ivory tips Big bull down

There were a lot of emotions as we grabbed the antlers and started taking pictures It was almost as if our grandpa was there with us in spirit So many things happened that day that typically donrsquot happen It was a moment when time felt like it had stopped It was a moment of humility and respect for the animal and of closeness to our grandpa that we will forever remember What a bull What a hunt What an amazing memory wersquoll have for the rest of our lives

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

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BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

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Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

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From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

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BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 12: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

forPreparing

BIG HORN

wwwhuntavidcom12

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

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WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 13: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

HUNTING

At age 15 I decided to put in for a Bighorn Sheep tag This was the first year I had put in for a bighorn sheep hunt so naturally I had no points I wouldnrsquot have put in for the tag if it wasnrsquot for my brother Tyler He told our dad that he should have started putting me in long ago to accumulate

some points for these hard hunts My dad decided to call a couple of friends to ask what the best areas would be to apply for He was told ldquoThe Blacksrdquo would be the best unit So the Black Mountains were the only section I applied for with Desert Sheep Everyone assumed that would be the end of it for the next 15-20 years

In May when the names were released Tyler looked it up on the computer and could not believe his eyes It was my name on the list He thought for sure there was an error Tyler called our dad who just kept saying things like ldquoNow wait a minutehellip Ok buthelliprdquo They both told me the news together and all I could do was grin and say ldquoreallyrdquo I thought it seemed really cool but I didnrsquot understand exactly how cool this was at the time We were all still a little uncertain that it was actually true until the tag arrived at the house and I could hold it in my hands From the moment I received the tag I heard a full range of emotions from everyone we talked to It went from ldquoI have 25 bonus points I canrsquot believe itrdquo to ldquoDo you have any idea how lucky you arerdquo and ldquoToo bad we canrsquot take you gamblingrdquo However the most used phrase that came out of anyonersquos mouth was ldquothatrsquos just not rightrdquo I drew a deer tag a bighorn sheep tag and was just turning 16 I knew it was going to be a great year

At this point none of us Christensen boys had ever hunted sheep so my family wanted to talk to everyone we could imagine to get some advice My friend Brady and I went down to the Department of Wildlife and asked about the area and the classes I could take They told me the classes were only for people who drew a tag I told them that I did and they just brushed me off and never really gave me any information We talked to past hunters other guides and every person that had any story or experience with sheep at all They all kept saying ldquomass mass massrdquo but this still didnrsquot really tell us how to find and measure sheep In August my dad and I attended the Desert Bighorn Sheep class through the Department of Wildlife This assisted us with scoring and sizing and helped a lot We began to understand what type of sheep we were looking for

BIG HORNBy Zachery Christensen

Continued on Page 14

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 13

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

wwwhuntavidcom14

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

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WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

InnovationhellipItrsquos What We Do

Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

Field Observation amp Construction Management

Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

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ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 14: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Continued from Page 13

From August to November my family and I would go out and look for sheep We were still not sure about what we were looking for and we were still indecisive about whether to get a guide or do it ourselves We kept scouting and put some cameras out The cameras were great and showed us a lot

of sheep in the area but there was never anything that really jumped out to us as being ldquoexceptionalrdquo We scouted about 35-40 days during those months

When I wasnrsquot out scouting I was practicing shooting My dad was adamant that I became a better shooter and handle the rifle at the distances that I might need to shoot during my hunt I learned how to reload and shoot with a stick I had started back to school in September and wouldnrsquot turn 16 until October and I was also on the High School Rodeo Team so this made it more difficult for me to go scouting I had to rely on my family to go out when they could and try to find the best area to start hunting I also harvested a deer with my muzzleloader during this time

I wasnrsquot able to go out on opening day and hunt because I had a test in school but I began hunting the following Friday My dad and Tyler went out on Thursday for a few hours with a requirement that my mom and I have our phones and be ready ldquojust in caserdquo On Friday they

had seen a really nice ram that took off and ran down to the

lake so we decided on a new game plan Saturday rolled around and six of us loaded up in our boat and started searching for this one ram Saturday did not produce the ram we had seen earlier nor anything worth going back for We also realized that it was rather hard to scout and hunt from a boat so we went back home looking for new ideas

My dad and I could not go out the next day but Tyler and his friend Matt did They went quite a ways back into the mountain range The first ram they saw was the biggest one they had seen since the hunt started

They thought of going to get me right then They didnrsquot know if that was the best one they would find because they had

seen a lot of rams so they kept looking

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HUNTING

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until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

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Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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MOTORHOMES STARTING AT$499MO STK SGU1232010 - Based on 20 down

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 15: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

HUNTING

SPECIALIZING IN HUNTS FOR BEGINNERS YOUTH AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

RAMS RANG FROM $500-$2500

ELK amp FALLOW DEER PRICES VARY ON SIZE

LODGING AVAILABLE

YEAR ROUND HUNTS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKUTAHGMAILCOM GUARANTEED SUCCESS

WILDLIFEADVENTUREPARKCOM CALL US TODAY 435-862-0062

BOOK YOUR DREAM HUNT

until dark Happy with the first ram they came home that night with big plans for Monday morning

Monday morning Tyler Matt my dad and I met up and decided to find the nice one they had seen We hiked into where they saw the ram from the previous morning They decided to sit tight and watch After about 20 minutes the ram just seemed to appear on the hill very close to the same spot he was in the day before We discussed it for a while to make sure that this was the one that I should go after and how I needed to get it done I said ldquoHow far I am ready to gordquo The guys told me he was about 250 yards hold right on him and let it go

When I finally took the shot the sheep dropped right where it was standing We immediately ran over to the ram to see if it was as nice as we had hoped All of our anxiety was now over and the excitement had begun I was very happy with my shot and

was glad I was able to get it with just a single shot It seemed to take hours to take pictures and gather our thoughts on packing the ram out We were busy calling and texting pictures to everyone we knew and especially to those that had helped I am so glad I had

everyone with me to pack this out It was a lot of work and took all of us a while to get it back to the vehicle That night a lot of people came by to give their congratulations and see the very nice ram I drew out for and harvested at 16 years old

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 15

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

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ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 16: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom16

Continued on Page 18

By Grady Nelson

With little hope and not a lot of luck in the archery or muzzle loader hunts my dad approached the rifle hunt as his last chance at a buck as a dedicated hunter in the harvest season We simply didnrsquot have many days to get out and hunt but we were going to do with what we had

It was opening day and we wanted to get to our ldquospotrdquo before light so we could catch any big bucks feeding or preparing to bed down Our first choice ldquospotrdquo was surrounded by elk so we changed our game plan We hoped we

would have better luckWhen we reached our next ldquospotrdquo we started glassing The deer were so hard to see but luckily we spotted three deer at about 900 yards

We moved into nearly 850 yards to get a better look We could only see for certain that one of the deer was a buck We moved to where we could get a better shot but when they were at about 700 yards all the deer disappeared

The frigid weather made it difficult to glass because our hands were freezing We glassed in that same spot for about 45 minutes before leaving We headed toward a nearby ridge which was a burn area There were only fifteen small pine trees As we walked up and down the

Running Out of Luck

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

InnovationhellipItrsquos What We Do

Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

Structural Engineering Services

Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

Field Observation amp Construction Management

Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

Reinforced Precast Tilt Up amp Prestressed Concrete

Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

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Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

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wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 17: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 17

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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MOTORHOMES STARTING AT$499MO STK SGU1232010 - Based on 20 down

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LOW FINANCING AVAILABLE^^ bull SAVE ON NEW 2016 JAYCO INVENTORY

of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

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Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 18: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

ridge looking everywhere we looked under those pine trees several times About two hours later we spotted some deer

We figured they must have been bedded down so that we couldnrsquot see them It was getting later in the day so we decided that we should walk up the side of the ridge to see if we could jump them out of their beds I was about 20 yards into the push directly across the canyon from the pine trees when my dad got on the radio and told that he had found the deer and that all three of them were still bedded down under those same pine trees

He told me to sit down and stay as still as I could My dad had to move three times in order to get to the right spot in hopes of taking a shot Ten minutes later the deer stood up from their beds and looked around They were spooked Although my dad didnrsquot have a very good shot he decided to take it anyways When he shot I looked up and saw the buck drop The deer rolled down the hill and we couldnrsquot see it anymore We waited about fifteen more minutes and then we found him My dadrsquos luck had definitely changed

Continued from Page 16

wwwhuntavidcom18

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

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WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

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Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

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Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

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PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

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Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

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Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

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一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

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Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

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wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 19: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

ABuCK

MoMENtwwwhuntavidcom20

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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For results this Fall your work starts NOW

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In the there are

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 20: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

HUNTING

It all started on a hot afternoon I had been waiting for this hunt for a quite a while I wasnrsquot able to deer hunt last season and I was eager to kill my first buck The hike up the mountain was humid and exhausting My dad and I went in on foot and it took us about two hours to get to our ldquospotrdquo for opening morning of the rifle hunt We knew that the base of the mountain was going to be covered by people so we

decided to go where others werenrsquotGetting to our camping spot was rough A lot of the hills we had to climb up were so

steep that we could only use our hands and feet By the time we got camp set up a storm was on its way Watching the storm clouds roll over the highest peak of the mountain was intimidating We could feel the air temperature drop We both knew that it was going to be a cold night Honestly I was hoping that we werenrsquot going to get into the snow Once we were situated in the tent we ate sandwiches for dinner When the alarm went off at 400 am the next morning thatrsquos when I realized that it was opening morning So many things were running through my mind I could feel that something BIG was going to happen

