Game & Fish East - September 2024 USA

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Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed, P.

84

EAST
TM

SEPTEMBER 2024

HOW TO TIME THE


WOODCOCK
MIGRATION
EARLY-SEASON GET READY FOR
TRACKING SECRETS SURF-FISHING
OF ONE OF THE EAST’S
TOP DEER HUNTERS PRIME TIME

HUNT LIKE
PLUS: ZERO IN ON A NINJA TO
WHITETAILS’ BAG MORE
FAVORITE FOODS SQUIRRELS

CRACK THE CODE


FOR SEPTEMBER
BEARS
REGION
ROUNDUP
• ADIRONDACKS DEER
• NORTH WOODS GROUSE
• MID-ATLANTIC DOVES
• NEW ENGLAND SMALLIES
• RESIDENT CANADA GEESE
• MASSACHUSETTS PHEASANTS
The 2024 Defender comes with over 125 accessories,
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© 2024 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the USA, products are distributed by BRP US Inc. †All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BRP reserves the right to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation.
Some models depicted may include optional equipment. Product performance may vary depending on weather, temperature, altitude, driving ability and driver/passenger weight. BRP recommends
that all ATV-SxS drivers take a training course. See your dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887 (USA) or the Canadian Safety Council at 1-613-739-1535 (Canada). ATVs and SxSs
can be hazardous to operate. Never exceed the ATV-SxS’s passenger capacity. All adult-model ATVs are meant to be used by drivers of age 16 and older. Carefully read the vehicle’s operator’s
guide. Follow all instructional and safety material and observe applicable laws and regulations. ATVs and SxSs are for off-road use only; never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. For your safety,
the operator and passenger(s) must wear a helmet, eye protection and applicable protective clothing. Always remember that riding, alcohol and drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid
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EAST
The Regional Outdoor Guide
REGIONAL EDITOR: Gerry Bethge, [email protected] | COVER IMAGE: Linda Freshwaters Arndt | @GAMEANDFISHMAG | FACEBOOK.COM/GAMEANDFISH

Contents
SEPTEMBER 2024

46
HOW-TO

46 FIRST CRACK AT BEARS 52 WHITETAIL SUPER SLEUTH 40 AROUND THE EAST


Bugs and warm weather can make Walk the woods with Hal Blood Whitetails, bass, doves and geese
for uncomfortable hunting, but and see deer hunting from a whole highlight the start to fall.
now’s the time to pattern a bruin. new perspective. By Matt Crawford
By Bob Humphrey By Matthew Every

58 STALKING SQUIRRELS 64 SHORE PATROL FIELD SKILLS


Sneak up on early-fall bushytails to 6RPHRIWKHEHVW¿VKLQJRIWKH 42 HOW ARE YOUR ACORNS?
RICK SMALL (MAIN); B&C BECK (BOTTOM LEFT); TOM KEER (BOTTOM RIGHT)

hone your woodsmanship skills. season is on tap for surfcasters. Hard (and soft) mast can make or
By Larry Case By Nick Honachefsky break your deer season.
By Bruce Ingram

DESTINATIONS

70 WOODCOCK ON THE WING


The timberdoodle migration is
about to kick off. Here’s when and
where to expect them.
64 70 By Tom Keer

GAME & FISH EAST (Volume 44, Issue 7; ISSN-2687-766X) is published monthly with bi-monthly issues in August and December/January by Outdoor Sportsman Group, 1040 6th Ave., 17th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY,
and additional mailing offices. Canadian Publications Mail Sales Agreement No. 41405030. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 500 Rt. 46 East, Clifton, NJ 07011. Subscription rate for one year is $23.94 (US, APO, FPO and Possessions.) Canada add
$13 (U.S. funds) per year, includes sales tax and GST. Foreign add $15 (U.S. funds) per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (form 3579) to GAME & FISH EAST, CDS, P.O. Box 37539, Boone, IA 50037-0539. Copyright© 2024 Outdoor Sportsman Group.
14 20 FEATURE

22 THE OTHER TURKEY SEASON


Hunters who limit their pursuit of
turkeys to spring are missing half
the fun. Chasing birds on crisp fall
days can be just as rewarding.
By Thomas Allen

DEPARTMENTS

14 SHOOTING
:DQWDELJJDPHULÀHWKDW¶VSHUIHFW
for hunting with a suppressor?
Many gun makers are working
on that exact thing.
By Richard Mann

18 BOWHUNTING
$UURZVSHHGLVLPSRUWDQWEXWLW¶V
not the only factor in lethality.
Understand the role of arrow
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© MICHAEL TATMAN/DREAMSTIME (BOTTOM); COURTESY OF BLANE EVERETT (TOP LEFT); © CHRISTIAN SCHMALHOFER/DREAMSTIME (TOP RIGHT); COURTESY OF HUNT REDI (MIIDDLE LEFT); COURTESY OF BROWNING (MIDDLE RIGHT)

By Tony Hansen

20 CONSERVATION
Wolves are one of the most divisive
76 84 topics in wildlife management. A
new initiative aims to consider all
opinions—good, bad and ugly—in
GEAR determining future wolf plans.
76 BUYER’S GUIDE 84 RANGE REPORT By Andrew McKean
Strap vests offer upland hunters The Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed
IN EVERY ISSUE
advantages in comfort and storage improves on its predecessor with
capability, but not all strap vests are upgrades that make it easily 04 EDITOR’S LETTER
FUHDWHGHTXDO+HUH¶VZKDWPDNHV DGMXVWDEOHWR¿WDZLGHUDQJHRI
good ones worth the money. hunters and their preferred setups. 10 MOON TIMES
By Scott Linden By John Taranto 88 RITES

22
EDITOR’S LETTER

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL

For the
Birds
admit that I probably focus too much time on whitetails and other big- PRODUCTION

I game species in the fall to take full advantage of the bird hunting that the
season offers. A few upland trips are all that I seem to put together most
years. It’s a quality over quantity thing, though, as I don’t think I’ve ever
had a bad day hunting birds. Can’t say the same for deer.
Bird hunters across the country herald the coming of September, as in many states ADVERTISING
LWPDUNVWKHVWDUWRIWKHXSODQGVHDVRQ'RYHVDUHXVXDOO\WKH¿UVWELUGVIROORZHG
by woodcock and ruffed grouse in the Northeast, prairie chickens in the Midwest
and prairie grouse in the West. Pheasants and quail come later, though they’re at
the forefront of hunters’ minds as the weather starts to turn cooler.
But there’s another fall bird, one that sometimes gets overlooked even by the
hunters that spend months chasing it earlier in the year. The turkey, and particu-
larly the gobbler, owns the mind of many a hunter in spring, but the fall season is
merely a footnote. It’s a shame, because one of the things that makes turkey hunting
so enjoyable in the spring—the pitting of woodsmanship skills against the bird’s
FDXWLRQDQGFDSULFLRXVQHVV²LVRQO\DPSOL¿HGLQWKHIDOO$V7KRPDV$OOHQSXWVLW
in his feature on fall turkey hunting (page 22), “there’s a master’s level of outdoor
chess to be enjoyed once you engage in the fall turkey game. It’s challenging and
rewarding—and possibly as good as turkey hunting gets.”
You probably won’t hear many gobbles in the fall (though the birds do gobble NATIONAL AD SALES
occasionally), but your turkey hunting skills—and hunting skills in general—will
be put to the test. Most hunters love a good challenge, and fall turkey hunting is
one that can be enjoyed as temperatures drop by the day instead of rise.
Not every state has a fall turkey season, but I have two on my list of upcoming
hunts: Pennsylvania, my home state (where I blanked last fall) and Oregon, which
ZLOOEHWKH¿UVWWLPH,¶YHKXQWHGWKHELUGVWKHUH,¶PORRNLQJIRUZDUGWRFRORUIXO
ZRRGVDQG\HOSLQJÀRFNV*LYHLWDWU\LI\RXFDQDQG\RX¶OOKDYHRQHPRUHWKLQJ
to love about the fall.

Adam Heggenstaller
Editorial Director

4 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


TBR/W
GAME FISHONLINE &
TIPS, TACTICS, GEAR, NEWS AND MORE AT gafmag.com

6 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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WHAT WE’RE
WATCHING
Game & Fish editors pick their favorite shows on MyOutdoorTV.

INTO HIGH COUNTRY ZONA’S AWESOME FISHING SHOW


SEASON 13, EPISODE 1 | “Bowhunting Big Prairie Bulls” SEASON 14, EPISODE 4 | “Zona Solo Topwater”

MOJO TV GUIDE’S TAILS


SEASON 11, EPISODE 6 | “Blue Wing Beatdown” SEASON 1, EPISODE 5 | “Deep in the Skinny”

8 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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MOON TIMES Powered By

AUGUST 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
FULL 23 24
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
— 2:54 3:18 3:42 4:06
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
— 4:54 5:18 5:42 6:06
25 LAST Q
27 28 29
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
4:30 4:54 6:06 6:30 7:42 8:06 8:30 8:54
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
6:30 6:54 8:06 8:30 9:42 10:06 10:30 10:54

SEPTEMBER 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 NEW
3 4 5 6 7
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
— 2:54 3:18 3:42 4:06
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
— 4:54 5:18 5:42 6:06
8 9 10 FIRST Q
12 13
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
4:30 4:54 5:18 5:42 6:06 6:30 8:30 8:54 9:18 9:42
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
6:30 6:54 7:18 7:42 8:06 8:30 10:30 10:54 11:18 11:42
FULL
21
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
— 2:54 3:18
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
— 4:54 5:18
22 23 LAST Q
25 26 27 28
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
3:42 4:06 4:30 4:54 6:06 6:30 7:42 8:06 8:30 8:54 9:18 9:42
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
5:42 6:06 6:30 6:54 8:06 8:30 9:42 10:06 10:30 10:54 11:18 11:42

am pm am pm
to to to to

OCTOBER 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 NEW 3 4 5
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm

to to to to to to to to to to

6 7 8 9 FIRST Q
11 12
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
1:18 1:42 2:06 2:30 2:54 3:18 3:42 4:06 5:18 5:42 6:06 6:30
to to to to to to to to to to to to to to
3:18 3:42 4:06 4:30 4:54 5:18 5:42 6:06 7:18 7:42 8:06 8:30

The moon’s phases are listed as New, First Quarter (First Q), Full and Last Quarter
(Last Q). Times listed represent the peak activity times for game and fish each day.
For your own 2024 Doug Hannon’s Moon Clock, go to moontimes.com or send $11.95 each, plus $3.75 shipping/handling
per order, to: Moon Clock, P.O. Box 28460, Atlanta, GA 30358.
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SHOOTING

SCHEMING FOR
SUPPRESSORS
The desire to shoot suppressed
while hunting is influencing how
manufacturers build rifles.
By Richard Mann

KH$$&%ODFNRXWFDUWULGJH THREADS EDUUHOVFRPHLQGLIIHUHQWVL]HVGLDPHWHUV

T emerged a decade into the 21st


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COURTESY OF BLANE EVERETT

suppressors are one of the fastest grow- FLGHWREX\DVXSSUHVVRU7KXVPRVW VRPHPDQXIDFWXUHUVÀDUHWKHHQGRIWKH


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14 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


  

 
    


  

ON
DEMAND
PHOTO & VIDEO
REQUESTS

Suppressors offer reduced noise,


muzzle blast and recoil. More hunters
are using them, and rifle manufacturers
are making it easier to do so.

