The New-for-2020 Vantage Series of LRFs Gives Affordable Accuracy Options

To Hunters, Bowhunters and Shooters

Hawke® Optics, a well-known leader in value-packed, high-quality sporting optics, proudly launches the all-new Vantage line of laser range finders for 2020. Hawke accomplishes something special with these new range finders – extreme performance at a value price. Of course, you would expect that from Hawke.

Laser range finders have been around for a while and technology has produced some features that hunters and shooters have come to expect. What is it, then, that makes the new Vantage Laser Range Finders from Hawke so special? In a word – price. Other manufacturers have been able to pack similar features into a compact, handheld unit, but not for the price of the Vantage. These LRFs pack a lot of features into a value-loaded bundle, making them hard to miss, just like your shot after you use one. Read more

COLUMBUS, Georgia — VERSAskins Saddle Friendly Base Jacket in Realtree EDGE Camo is the first jacket with a saddle hunting option. This highly functional jacket offers accessible side panels to allow saddle hunters to pass their bridge and lineman loops through their jacket. This allows the hunter to keep his coat tucked flat in the front and his core warm. This solution eliminates a bunched-up jacket which can make it hard to find and use the bridge or lineman loops safely. Read more

Dual-Speaker Caller Provide Complete Customization for Advanced Call Sets

Irving, TX – Hunting Made Easy (HME) has teamed with America’s most noted predator hunter, Fred Eichler, to develop a new electronic game caller system. The Eichler Dual Game Call is a comprehensive caller suitable for use in any environment or call set up where technical sets and customizable call programming are desired. The Eichler Dual call system features a matte black finish on the caller chassis and the remote control to minimize the “visual footprint” on calling sets and come accented with Fred Eichler’s signature paw print design. Try this call out in our 2020 Archery Trade Show booth #1605!

For the ultimate in high-fidelity sound production, the Eichler Dual Game Call utilizes twin 4-inch reflex horn drivers that produce a maximum 120 dB output per speaker. These speakers mount to the caller control body with 90º mechanical pivoting for optimal sound dispersal. This model includes two external jacks for connecting secondary amplified speakers, allowing for an expanded audio footprint.

The Eichler Dual Game Call comes with robust programming options for customizing calling sets, such as pre-configurable call volume settings, pre-set time spacing between random or sequential calls (with two to five calls available per set), and sequential call playback when utilizing auxiliary speakers. Read more

Are the kids going stir-crazy from being stuck inside this winter?

Layer on the warm gear and join us for a youth small game hunt at Flat River State Game Area:

Saturday, Jan. 18
Belding Sportsman’s Club
10651 Youngman Road, Greenville

This free event will start with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided later in the day. Raffle prizes will be available for youth hunters.

All parties must have at least one hunter under the age of 17. Read more

Fold it down. Leave it out.

Irving, TX – Increasingly, hunters are turning to ground blinds for their optimal concealment benefits and for their increased comfort in cold, wet weather. With those conveniences come the setup and take-down hassles associated with conventional popup-style blinds, not to mention the structural integrity when hunting in heavy snow climates. See this blind andother Down&Out models on display at the 2020 ATA Show in GSM Outdoors booth #1605.

The Down&Out™ XL ground blind solves these issues with its patented BlindFold technology. This blind not only sets up in less than five minutes (takedown is one minute), it is built to withstand snow and harsh weather, and it can be left out all season.

Measuring a generous 96-inch diameter and tall 78-inch peak height, the Down&Out™ XL sets up fast thanks to the six-panel folding design. The panels are made of heavy-duty 600 denier No-Shine Cordura fabric that resists water and fading. Each panel is secured to a robust, powder-coated aluminum frame that is not only strong and light but also won’t rust. Five of the panels include a 13×25-inch vertical window and a 23×14-inch horizontal window with built-in gun rails to accommodate vertical bows and guns or crossbows. The windows allow for customized 360-degree viewing and shooting. All windows are comprised of an inside fabric with a silent elastic cord/clip system and outer camo shoot-through mesh windows with quiet magnetic closures. The door panel also features a magnetic closure system and measures 48×60 inches for easy access and wheelchair accessibility. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Spooky barks, yips, and howls of a nearby coyote interrupted the deer-hunting stillness, as sunlight descended into low light. Across the swamp the song dog taunted me, as I strained to get a glimpse of the critter. Even though deer season was in full swing, there’d be no hesitation to take out the vociferous carnivore, if given a chance. I even had a custom hand call in my pocket for the occasion, but I couldn’t bring myself to actually using it. I was torn between spending the best part of the day actively pursuing this fawn killer and waiting out prime time for a whitetail buck. Neither materialized.