By Kyndal Elmer 14 years old

Continued on Page 22

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 21

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Design Alternative Designs for Construction

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Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

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Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

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一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

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Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 21: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

After we ate breakfast we climbed another mountain to glass where we could see better When it was finally light enough to see my dad spotted some deer on the mountain across from us Even though the sun wasnrsquot up yet we could still see the deer through the storm clouds We walked quite a bit to get in range of the deer There was only one thing on my mind I was just hoping there was a nice buck in the herd When we got there the only thing we saw was a couple of does But we decided to stay there and look for a minute and our luck changed

My dad told me that he found a nice 4x4 and I got excited We sneaked further down to these big boulders to try to get a shot When we started setting up the rifle it hit me I may shoot my first buck today Thatrsquos when I started getting nervous

The first time we checked his range he was at 420 yards but I wasnrsquot able to get a clear shot He walked further up the mountain and the rangefinder read 440 yards Almost the exact yardage as the elk I shot I got buck fever really fast I tried convincing myself that I was just cold but I knew I wasnrsquot Then I got a hold of myself and focused When he turned broadside I squeezed the trigger I let the kick of the gun surprise me but I didnrsquot notice much it because I couldnrsquot hear Shooting through the cave like pile of boulders made the crack of the rifle echo causing the shot to ring ten times louder than normal The buck ran about 30 yards and fell down

My dad and I were so happy and thankful We called my mom and sisters to tell them that I had just shot my first buck My mom was really happy for both of us Then I told her we were going to need help hauling out camp We got off the phone with my mom and headed to my buck

When we found my buck he was even nicer up close It was a thrill and a blessing to be up close to him I took a moment to thank the buck for providing our family with delicious organic meat Hunting provides a unique connection to animals Most people never get the chance to have this experience in nature in their lifetime This is why I had such respect for this buck

After we were done taking pictures and quartering him up we headed back to camp My mom called us and said that they had finally made it to our camp and would be waiting for us On our way back to camp to visit mom it was raining but I was enjoying it When we got to camp we were relieved to remove the weight from our shoulders and hips

Everyone congratulated me and my dad on my buck We carried out the entire deer while my mom and sisters carried out camp On the way down we passed a lot of people on horses I was that much happier to know that we didnrsquot need a horse or a llama for our hunting adventure

The hike down was as hard as it was going up Each step got harder and longer The weight of my pack started to dig deeper into my hips But honestly I liked the pain It reminded me that hard work pays off in the end When we finally got down to the truck I was relieved but very thankful for the experience for my family coming up and hauling out camp but most of all I was grateful to share such a special moment with my dad He is my best friend I wouldnrsquot trade this experience for anything We made memories that will last a lifetime

Continued from Page 21

wwwhuntavidcom22

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You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

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Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 22: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwwildernessathletecomsave 15 | coupon code AVID16

You are an

For results this Fall your work starts NOW

athleteathleteTHE ELK ARENrsquoT TAKING TIME OFF NEITHER CAN YOU

In the there are

Wilderness Wilderness no excuses no sympathy no off-Seasons

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 23

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

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Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 23: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

I had always been partial to hunting mule deer until I meet a good friend and hunting buddy Jack Luffy Fifteen years ago Jack introduced me to hunting Coues Deer ndash the little whitetail deer Jack and I have been hunting these ldquogray ghostsrdquo together

ever since Every year we tried to determine which tags to go for after we have studied our

ldquowish listrdquo units I had acquired enough points in Arizona to draw a December rut hunt Coues Whitetail Deer tag But to improve my odds I took a one day Arizona Hunter Education class specifically for non-residents By taking this class I received an extra bonus point I crossed my fingers Like most hunters I knew the hardest part of the hunt was drawing the tag My luck proved good as I drew an Arizona Coues Whitetail Deer tag

As the rest of the year and all the other hunts came to an end it was finally December and time to head south from Utah to the much warmer Arizona With all the previous hunts there always seemed to be obstacles in the way of my hunting schedule However this hunt was different I was laid off from my job on December 2nd and the hunt started on December 11th I tried to look on the positive side and realized at least I didnrsquot have to get time off work for the hunt

After a twelve hour drive I was in Arizona with my hunting partner and we were ready to go Jack and I did a lot of walking and glassing for the ldquobig onerdquo We spotted a lot of good deer but no shooters After eleven days I decided to fly home for Christmas and then returned to Arizona the day after Christmas and tried to find ldquotherdquo deer before the end of the month

On the second to last day of December after a two hour hike in the dark we were

By David Ostrander

Hunting the

Gray Ghosts

wwwhuntavidcom24

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

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Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

Reinforced Precast Tilt Up amp Prestressed Concrete

Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 24: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

sitting on top of a mountain We saw a lot of does and small bucks We could see the deer rut and chase each other And then all of a sudden there he was Slowly we moved to 560 yards and set up As I was getting ready to shoot something spooked the buck and he blew out of there and we lost him

Frantically we glassed trying to find him Fortunately the buck dropped down and was feeding in the canyon to right to us I set back up and shot the deer at 120 yards It was the closest shot I had ever had at a Coues Deer

Usually after a kill the real work begins but the nice thing about Coues Deer is that they are really small We were able to skin and quarter him out With Jackrsquos help I had him back to the truck in an hour

I will always be drawn to the gray ghosts Coues Whitetail deer and making good memories with friends For me not only did I get to kill a good deer but three days later I was able to harvest my first mountain lion Once my adventure was over I headed home to plan my 2016 hunting season

Special thanks to Jack Luffy Gary Aufrane and the Dieringers

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 25

HUNTING

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

Structural Engineering Services

Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

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Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

Reinforced Precast Tilt Up amp Prestressed Concrete

Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

Retrofitting of Structure HUD Permanent Foundation Analysis Fire amp Disaster Investigation amp

Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

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Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 25: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Continued on Page 28

In February of 2016 I had the opportunity to go on a little bit different hunt I was invited to hunt the Javelina of Arizona My friend Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters had invited some friends and I to hunt Javelina while on a Kaibab Deer Hunt Plans were made for either the HAM Hunt which is your choice of either Handgun- Archery or Muzzle loader (HAM) or the Rifle Hunt

With the recent changes to Utahrsquos Muzzle Loader Law with respect to magnified scopes (which are now allowed as of 2016) I was really excited to try to harvest a Javelina with my muzzle loader Arizona Law also allows magnification on muzzle loaders as well I had purchased a 3x9 Bushnell Elite Bone Collector with the BDC Reticle and it was sighted in and ready to go I shoot a 50 cal Thompson Omega My partner for this hunt was a longtime friend and Hunter Dan Driggs

Dan and I loaded his 4Runner early Thursday morning for the drive to ldquoPig Heavenrdquo We arrived several hours later with plenty of time for a little scouting The hunt was to take place at a fairly high elevation and the recent snowstorm had left several inches of snow up on top where we were to hunt Friday we were up early for the drive to the top Dan and I were greeted by plenty of mud and snow We hiked to our pre-determined glassing spot After several hours of burning glass for Javelina We found not a one Dan and I split up and hiked a couple of different canyons with the hope of spotting some game It was cold and really muddy I cut several sets of coyote tracks and Dan cut what he believed was a set of mountain lion tracks We drove a little farther up the mountain only to find more snow and mud with several deep puddles We used 4 wheel drive most of the day

We returned to camp in time for a sandwich and a drink and we found out that the camp just over the hill had connected with three Javelina that morning so our hopes for our hunt remained high Dan and I returned to the field for the afternoon and evening hunt we decided to hunt at a lower elevation We glassed close to a windmill and water tank until dark We did see several sets of tracks at that location just no pigs

Day 2Although Irsquom not sure why Don Martin decided to take Dan and I out on Saturday I

am really glad he did I mentioned before that Don owns Arizona Wildlife Outfitters Don has hunted this area for Javelina for several years and he is very familiar with the terrain He is also a very experienced ldquoglasserrdquo and hunter We set up for another morning of burning glass With the size of our quarry being at 30-40 pounds as well as their habitat being very rocky steep and thick terrain I hadnrsquot seen a Javelina yet Don told me to be patient and keep ldquoglassingrdquo He said to look for moving rocks As I was glassing with my 10x50 Leicas the glare from the cactus as I scanned was a lot like flashes of a camera going off in my eyes It took some adjustment on my part

Chasing the Winter Blues AwayBy Bryan Beckstead

wwwhuntavidcom26

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 26: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

27AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

HUNTING

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

InnovationhellipItrsquos What We Do

Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Constructability Analysis Seismic Analysis Force Protection Blast Analysis amp

Design Alternative Designs for Construction

Cost and Time Saving Structural Analysis Design

Specifications and Construction Documentation

Field Observation amp Construction Management

Steel Masonry amp Timber Design Crane Design amp Analysis

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Precast Concrete Production Transport amp Erection

Post Tension Concrete Design Construction Products amp Materials

Development Structural Investigation amp Reports Structural Damage amp Failure Analysis Repair Re-strengthening amp

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

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Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 27: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Continued from Page 26