LENGTHS
While shooters and hunters appreci-
ated manufacturers threading factory
ULÀHEDUUHOVPDQ\TXLFNO\QRWLFHGWKDW
screwing a 6- to 10-inch suppressor to s e r i o u s a i r g u n h u n t i n g s t a r t s h e r e
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ULÀHLPSUDFWLFDOO\ORQJ0DQXIDFWXUHUV Texan ® is AMERICA’S FAVORITE BIG BORE AIR RIFLE
UHVSRQGHGSUHGLFWDEO\E\RIIHULQJULÀHV Thousands of hunters agree the AirForce Texan® is the world’s
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(YHQVRLQPDQ\FDVHVDEDUUHOZLWK Shown Here: PRVWSRZHUIXODQGPRVWUHOLDEOHSURGXFWLRQELJERUHDLUULŴH
Texan® LSS
a suppressor still extended 26 inches Capable of over 800 foot pounds of muzzle energy
RUPRUHIURPWKHDFWLRQ7KLVPDGH and available in a wide variety of calibers and
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Photo courtesy of AIR IS THE FUTURE®


Cactus Creek Outdoors www.airforceairguns.com
situations, particularly in areas where Some rifles have a thread pattern
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COURTESY OF SABASTIAN MANN (TOP); RICHARD MANN (BOTTOM)

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other manufacturers soon.
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16 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


WE LOSE, YOU LOSE
Join the Sportsmen’s Alliance to protect hunting from animal-rights activists.
With every anti-hunting law passed, wildlife management suffers and
\RXORVHDPHPRU\LQWKHÀHOG
JOIN THE SPORTSMEN’S ALLIANCE

6325760(16$//,$1&(25*0(0%(56+,3
BOWHUNTING

THE NEED FOR SPEED?


Well, maybe not so much. Here’s what Is
really important in bowhunting. By Tony Hansen

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18 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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THE RANGE HAS A NEW RANGER.


WINCHESTERGUNS.COM
WINCHESTER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF OLIN CORPORATION.
CONSERVATION

Do you have opinions on how the feds should manage wolves


in America? A mediator wants to hear from you.
By Andrew McKean

don’t know many people who result has been seesaw management that To facilitate that dialogue, the Interior

I have unsettled opinions about


wolves. Most hunters I know,
especially those in the Upper
Midwest and West who live among the
wild canines, would like permanent
has sowed uncertainty and mistrust into
any discussion of wolf conservation. In
its February announcement that wolves
in the West and Rocky Mountain regions
would not be returned to federal protec-
Department last year hired mediator
Francine Madden, founder of the Center
IRU&RQVHUYDWLRQ3HDFHEXLOGLQJWRFRQ-
vene a three-year process to essentially
talk out all the tensions, frictions, mis-
permission to hunt them. Animal-rights tion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trust and mythology that surround wolves
activists would like us to stop hunting (USFWS) pledged to develop—for the and wolf management. The assignment
everywhere and want to restore wolves ¿UVWWLPH²D1DWLRQDO5HFRYHU\3ODQ LVIRUPDOO\FDOOHG³7KH3HRSOH¶V3URFHVV
into vacant habitats across the country. under the Endangered Species Act for $1DWLRQDO&RQYHUVDWLRQDERXW7KULYLQJ
Many citizens who live far from the gray wolves in the lower 48 states. Communities, Tribes, Conservationists,
apex predators like the idea of more The plan, which is scheduled to be Working Landscapes and Wolves.” It
wolves on the landscape as symbols of completed by December 2025, is designed ZLOOEHWKH¿UVWRILWVNLQGDWWHPSWWR
DVRUWRI¿HUFHZLOGQHVVWKDWKDVEHHQ to be a roadmap for durable and sustain- interject concepts like “neighborliness”
© MIKAEL MALES/DREAMSTIME

lost across much of America. able wolf management. It will include and “emotional security” into a process
Those differing viewpoints have moved contributions from what the USFWS WKDWKDVSUHYLRXVO\EHHQGH¿QHGE\WHUPV
wolf management from one pole to the calls a “national dialogue around how such as “litigant” and “lethal removal.”
other over the last decade, as federal pro- communities can live with gray wolves It’s worth asking the question that’s
tections have been imposed, then removed, WRLQFOXGHFRQÀLFWSUHYHQWLRQORQJWHUP probably on your mind: Is this just wish-
then reinstated, often by court order. The stability, and community security.” ful thinking and fairy dust? Is it possible,

20 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


in our polarized world, to bridge wildly seem New-Age dreamy, with its emphasis predation or haven’t hunted the species
divergent communities and world views on trust, engagement and “emotional that wolves prey upon, the “People’s
to come up with a durable solution to honesty,” but stripped of the cynicism that Process” puts all Americans on even
manage what’s probably the most divi- has dogged those terms in recent years, footing when it comes to their opinions.
sive wildlife species in America? A more they’re pretty old-fashioned. Those are the But that’s to be expected. Hunters and
pertinent question: Is it possible to bridge YHU\TXDOLWLHVWKDWGH¿QHGUHODWLRQVKLSV trappers and wildlife watchers might
the divide by using old-fashioned tools between our grandparents’ neighbors and have closer contact with wolves and
such as dialogue, respectful listening that still characterize candid conversations with natural processes, but that doesn’t
and empathy? between people who feel comfortable give us exclusive or even special insights
And a personal question: Will you talking about things that matter. into wolf management.
participate in the national conversation? I maintain that wolves do matter. In If we want a durable, sustainable solu-
I hope you do, if only because the their ability to project far more than tion to that swinging pendulum of wolf
voices of what I’ll call us tradition- a single species, wolves represent in management, then hunters and trappers
alists—hunters, trappers and anglers America everything from wildness to have to accept input from all Americans
who tend to read publications like this government overreach to an aspiration of who care enough to participate in the pro-
one—are an important counterbalance what our own domesticated dogs might cess. Maybe that’s Madden’s superpower:
to the voices of those who would protect achieve without us, regular feeding and her ability to include so many diverse
wolves at all costs. If those are the outer invisible fences. Plus, lots of courts, voices that the “national conversation”
limits of the conversation, active man- legislatures and wildlife managers will is truly representative of the cacophony
agement vs. preservation, then it’s im- be looking at how we handle wolves to around modern wolf management.
portant to represent “our” side to ensure determine the future of grizzly bears, It won’t be complete without you and
WKDWWKH¿QDOSODQLQFOXGHVSURYLVLRQV whose federal protections could be lifted your opinions. Go to peoplesprocess.com
for hunting, lethal removal of depredat- in some ecosystems in the coming years. for opportunities to participate. You can
ing wolves and limits on expansion of It’s easy to be cynical about Madden’s bet that other people, with possibly far
wolves into novel landscapes. work. By inviting input from all corners, different opinions about the future of
But I hope you participate for a far less including those citizens who have never wolves, will be lined up to contribute
transactional reason. Madden’s work may seen a wolf or haven’t witnessed wolf their perspectives.

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The
of the
Turkey hunting isn’t just for spring.
Chasing birds when the leaves begin to drop
brings its own set of rewards.
By Thomas Allen

© DAN STROIK/DREAMSTIME

22 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


ruth be told, until recently I’d

T UDUHO\ JRQH RXW WR VSHFL¿-


cally hunt turkeys during fall.
Sure, I went a few times dur-
ing my 25-year love affair with the
bird, but typically I’d buy fall tags
KRSLQJWR¿OORQHZKLOHLQWKHPLGGOH
of whitetail pursuits if a hapless turkey
happened to amble by. I managed to
kill a couple that way and enjoyed the
bounty, nonetheless. However, there’s
a master’s level of outdoor chess to be
enjoyed once you engage in the fall
turkey game. It’s challenging and re-
warding—and possibly as good as
turkey hunting gets.
I’m super thankful I don’t have to
choose between whitetails and turkeys.
Over the past few years, the choice has
been made for me because of my cir-
cumstances. Where I live in the Upper
Midwest, gaining access to quality deer-
KXQWLQJJURXQGLVH[WUHPHO\GLI¿FXOW
In fact, it’s held at a near-sacred level—
don’t even bother asking.
Interestingly, many of the same
landowners who quickly and bluntly
say no to queries about deer hunting
permission will often say yes—in the
next breath—to hunters who ask to
chase fall turkeys on their property.
Since deer hunting options are limited
for us, my two turkey-killing kids and I
have taken advantage of the fall turkey
season, and it’s become an outstanding
pursuit together. I see no future where
we don’t take to the fall turkey woods.

GOLDEN DAYS
Two years ago, during our regular scout-
LQJUXQVZHIRXQGDVL]DEOHÀRFNRI
birds in late September. I hung two
Toms don’t gobble nearly as much in the Tactacam Reveal cell cameras, and
fall as they do in the spring, but that doesn’t the images began to roll in. While I
mean turkeys aren’t vocal at this time of year. wouldn’t say these turkeys were on
a very predictable pattern, there were

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 23


Fall turkey setups are all about location. Find
an area that birds frequent, learn when they’ll
be there, and get in position before they arrive.

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our way at one point, before the birds
turned back and went a different direc-
tion. We were pinned down until they
got close enough for a shot or left the
¿HOGHQWLUHO\
A manure spreader, or “honey wag-
on” as we call it, showed up and saved
the day (I never imagined that would
EHP\WKRXJKW ,WSXVKHGWKHÀRFN
back into the woods where they had
roosted the previous night. I knew we
had a opportunity.
The turkeys weren’t going to head
north, as a busy highway on one edge
of the property created a boundary they
wouldn’t want to cross; a large swamp
to the east created another boundary;
DQGWKH¿HOGIURPZKLFKWKH\FDPHZDV
currently receiving a generous dressing
of dung. There was only one way to go,
the ridge ... and we were headed to it.
We dropped back into the woods,
The importance of thorough
made an extra-wide circle to the backside scouting and observation makes
RIWKHULGJHDQGHYDOXDWHGRXU¿QDODS- a binocular an invaluable
THOMAS ALLEN

proach. We could hear yelping some 200 turkey tool during fall hunts.
yards out, and we crept forward keeping
as many trees in front of us as possible.

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©202 , INC. VED.
The fall colors were at their peak;
brilliant reds, oranges and yellows
popped against a pure blue sky dotted
ZLWKZKLWHÀXII\FORXGV7KHYLHZV Turkeys on a roost-to-feed routine
were nothing short of spectacular and in fall aren’t difficult to pattern
DOPRVWPDGHP\H\HVKXUW7KHZRRGV and will often visit the same area
at about the same time every day.
were glowing yellow thanks to bril-
liant sunshine illuminating the golden
ELUFKOHDYHV,FDQ¶WWKLQNRIDVLQJOH
time during my life where fall colors
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The turkeys continued to yelp, and
ZHHYHQKHDUGDIHZZHDNJREEOHV,W
seemed they wanted to go back into the
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DORQJWKHULGJHWRS¿UVWRUPD\EHHUUWR
WKHVLGHRIWKHULGJHIDFLQJWKH¿HOG
:HGHFLGHGWRVHWXSRQWKHVLGHKLOO
7KHYRFDOL]DWLRQVFRQWLQXHGWKHKRQH\
wagon carried on, and we tucked into

THOMAS ALLEN
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,NHSWDVWDLQHGDQGUDJJHGPRXWKFDOO
working without a single response, but