After a few hours Dan Driggs had a small group of Javies spotted They were about 700 yards away on the side of a steep hillside As Dan and I made our way for what we hoped was an opportunity to shoot one Dan noted that they had gone around the hillside As Dan and I neared the top of the hill I dropped both my pack and my jacket It was getting warm Dan and I made our way to the last known spot of the Javies but they had disappeared We were trying to be as quiet as we could as Javies have excellent hearing After looking and looking we were unable to locate the herd Don radioed me and told me to blow my Coyote call I squealed a few times on it and we could hear the Javelina clacking their tusks and snorting just like pigs do Because of this we were able to locate them The pigs

had gone down to the bottom of the hillside and were starting up the other side The pigs were feeding and moving quite slowly as we tried cutting the distance We were at 200 plus yards as we dropped down the hill to a more comfortable range Dan and I ended up making a bit of noise which made the

pigs nervous We finally found one good rest at about the 160 yard mark I shot and missed and Dan although he had only one shot (he had dropped all of his powder in a puddle and got it wet) he made his shot count We had one pig down Meanwhile I was quickly reloading with Danrsquos help I set up on his tree for my rest and got a second chance and I redeemed myself with a kill

We had one knife between the two of us so Dan ended up field dressing both animals We set up took some pictures and then returned to camp for the big ldquoweigh inrdquo

We thought my pig was quite a bit larger than Danrsquos but it ended up that they were really close in weight Danrsquos javie weighed 3974 pounds Mine weighed 4005 pounds

I had a great time hunting with Don and his friends I sure hope I get an Invite for next year Many thanks to Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters and my hunting partner Dan Driggs I want to Thank Don Martin of Arizona Wildlife Outfitters for the Hunt I would also like to thank my Hunting Partner for the trip Dan Driggs

I found a new way to Chase those Winter Blues Away

wwwhuntavidcom28

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Providing Structural Engineering Solutions for Over 30 YearsSalt Lake City ndash 801-255-7700 Logan ndash 435-227-2218 St George ndash 435-632-7660wwwmcneilengineeringcom

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Analysis

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

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Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

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The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

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A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 28: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Jana Waller

An Interview With

How did you acquire your love for huntingWhen I was a young girl I would spend every minute I could outdoors whether it was

searching for frogs or building a fort in the woods My Dad fostered my interest in the great outdoors and started taking me along on his pheasant hunts when I was old enough to walk through the tall prairie grasses of Wisconsin I would sit by his side in the duck and goose blinds always excited about the uncertainly that comes with hunting I took my Hunterrsquos Safety class in 1983 and it has been a passion of mine ever since I bought a bow and started big game hunting when I was a freshman in college after I met another female bow hunter who inspired me

Continued on Page 30

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 29

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 29: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

What is your fondest hunting memory Itrsquos simply way too difficult to name one fondest memory Irsquove been so incredibly blessed

to hunt many big game species all over the world and therersquos something magnificent about all of the hunts Some of my favorite childhood memories are of my dad and I taking road trips from Wisconsin to South Dakota to pheasant hunt for the week Sometimes itrsquos simply the people who I hunt with that truly make the experience For example I took Bo Riechenbech a double amputee former Navy SEAL on his very first elk hunt two years ago After seven days of conquering the rugged Montana mountains Bo finally got his bull and it was an incredibly emotional and exhilarating moment This past Fall I went on an epic DIY moose hunt in the Alaskan bush in search of bull moose that will go down in my books as one of my all-time favorite hunts Every single hunt Irsquove been on has its own sense of adventure and theyrsquore impossible for me to rank

Continued from Page 29

wwwhuntavidcom30

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 30: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Women that have never been hunting before what are they missing out on when their husbands and boyfriends leave them behind

I would say that anyone who doesnrsquot hunt is missing out on seeing the great outdoors like theyrsquove never seen it before When yoursquore in camouflage and yoursquore still quiet and observant nature has a deeper way of coming alive around you Irsquod say theyrsquore missing out on the unpredictability adventure and the beauty of the unknown that only hunters understand Therersquos always a sense of uncertainty and surprise that comes from the hunt Theyrsquore also missing out on a sense of accomplishment Therersquos a lot of preparation that goes into the hunt from learning your weapon scouting to getting in shape for the backcountry and after yoursquove hiked dozens of miles endured

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 31

HUNTING

the weather pushed your patience and found success therersquos often a tremendous sense of pride and achievement from the hunt I would also hate to have to rely on the grocery store for my meat Irsquod say non-hunters are missing out on clean organic meat all the while helping manage the wildlife Many people donrsquot make that connection to where their food comes from

What would you tell someone outside the hunting community that believe hunting is just killing not conservation

I would tell non-huntersmdashand even anti-huntersmdashthat hunting is truly more about living than killing We hunters are the greatest conservationists in this country and itrsquos through our hunterrsquos dollars and volunteer work that our herds habitat and flocks are managed The Pittman Robertson Act of 1937 and its subsequent amendments is an excise tax placed on hunting equipment that generates funds for each state to manage its animals and habitat Hunters spend around ten billion dollars a year on everything they need for their hunting trips generating between 177 and 324 million dollars a year in funds Couple that with the money raised by conservation groups and itrsquos clear to see that hunters are the ones truly protecting the wildlife and their environment

Obviously you have a special place in your heart for veterans how did you acquire that

The older I get the more I simply appreciate my freedoms I am a woman living in the greatest country in the world I can work hard chase my dreams defend myself and create ANY life that I want those are freedoms that I donrsquot take for granted Nor did they come without a price Our servicemen and woman continue to fight the evil and atrocities that attempt to destroy this great country and our foundation I have a lot of friends who have served in the military and with every story told around the campfire I am all the more motivated to help create awareness for our veterans The burdens of war should not be placed on the soldierrsquos shoulders but all of ours who get to enjoy FREEDOM We need better health care and support systems in place for our warriors If I can help combat vets by getting them back into the woods or on the water to feel the healing power of Mother Nature then I feel Irsquom giving back as a way to say thank you Thatrsquos why Irsquove gotten involved with Wishes For Warriors a fantastic organization that helps combat veterans get back into hunting and fishing

With it being an election year who are you voting for Well I can tell you who Irsquom NOT voting for Hillary for PRISON

What can we expect from you and Skull Bound TV in the future

We are currently filming for Season 6 of Skull Bound TV We have a lot of exciting big game hunts coming up this Fall with some amazing veterans as well The hunt Irsquom most excited about will take place in Wyoming where wersquore taking triple amputee Erik Galvan on his very first elk hunt Itrsquos guaranteed to be an amazing journey thanks to Wishes For Warriors This next season will be the year of the muley as we have hunts lined up in Nevada Utah and Montana as well as some unique skull projects in the works For Jim and I itrsquos all about telling a good story sharing our message of conservation and trying to pass on our passion for the hunt

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

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From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 31: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom32

Giving BackFirst Hunt

405 East St George Boulevard | St George UT 84770 | (435) 673-1150 | tcbankutahcom

The very picture of customer service

Concierge banking is the hallmark of our institution And importantly wersquore profitable well-capitalized and locally headquartered Isnrsquot it time you discover the simple pleasures of banking at Town amp Country Bank

Last fall we were able to accompany Kelly Woods with the 123rd Army logistics division on his Texas dall sheep hunt Kelly and his wife Mrsquolissa (on her first hunt ever) were able

to harvest a beautiful set of rams Both Kelly and his wife made precision single shots on each ram The couple had a great time and enjoyed being able to

harvest and eat the animals Big thanks to Blaine Gubler and Bernie Walker for

providing the animals and guiding service For more information on this hunt

or others like it call Blaine Gubler today at 435-

703-5747

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 32: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 33

HUNTINGGO OUT AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

WANT TO WRITE FOR US SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM435-574-9673

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 33: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

NOWOR

wwwhuntavidcom34

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 34: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

A s quietly and stealthily as I could I moved up the hill to where Rick Crawford was concealed behind cover We had been waiting for the better part of an hour in position above a draw that had an incredible amount of elk sign in it In preparation for the hunt we had also cleared

several shooting lanes out to about 400 yards I had spent quite a bit of time with the range finder getting to know the lanes and the distances to various points Would this preparation pay off

I spent a few minutes getting comfortable resting my weapon on my pack in anticipation for a shot I silently practiced aiming and imagining the moment Time stretched the evening sun passed below the distant mountains Dusk approached quickly Suddenly we heard what sounded like an axe biting into wood The sound didnrsquot come from in front of us in the anticipated shooting lanes but from behind us farther up the spur on which we were situated

Rick moved silently towards the sounds I worried that we were in a bad position and that Rick was about to give us away with his movement Slowly he arrived at a point where he could glass the hillside He motioned for me to move up to where he was I decided to grab three extra rounds of 325 WSM ammo and place them in my mouth With my rangefinder around my neck I moved slowly up to Rickrsquos position He pointed out the antlers of a couple of bulls coming down through the trees

The first wasnrsquot very promising and the second we couldnrsquot see very well Suddenly the second elk started ldquochoppin woodrdquo with his antlers It was obvious He was a big boy

I asked Rick what he thought but Rick couldnrsquot understand me with the ammunition stuffed in my mouth The bull showed himself and Rick whispered ldquoHersquos a shooterrdquo I took a second to range him 192 yards uphill at an upward angle of about sixty degrees Thankfully the elk is broadside I glanced around for something to steady my shot but there was nothing So I dropped flat on my back and raised my knees up to get in a good shooting position ldquoDang itrdquo there was not enough elevation I placed one foot under the other just enough As I moved the bull looked straight at me

NEVERORBy Dan Gubler

Continued on Page 36

HUNTING

35AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

wwwhuntavidcom36

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 35: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

broadside Itrsquos now or never I took a deep breath aimed took up slack the gun went off and helliphellip nothing The bull didnrsquot move I broke every record ever set reloading my custom Thompson Center Encore pistol The movement caused the bull to spin right up hill quartering away I placed the cross hairs on his exit hole and moved to the right six or seven inches and squeezed He jumped violently vertical and moved behind a tree He was hit hard

Rick congratulated me and told me that he had never seen anyone reload a single shot so fast I could hardly contain my excitement This moment had been a very long time in coming In fact I didnrsquot think it would ever happen Rick moved up hill to the

ldquospotrdquo and I stayed put and guided him to where we think the elk would be Rick arrived and found a large blood trail Because of the waning light we decide to leave him be until the next morning Back at camp I could hardly sleep The hours conspired to drag on as long as possible Finally sunlight

We headed back up the mountain with help from Aaron Gubler and Steve Hirschi As we located the ldquospotrdquo We began to track After about twenty minutes of tracking the bull jumped up from his bed My ldquosure shotrdquo evidently was not as great as I thought We pursued him for another half hour I took a final shot My elk went down for good What an incredible trophy

Continued from Page 35

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AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

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By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

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Page 36: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

Authorrsquos noteFinally I accomplished one of my lifelong dreams What made this

so special was that a decade earlier I didnrsquot know if I would be able to achieve this goal On November 16th 2005 while on patrol in the Al Anbar Province in Iraq I was severely injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) was set off under my feet It left me missing the majority of my left arm blind in both eyes and with fractures and many shrapnel wounds to my legs arm and face I spent the next year and a half recuperating at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC I was lucky that I survived

It took me 19 years to draw a coveted premium elk bull tag in Utah As I could only see out of my left eye and having only my right arm I took up pistol shooting My good friend Justin Sip of ldquoJustin Sip Custom Gunsrdquo built me a beautiful and accurate Encore Pistol Finally two other close friends Michael Hirschi and Rick Crawford of ldquoRecord Book Outfittersrdquo arranged for a whole army of people to come and help me with my hunt

I want to thank those that gave of their time and energy to help me achieve my dream Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi and Rick Crawford were serious pack animals Thanks to a my crew of spotters which included Kyle Gray Aaron Gubler Steven Hirschi Dennis Frochic and the guys from AVID Magazine Justin Walker Brandon Walker and Casey Stilson These guys froze their tails off for me Thanks to all the rest who made this possible including Richard Hirschi Thomas Hirschi Ben Bateman Leo Gardner Shane Snedeger Christian Snedeger Danny Blake Willie Billings Brad Anderson Evan Ault Brian Stratton Legrand Hammon Brian Cook Marty Ellis Ron amp Sue Stratton Kyle amp Ashley Gray Aaron amp Mary Gubler Steve amp Julie Hirschi Mike amp Kristine Hirschi Rick amp Linda Crawford Dennis amp Lori Frochic and Avid Hunting amp Outdoors Record Book Outfitters

I extend much gratitude to you all for the love and support you have shown me Indeed my heart and soul are full

HUNTING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 37

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

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Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

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When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 37: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

K isser nose Squeeze Kisser nose squeeze It is the same every time Kisser nose squeeze So if it is the same every time why is the outcome not the same

The ups and the downs the successes and the failures the great hunts and unfortunately the horrible hunts happen to us all That second you let go of the arrow you want it back or you smile with a sigh of relief The only thing that separates those two moments is practice I was once told by a professional archer that it did not matter how many arrows I shot as long as I shot them the right way So what is the right way The right way is your way your kisser nose squeeze However it does not always matter how much we practice or how hard we try Sometimes the hunting gods are just stacked against us Whether you sit twenty yards from the buck of a lifetime for two hours before he busts you and blows out of the canyon or a 30-minute stock and fire an unsuccessful shot If you have hunted you will fail but you will also succeed It may not be today and it may not be tomorrow but as long as you keep your head up and keep hammering away it will come to you And when it does there will never be a better feeling than that feeling of accomplishment

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to travel half way around the world and hunt game in the plains of Africa I had a very successful hunt and harvested several different species including the surprisingly elusive giraffe The one animal on this earth that is nearly impossible to stalk due to their height Riding high on the success

ups amp Downs of

BowhuntingBy Christy Barney

wwwhuntavidcom38

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

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of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 38: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

1500 Hilton Drive ST GEORGE UT | 8554618780 | CampingWorldcomRVRV SALES HOURS Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Sunday Closed

Camping World RV Sales price(s) and payments not inclusive of tax title and license fees Payments to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms ^ On select models Available to qualified buyers with approved credit Subject to lender terms Advertised inventory available at time of printing New unit photography for illustration purposes only May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales See dealer for details copy 2016 CWI Inc All rights reserved Offers expire 63016 SGU62349-0216

JAYCO BLUE TAGSALES EVENT

MOTORHOMES STARTING AT$499MO STK SGU1232010 - Based on 20 down

499 APR for 240 mos

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STK SGU1261389 - Based on 20 down 499 APR for 144 mos

LOW FINANCING AVAILABLE^^ bull SAVE ON NEW 2016 JAYCO INVENTORY

of that trip I came home only to have several failed attempts at harvesting a javelina a stinky little ole javelina I had hunted javelina for 4 years but always without success It was not for lack of effort either but I knew if I stuck it out I would one day succeed Every year we would hunt hard and cover a lot of ground Some years we would make successful stalks with missed opportunities and some years our stalks would fail The sheer disappointment of one simple mistake the tilt of the bow ormdashheaven forbidmdashthe dreaded buck fever There is never a bigger let down than making a successful stalk but missing a 20 30 or even a 40 yard shot However when that arrow made contact at 23-yards with my javelinmdashthat is the moment I choose to remember Not the missed attempts or the blown stalks As I stood in the Arizona desert alone watching my javelina expire the sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me and I was surprised at how emotional I had become I realized the unsuccessful stalks and the missed opportunities were an education I gained along the way That one successful shot was worth all the hard work

I can promise if you hunt long enough there will be some kind of disappointment along the way It may even be another hunter or another outdoorsman but we all have to remember we are in this together as hunters and outdoorsman we have to strive to help one another to look out for each other The last thing we need to do is let the other groups and activists come between us We work too hard and have too much passion for the things we do and the places

we go We need to stick together because once you succeed that sense of accomplishment that satisfaction of a successful hunt is all that matters in the moment We all have the failures and the let downs The tough part is coming back from the let downs getting your confidence back picking your head up and saying next time I will succeed Because that next time may be the 200-inch mule deer or the 400-inch bull elk that has only been a dream until you finally succeed Just remember all those failed attempts are our education The high fives those are the memories we choose to remember

BIOChristy Barney was born and raised in Southern Utah She grew up water skiing camping four wheeling and hunting with her family After meeting her husband Bronc her best friend and hunting buddy she was introduced to archery hunting It wasnrsquot long before archery hunting became her new passion Whether competing at archery events or hunting big game archery has taken her to many places domestically and internationally Among all of the amazing experiences the sport of archery has brought into her life one of the most treasured are the friendships and relationships that she has acquired along the way She currently works for Worldwide Trophy Adventures and anxiously awaits her next outdoor adventureBowhunting

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 39

HUNTING

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 39: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

By Backlash Beau Many anglers will agree that they would rather catch one bass on Topwater than ten bass using any other technique There are so many types and variations of Topwater baits to choose from ranging from stick baits buzzbaits soft plastic frogs etc The thrill of watching a bass come up to the surface and aggressively attack your bait makes your heart want to

jump out of your chest I was introduced to Topwater lures while fishing Newcastle Reservoir for Smallmouth Bass

This is a small reservoir just a few miles west of Cedar City Utah While attending school at Southern Utah University I would spend many evenings walking the bank of Newcastle throwing a Zara Spook pup lure Zara Spook makes a great Topwater bait and offers many colors and sizes to choose from My favorite color is the silver and black It took some time to get the technique down of getting the bait to walk on the surface of the water a method often referred to as ldquowalking the dogrdquo Basically you want to point the rod tip down and make sure you have a straight line from your rod tip to the bait Then with a quick flick of your wrist move the rod tip away from the bait and then back towards it This should make the bait move from side to side and depending on how drastic you move the rod tip it will determine how far from side to side the bait will move I caught countless Smallmouth Bass on this presentation Unfortunately I wore out a couple of baits to the point where the hooks were falling off

Another Topwater technique I enjoy is the Topwater Frog I have not spent as much time in Southern Utah throwing this lure but when I lived in Logan Utah I used this presentation on Mantua many times Mantua is a small reservoir in Sardine Canyon the mountain pass between Brigham City and Cache Valley During the summer months this lake would get overgrown with moss and weeds which made it difficult to fish with standard baits I would put the boat about 10 yards off of the weed line and cast the frog towards the bank Then keeping my rod tip up and moving it up and down I would swim the frog across the moss pausing every so often More often then not when I would stop the bait moss would explode as a Largemouth Bass would bust up through the moss to attack the bait The hardest part about fishing a frog is being patient You have to pause for a second before you set the hook to make sure the fish gets it in itrsquos mouth This is no easy task when your adrenaline is going crazy after you have just seen the fish blow up on the bait