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I knew it created a facade that indicated
WRWKHELUGVWKDWPRUHWXUNH\VZHUHMXVW
down the ridge. As we began to see
them, we could tell they were moving
toward us. Was my calling drawing them
FORVHURUZHUHWKH\MXVWWUDYHOLQJLQ
their intended direction? Regardless,
they were coming. Gun butts tight to
our shoulders, we waited.
I think it’s fair to say Tommy and
I would have shot a pair of hens had
the right opportunity presented itself to
IXO¿OOWKHIDOOWXUNH\H[SHULHQFH+HQV
are legal in the fall here. The birds that
JRWWRRFORVH¿UVWWKRXJKZHUHWRPV
DQGMDNHV2QWKHFRXQWRIWKUHHZH
ERWKVKRWDQGGXPSHGD¿QHSDLURIIDOO
gobblers at 30 yards. It was an amaz-
ing morning that certainly compared No need for elaborate decoy
setups in the fall. A single
WRVRPHVSULQJKXQWVZH¶YHHQMR\HG feeding hen elicits confidence
in the past. from approaching turkeys.
2IFRXUVHZHWRRNDULGLFXORXVQXP-
ber of photos because the day demanded
it. Fall turkey hunting is an overlooked
opportunity that, once experienced, spot all year long, while others tend to images, impressive battery life and a
you’ll remember well into the future have winter locations that differ from user-friendly app to collect and manage
and want to experience again. There their traditional spring areas. The key data. I rely on the Tactacam Reveal, but
LVQRQHHGWRZDLWWLOOVSULQJWRHQMR\D is identifying the shift when it occurs. there are several trustworthy options
good turkey hunt if you heed the call This is when trail cameras be- out there. Do your research and get the
of the fall. come the turkey hunter’s best friend. FDPHUDWKDWEHVW¿WV\RXUREMHFWLYHV
Regardless of where you hunt, there and budget.
FIND THE FLOCK are places you simply cannot see from A quality binocular is critical as well.
:KHQLWFRPHVWR¿QGLQJIDOOELUGV the road, and a set of eyes constantly Again, there are plenty of great options
there is no substitute for tires on the watching a small area or two is hard on the market. I prefer the 10x50 mm
gravel or boots in the dirt. Where we to put a price on. A good camera offers Leupold Santiam, which has proven
live, some turkeys reside in the same reliability, a fast trigger speed, quality to be helpful both in the woods during

CART IT IN
A mobile solution for hauling lots of turkey gear
Hauling gear for your youngster—or gear that trap, skeet and sporting clay
an elderly father or grandfather—to a shooters take to the shooting line. I
hunting location requires a strong back. instantly thought of turkey hunting.
Or an innovative mind. A Shooting Cart is not cheap, but
I’ve been taking my kids turkey it’s built to provide years of use on
hunting since they were both 6 years terrain such as logging and farm roads
old. During those early days, dragging or harvested hay and wheat fields. I
amenities like a blind, chairs, decoys, modified mine with hangers for decoys,
extra clothes and, of course, a truckload clothes and other items that get
of snacks demanded that I either hire secured with bungee straps.
a Sherpa or get creative. That’s when I Hauling all the necessary gear with
found Rugged Gear’s Shooting Cart only your vest on your back makes
($499.99; ruggedgear.com). It’s built getting in and out quickly and quietly
THOMAS ALLEN (TOP)

on a heavy-duty stroller chassis that a snap—with fewer under-your-breath


the company rigged to accommodate cusswords. The Rugged Gear Shooting
shotguns, ammo and an assortment of Cart has been a hunt-saver for me.

28 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


WHEN
SECONDS
ARE CRUCIAL
Deploy trail cameras like the
Tactacam Reveal X to keep
tabs on when and where
flocks of turkeys travel.

the hunt and when glassing from the


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never regret it.
Identify a daily, if not hourly, pattern
when possible. During this time of the
year turkeys are generally on a roost-
to-feed pattern as they bolster caloric
Momentum Elite intake leading up to winter. They aren’t
distracted by breeding, which keeps
them fairly predictable.
It’s important to determine if a cer-
WDLQÀRFNFDQVXVWDLQKDUYHVW:KLOH
I’m often impressed at how robust
these birds are, a few extreme winters
in certain areas of the country such
as the Upper Midwest may keep the
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are plenty of birds, a light amount of
• Ditch the Decoys, Bag More Mallards
• The Honest Truth About Killing Pressured Toms
• New Guns for Bears, Birds, Bunnies and More

Turkeys are every bit as wary


in the fall as they are in the
spring, making camouflage
and the ability to sit still
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keep your options open. I’ve tried the Knife
FODVVLF³EXVWLQ¶WKHÀRFN´WDFWLFEHIRUH
albeit unsuccessfully. The short of it:
Locate a group of birds, sneak to within
100 yards or less, run like a maniac into
WKHÀRFNDQGVFDWWHUWKHPLQHYHU\GLUHF-
tion. Sit down and begin calling. Aside
from a pulled hammy, dropped calls,
unmated gloves lying in the leaves and
other spillage on the trail to delivering
Not shown
WKHÀRFNEXVWLQ¶KROOHUV,¶YHQRWEHHQ actual size.
able to make this work. Reliable sources *
assure me that it is indeed productive,
but I’ve found it more effort and patience $49 Save $30
than it might be worth. Plus, I don’t like PLUS Free Stauer Compact Binoculars
spooking birds ... twice.
I prefer getting to where the turkeys ÌÌÌÌÌ
want to be before they get there and
waiting for them to arrive. Turkeys are W
still very vocal in the fall, but not nearly o
as responsive as during the spring. Some
THOMAS ALLEN (2)

subtle calling may help direct them one ®


way or the other. I often choose to sit
in a blind, especially when I have both
FALL LOADS
TSS gets the nod for this season, too.
Turkey loads containing Tungsten Super at extended ranges so you’re confident
Shot (TSS) rank high among spring in making shots like that.) TSS loads
hunters across the nation, and they from Apex and Boss cost anywhere
are just as impressive during the fall from $50 to $85 for five rounds
season. Small but super dense TSS depending on gauge, but they’re a
increases pellet count, pattern density, worthy investment.
on-target energy and penetration. All
this adds distance to your effective
range to make hung-up birds flop. TSS
has also made sub-gauges, such as
the 28 gauge and .410 bore, relevant APEX
for turkeys. AMMUNITION
Over the past couple years, I’ve TURKEY
tested and used 20-gauge turkey
loads from both Apex Ammunition
(apexammunition.com) and Boss
Shotshells (bossshotshells.com), and
the results have been incredible. Fall
birds often don’t respond to calling BOSS
as they do during spring, and being SHOTSHELLS
lethal at 50 yards is now an option BOSS TOM
when they hang up. (Pattern your gun

A tom that responds to calling


in the fall is just as rewarding
as a bird that struts in during
the spring season.

of my kids in tow. This has worked for


quite a few years.
The traditional method of running and
gunning can offer a better experience
if you’re able to determine daily travel
habits during scouting efforts. You’ll
begin to understand where the turkeys
want to be—usually a food source of
some sort—and can plan your ambush
to occur between the roost trees and that
destination. Sometimes you can slightly
© JUSTINHOFFMANOUTDOORS/DREAMSTIME (LEFT); THOMAS ALLEN (RIGHT)

redirect their heading with some calling,


but don’t overdo it. You may have to
carefully reposition a few times before
the setup results in turkeys strolling by
in range.

SIMPLE CALLING
Calls and decoys have a valuable place
in the fall turkey hunter’s arsenal, and
their deployment is relatively simple Assembly yelps and kee-kees
compared to spring. I’ve not experienced are common sounds among
a lot of results with excited yelping and turkeys in the fall. Imitate
them to steer birds into range.
cutting—although turkeys seem to cackle

32 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


©

A WINNER
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Consult and comply with any and all applicable federal, state, and local:
laws, regulations, requirements, and/or restrictions, including but not limited
to those regarding the purchase, ownership, use, transport, and carrying of
a firearm. Not all products are available in all states or jurisdictions.
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PRVWO\VWHDG\\HOSLQJDQGNHHNHHLQJLQ
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¿JKWLQJLQWKHIDOOEXWDGHFR\PDLQO\
SURYLGHVFRQ¿GHQFHWRDQDSSURDFKLQJ
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The author’s son, Tommy, took
half of a father-son double RQD¿HOGHGJH,VXJJHVWDIHHGLQJKHQ

THOMAS ALLEN
after careful repositioning put 6D\ZKDW\RXZDQWDERXWWKHUHDSLQJ
the pair in the path of a flock. PHWKRGGXULQJVSULQJEXWLQP\ERRNLW¶V
DSLOHRIIXQ%DVHGRQP\H[SHULHQFH

BRIGHT.
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A hefty fall tom fell to the
author while he hunted
with his son among the

THOMAS ALLEN
brilliant yellow birch trees.

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A sampling of the region’s best hunting
and fishing opportunities this Month
By Matt Crawford 2

3 4
t 8:44 a.m. on Sept. 22, autumn officially
begins, though many anglers and hunters
around the East enter full-on “fall mode”
as soon as the calendar turns
to September. As summer fades, 5
suddenly there seems to be a lot
more fish to catch, and a
wide array of hunting oppor-
tunities are opening across 6
the region, from deer and
doves to upland birds and
bass. Here’s a spotlight on
just a few of the best reasons
1
to get out and enjoy the
great outdoors during
this magical month.

40 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


1 3 5

2 6

4
WINDIGO IMAGES (3)

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 41


FIELD SKILLS

THE

PREDICTOR
Study hard-mast
and soft-mast
situations on your
hunting properties
to determine
where game species
will be this fall.
By Bruce Ingram

hether you hunt whitetails,

W bears or turkeys in the fall,


talk in hunting camp will
inevitably turn to the status
of the season’s mast crop. Every year
around late summer, I receive the hard-
and soft-mast reports from the Virginia
DWR and the West Virginia DNR.
Game biologists with those agencies
provide excellent overviews of the mast
situation each year. But just like the
saying “all politics is local,” all mast
situations are too.
Each year, a month or so prior to the
season, before hanging stands, cutting
shooting lanes or checking on my lad-
der stands, I do a boots-on-the-ground
assessment of both the hard- and soft-
mast situations to make sure all my prep
work is not wasted.
High-tech gear, cell phone apps and
trail cams are all helpful, but the only
More than any other factor, the
way you can accurately determine the presence of hard and soft mast on
WINDIGO IMAGES

hard-mast and soft-mast situations (and our hunting properties influences


both are important) is to venture into deer movement during the fall.
your hunting areas and utilize some