One of my favorite experiences using Topwater bait was at Sand hollow reservoir one of the newest reservoirs in Southern Utah that is located just

outside of St George Utah It was in the spring and I had just pulled up to the lake The

wwwhuntavidcom40

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

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BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 40: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

sun was just coming up The sky had that reddish orange glow to it The water was still like glass There is nothing like being on the water at first light I put the boat in the water and fired it up Anybody running an old two-stroke motor knows getting the motor started can be half the battle The smell of the motor exhaust in the water is one of my favorite smells I motored thru the no wake zone and throttled up I headed for the west end of the lake I typically like to start at the buoy line and work my way to the bank This gives the fish a chance to tell me where they are hanging out in reference to the bank I was throwing a Topwater stick bait similar to a Zara Spook except this is about 5 inches long and in the hollow cavity of the bait there is a ball bearing so it knocks when you walk it across the water It wasnrsquot long before the first fish hit it Of course I set the hook too soon and the bait came flying back towards the boat with no fish I was able to boat a couple of 12 to 16 inch Largemouth Bass To me this was nothing to get to excited about but like I mentioned I would rather catch one bass on Topwater then ten bass using any other technique

By now the sun was getting pretty high and I knew the Topwater bait would not last much longer And then it happened A nice fish blew up on my bait I set the hook and the fight was on From the previous catches I new this was a better fish by the fight in him I fought it to the boat but it made another run The second time I got

it to the boat I heard that heart sinking sound of my line snapping I was devastated I didnrsquot even get a good look at the fish That being the case and being the fisherman I am I assumed it had to be about an 8-pound fish Nevertheless I did not have another bait like the one I was throwing so I put on a Pop-R bait and kept fishing Topwater with no success Just when I was about to leave I heard a fish jump It sounded like a hooked fish because I could hear a ball bearing bait in its mouth I hurried and looked for the dissipating rings in the water that would reveal where he had jumped and used the trolling motor to move in that direction I started making fan casts with my bait trying to trick him into biting again but as I got closer to where I thought he had jumped I saw it There floating on the water was my Topwater bait In disbelief I picked it up out of the water and tied it back on It was pretty amazing that the fish that had just broken my line It had jumped and threw my lure

If you have not tried Topwater baits I encourage you to pick some up There are many different types and styles to choose from I have had success with the Topwater frog and a Zara Spooks As for the lure that the fish returned to me it is still in my tackle box today I have even caught a few more fish on it Topwater fishing is an addicting technique and can boat some very nice fish

Get out and wet a line

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 41

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 41: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom42

By Gregg Giacomazza

The sun is shining the boat is loaded the gear is packed You are set for a great day of bass fishing in Southern Utah To guarantee your success while fishing for bass requires a basic understanding of some characteristics specific to the species These characteristics include

the forage base in the lake being fished and feeding habits how structure factors in and what gear to use Being adequately prepared can greatly assist your success on the water and turn a regular day on the lake to a day you will always remember

Forage base Early in life largemouth bassmdasha common species found in

lakes surrounding the St George areamdashbegin to feed primarily on bait fish For bass this can include other fish crawdads small birds young waterfowl and frogs It is important to know what bait fish are in a given body of water because it will help in your lure selection Of course the big fish eat the little fish so knowing the

Bass Fishing Basics

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 42: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

FISHING

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 43

advantages and uses Becoming proficient in both spin or bait casting will be to your benefit Gloomis Ducket Rods St

Croix and Kisler rods are all high quality rodsEqually important is fluorocarbon fishing line

Due to the crystal clear water Southern Utah offers fluorocarbon is a must Because fluorocarbon does

not refract light making it invisible in the water The line is also abrasion resistant and sinks rather than

floats making it perfect if you enjoy subsurface tactics when you fish But perhaps the primary

characteristic this line offers is no stretch This allows for greater sensitivity as anything touching your bait transfers with more

definition up the line to the rod With no stretch you will be able to experience a deeper

hook set as well As you head out to the lake this year focus

on forage base structure and gear and you will be prepared to hook a big one Keep in mind hatcheries for bass are nonexistent in Utah the

state typically electroshocks a number of bass from one lake and after ensuring they are viral and bacterial free transplants

them into another impoundment The hope is successful spawning will take place Therefore remember to catch and release it always greatly assists the survival of bass so everyone can have a chance to enjoy the great sport of bass fishing

type of structure the bait fish will frequent for feeding and survival will tell you what to look for on the body of water being fished

StructureStructure is crucial to locating bass maybe the

single most important component Bass are good for short powerful bursts to obtain prey but are not built for speed like a trout salmon or pike For that reason bass rely on structure to disguise their presence Structures to look for on lakes such as Sand Hollow Quail Creek or Gunlock would be rock outcroppings rock dams bull rushes bushes submerged islands (sonar located) sharp drop offs grass beds and trees Fortunately all three lakes have these structures which adds to the enjoyment of fishing these jewels in the desert

Gear High grade rods and reels are always preferred as the

feeding characteristics of bass can be very subtle Therefore rod sensitivity will put more fish in the boat A good all-around rod is a 7-foot one-piece medium because it works well in a spin or bait casting rod Each rod with corresponding reel has specific

April 9th Quail Creek Reservoir May 21st Newcastle ReservoirJune 11th ndash 12th Minersville Reservoir 2 dayJuly 9th Quail Creek Reservoir (Night) August 6th Sand Hollow Reservoir (Night)September 17th Quail Creek Reservoir October 15th Quail Creek ReservoirNovember 5th Sand Hollow Fall Finale

SUBA Tournament Schedule

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 43: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

OUTDOORS

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 44: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

SCORE THE BUCK

GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO SCORE THIS BUCK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

$50000 IN PRIZES FROM OUR SPONSORS

SUBSCRIPTIONS amp LOGO WEAR AVAILABLE AT HUNTAVIDCOM

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 45: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom46

Why choose a frame These type of packs are phenomenal because they keep the majority of the weight off your shoulders and on to your hips helping

to evenly distribute weight When carrying heavy loads or packing for long distances proper weight distribution is crucial Packs with frames also help keep your back straight and are more breathable which is especially nice in warm weather Each of the packs in this review were loaded with approximately 25lbs and carried for a minimum of five miles in rugged terrain Each pack was tested for versatility comfort and overall function

Best Hunting Day Packsof 2016By AVID Crew Member

REVIEW

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 46: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 47

GEAR

Mystery Ranch

This military style looking pack is one of the best in its field Fortunately Mystery Ranch put in the effort to design a pack for the modern day hunter The curve in the shoulder straps was notably more comfortable under heavy loads The overall comfort level was off the charts this pack truly molds to your body making it a fierce force to be reckoned with This pack also includes a load sling or meat shelf A load sling is an area between the frame and pack that can be expanded This is used to increase the overall carrying capacity It is extremely useful in the field when needed to pack an animal out This makes it possible to carry a lighter or smaller pack with expandable option available

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850

The versatility with Kuiursquos frame bag and harness system is almost unmatchable Kuiu truly has gone the extra mile to fit hunters for all shapes and sizes Each pack can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt imaginable The Icon Pro 1850 is the only pack in our review the has a full carbon fiber frame equipped for 150lb load capacity This pack is durable rugged and accessible it makes for a great go to pack for day to overnight hunts This pack also includes a meat shelf increasing the versatility and function of this great pack

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 47: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom48

Badlands 2200

Backed by Badlands unbelievable warranty the 2200 is one of the most comfortable under heavy loads Badlands warranty is as good as it gets It is a no fault warranty meaning anything breaksmdashyour fault or theirsmdashand they replace it With the meat shelf included this pack distributes and holds weight extremely well when packing out animals For all the archery hunters out there the material used on the Badlands 2200 comes in at the quietest of all the packs reviewed The way this pack is designed is very nice ndash it folds up tight when it is empty and when a heavy load is needed it expands while maintaining the majority of the weight close to your back This pack comes with a lot of well thought out organized space Quiet organized and equipped Badlands 2200 created a pack for a true outdoorsman

Stone Glacier Solo

Coming in at the largest bag capacity (cubic inches) of our reviewed packs the Stone Glacier Solo The Stone Glacier Solo is a great all around pack With a carbon frame this pack is also the lightest pack reviewed For the ounce-counter this pack could be the difference in making or breaking a hunt To make things simple Stone Glacier has equipped the solo with two ways of entry a very large expandable rack sack and a backside pocket In addition this pack also offers a meat shelf Making it light enough to stalk an animal and then expandable to help pack it out Efficient durable and expandable Stone Glacier did not cut any corners

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 48: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 49

Sitka Flash 20

Engineered to help hunters in all situations the Flash 20 fits a wide variety of individuals The Sitka Flash 20 sits off your back to allow air to flow freely this helps keep your back cooler in warmer weather The design fits perfectly to make your entire upper body feel more mobile The taper of the shoulder straps and hip belt fit very comfortably and with it suspended off your back makes this pack hard to beat They have upgraded their light-weight toggle bow suspension system This system is much better than previous models While this pack was not the quietest pack in our review there were no squeaks or weird noises coming from the pack while hiking either This pack was mobile cool and built to last Sitka definitely put in some sweet upgrades to the Flash 20

After spending a considerable amount of time with each pack it was clear all these packs have some very nice features but there wasnrsquot one pack that stood out from all the rest Each pack was designed with a specific feature in mind and while some people like a lot of features others do not If you are an archery hunter and noise is your main concern the Badlands 2200 may be your top choice If you want as much carrying capacity as possible with the least amount of weight then the Stone Glacier Solo would be a sweet option If you like the ability to change out different size bags with one frame then the Kuiu Icon Pro would be a great choice If comfort is at the top of your priority list then I would look into the Sitka Flash 20 or Mystery Ranch The point is they all have something that makes them stand out but one thing is for sure you canrsquot go wrong with any of these packs

GEAR

Weight Size CIrsquos

Load SlingShelf

Noise Factor

Comfort Frame Material

Accessories Availble

Retail Price

Kuiu Icon Pro 1850 4lbs 1oz 1850ci Yes2500ci Medium Comfortable Cabon Fiber Yes $37498

Sitka Flash 20 45lb 2000ci No Medium Very Comfortable

Aluminum No $26900

Mystery Ranch Plintler 535lb 2500ci Yes Loud Very Comfortable

NA Yes $47500

Stone Glacier Solo 386lb 3334ci Yes2700ci Loud Comfortable Carboncomposite

Yes $55900

Badlands 2200 5lb 15oz 2250ci Built in Meat Shelf

Quiet Comfortable T-6 Aircraft Aluminum

Yes $27995

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 49: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom50

Hanwag Boots

GEAR

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lining is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTX

Alaska GTX

Hanwag Boots

Have you heard of Hanwag boots Hanwag a German company has been making outdoor footwear since 1921 With nearly a hundred years of experience Hanwag is German engineering at its best The Alaska GTX Hanwagrsquos best-selling trekking boot is no exception The design has not been modified in over 15 years Why Because the design works Here is a quick rundown of the Alaska GTX

As an avid outdoorsman Irsquove tried just about all the popular brands I push my boots to the limits wearing them through the harshest conditions and roughest terrain There are many good boots but if you want a boot that is going to last from a solid company with years of experience then the Alaska GTX is for you When I first tried on a pair I was surprised how different they felt compared to some of my other boots The VIBRAMreg sole is soft but grips extremely well and can be replaced if it wears out The GORE-TEXreg lin-ing is 100 waterproof but also breathable Additionally the reduced seams on the boot are a great feature because it minimizes the risk of the boot coming apart

While the Alaska GTX is built to last it was not an instant fluffy cloud of comfort around my feet These are trekking boots stiffer than your average hiking boot Therefore there was a significant break-in period of about fifteen miles But after that initial break-in these boots will be heaven on your feet When hiking with rugged rocky jagged terrain the stiffer trekking boot will save your back ankles and feet

If rough terrain calls your name and you need a boot that will endure choose Hanwag Alaska GTXby AVID Crew Member

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 50: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 51

GEAR

Kershaw DiskinAt a 4rdquo blade the Diskin makes for a perfect

field dressing blade that is sure to hold its own Built by Kershaw knifemakers in Tualatin Oregon the Diskin is one of the best feeling blades in its class Made in America

Lonerock Small FixedThis one of a kind blade feels great on the hip

or in your hand Thanks to Kershawrsquos exclusive K-Texture material this knife feels amazing The grip is slip resistant which makes gutting or dressing an animal extremely controllable

Kershaw Knives

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 51: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

SNEEK BOOTS

We have all been there watching that trophy run off because he heard us Hours of sneaking and stalking down the drain because one stick broke at the wrong time Well those days are

over SneekTec created Sneek Boots to solve the noise problem every hunter faces With our patented design Sneek Boots help you reduce and in many cases eliminate the noise caused by footfall Applying 125rdquo of industrial grade recoil foam to the bottom of your step terminates the grinding of rocks stops the breaking of small twigs and dampens any noise that still occurs under its fabric

Our patent covers the foam core and the replaceable liner No other competitors will be able to come to market if they are using either of these ldquoingredientsrdquo in their products

Independent testing has shown our boots to be even quieter than using just socks

For spot and stalk hunters our products are perfect For tree stand and blind hunters our products allow you to get into your position without spooking game that you canrsquot see Also once yoursquore in a blind your feet can stay quiet when moving them around

bull Boots inside of carry bag make a great seat cushion for glassing on a side hill

wwwhuntavidcom52

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 52: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 53

Order Now at wwwsneekteccom

WE ARE THELEADERS INQUIETTECHNOLOGY

BERBER FLEECE SNEEK BOOTS

GEAR

bull Total weight is just under 1 poundbull The foam is upholstery grade and high density The foam on a

couch rarely wears out and we wanted our foam to have that same level of quality We call our foam ldquoRecoil Foamrdquo because it absorbs your sound absorbs impact and it springs you back up

bull Our fabrics are not waterproof If we made everything waterproof then it would become louder due to the laminate film that is applied to the back of fabrics to make them waterproof Wet ground is naturally quiet so our boots would not be necessary if the ground is wet

bull Safety is a huge priority of ours and all of the cords and webbing serve a purpose The main pull cord on the top of the boots is designed to cinch the boots tightly around your ankle We have 2-barrel locks to make sure that the cord stay tight regardless of the terrain and use The 2 side elastic cords are designed to be tightened and bring the toes in tight to the boot This helps to keep the boots in place when walking along side hills or going up and down hills There will still be some slide in the boots when on a side hill but they wonrsquot automatically end up on the top of your shoe rather than the bottom

bull The heel webbing is positioned just a little bit forward so your boot heel does not rest on the ground when walking up a hill

bull The removable liner is interchangeable between Berber fleece and silent suede fabrics

Last year I purchased a pair of Sneek Boots and ever since then I have made sure to pack

them with me every time I head out into the hills Whether I am out doing some preseason scouting

or out hunting I am always packing my Sneek Boots They give me something soft to sit on while glassing that hillside but the minute I spot that trophy I know my Sneek Boots are right there ready to slip on over my shoes to help me be

silent and deadly

AVID Crew Member

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 53: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Otis Cleaning

SystemLight Easy amp Effective

300 BLK Cleaning SystemOtis makes one of the best all-around cleanings systems for any

outdoorsman You can take them anywhereEven with the versatility and rugged construction of modern sporting rifles conditions in the field or at the range can still be extremely tough on your firearm Give your rifle a quick

effective cleaning in the field without disassembly or a thorough cleaning back at the bench with this

lightweight system

GEAR

wwwhuntavidcom54

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 54: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

GEAR

YETI Introduces New Rambler Bottle Collection

YETI a leading premium cooler and drinkware brand proudly introduces a new addition to its Rambler drinkware series the YETI Ramblertrade bottles collection Built for rough roads and tough environments bottles will be available in three sizes ndash 18oz36oz64oz ndash and are created to endure the extremes

The YETI Ramblertrade bottles are built for untethered adventure from the backcountry to the boat deck ndash wherever ice cold or piping hot beverages are needed Over-the-Nosetrade technology makes for easy loading drinking and cleaning while the TripleHaultrade cap provides a comfortable grip and is 100 leakproof Each bottle includes the benefits of all YETI Ramblertrade products like 188 kitchen grade stainless steel double wall vacuum insulation and a No Sweattrade design

ldquoWe continue to expand our drinkware series to meet the demands of our owners and fans Rambler bottles fill a needed space in our linerdquo said YETI co-founder Roy Seiders ldquoLike all YETI products the bottles have proven to keep drinks colder longer but its ability to keep beverages hot over time shows the versatility inherent to the Rambler series Wersquore excited about the dual use of these Rambler bottlesrdquo

The entire collection will be available Spring 2016 through authorized dealers and on yeticom The Rambler 18oz bottle will retail for $3999 the Rambler 36oz bottle for $5999 and the Rambler 64oz bottle for $8999

About YETI YETI builds indestructible products that keep ice for days Founded in Austin Texas in 2006 by sportsmen Roy and Ryan Seiders YETI is a leader in the premium cooler category and has successfully expanded into premium drinkware soft coolers and branded apparel Professional hunters anglers outdoor adventurers and BBQ pitmasters trust YETI to stand up to the worldrsquos harshest conditions For more on the company and its full line of products and accessories visit wwwyeticom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 55

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 55: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom5656

From the Editorrsquos Family Scrapbook

Cool in Camo Muzzle loader Adventure 2014

By Amyanne Rigby

Editorrsquos BioAmyanne Rigby is a graduate from Southern Utah University where she earned a BA in English She currently does freelance work including

writing for the southwest magazine Etched She and her ldquoavidrdquo outdoorsman husband Travis reside in Cedar City where they love wandering the Red Rock Hills of Southern Utah with their five children To read more of their outdoor adventures visit her blog barnwoodandtulipsblogspotcom

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 56: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

ACTS 1013

BRIAN SMITH367 S Plaza CircleGrantsville UT 84029(435)840-5987duck_hunter01hotmailcom smitty_gone_wild

families that hunt together stay

together

Friday night we stole the evening and headed up ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo The Rigbys have hunted this

mountain for four generations now ndash 70 years Grandpa Eldro Rigby used to come here when he worked the college farm In those days harvesting a deer meant that the family would have meat all winter It was a must For us it has become a family tradition While we have found others hills to wander and other mountains to climb we always come home to ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo

While Stockton was the one to harvest this beautiful 6x7 buck it was most definitely a family affair Our Friday evening hunt proved to be a wet one as we sought shelter under a tarp while Maleck and Emma prayed we would not be hit by lightning ndash the thunder created the most incredible music Boy was it loud Just as the sun was dipping in the western horizon Travis spotted this deer from the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo He and Madsen headed down and back up through the big pass while we stayed with Stockton in the ldquoBuck Nookrdquo Stockton was the spotter

However it was a little too late so we had to end the dayrsquos hunt sopping wet but hopeful that tomorrow would yield a better return on our adventure The rain continued all night but Travis and Stockton were determined to find that buck again

So they woke early and then waited in the jeep hoping the storm would pass and they waited and waited some more Seleck Madsen and Maleck had plans to join them but the rain halted their plans

The wait proved advantageous for Stockton at about 830 I received a phone call from Rigby saying they had landed this 6x7 buck Diligence paid off