42 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


®

3D H l dt d th ff t f l Th BSF b


old-fashioned woodsmanship to identify Being able to identify specific acorn
'LIIHUHQWVSHFLHVRIRDNVÀRZHUDQG
individual species of hard- and soft- species, like these red oaks, can mean set their nuts at different times, which is
mast producers by their bark, leaves greater hunting success. why a killing frost can do such damage if
and nuts or fruits. The fact that your a particular oak species happens to be in
home state may have rated the current a blooming stage when the weather turns
mast crop as “spotty” doesn’t mean a foul. But by manipulating the forest’s oak
thing if, for example, a late killing frost tree composition, I am largely immune
slammed your oaks in the spring. That from that “spotty mast” situation. In any
can easily result in a failed mast crop given year, no matter what the spring
and a dearth of deer activity. weather is, at least a few species of my
property’s oaks will produce nuts. And
Chinquapin oak acorns are particularly
GET BOOK SMART attractive to turkeys during the fall many years all or most of the oaks will
Two of my most important low-tech gear season. Deer love them as well. prove bountiful, and for several months
items are the National Audubon Society WKHGHHUZLOO¿OHWKURXJKWKHÀDW
Field Guide to Trees: Eastern Region
and Peterson’s Field Guide to Trees and DON’T FORGET SOFT MAST
Shrubs. Armed with these two tomes, Eastern hunters are understandably ob-
I ramble over the Old Dominion and sessed with what the acorn situation
Mountain State properties I have permis- will be every autumn, but we should be
sion to hunt prior to hunting season. What knowledgeable about the common spe-
I learn on those late-summer days largely cies of soft-mast producers in our home
determines whether I will be successful White oaks can influence deer patterns states, too. For instance, the three species
more than any other hard-mast species.
come the various bow and gun seasons. If you find them, sit on them. of grapes that are most common in our
For example, individual properties— region are the summer, fox and frost.
even ones near each other—can have var- The summer and fox are more common
ious species of acorns that ripen and drop in the East’s southerly states, while the
at different times. One Virginia property frost dominates in New England.
where I hunt every September features Yes, the presence (or lack) of acorns
several scarlet oak trees that, among all ZLOODOPRVWDOZD\VKHDYLO\LQÀXHQFHGHHU
WKHSURSHUW\¶VRDNVDUHW\SLFDOO\WKH¿UVW movement, but when grapes are ripe
to drop acorns every autumn. and available, you can bet that deer will
)URPVWXG\LQJ¿HOGJXLGHVDQGVLP- Knowing specific traits of various oak check them out. An ideal stand could be
SO\EHLQJD¿HOG,NQRZWKDWWKHVFDUOHW species will lead you to more success as one where the grapes are ripe and one
fall arrives. Check them out early.
oak’s acorns are about a half inch to an or more oak species are dropping their
inch long, egg shaped and about half- nuts. Deer are browsers and consume
enclosed by a deep cup. I also know that a large variety of wild foods. Think of
the mature tree itself has dark, grayish acorns as the main course and soft-mast
bark with plates and about 6-inch-long menu items such as grapes, pawpaws,
leaves that are deeply cut with lobes cherries, sumacs, haws, hackberries,
with bristles. As you might guess given viburnums, plums and persimmons as
the tree’s name, those leaves turn scarlet deer desserts.
red come fall. On that property, I expect When you find a mast hot spot, hang a For instance, in Virginia and West
to arrow a doe or two every September stand and clear shooting lanes now so Virginia, the persimmons ripen around
you’re ready for the season.
because of that knowledge. the third week of November. When these
I own a 94-acre mountainous parcel in sweet, orange, golf-ball-size globes be-
West Virginia where, 15 years ago, I took JLQWRSOXPPHWWRWKHIRUHVWÀRRUGHHU
a different approach to ensure that the WUDI¿FFDQEHLQWHQVHQRPDWWHUZKDWWKH
acorn crop almost always meshes with acorn crop is like.
my hunting success. I hired a logger to
aggressively thin a section of hardwoods THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
RQDÀDWEHWZHHQDFUHHNERWWRPDQGD Make note of the mast forecasts for your
regenerating clearcut, creating a situation state this fall, and if your state doesn’t
where the property now has a number issue a mast report, pick up the phone or
of different species of white and red email your game agency and ask. Better
oaks (northern red, black, scarlet, white VWLOOEULQJDORQJVRPH¿HOGJXLGHVWR
and chinquapin oaks) all growing and every property you plan to hunt, and
BRUCE INGRAM (5)

all daylighted so that their crowns can learn just what the hard- and soft-mast
expand and produce more hard mast— situations are down to the individual
DQGPRUHGHHUWUDI¿F trees and shrubs.

44 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


HOW-TO

EARLY-BIRD

Bear hunting in September presents


its own set of unique challenges.
Here’s how to overcome them.
By Bob Humphrey

Even the biggest black bears are


capable of moving silently along
the forest floor, making it essential
to remain vigilant on stand.

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RICK SMALL

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46 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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WHERE AND WHEN


:DUPWHPSHUDWXUHVFDQLQÀXHQFHWKH
FKRLFHRIKXQWLQJORFDOHVSDUWLFXODUO\
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FRDWZKLFKPDNHVPRYLQJGXULQJWKH
Variable weather and swarms
BOB HUMPHREY

KHDWRIWKHGD\XQFRPIRUWDEOH7KH\ of insects are both a part of


PLJKWPRYHDQ\WLPHEXWWKH\¶UHIDU early-season bear hunting. Be
PRUHOLNHO\WRZDLWXQWLOWKHVXQDQGWKH prepared for all conditions.

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 47


Given the potential for warm weather,
waterbodies should factor into your early-
season game plan. Check the banks of
streams, rivers and lakes for bear sign.

THE HEAT IS ON down with an odor-neutralizing solution. often than not, that proves true. Calm
The early part of the season often means Keep clothing in an air-tight container yourself down and wait for an optimal
warm weather, which brings bugs, sweat until you reach your destination. Dress shot. Proper shot placement is always
and, if you’re lucky, a race to process outside the vehicle, then spray or wipe important, but never more so than when
your prize before it spoils. down again when you arrive on stand. the heat is on.
You have a few options for dealing Another more practical and effec-
with stinging, biting insects. One is tive method for battling biting insects
choosing the right apparel. You could
wear something with a tight enough
is a Thermacell. If you’re not familiar
with it, this device heats a pad saturated CHECK THE
weave that mosquitoes can’t insert their
stingers through it, but those garments
with a synthetic insecticide that, when
vaporized, repels insects. It works, and CHECK
also hold in body heat, enhancing the
second challenge. Mosquito netting is
because it’s a synthetic substitute for
natural vegetation, bears and deer don’t STATIONS
Have a post-hunt game
another, better option, especially for seem to be alarmed by the odor.
the face and hands, but a full-body suit plan before you hunt.
will allow you to wear lighter, more BE COOL Don’t wait until your bear is down to
breathable clothing. There’s not much you can do about tem- figure out where the nearest check
While netting allows moisture and perature except to dress appropriately, station is and what the hours are.
heat to escape, it does the same for your but you need to work hard to maintain Look it up in advance and have a
odor. What bears may lack in vision they your composure. When I was guiding plan. That way you’ll know how long
more than make up for in scent detec- bear hunts, I would warn hunters new it will take for you to get there and
tion. The simple solution here is to be to the species that it doesn’t matter how whether it will be open. If you must
meticulous about odor control. Wash, much hunting experience you have; the wait until the next morning to check
RICK SMALL

wipe or spray yourself. Your clothing and ¿UVWWLPH\RXVHHDEHDU\RX¶UHSURE- your bear, have a plan to keep it cool.
all your equipment needs to be sprayed ably going to lose your ... stuff. More

48 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


PROPER PREP The author downed this solid
Once you get a bear down, the race is September bruin in Maine. The
on to get it out of the woods and cooled key to preserving the meat is to
down as quickly as possible. That be- get it removed and cooled quickly.
comes a greater challenge if you can’t
locate it right away. Regardless of tem-
perature, you need to take your time and
follow the same procedures that you
would later in the season. Once you
locate it, then you can be hasty.
Ironically, bear hunters are more in-
clined to take their bears out of the woods
whole, particularly the bigger bears. I
guess it’s so they can boast about their
boar, but it seems silly and a tad irre-
sponsible, especially in the early season.
As soon as that animal expires, bacteria
DQGERGLO\ÀXLGVEHJLQWKHSURFHVVRI
spoilage inside a warm body wrapped
LQIXU$EHWWHUDSSURDFKLVWR¿HOGGUHVV
the bear on-site, which also makes the
drag easier. (Of course, check your state’s
UHJXODWLRQV¿UVW
It’s also a good idea to have a few
bags of ice on hand. You don’t need to
FDUU\WKHPD¿HOGEXWNHHSWKHPLQD
cooler in your vehicle so that you can
ice the bear down as soon as it’s out of
the woods. Stuff a couple bags in the

body cavity and get to the check sta-


tion. Then, add more ice and head for
home or camp.
Once there, you can slow down a
little, but not a lot unless you have a
walk-in cooler. Another factor with the
early season is long days. It gets dark
late. Add tracking, dragging, a visit to
WKHFKHFNVWDWLRQ LILW¶VRSHQ DQGWKH
ride home, and it’s already after mid-
night and you’re exhausted. You can
get by with a few hours of hang time,
particularly if it’s cool, but you should
skin the animal that night if it’s still hot.
Familiarize yourself with a I quarter my bears in camp and put the
bear’s vitals before heading quarters, loins, rib cage and neck in a
afield to reduce the chance of
a non-lethal shot placement. ODUJHFRROHUZLWKDUWL¿FLDOLFHEORFNV
Late summer may not seem like
the ideal time to be hunting when you
FRXOGEH¿VKLQJJRO¿QJRUVZLPPLQJ
ANATOMY AND However, it’s often the best time for
BOB HUMPHREY (TOP); RICK SMALL (BOTTOM)

SHOTPickPLACEMENT
your spots carefully.
bears. As the days grow shorter, bruins
race to lay on as much fat as they can
before winter, and they may be in a
Bears are built somewhat differently than deer. They have much thicker hides and state of walking hibernation—or even
denser bones, making proper shot placement even more important. Even with a in dens—by mid-fall. You’ll have to
firearm, you should only take broadside or quartering-away shots. Otherwise, a deal with the heat and the bugs to tag
shot that might kill a deer will only wound a bear, leading to a long, frustrating and an early-season bruin, but if and when
potentially dangerous night of tracking. it works out, you’ll be glad you did.

50 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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reducing comfort are engineered into this innovative
chassis-style rifle. Now, with the addition of Benelli’s
industry-leading BE.S.T. treatment, it is unmatched
when it comes to corrosion and abrasion resistance
in the field. To find out more, visit Benelli USA.com.
HOW-TO

SECRETS OF A

TRACKER
You don’t need snow to track big
bucks. use these tips for
hunting wilderness
whitetails in early fall.
By Matthew Every

Wilderness bucks leave clues to


their existence in the areas they
JOHN PENNOYER

frequent, though it takes some


sleuthing to ferret them out.

52 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


rom a young age, Hal Blood %ORRGXVHVGHHUVLJQWR¿JXUHRXW

F DOZD\VZDQWHGWR¿JXUHRXW
the “why” behind what he was
seeing in the deer woods. That
attitude turned him into a master woods-
where bucks want to be at any given
time of year, then he concentrates his
efforts on those areas. It may take several
seasons to build up this information, but
man, a buck-tracking icon and the author RQFH\RXKDYHDSDWFKRIZRRGV¿JXUHG
of several books on the subject. RXW\RX¶OOXS\RXURGGVVLJQL¿FDQWO\
Last season, I had a chance to hunt Use what you know about buck
with Blood on both fresh snow and DFWLYLW\DQGWKHWLPHRI\HDUWR¿QG
bare ground. Each condition presented where bucks are going to be. Then,
a unique set of challenges, but over cover ground in search of sign. If you
EDUHJURXQG,JRWWRVHH¿UVWKDQGKRZ don’t see any sign where you are, get
Blood breaks up the woods and uses the RXWRIWKHUH²DQGIDVW:KHQ\RX¿QG
“why” behind deer behavior to zero in an area with heavy, fresh sign, slow
on big bucks. down and scan the woods for anything
When most hunters would park that looks like a deer.
themselves in a treestand, Blood is out
there walking around, looking for sign DEER LEAD YOU TO OTHER DEER
and trying to put himself in a buck’s Tracks aren’t as relevant on bare ground
bedroom. Here are a few of the tips I as they are on snow, but you still want
picked up in the Maine big woods for to follow them. Blood has sucessfully
still-hunting on bare ground that you tracked a couple of bucks on soft leaf
FDQFDUU\LQWRWKH¿HOGWKLVVHDVRQ litter, and it is possible if the deer isn’t far
off, but you shouldn’t expect to shoot the
THE 90/10 RULE deer you’re tracking over bare ground.
In the big woods, Blood says that a Instead, use the tracks to point your-
buck will have a home range of about self in the general direction of other
10 square miles, and will spend 90 deer. Deer are constantly meeting up
percent of its time in only 10 percent in the woods and covering ground to
of that territory. Depending on the time get to areas that other whitetails like to
of year, a buck could be spending the frequent. Reference your map to see if
majority of its time in a number of the tracks you’re following are headed
places. On bare ground, it’s your job to to a point of interest you’ve scouted
¿QGWKRVHSODFHVDQGVSHQGSHUFHQW previously, and take note of fresh new
of your time there, too. sign whenever you see it.

Hal Blood is synonymous with big


Maine bucks. Even when there is
no snow on the ground, he is
capable of walking down deer.
COURTESY OF HAL BLOOD

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 53


ANALYZE RUBS AND SCRAPES
You’re mostly looking for buck activ-
ity when hunting on bare ground, and LEAN AND MEAN
Lightweight gear to take on early-season bucks
that often comes in the form of rubs and
scrapes. According to Blood, the different It’s early fall in the East, which means it’s probably safe to keep your insulated
sizes of rubs and scrapes have different boots and wool jacket in storage for a couple of months. Covering ground with
meanings. For scrapes, a buck might
make a small pawing when he’s feeling
antsy. Bucks will also lay down common BOOTS
scrapes where the does are bedding for the Crispi Valdres Plus: These 8-inch boots weigh just 1 1/2
year. There are also larger, deeper scrapes, pounds apiece. A greased, water-repellent nubuck upper
known as community or annual scrapes, and Gore-Tex lining help them shed water. They’re super-
that deer make in the same places every comfortable right out of the box yet provide excellent
year. In terms of rubs, there are thrashings support for long stalks. ($300; crispius.com)
on brush, which a buck makes when he’s
feeling amped up; common rubs, which Irish Setter VaprTrek: Waterproof, breathable and featuring
bucks make on different trees every year; an upper made of a durable, abrasion-resistant material,
and signpost rubs. this lightweight boot from Irish Setter is a great early-season
6LJQSRVWUXEVDUHPDGHRQVSHFL¿F option. A built-in bacteria-killing technology helps eliminate
trees—mostly brown ash in Maine—and odor. ($209.99; irishsetterboots.com)
will be made on the same trees year after
year. Signpost rub trees are dished out Under Armour HOVR Dawn Waterproof 2.0: With
with exposed wood on one side, while technology borrowed from the brand’s running shoes, UA’s
fresh rubs are made on the remaining aggressively-soled and cushy HOVR boot is designed for
bark. Blood likes to focus on areas with logging the miles. The 6-inch option weighs only 17 ounces
active signpost rubs because he knows per boot. ($190; underarmour.com)
that bucks visit them every season.
2QFH%ORRG¿QGVZKHUHVLJQSRVWUXEV APPAREL
are in the area he’s hunting, he marks Gamehide Elimitick: Just when you thought it was safe
them on onX and plans a still-hunting to venture into a tick-free outdoors, the fall wave hits with
route. If he’s in an area he knows to a vengeance—and it’s just as bad as it was during spring
have signpost rubs, he slows down in turkey season. Introduced several years ago, this line of
the hopes of catching sight of a buck. clothing, including pants, bibs, shirts, jackets and socks,
simply shuts down ticks. (prices vary; gamehide.com)

Habitat is all-important to Blood’s bare- Blocker Outdoors Shield Drencher Jacket: Rain will be
ground buck-seeking mission. Preferred in the forecast this month, so you can either get soaked
food sources are good places to begin. to the bone and head back to camp or reach for Blocker’s
waterproof, windproof Shield Drencher jacket. It weighs next
to nothing and will take up very little room in your pack.
($89.99-$99.99; blockeroutdoors.com)

LEARN THE TERRAIN


Blood looks at topographic features like
mountains and ridges as a way to gain
a shot opportunity on a buck. Elevation
provides a vantage point and increases
your odds of seeing a bedded deer before
he sees you. Bucks in the mountains also
tend to bed in the high country, and they
don’t expect danger to come from above
them, so you’ll increase your chances of
getting a shot if you hunt high.
In the low country, where the veg-
etation is thick, Blood tends to follow
RICK SMALL

well-worn deer trails. They provide quiet


walking and lead him to places deer like

54 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


to frequent. When you’re in thick woods, gives him enough cover. He likes to We packed a small lunch, and when-
Blood says that you’re best off moving move along habitat edges whenever ever we stopped for a snack or a sand-
slowly and stopping often to listen for possible. For example, he won’t walk wich, we made sure we were in a good
activity. A buck could be walking down down the middle of open hardwoods spot. Usually, those spots were in open
the same trail you’re on. or a big clearing. Instead, he’ll use hardwoods overlooking buck sign Blood
edge cover. He also plans where he’s KDGLGHQWL¿HGLQWKHSDVW:HDOVRFKRVH
THINK 10 STEPS AHEAD going to walk several steps ahead. That places to sit that broke up our outline a
OF YOURSELF way, he can keep his head on a swivel ELWDQGZHNHSWRXUULÀHVKDQG\
One of the things I had a tough time to spot a deer. When you’re hunting over bare ground,
with while hunting with Blood was pick- take note of any evidence of deer activity.
ing the right route to walk. Blood says TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE In other words, you’re hunting, but you’re
WKLVFRPHVZLWKSUDFWLFHEXWDW¿UVW When Blood and I hunted over bare also scouting. Any information you glean
\RX¶OO¿QG\RXUVHOIZDONLQJWKURXJK ground, we struck out in the morning from the woods can be used for future
blowdowns and thickets, and that can with the idea of not returning home hunts. Before you know it, you’ll have
be counterproductive. until dark. The more time you’re in the a collection of pins and places to hunt.
Blood constantly looks for the easi- woods, the more opportunity you have And one day, that might all lead you to
est route through the woods that still to get a shot at a buck. the biggest buck of your life.

The denser the understory, the more deer-


spooking noise you’ll make. To get to big
bucks, choose open woods and move slowly.

JOHN PENNOYER

56 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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HOW-TO

SLIPPING ON

Slink into bushytails’ haunts and


hunt them like a ninja.
By Larry Case

LON LAUBER PHOTOGRAPHY

58 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


lowly and carefully, I eased

S across the hardwood ridge. It


felt as if it took an eternity to
make even one simple step. My
eyes continuously scanned the treetops,
and I took each stride through the bed
of dried leaves with the utmost care. The
quarry may have been a gray squirrel
weighing all of one pound, but I moved
as if I were hunting bull elk—slowly,
carefully, no broken sticks or other noise.
The goal was to gain range before they
knew I was there. If you don’t think a
super-stealthy approach is necessary
when squirrel hunting, guess again.
In a lot of ways, this is the essence of
still-hunting for squirrels. Where I live
in Appalachia, we inherited this form
of hunting from the likes Daniel Boone
and Simon Kenton. The early pioneers
didn’t survive all the time on big game
such as deer and bears. Sometimes small
game fed their families, and squirrels
were a big part of that. As time went
by, squirrel hunting remained a com-
mon activity for hunters. In many states
deer and turkey populations were low or
almost non-existent well into the 1970s,
DQGVTXLUUHOV¿OOHGWKHJDS7KHVTXLUUHO
season opener was a much-heralded
event, much like opening day of deer
season is today. I can remember my dad
talking about opening day sounding like
a “young war” in some areas.

TIME-HONORED TRADITION
Probably more than anything else, the
surge in whitetail deer and the accompa-
nying bowhunting craze killed the popu-
larity of squirrel hunting, but not before
it taught several generations of hunters
the art of still-hunting, or “slip-hunting,”
for squirrels. Squirrel hunting is how
many of us learned how to actually hunt.
It taught us how to stalk an animal, use
cover, move quietly and know when to
move and when not to. The squirrels
provided a woodland classroom with
lots of opportunities to mess up a stalk
and start over on another squirrel. Many
guides for deer and elk hunts will tell
you that those who grew up squirrel
hunting make the best hunters.
While slip-hunting for squirrels has
nowhere near the popularity it once did,
When a squirrel is spotted out that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it
of shooting range, you’ll need
supreme stalking skills to move in now and have a bunch of fun in the
close without spooking your target. bargain. One of the great things about
squirrel hunting is you can do it just

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 59


about anywhere. There may be some Though a scoped .22 is perfectly fine
good hunting on public land near you, for squirrels, early-season foliage might
and landowners will often be more open neccesitate a scattergun instead.
to you hunting squirrels than deer and
turkeys. Squirrel hunting may be the
absolute best way to introduce anyone,
young or old, to hunting. Again, there is
a possibility of lots of action and almost
any forested area in the East is likely
to hold squirrels. Here are some tips to
get you started.

FIRST, FIND THE FOOD


Just like deer, bears or turkeys, squir-
rels are going to be found around food
sources. For most of the country, this
means in an oak-hickory forest. There is
no doubt that squirrels love hickory nuts
and will leave most all other forms of
natural food (mast) to eat them. Hickory
nuts mature in late summer to early
IDOO6TXLUUHOVZLOO¿QGWKHPDQGQRW
hesitate to start feeding on this thin-
shelled nut. Once the hickory is gone,
the usual move will be to some type of
oak mast. White-oak acorns are prized
by deer, bears, turkeys and squirrels.
If white oak is not available, squirrels
will move on to most any acorn, usually
one of the red oaks, but don’t forget the
black walnut tree. Squirrels love walnuts
and will eat them all winter.
In most areas, however, it is acorns
that get squirrels through the winter
months. A scouting trip prior to the
season is always a good idea. If you
¿QGRDNDQGKLFNRU\WUHHVZLWKQXWV
RQWKHP\RXZLOODOPRVWDOZD\V¿QG
a few squirrels (mast trees like oak,
hickory and walnut do not bear fruit
every year). Remember that squirrels
will move from an area if there is no
food around, sometimes en masse.

THEY DON’T TASTE


WINDIGO IMAGES (TOP); © AIRDONE/DREAMSTIME (BOTTOM)

LIKE CHICKEN
The best-tasting squirrel meat is a product of careful preparation.
Squirrel meat is mild and flavorful and can be used in any number of recipes.
The standard preparation usually consists of par-boiling or pressure-cooking the
quartered squirrels to get them nice and tender. This is important since most adult
squirrels can be tough if you simply bread and fry them without tenderizing. The
pieces should then be rolled in your favorite seasoned breading and fried golden
brown. Traditionally, gravy is made in the skillet after the pieces are removed.
Squirrel meat can be used in everything from tacos to a pot pie. You are limited
only by your imagination.