Sunday morning after church meetings we all joined Stockton on ldquoDeer Mountainrdquo to bring home his trophy deer It was a great family memory as we cut across ldquoThe Big Passrdquo and proceeded to cut a trail to retrieve the buck This one was a keeper and an irreplaceable memory to boot

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 57

OUTDOORS

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 57: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

WISHESFor WArrIorS

wwwhuntavidcom58

By Sergeant Jarrod Wayman USMC

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 58: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Although I was born in Houma Louisiana I grew up in Stafford Texas When I was a freshman in high school I began thinking about joining

the military The Corps had a certain level of allure to me more so than all the other branches It seemed the most ldquobad assrdquo I was sitting in my sophomore history class when the Twin Towers fell Like for many that moment that event sealed the deal for me

I joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego After graduation I went to combat training in Camp Pendleton California Upon graduation I went to Camp Lejeune North Carolina for training in my MOS (1371-Combat Engineer) The first unit I went to was 8th Engineer Support Battalion During my service with this unit I climbed the ranks from Private First Class to Sergeant

I deployed with 8th ESB two times to Iraq February to September (2005 - Fallujah) and from March to October (2007 - AI Asad Air Base) On both of these deployments we worked on general engineering projects that dealt with construction as well as road repair We also ran security convoys for logistical movements and provided freedom of movement for personnel by sweeping for IEDs

After these two deployments I received orders to Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 in Cherry Point North Carolina I deployed with MWSS 271 to Iraq from February to September 2009 (AI Asad Air Base) We did general engineering on that deployment as well

In the midst of all this we retrograded millions of dollars worth of gear and lumber to Afghanistan A couple of months into the deployment we were tasked with doing Route Clearance Route Clearance consisted of both mounted and dismounted sweeps for IEDs This allowed freedom of movement for other units operating in the same area I was the Route Clearance patrol leader for the rest of the deployment

In 2011 I deployed once again with MWSS 271 to South America We trained

Continued on Page 60

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 59

OUTDOORS

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 59: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

foreign military in Belize Columbia and Guatemala After my time at MWSS 271 I received orders to join the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendleton California Upon arriving in California I was promoted to my current rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) I deployed twice with 1st CEB to Afghanistan (March to October 2012 -Fob Payne) and then again to Camp Leatherneck (October to December 2013) On the first of these two deployments we performed general engineering which consisted of building and tearing down forward operating bases as well as improving the security and survivability of the area bases in which we operated

During the last of these two deployments I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We provided freedom of movement for units in the area that we operated We would clear the routes either mounted in vehicles or on foot

As a member of the Marine Corps for over ten years I have gone from the ranks of Private to Staff Sergeant I have completed five combat deployments and one humanitarian

While on my second deployment with

1st Combat Engineer Battalion 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon We were clearing routes for an element that was tearing down patrol bases We came upon an IED belt where we found 11 IEDs then we found one the hard way

My truck was struck by a 250lb IED It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over I broke my back in two places T12 and L4 It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (middle of my shoulder blades to my hips) I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis (an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system) This condition causes excruciating nerve pain in my back and in both of my legs Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees I also developed a condition known as drop foot meaning I cannot control either of my feet Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up I also broke my left elbow and arm It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus I also have PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) and Traumatic Brain Injury Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times

But I have remained determined Over the last two years I have been doing physical therapy through the VA More importantly Irsquove been doing physical therapy at home Irsquoll prop myself up with a walker or forearm crutches to bear weight That has brought me to the point where I can stand up using a cane to balance The human body is an amazing machine that can somehow heal itself It blows my mind that I canrsquot feel anything below my waist but I can stand up

I am extremely lucky to have my beautiful wife Hillary and our two children at my side I have no clue what I would do or where I would be at in my recovery without them They have been my rock through this extremely difficult and trying time in all of our lives My wife is an amazing caregiver and my kids are such great helpers when it comes to getting my wheelchair for me getting my braces for my legs helping me put my shoes on and keeping a clear path in the house so I donrsquot run over their toys

I was also lucky enough to find an organization called Wishes for Warriors When the thought of my injury finally sunk in I thought there was no way in hell I would be able to hunt fish or do anything outdoors again I figured that I was just stuck in my chair and that was it My wife was on Facebook one day and the wishes for Warriors organization came across her news feed Shersquos told me about it and I got on their website and checked it out

I contacted them to see if there was anything they could do to get me back out into the outdoors My thought was that since its vets helping vets I canrsquot go wrong with that Vets have that mentality that you can make anything happen with very little I told Bryan at Wishes for Warriors that I wanted to go to deer hunting but Irsquom stuck in a wheelchair He told me that it wasnrsquot a problem He assured me that Wishes for Warriors could figure it out

And they did I harvested a deer on that trip and was hooked with the organization Since then Irsquove gone on trips with other vets and have been promoting Wishes for Warriors everywhere I go I was really excited to find out that they arenrsquot just a one trip organization Itrsquos more of a family Irsquove met so many great vets through this organization and I do what I can to give back I care about vets because I know what itrsquos like to be in their shoes I have suffered through hard times I have lost brothers in combat and I have battled my own demons and I know what itrsquos like to live with PTS(D ldquooptionalrdquo) I want to be able to help them in any way that I can Wishes for Warriors made it possible for me to get back into the great outdoors

Continued from Page 59

wwwhuntavidcom60

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 60: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

PREPAREDNESS

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 61: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

There comes a time in every rightly-constructed boyrsquos life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure

ndash Mark Twain

gold ProspectingBy Dane Horrocks

wwwhuntavidcom62

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 62: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Free delivery amp Setup (50mi From dealer)

wwwCumberlandBuildingscom

CALL US TODAY 1-855-957-4337

BUY OR RENT TO OWN QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AT A GREAT PRICE

Locate a dealer near you at

When it comes to prospecting for gold most people think of places like California and Alaska What most donrsquot realize is that Utah has its fair share of gold too Just ask Dane Horrocks ndash he is known as The Utah Prospector in many treasure-hunting

circles Horrocks has spent years prospecting and has a great grasp on some of the best gold-bearing areas in Utah Horrocks recently stated

ldquoI dig gold solely for the fun of it The thrill that comes from finding gold is like none other There is something inherently special about it and here it is ndash People donrsquot find gold and then leave it there they always take it and they keep it This means that when you find that gold nugget yoursquore the first person to see it and itrsquos yours You did the work you dug it you found it and that excitement plays to our most basic human instinctsrdquo

In addition to prospecting for gold Dane Horrocks also enjoys gem hunting and metal detecting for old silver coins ldquoI have always been a bit of a treasure hunter Watching movies like White Fang as a kid helped me realize that there is fun and excitement to be had outdoorsrdquo Horrocks goes on to say

ldquoProspecting is only half the fun The other half comes from filming our adventures and then sharing the experiences with my friends and followers There are many who vicariously accompany me on these trips through the videos we make and that means a lotrdquo

Dane has a YouTube channel where he films his prospecting and gold-finding adventures wwwyoutubecomUtahProspector For people who want to learn more there are a few recommended avenues The Utah Gold Prospectors Club (wwwutahgoldorg) is a great club and owns several of the best claims in Utah There is also a Southern Utah club called STG Prospectors (wwwstgprospectorswebscom)

A great book to read is Gold Panning in Utah by Alan Chenworth which is a specific guide for places to pan

Occasionally Dane does guided gold-excursions out to his claim Should you want to contact Dane or accompany him please feel free to send him an e-mail utahprospectorgmailcom

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 63

OUTDOORS

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 63: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

WIlDErNESSAtHlEtEWILDERNESS

ATHLETEwwwhuntavidcom64

The word ldquotherapeuticrdquo came to mind as I trudged in the dark down a poorly marked trail in the Jemez Mountains on a beautiful September morning in

1988 The mystery of spending time in the mountains with the weight of base camp strapped to my back and bow in my hand was only surpassed by my absolute ignorance on exactly what to do with this Elk tag in my pocket Fortunately I had a mentor Todd Pilgrim a childhood friend of mine from our small hometown in Northern Minnesota had the unenviable task of teaching me the finer points of archery elk hunting How tough could this be I had been anticipating this hunt for months and getting a three day reprieve from the 80 hours a week grind of coaching college athletes provided a much needed break a time to relax

Two hours into our march we neared a clearing fully expecting a good view of the park and anything that might be in it Unfortunately clouds and fog

By Mark Paulsen

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 64: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

restricted our visibility to a frustrating 50 yards in any direction We stood there in complete silence watching the darkness slowly give way to the faint shapes of small trees and bushes 100 yards then 200 yards then 300 yards out Todd looked squarely at me and whispered that he was going to ldquogive a tootrdquo ndash His words for mimicking a bull elk in the rut with his mouth gagging diaphragm and what looked like a foot long section of vacuum hose His message to me ever the educator was while there probably would be no response of any kind from another bull being so early in the rut we had come here to hunt so letrsquos hunt The beautiful three-pitch melody was and still is an awe-inspiring sound Amplified in this foggy setting it was all the more magical Suddenly and to Toddrsquos great surprise the real magic announced its arrival and my life changed forever And I mean forever