60 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


<RXPD\¿QGVTXLUUHOVIRUDVKRUWWLPH
SQUIRREL SLAYERS
Two great firearms for bushytails
LQVRIWPDVWOLNHGRJZRRGEHUULHVDVK
RUPDSOHVHHGVDQGHYHQVRPHDSSOHV
$IWHU¿QGLQJDOLNHO\SDWFKRIVTXLU-
CHRISTENSEN ARMS RANGER UHOZRRGVWDNH\RXUWUXVW\ULÀHRU
Christensen Arms, known for precision rifles and carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels, has VKRWJXQDQGVOLSLQDVTXLHWO\DVSRVVLEOH
a very sweet option for squirrel hunters. The Ranger .22 is an advanced rimfire built 0RVWGHGLFDWHGVTXLUUHOKXQWHUVZDQWWR
for top-tier performance. This rifle is lightweight (5.1 pounds) and comes with a sub- EHLQWKHZRRGVDWGD\OLJKWZKHQWKH
MOA guarantee at 50 yards. That alone should interest any squirrel hunter. The bolt- VTXLUUHOVVWDUWIHHGLQJ*HQHUDOO\WKH
action platform features an aluminum receiver with dual opposing steel locking lugs, ¿UVWDQGODVWKRXURIWKHGD\ZLOO\LHOG
a carbon-fiber-wrapped tension barrel and a carbon-fiber composite stock. The rifle is WKHPRVWVTXLUUHODFWLYLW\)RUVTXLUUHOV
well equipped with standard sling studs, a one-piece Picatinny rail, TriggerTech match- WKDWDUHLQUDQJHWU\DFDUHIXOO\SODFHG
grade trigger and 10-round rotary magazine. ($849.99; christensenarms.com) VKRW KHDGVKRWVDUHEHVW DQGVWD\LQ
SRVLWLRQ,I\RXGRQ¶WPRYHULJKWDZD\
WRSLFNXSDVTXLUUHORWKHUVPD\UHVXPH
WKHLUDFWLYLW\TXLFNO\
:KHQ\RXVSRWDVTXLUUHORXWRIUDQJH
WKHVWDONLQJIXQEHJLQV7\SLFDOO\WKH
IRUHVWÀRRULVFRYHUHGLQGHDGGU\OHDYHV
7KHRQO\WKLQJ\RXFDQGRLVVORZGRZQ
CZ-USA DRAKE SHOTGUN 5HGXFH\RXUUDWHRIWUDYHOWRDVQDLO¶V
CZ-USA offers this trim little over/under in 12, 20 and 28 gauge as well as.410 SDFH(YHU\VWHSPXVWEHDFDUHIXOO\
bore. A Turkish walnut stock and forearm are cut with laser checkering that provides RUFKHVWUDWHGVHSDUDWHHYHQW6ORZO\
a good grip. The Drake has a single selective trigger (which I like) and heavy-duty FDUHIXOO\SXVKGRZQRQWKHOHDYHVXQGHU-
extractors to lift spent shells. The shotgun has 28-inch barrels; comes with five IRRWPLOOLPHWHUE\FDXWLRXVPLOOLPHWHU
choke tubes in 12, 20 and 28 gauges (fixed modified and improved cylinder DQGPDNHVXUHWKHUHDUHQRVPDOOVWLFNV
chokes in the .410 model); and ships in a hard-plastic case. The Drake weighs WKDWFRXOGVQDSDQGDOHUW\RXUWDUJHW
6 pounds and is a lot of shotgun for the money. ($699–$749; cz-usa.com) 2QFH\RXUZHLJKWLVRQRQHIRRWEULQJ
WKHRWKHUDURXQGDQGUHVWDUWWKHSURFHVV
.HHSRQHH\HRQWKHVTXLUUHO¶VORFDWLRQ
DQGWKHRWKHURQZKHUH\RXZLOOVWHSQH[W
8VHDQ\DYDLODEOHFRYHUIRUFRQFHDOPHQW
<RXZRQ¶WEHVXFFHVVIXORQHYHU\VWDON
EXW\RXZLOOLPSURYHHYHU\WLPH\RXGRLW

Where legal, a suppressed rimfire enables


a hunter to dispatch a squirrel without
causing much disruption in the woods.
LARRY CASE

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 61


If you spook a squirrel, don’t despair. Stay Oak, hickory and walnut are a squirrel’s
in place, maybe sit down, and just wait. preferred hard mast, though they’ll also
If it is actively feeding, the squirrel may dine on soft mast early in the season.
not stay hidden for long. Patience is key.

GEAR, GUNS AND AMMO


Just like you don’t need a fancy lease on
private land to hunt squirrels, squirrel
hunting can be enjoyed with a minimum
of hunting gear. Most any serviceable
FDOLEHUULÀHRUVKRWJXQZLOOVXI¿FH
to collect a limit of bushytails. I tend to
VWLFNZLWKWKHVWDQGDUG/RQJ5LÀH
I’ve found that some of the hotter .22
variants and calibers like the .17 HMR
are too hot for squirrel hunting and tear
up the meat. For ammunition, you can’t
go wrong with standard-velocity .22
ammo with solid-nose bullets. Most
standard-velocity .22 ammunition will
be more accurate than rounds with in-
creased velocity. The solid-nose bullets 1RVKRWZRUNZHOO²OHDYHWKHPDJQXP useful to carry your squirrels and other
will not damage your squirrels as much turkey loads at home. Shotguns can be necessities. Your turkey vest can come
and makes skinning them much easier. handy in the early season when the foliage in handy for this, as it probably has a
For shotgun duty, I have gotten away is heavy and squirrels are hard to see. built-in seat. Throw in some ammo, a
from 12 gauges. A 20 gauge is plenty, and 1RIDQF\FORWKLQJLVQHHGHGWRKXQW binocular, snacks and water, a sharp
if you don’t take long-range shots, a .410 VTXLUUHOV&DPRXÀDJHZLOOKHOSEXWLV knife and whatever other personal items
ZLOOGR6WDQGDUG¿HOGORDGVRI1RRU not necessary. Some sort of game vest is you might want.

WINDIGO IMAGES (TOP); LARRY CASE (BOTTOM)

The foundational skills of many


a great deer hunter were formed
in the squirrel woods.

62 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


®
HOW-TO

64 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


n the world of East Coast salt-

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GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 65


Conventional reels can range from Although striped bass garner much
the 6500 to 8500 size. Surf reel manu- of the attention along the Northeast
facturers include Shimano, Penn, Van coast, species such as drum, bluefish
6WDDODQG$EX*DUFLD0RVWVXUI¿VKLQJ and fluke are also available at times.
can be accomplished by spooling up
reels with 30- to 50-pound braided line
RUWRSRXQGPRQR¿ODPHQWOLQH

READ THE WATER


Often, anglers look at a beach and see a
featureless landscape, but that is not the
case at all. Upon closer inspection, you’ll
VHHDERXQW\RI¿VKDWWUDFWLQJVWUXF-
ture near what appears to be the mostly
desolate beach—and that is what will
improve your odds of success. Obvious
clues come in the form of rocks, jetties,
boulders, piers and pilings. Those are
DOO¿VKPDJQHWVDV¿VKWHQGWRJUDYLWDWH
to them to feed upon crabs, shrimp,

PROOXVNVDQGEDLW¿VKWKDWFRQJUHJDWH
around the structure. On sandy shores,
though, cues may not be as easy to iden-
tify. In general, look for the deeper-water
sections—cuts, bowls and sloughs—
ZKHUHZDWHUGRHVQRWEUHDNDQG¿VKURRW
down in. You can tell where the shallow
sand bars are by where the waves crest
and break. Casts should be made into
GHHSHUZDWHUVZKHUH¿VKKDYHHQRXJK
room to move around and feed.
Tides play a big role in determining
ZKHQWR¿VKDQGDJRRGUXOHLVWR¿VKWKH
high-tide hours, mainly 2 hours before
and 2 hours after. That way you reap the
EHQH¿WVRIWKHODVWRIWKHLQFRPLQJDQG
the start of the outgoing tide when the
ÀRRGFXUUHQWEULQJVLQDQGZDVKHVRXW
the forage from the swell. The best times
RIGD\WR¿VKDUHVXQXSDQGVXQGRZQ
ZKHQ¿VKZLOOEHPRVWDFWLYHO\IHHGLQJ
Low-tide hours allow you to inspect how
the surf is laid out. In general, spring and
IDOOVHHVWULSHGEDVVDQGEOXH¿VKPLJUDW-
ing and on the feed, whereas summer
and winter months have them on a mild
vacation, so you might plan your trips
around the shoulder seasons.

BAITFISH MAGIC
Using cut or live bait varies depending
upon location, but a good start when
¿VKLQJEDLWRUGHDGVWLFNLQJLVWRXVHD
NICK HONACHEFSKY (2)

KLJKORZULJ:LWKLW\RXFDQ¿VKWZR
Throwing topwaters from the beach is as
exciting as it gets for surf casters. Most baits, one up top and one on the bottom,
are designed to mimic fleeing baitfish. with 1/0 to 5/0 baitholder hooks and a
Look for blitzing fish when making casts. sinker of 3 to 8 ounces.

66 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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)LVK¿QGHUVOLGHULJVDUHEHVWXVHG ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DQG$MLJVWRRXQFH'HDGO\
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KDYHQ¶WVWROHQ\RXUEDLW DQG7VXQDPLDQGPHWDOOXUHVOLNH$YD RI\RXURZQ

Fall is prime time for gorilla blues.


They feed with reckless abandon
and fight as hard as any fish
found in the surf.

NICK HONACHEFSKY

68 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


DESTINATIONS

When and where to hunt


woodcock on their
southerly migration
By Tom Keer

The never-ending search for their


primary protein source—worms—is
what typically drives woodcock to
migrate southward from Canada.

owdy didn’t have a problem sun at bay, a seep ran down the middle, And so began another season of chas-

R tacking down the woodcock


in the alder hell we call the
King’s Cover, but I sure was
and that combination concentrated a ton
RIELUGV,I,ZHUHOXFN\,¶G¿OOP\
eight-bird limit and fish for New
ing woodcock from their northern breed-
ing grounds to their southern wintering
grounds, a rite of fall I look forward to
DAVID STIMAC

going to have a tough time connecting. Brunswick Atlantic salmon for the rest every year. As always, I’d follow the
The full-leaf canopy kept the September of the day. ÀLJKWVDVIDUDVP\ZDOOHWZRXOGDOORZ

70 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


birds in covers with heavy canopies that
preserve some of the ground’s moisture.
Knowing that the woodcock’s aver-
age migration time is 25 to 30 days (see
sidebar, page 72), we can get a handle
on when they’ll arrive at different points
throughout the region.

New Brunswick
With a season opening on Sept. 15, you
can get a jumpstart on your woodcock
hunting north of the border. It’ll be hot
and the cover will be thick, but the odds
are high that the birds will have had
no recent contact with dogs when you
arrive. Historically, I’ve extended my
season with a visit to the province dur-
ing the last week of September. Grouse
season opens there on Oct. 1.

Northern New England


The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and
Wildlife Refuge is a ’doodle hotspot in
northern Vermont and New Hampshire
during the third and fourth weeks of
October. Maine’s Public Reserved
Lands system consists of 37 parcels
comprising 600,000 acres, and much
of it attracts woodcock.

Southern New England


Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
Connecticut are pretty well carved
up. Pocket coverts of 5 to 15 acres are
your best bets during the last week in
October and early November. The larger
state-owned lands in the Berkshires
and northwestern Connecticut are good
places to look, too.

New Jersey
Cape May is an historic staging ground
for woodcock, and the state has a split
VHDVRQ7KH¿UVWUXQVIURP1RYWR
Dec. 2, while the second season opens
Dec. 14 and closes Jan. 2. Mid-December
is a great time to hunt this southernmost
point of the Garden State on the east
side of Delaware Bay.

STAY AWHILE
Finding food and lodging near great
woodcock hunting isn’t always easy.
PREFERRED HABITAT :RRGFRFNOLNHHGJHVVRDQ\¿HOGWKDW The locations below, however, offer
Woodcock favor young forests between is rimmed with young hardwoods is a both, plus either a DIY or a guided
10 and 30 years old, with nitrogen-rich JRRGEHW7KH\¶OOXVHWKH¿HOGDVDODQG- approach to hunting. They’re all dog-
soil that attracts worms. Look for aspen, ing strip and then move into the thicker friendly, and if they don’t have full dog
alder and poplar stands. Areas with seeps cover for protection or feed. If it’s been a kennels to house your pooch, they offer
and feeder streams are solid bets, too. hot, dry summer and early fall, look for in-room options.

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 71


New Brunswick Maine
In order to hunt Crown Land in Canada,
you’ll need to hire a hunting guide. While
There are dozens of lodges that are
part of the century-old, historic Maine RUNNING
there are lots of excellent guides in the
province, the ones at Upper Oxbow
Sporting Camp industry. Hunting out
your door is part of the program, and
THE
Outdoor Adventures in Sillikers
(miramichioutdoors.ca) and The Ledges
with Maine’s active timber industry,
there are always a lot of great covers to
NUMBERS
Inn in Doaktown (ledgesinn.com) are hunt. The Moosehorn National Wildlife
Telemetry studies have
hardcore bird hunters who are in the Refuge at the Eastern part of the state shed light on the habits of
covers working their own strings. near the New Brunswick border serves as migratory woodcock.
In the early part of the season, you’ll a breeding ground for woodcock. Bring Until a decade ago, most of the
hunt resident birds. From the middle your string and hunt on your own or go woodcock’s migratory information
to late part, all the migratory birds that out with one of the guides at Weatherby’s was anecdotal. Information was
summered farther north in the Maritimes Resort (weatherbys.com) in Grand shared from one woodcock hunter
will push through. The daily bag limit is Lake Stream. In the Kennebec River to another, and those observations
eight woodcock, but with the thickness Valley in the central part of the state, formed patterns that shaped our
of the covers, you’ll need both luck and FKHFNRXW*UH\¶V2XW¿WWLQJLQ&DUDWXQN opinions and strategies. Although
VNLOOWR¿OOLW JUH\VRXW¿WWLQJFRP  unscientific, what we observed
about the birds and their migration
was pretty solid.
However, thanks to recent
telemetry studies conducted by
the American Woodcock Society,
the sister organization of the
Ruffed Grouse Society, factual
and scientific information has
contributed to our understanding
of woodcock behavior. Among the
findings were these fascinating
statistics:
• Surveys showed that the average
distance woodcock migrated from
their breeding to wintering grounds
was 870 miles.
• The longest migration of a bird
was 1,500 miles from Maine to
Alabama.
• Woodcock fly an average of 160
miles in a single night.
• The longest distance a bird flew
in one night was 498 miles.
• Once a woodcock begins its
migration, it takes between 25
and 30 days to complete.
• The fastest trip was a 6-day
migration covering 1,100 miles
from Maine to North Carolina.
• Along its route, a woodcock
typically stops four or five times.
• Woodcock do not migrate within a
specific flyway. A bird might travel
from Maine to Louisiana and later
fly to Minnesota.
Woodcock almost always hold tight,
making them worthy quarry for any • The woodcock’s average lifespan is
TOM KEER

dog that’s unafraid to wade into the just under 2 years.


gnarly cover the birds favor.

72 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


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New Hampshire
Diehard bird hunters need no introduc-
tion to the northern part of the Granite GUN THOUGHTS
Some things to consider when selecting a shotgun for woodcock
State; it’s been a top destination for years.
Lots of logging creates ideal covers, and What features should a woodcock gun have? A light and responsive shotgun is
when the migration begins, birds from ideal for the thick coverts. Shorter barrel lengths of 26 or 28 inches are ideal,
the Gaspe Peninsula breeding grounds as are stocks and fore-ends with less wood. One reason that many woodcock
push through. Dogs are welcome, and hunters favor side-by-sides is they come with a splinter fore-end and a straight
both guided and DIY hunts are avail- English stock.
able. If you prefer the former, consider Lars Jacob of Wild Surroundings in Vermont is one of the country’s foremost
Tall Timber Lodge (talltimber.com) or gun fitters. “Side-bys with straight stocks are lethal because the design allows
Lopstick Lodge (lopstick.com), both of the shooter’s front and rear hands to work well together,” he says. “Both wrists
which are located near Pittsburg. The are nearly parallel and relaxed. Together they move the shotgun to the cheek in a
Connecticut River begins here as the flat, unstaggered mount. Semi-pistol grips offer some comfort, but the rear hand
discharge from Fourth Connecticut Lake. runs at about a 45-degree angle to the front hand. Full-pistol grips run at close
to a 90-degree angle. Pistol grips help with recoil reduction, which is why they are
New York common on clays courses and when shooting heavy waterfowl or turkey loads. For a
The Adirondacks have a long woodcock smooth, instinctive mount on game, the side-by’s design makes for easier shooting.”
hunting heritage, and the Hungry Trout If you’re shooting a larger bore, then give some thought to your load. Load is
on the West Branch of the Au Sable River more important than gauge,
(hungrytrout.com) is certainly a part of and a light load spreads faster Many woodcock hunters prefer
it. Adirondack Park consists of about 6 and offers a better pattern a side-by-side with short
million acres, so DIY hunts are com- during close shots. Think barrels, a splinter fore-end
mon, but if you want to book a guide, the about it: A 3/4-ounce load is and an English stock.
Hungry Trout has access to 20,000 acres standard for a 28 gauge, so if
of a young-forest lease that holds lots of you’re shooting a 3/4-ounce
birds. In the southern part of the Empire load in a 12 gauge or even
State, Catskill Park covers 700,000 acres, in a 16 or 20, haven’t you
and West Branch Angler near Hancock really turned that gun into a
(westbranchresort.com) has been cater- 28 gauge? The answer is yes.
ing to hunters and anglers for more than Don’t worry about your gauge;
30 years. The place has 30 cabins on the focus on your load.
West Branch of the Delaware River.

Becoming a good shot on woodcock


can be a challenge. The key is to
wait until they reach the apex of
their helicopter-like flight.

TOM KEER (2)

74 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


GEAR: BUYER’S GUIDE

Strap vests offer


advantages to upland
hunters, but only if
they’re built to handle
a load. Here’s how to
find one that’s up for
all-day excursions.
By Scott Linden

COURTESY OF FINAL RISE (LEFT); COURTESY OF HUNT REDI (RIGHT)

76 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


ommonly called strap vests, REQUIREMENT NO. 1

C the hybrid pack/bags designed


for bird hunting have become
¿UPO\HVWDEOLVKHGDPRQJKDUG
core uplanders, but they probably are
Strap vests must do one thing well: take
the weight of your stuff off your shoul
ders. Who needs another excuse for
poor shooting? Two or three ringnecks
not what your father thinks is a bird in your game bag puts tension on the
YHVW$WUDGLWLRQDOVW\OHYHVWEHOWSDFN shoulder straps unless that weight is
shoulder bag, jacket or just a pocket full borne by a hip belt. Add a few quarts
of shells will do for an hour’s stroll in of water, and that vest will impede gun
WKHJURXVHZRRGVEXWDQDOOGD\VKDUS mount and swing. Fully loaded for an
WDLORUFKXNDUKXQWUHTXLUHVDUHWKLQN all day chukar hunt, my vest tops 25
7KHEHVWVWUDSYHVWGHVLJQHUVERU pounds before birds.
URZHGIURPWKHEDFNSDFNLQJDQGELJ Sure, there are other critical func
game worlds then addressed their own tions, including storage capacity, but
QHHGVIURPH[SHULHQFHZKLOHJURXQG it, too, is related to the top priority of
pounding the chukar hills. This new weight distribution. A poorly designed
breed of vest promises comfort and func strap vest’s pockets and pouches put
tionality, but a buyer needs to keep a weight onto or into the game bag and,
sharp eye out, looking beyond cosmetics thus, your shoulders. bird vests. The devil, though, is in the
to engineering. Back in 1952, Dick Kelty put a hip details. Form doesn’t always follow
,QWKHHYHUJURZLQJSLOHRIKLSEHOWHG VWUDSRQKLVQHZO\LQYHQWHGH[WHUQDO function; it’s often merely fashion.
vests are some standouts, which we’ll frame backpack. The rest is history.
look at here. First, though, let’s discuss Design, innovation, engineering and WHAT TO LOOK FOR
some things to consider if you’re shop materials have all changed for the better, Despite my urgent pleadings (I’ve
ping for one ... and some aftermarket but the basic premise remains. Over the consulted on eight different vest de
enhancements you might want to add years, hip belts have become common signs), there is still no perfect strap vest.
for maximum performance. place in backpacks—and now, even in Lucky for us, there are a lot of podium

Strap vests offer


abundant ways to carry
gear for long hunts.
How the vest distributes
the weight of that gear,
however, is what really
matters in the field.

GAFMAG.COM SEPTEMBER 2024 77


You should be able to reach
inside the game bag to drop birds
without having to uncomfortably
contort your arm and shoulder.

Vests that provide spots


contenders with several things in com- to add carabiners allow
mon, and these features are worth ex- hunters to place items
amining when making a choice. within immediate reach.
The hip belt should bear maximum
weight. Anything heavy should be di-
rectly connected to the belt, not the
shoulder straps. Looking closely at the
rig should reveal how frequently the
designer hunts chukars all day in the
early season: water bottles and shell
pockets should be mounted on the belt,
the bladder pocket also anchored to
the belt and up against your back. The
belt should be easily adjustable for
layers. And like the foundation for a
skyscraper, a wide, rigid belt supports
the most weight.
There should be minimal weight
transfer from the game bag to the
shoulder straps. When the vest is fully
loaded, you should be able to easily
VOLSDFRXSOH¿QJHUVEHWZHHQDVWUDS
and your shoulder. If there are a lot of
pockets on the game bag, or a bladder
pocket sagging back there instead of
SCOTT LINDEN (2)

nestled between your shoulder blades,


the weight will make you a worse shot
than you really are.

78 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


®

SCAN TO REGISTER

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FOR PROGRAM RULES
AND CONDITIONS+

LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY


Limited Lifetime Structural Warranty‡
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©2024 Skeeter Products, Inc. All rights reserved. This document contains many of Skeeter’s valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any
references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only, and are not intended to be an endorsement. Remember to observe all applicable boating laws. Never
drink and ride. Dress properly with a USCG-approved flotation device and protective gear. Boats may be shown with optional equipment. See your local Skeeter dealer for complete details.
+Messaging and data rates may apply.
A vest should be adaptable. Look locations offer attachment points for comfort and functionality is a longer
for quick, simple ways to attach more lanyards and collar transmitters. strap or shorter hang distance on the
stuff. Molle or other attachment points Maximum adjustability is another game bag. Consider available options
ideally will be anchored to the belt, not important feature, and it extends to the for pocket size and location.
adding weight to the game bag. See if shoulder straps, hip belt, game-bag ca- Ergonomics are critical when the birds
there’s room on the belt for additional pacity and even pocket location. Learn DUHÀ\LQJDQG\RX¶UHUXQQLQJRQLQVWLQFW
pockets, as it’s better to add items and how and why the adjustments work, Shell pockets should open easily with
weight to the belt than to hang more stuff and experiment with a loaded vest. one hand. The location for an e-collar
on the game bag. D-rings in strategic Sometimes all you need for greater transmitter should be, literally, right at
hand. Water needs to be conveniently
accessible but secure. Padded shoulder
straps are a contrivance; they only hinder
gun mount. Stuff objects that mimic a