Back in the timber and still in the fog probably 500 yards away came a fire-breathing creature producing sounds like I had never heard More guttural than beautiful it left no doubt that we were uninvited As I squinted to see through the fog I turned to ask Todd what our next move was but there was no Todd I looked down the ridge and Todd was already 75 yards out and picking up steam so off I charged after him Weighing in at a svelte 270 with an additional 70 pounds on my back and Todd mashing the scale at 155 I became keenly aware that this competition was futile Only after Todd had jumped the creek and powered up the other side did I realize that I was beginning to lose feeling in my legs with the taste of blood beginning to rise in the back of my throat You know that taste like the first time in PE class you had to run the 400 yard dash and got your first glimpse of what death must be like That feeling was spreading over my entire body at the same speed as the bull that was heading to my exact location As I crested the ridge I noticed Todd crouched behind a small bush with an arrow nocked

Just ahead of me there was a fallen tree with the root system exposed leaving a mini crater like a sign from God Airborne for a split second as I jumped in I noticed the hole was deeper than I thought My bodyweight and pack weight drove me deep into the rain sodden dirt landing me on my side in the mud gasping for air I managed to right myself and drop my pack with a considerable racket I was by now acutely aware that my hearing was also one of the senses that was leaving the building but not so much that I couldnrsquot make out the sound of another raspy bugle followed by broken limbs and flashes of the tan hide

I had seen enough videos to know that I was supposed to get my arrow in position for the shot which I did just in time Here he

came on a string with a full head of steam and snot shooting out of his nostrils I was conscious of my surroundings but my vital signs must have been a mess Despite having been in and around highly competitive athletic events my entire life nothing could have prepared me for the intensity I was now experiencing The combination of not having enough oxygen in my lungs an overabundance of adrenaline surging through my veins nausea the loss of feeling in my limbs and no real understanding of what I should do next left me unsure as to whether I should draw my bow back now or holler to Todd for help The bull made the decision for me as he ran square into my scent stream and disappeared so fast it was like he was never there I was left alone thinking to myself if I respond so cowardly to this my very first encounter with an Elk how pitiful would I be in the face of an enemy with a gun shooting back at me Irsquod heard of the ldquoFog of Warrdquo but the ldquoFog of Huntingrdquo What gives Lucky for me Todd was qualified to talk me off the ledge and make some sense

out of what had just happened I was now an ordained elk hunter As I sat there gathering my wits another thought came to me If I ever doubted or under appreciated how physically demanding the life of a hunter could be those thoughts were now erased forever

This true story is where the seeds of Wilderness Athlete came from I knew that day that with my relationships in the athletic world I was in a very unique position to create something of value for my brothers and sisters who live for these moments and desire to pursue them as long as humanly and healthfully possible In the words of Steve Prefontaine the great American distance runner who lost his life living at full speed ldquoTo not give your best is to sacrifice the giftrdquo I hope Wilderness Athlete can be a part of helping you be your best

Hunt Long ndash Hunt Strong ndash Coach P

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 65

PREPAREDNESS

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 65: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 66: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Turkey SeaSon iS HereUTAH

If you want to experience the thrill of hunting a strutting gobbling tom turkey but you donrsquot have a hunting permit yet no problem mdash permits to participate in Utahrsquos general turkey hunt are now on sale

You can buy a permit Online from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah and at Division of Wildlife Resources offices Therersquos no limit to the number of permits that can be sold so yoursquoll have no problem getting one

The general statewide hunt starts May 1 for those who are 17 years of age or younger The general hunt for hunters of all ages starts May 4

-UT DNR

ARIZONA

A Hunt Permit-tag is obtained only through the application and draw process EXCEPT for archery-only hunters you must obtain a non-permit-tag from a license dealer

Opening dates are April 22 or April 29th depending on your area Please check with Arizona Game and Fish Department for exact dates and open areas

NEVADA

To obtain a tag in NV you need to submit your application on-line at wwwhuntnevadacom by Feb 2 2016 If you missed the deadline the Nevada Department of Wildlife will continue to sell leftover remaining tags at huntnevadacom or over the counter at the Wildlife Administrative Services in Fallon NV

Opening dates start in March but the season continues into April and May depending on your area Please check with the Nevada Department of Wildlife for unit areas and exact dates

IDAHO

To obtain a 2016 Turkey permit you must submit your controlled hunt application electronically or at any IDFG license vendor

Opening dates start around April 15th and continue into May Please check with IDFG for exact dates and hunt areas

Game on

Some quick info on these Western States

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 67: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

Spot The

HuNtErSFind the three hunters

(Locations shown on page 70)

wwwhuntavidcom68

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 68: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 69

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 69: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom70

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 70: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

71AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS September-November 2015

WWWKINGSCAMOCOM

L1BASELAYER

Merino WoolBase Layer

L2BASEMID

LAYERFour-Way Stretch

Quick Dry Poly

L3MID

LAYERPackable

Insulated Loft

L4MIDOUTER

LAYERTri-Laminate

Soft Shell

L5OUTERLAYER

Four-Way StretchWaterproof Shell

PerformanceLayer System

PERFORMANCEPATTERNPRICE

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 71: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

  伀䘀䘀 䄀 倀唀刀䌀䠀䄀匀䔀 伀䘀㔀  伀刀 䴀伀刀䔀

一漀琀 瘀愀氀椀搀 漀渀 䌀氀攀愀爀愀渀挀攀Ⰰ 䰀椀挀攀渀猀攀猀Ⰰ 䜀椀昀琀 䌀愀爀搀猀Ⰰ䄀洀䄀洀洀甀渀椀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 䘀椀爀攀愀爀洀猀Ⰰ 伀瀀琀椀挀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 䔀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀猀  一漀琀 爀攀搀攀攀洀愀戀氀攀 昀漀爀 挀愀猀栀Ⰰ 氀椀挀攀渀猀攀 漀爀 最椀昀琀 挀愀爀搀 䌀愀渀渀漀琀 戀攀 挀漀洀戀椀渀攀搀 眀椀琀栀 漀琀栀攀爀 搀椀猀挀漀甀渀琀猀 漀爀 漀昀昀攀爀猀 伀渀攀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 瀀攀爀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 挀甀猀琀漀攀爀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀 搀愀礀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 琀栀椀猀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀 愀琀 琀椀洀攀 漀昀 琀爀愀渀猀愀挀琀椀漀渀 䴀甀猀琀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀 伀爀椀最椀渀愀氀 挀漀甀瀀漀渀  一漀 瀀栀漀琀漀 挀漀瀀椀攀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 愀挀挀攀瀀琀攀搀

䔀砀瀀椀爀攀猀䴀愀爀挀栀 㔀琀栀Ⰰ  㜀

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 72: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

B U S I N E S S

DIrECtoryActs 1013(435) 840-5978Duck_Hunter01Hotmailcom

BioLife Plasma ServicesSt George Dixie (435) 656-0055St George (435) 627-9102American Fork (801) 763-0050Riverton (801) 253-6700

BT Pearson Tires204 N Bluff St St George UT 84770(435) 628-0431

Camping World RV Sales1500 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770 wwwCampingworldcomrv (855) 461-8780

Cumberland Buildingswwwcumberlandbuildingscom 855-957-4337

Desert Rat468 W St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 628-7277

Dixie Gun amp Fish1094 E Tabernacle St St George UT 84770(435) 674-4008

Kings Camo816 N 2800 WLindon UT 84042(877) 705-2266 wwwkingscamocom

Kustom Containers3730 S 1700 E St George UT 84790(435) 680-4509

McNeil Engineering315 Hilton Dr 3 St George UT 84770(435) 673-5127

SneekTec646 South Main Street 303Cedar City UT 84720-3466wwwsneekteccominfosneekteccom

Sportsworld1500 Aultman St Ely NV 89301(775) 289-8886

Stephen Wade Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram1724 Hilton Dr St George UT 84770wwwstephenwadechryslerjeepdodgecom(888) 639-4499

Sportsmanrsquos Warehousewwwsportsmanswarehousecom

Summit Athletic Club1 1532 1450 S St

St George UT (435) 628-5000

2 Suite B1 446 S Mall Dr St George UT (435) 251-8800

3 1973 W Sunset Blvd St George UT (435) 628-2151

SureCrete1173 S 250 W Ste 209 St George UT 84770(435) 674-2309

Tolman Taxidermy(435) 632-8684

Town amp Country Bank405 E St George Blvd St George UT 84770(435) 673-1150

Wilderness Athletewwwwildernessathletecom contactuswildernessathletecom

Wildlife Adventure Parkwwwwildlifeadventureparkcom(435) 862-0062

Wishes For Warriorswwwwishesforwarriorscorporg

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 73

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 73: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom74

wwwWishesForWarriorsCorporg Wishes For Warriors is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) Organization EIN46-4558308

ldquo is the very price and condition of manrsquos survivalrdquo

ldquoBecause They Gave It AllhellipWe Are Giving It Backrdquo

-Carlos P Ramulo

Sgt Corey Garmon US Army First bull elk as a double amputee

Check out the smile on this soldierrsquos face Sgt Corey Garmon from Wishes For Warriors was invited to Utah for a bull elk adventure with Jana Waller from SkullBound TV and The R amp K Hunting Co Corey successfully harvested

his first bull elk hunt here in Henefer Utah thanks to The R amp K Hunting Co as a double amputee proving that you CAN live out your dreams and passions after experiencing a life altering injury This wish wouldnrsquot have been made

possible without Jana Waller and the incredible guides at The R amp K Hunting Co Together we are changing liveshellipOne vet at a time

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 74: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

AVID HuNtINg amp outDoorS April-June 2016 75

wwwhuntavidcom76

Page 75: AVID Hunting & Outdoors – April-June 2016

wwwhuntavidcom76