Bringing the few birds into the bag while you wear
the vest fully loaded. You shouldn’t have

moment closer
to be double-jointed to put your trophy
in your pack. (Asking somebody to do
it for you is like calling AAA to change
with a crisp and compact
\RXUÀDWWLUH
outdoor companion.
USE IT AND FINE-TUNE IT
A good mechanic doesn’t hang his tools
outside the toolbox. The same applies to
your vest. Everything should be tucked
inside so it doesn’t snag on brush or
barbed wire, make bird-scaring rattles
and clanks, or booger up your gun mount.
Get a vest with enough pockets for es-
sential gear. Just make sure most are
joined to the hip belt, not the game bag.
Wear it right. Even svelte, chiseled
FKXNDUKXQWHUVKDYHDGH¿QHGZDLVW²
what we’d all like to be the narrow part
above the hip bones. Your belt goes
above that, so your vest’s weight rests
on the hip bones. Cinch it up tight; you’ll
get used to it. Your shoulder straps should
now be hanging loose, and they should
stay that way as you load your vest.
Tighten your sternum strap to keep them
from falling off your shoulders like a
sultry movie starlet’s dress.
)ROORZLQJ\RXU¿UVWKXQWLVDERXW
when you start tinkering with your shiny
new vest. You didn’t leave your truck
stock, so why settle for an almost-right
vest? Over the years, here are some
FRPPRQUH¿QHPHQWV,¶YHVHHQDQGGRQH
Add a lumbar pad. The big-game guys
KDYH¿JXUHGWKLVRXW%HVW,FDQWHOORQO\
®
one bird-vest company has. Hips do a
® great job holding up your belt on each
side, but unless you’ve got a vestigial
tail, your back could use some assistance.
Using industrial-strength Velcro, add a
rigid foam wedge to your hip belt, en-
suring contact with your back. You’ve
FUHDWHGDQRWKHUREVWDFOHRQ\RXUYHVW¶V RIP\FULWHULD7KH\DUHQ¶WLQH[SHQVLYH injured dog. A variety of models and
relentless downward slide. EXWZKDW¶VWKHFRVWRIPLVVHGELUGVDQG interchangeable accessory pockets make
Add more attachment points. Slip on trips to the chiropractor? this a versatile system, and the magnetic
carabiners for lanyards or quick-access pocket closures are simple to operate
JHDU:KLOH,WU\WRNHHSPRVWVWXIIHQ- Final Rise Summit XT LQWKHKHDWRIDFRYH\ÀXVK<RXFDQ
FORVHG,GRZDQWWRDWWDFKLWWRP\YHVW Final Rise has a couple clever innova- adjust the game bag to move weight
E-collar transmitters, compass, whistle, tions: a built-in lumbar pad and an in- toward your waist, too. $185-$360;
camera, phone, etc., are in a pocket but novative built-in sling for carrying an ¿QDOULVHFRP
tethered to me.
More water is always welcomed by
you and your dog. Most bladder systems
exert weight on the game bag and thus
your shoulder straps. Shop for a vest
that has the bladder pocket directly at-
WDFKHGWRWKHKLSEHOW,IQRWFRXQWU\ER\
engineering can transfer weight to the
hip belt with judicious application of
Velcro on belt and bladder.
1RZ\RX¶UHUHDG\IRUDGD\D¿HOG
with an unobstructed gun mount and
swing, dogs and humans well-watered,
geared for any eventuality, with adequate
ammo and room for a limit of birds. Let
me know what that last one feels like.

FOUR THAT HUNT


Depending on the size of your bank ac-
FRXQW\RXFDQ¿QGDVWUDSYHVWIRUOHVV
than $100 that has some compromises,
or you can ascend into the stratosphere
ZLWKDQKHLUORRPTXDOLW\ DQGSULFHG 
vest. Here are the players that meet most

FINAL RISE
SUMMIT XT
the side-release buckles a little harder
to operate with one hand than magnetic
FORVXUHVEXW,KDYHPRUHFRQ¿GHQFHLQ
HUNT the pockets staying closed. $245-$375;
REDI huntredi.com
DEVIATE
DRIFTER Buck’s Bags Upland Bird Vest
2.0 The granddaddy of them all is the Buck’s
Bag Upland Bird Vest. First on the mar-
ket decades ago, this vest is brilliantly
simple, with basic engineering that ev-
HU\RQHVLQFHKDVERUURZHGDQGUH¿QHG
It’s eminently functional with a few com-
promises. Water is carried in a bladder
between the shoulder blades, but with a
little industrial-strength Velcro, the pocket
can be mated to the waist belt. Buck’s
makes the vest in four sizes, so consult PEREGRINE TREKKER II DOG
the company prior to ordering. You’ll HANDLER’S VEST
need to customize this vest for your own
needs, but it offers capacious storage and Dog Handler’s Vest. It blends old-school
Hunt Redi Deviate Drifter 2.0 is easy to clean. $150; bucksbags.com style with a hip belt and ton of design
Hunt Redi offers a variety of customiz- ÀH[LELOLW\/RWVRISRFNHWVPXOWLSOH
able, lightweight models. I like that the Peregrine Trekker II D-rings, a rear backpack for extra storage
hip belt’s hefty padded portion extends Dog Handler’s Vest and an extra-large front opening in the
farther forward than in other vests, of- If you just got to have that traditional game bag are all noteworthy features.
fering slightly more grab around the look, check out the Peregrine Trekker II $220; peregrineoutdoor.com.
waist. There is a raft of accessories to
DFFRPPRGDWH\RXUUHTXLUHPHQWV,¿QG

BUCK’S BAGS
UPLAND
BIRD VEST

Oliva Serie G - MSRP $792


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GEAR: RANGE REPORT

BROWNING X-BOLT 2
Customization is the
name of the game with
this latest iteration
of the popular X-Bolt
centerfire platform.
By John Taranto

LQFHLWVLQWURGXFWLRQLQ have spent some time with it at the range. LWWRIUHHWKHFRPE7KHFRPEKDVVL[

S WKH %URZQLQJ ;%ROW KDV


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XSRQWKHVXFFHVVRILWVSUHGHFHVVRUZLWK SRVLWHVWRFNZLWKLWVDGMXVWDEOHFRPE RUPRUHRIWKHIRXULQFOXGHGVSDFHUV
GLIIHUHQWYHUVLRQVUDQJLQJLQSULFH KHLJKWOHQJWKRISXOODQGJULSVW\OHV 7KH;%ROW6SHHGFRPHVZLWKWZRJULS
COURTESY OF BROWNING

IURPWR/DVW'HFHPEHU 7RDGMXVWWKHFRPEKHLJKWWKHXVHU PRGXOHVZLWKUXEEHURYHUPROGLQJ²DQ


,WRRNWKHPRGHUDWHO\SULFHG;%ROW LQVHUWVDQLQFOXGHGKH[ZUHQFKLQWRD DQJOHGVSRUWHURSWLRQDQGDYHUWLFDORS-
6SHHGRQDKXQWIRU&DUPHQ0RXQWDLQ VPDOOKROHDWWKHWRSRIWKHUHFRLOSDG WLRQ²WKDWDUHHDVLO\LQWHUFKDQJHDEOH
ZKLWHWDLOVLQ6RXWK7H[DVDQGVLQFHWKHQ HQJDJHVWKHLQWHUQDOVFUHZDQGORRVHQV GHSHQGLQJRQXVHUSUHIHUHQFH

84 SEPTEMBER 2024 GAFMAG.COM


DEVOUR
BRUSH PILES
WITH A DR® CHIPPER
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• Chip and shred with power to spare
• Bigger engines that chew up the competition
• Built USA tough for smooth, reliable operation

USA
ENGINEERED AND BUILT
Assembled in the USA
using domestic and
foreign parts.
PRO 420
7KHULÀHLVDYDLODEOHLQGLIIHUHQW
FKDPEHULQJVUDQJLQJIURP:LQWR ACCURACY RESULTS
35&7KHLQFOXGHGUDGLDOPX]]OH
LOAD: Winchester Expedition
EUDNHDQGDLQFK,QÀH[UHFRLOSDG
Big Game Long-Range
ZRUNWRJHWKHUWRPLQLPL]HIHOWUHFRLODQG
DOORZIRUIDVWIROORZXSVKRWV BULLET WEIGHT: 165 gr.
$VLWVPRQLNHUVXJJHVWVWKH;%ROW MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,855 fps
6SHHGLVEXLOWZLWKWKHPRELOHKXQWHU AVERAGE GROUP: .761”
LQPLQGWKHZHLJKWRIWKH:HVWHUQ
FKDPEHUHGYHUVLRQWLSVWKHVFDOHVDWMXVW LOAD: Browning Silver Series
RYHUSRXQGV7KLVORZZHLJKWLV BULLET WEIGHT: 170 gr.
DFKLHYHGLQSDUWWKURXJKDÀXWHGVSRUW
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,808 fps
HUFRQWRXUEDUUHO ZLWKDQ0[
WKUHDGHGPX]]OH DQGDVSLUDOÀXWHG AVERAGE GROUP: 1.17”
EROW7KHEROWIHDWXUHVDGHJUHHOLIW
IRUIDVWF\FOLQJDQGWRSURYLGHFOHDUDQFH LOAD: Winchester Ballistic Silvertip
IRURYHUVL]HGRSWLFV$EROWXQORFNEXWWRQ BULLET WEIGHT: 170 gr.
SRVLWLRQHGDWWKHMXQFWLRQRIWKHEROW¶V MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,829 fps
ERG\DQGLWVKDQGOHDOORZVWKHXVHUWR AVERAGE GROUP: .743”
RSHQWKHEROWZLWKWKHVDIHW\RQ
8QOLNH PDQ\ FHQWHU¿UH ULÀHV WKH Muzzle velocity is the average of 10
;%ROW6SHHGIHDWXUHVIRXUVFUHZKROHV consecutive shots as measured by a Garmin
SHUEDVHUDWKHUWKDQWZRIRUURFNVROLG Xero chronograph. Accuracy is the average of
RSWLFVPRXQWLQJ%URZQLQJFDOOVWKHVH three, three-shot groups fired from a Caldwell
Lead Sled at 100 yards.
³;/RFNPRXQWV´$QH[FHOOHQWJROG
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DWSRXQGVDQGDGMXVWDEOHGRZQ
WRSRXQGVEUHDNVOLNHJODVVZLWKQR
GLVFHUQDEOHFUHHSWDNHXSRURYHUWUDYHO SPECIFICATIONS
BROWNING
WHERE TO GO X-BOLT 2
TYPE: bolt-action centerfire rifle
CALIBER: 6.8 Western (tested)
(731) 253-2007 all adjustable on the X-Bolt 2 Speed.
BARREL: 24”; button-rifled;
REELFOOT LAKE TOURISM COUNCIL
7KH;%ROW6SHHGLVDVDWWUDFWLYH sporter contour with fluting;
DVLWLVIXQFWLRQDO%URZQLQJ¶VSURSUL threaded muzzle with brake
FYlmj]k_j]Yl]kl_a^llggml\ggj]fl`mkaYklk& HWDU\DQGYHUVDWLOH2YL[FDPRXÀDJH TRIGGER: DLX; factory set at 3 1/2-
DGRUQVWKHVWRFNDQGD6PRNHG%URQ]H lb. pull weight; adjustable to 3 lb.
&HUDNRWH¿QLVKSURWHFWVWKHEDUUHOEROW
DQGERWWRPPHWDO SAFETY: two-position tang-mounted
;ge]LgJ]]d^gglDYc]lg@mflYf\>ak`Yf\KlYqYlYfq
g^l`]?j]YlJ]kgjlkgf:]Ymla^mdJ]]d^gglDYc]L]ff]kk]]&
:KHQLQ7H[DV,GLGQ¶WKDYHPXFK MAGAZINE: rotary, detachable box;
RIDQRSSRUWXQLW\WRJHWWRNQRZWKH 3-round capacity
;%ROW6SHHG,XVHGLWWRGLVSDWFKD SIGHTS: none; drilled and tapped
JUHDWEXFNDW\DUGVZLWKDVLQJOH for X-Lock bases
VKRWDSSUR[LPDWHO\PLQXWHVLQWRP\
KXQW PRUHRQWKDWLQDIXWXUHLVVXH  STOCK: Vari-Tech composite;
$VVXFK,ZDVHDJHUWRJHWLWWRWKH adjustable LOP, comb and grip
UDQJHWRVHHMXVWZKDWNLQGRIDFFXUDF\ FINISH: Ovix camo, Smoked
,FRXOGZULQJRXWRILW$V\RXFDQVHH Bronze Cerakote
IURPWKH$FFXUDF\5HVXOWVER[ DERYH
COURTESY OF BROWNING

ULJKW WKLVQHZ;%ROWLVDVKRRWHU,I OVERALL LENGTH: 44”


\RX¶UHLQWKHPDUNHWIRUDQHZELJJDPH WEIGHT: 6.63 lb.
ULÀHWKDWFRXOGEHXVHGE\PXOWLSOHKXQW
MSRP: $1,499.99
HUVWKDQNVWRLWVFXVWRPL]DELOLW\ORRN
QRIXUWKHU
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RITES
BY JEFF JOHNSTON

Ramped Up
A crowded boat ramp is no place to get frazzled.
ccasionally Shane and his father

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