With deer hunting seasons behind us, coyote hunting is at the top of the agenda now. Although a predator hunter can spend a small fortune on an electronic caller and a suitable firearm, chances are that any deer hunter already has the requisite equipment. Yes, that deer gun may render a pelt worthless from the accompanying damage, it’s really of no significant consequence when one considers the relative low value of our Eastern-variety skins in good condition; they’re not worth the trouble of skinning to begin with.

With that mentioned, a hunter is able to use the same ammunition that was used for deer hunting. However, if shots are to be in more open areas, high-stepping centerfire rifles may be in order to hunt longer ranges effectively.

But, what happens when a wily coyote presents itself for a moment at 50 yards or less? That fancy, high-magnification scoped rig is about as useful as a club. Things just happen too fast, and if you’ve ever seen a coyote hit the nitrous button, you know how fruitless it is to bring one down on the run.

Enter the shotgun. No special-purpose smooth bore is required, but relatively heavy shot is best. Some hunters prefer #4 buckshot, but any larger shot size can be problematic, because there is not enough shot to consistently hit the small vitals. Besides that, I haven’t found good patterns with larger buckshot, either.

Winchester’s Varmint X shotshells are truly worth considering for a number of reasons: 1) Patterns are unsurpassed with typical shotshell offerings, 2) The ammo is relatively inexpensive compared to other premium shells, and 3) Recoil is less than loads using more shot.

Although some hunters may opt to carry two firearms afield – a rifle for longer shots and a shotgun for closer-up work – just try to grab the right one in the heat of the moment. And, make sure to practice kicking yourself, while you are at it.

It’s probably best to take one firearm and hunt terrain accordingly. Better yet, a friend toting a shotgun as backup (or you with the shotgun), can make for a combination well-suited for different possibilities.

Next week, we will visit with a hunter/trapper who has been quite successful over the years to learn how he was able to take over 100 coyote pelts to market last year alone. Although he’s not from Michigan, many of his tips and techniques are universally applicable.

By Glen Wunderlich

With the closing of Michigan’s muzzleloading season – one that has permitted the use of all firearms that are legal in the regular firearms deer season – another season is slated to begin Monday, December 23^rd through January 1, 2020. This late antlerless firearms season is open on private lands only in most of the Lower Peninsula (check the regulations for specifics) and closed to all of the Upper Peninsula. There are extended antlerless opportunities, as well, for those hunting south of M32 in Alpena County, private land only, Jan. 2-5 and Jan. 9-12, 2020. Additionally, archery season will extend until January 31 for Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

All of this means Michigan has too many deer. So, if you still have freezer space, opportunities abound. At the same time, hunters can perform the duties of scientific wildlife managers in efforts to balance the buck to doe ratio in the herd, and to control the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). There is no discount on these antlerless tags at $20 each but the good news is that 10 private-land antlerless licenses per hunter in the CWD Management Zones are available.

The CWD Management Zones include Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lenawee, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, and Shiawassee counties.

The Natural Resources Commission has requested that the DNR evaluate the impact of antler point restrictions within the five-county Core CWD Area on prevalence and spread of chronic wasting disease, increasing antlerless harvest, and decreasing deer population beginning with the 2019 deer season. The data collected will be used to provide estimates on deer abundance and sex/ age ratio changes – factors that are likely to contribute to the overall CWD spread.

Additionally, deer harvest, hunter numbers, and hunter perceptions of APRs will be assessed. The DNR has partnered with the Boone and Crockett Quantitative Wildlife Center at Michigan State University to conduct this research. At the end of the project (Fall 2023), the results along with conclusions and management recommendations will be presented to the Commission. Recommendations will include the efficacy of APR regulations as a tool for managing the prevalence and spread of CWD.

Finally, here are a few statistics from the DNR deer check station at Rose Lake. The goal in testing for CWD in Shiawassee County was to check a total of 113 deer and so far some 375 have been tested with no positives. Gratiot County is well below the goal of 1277 tests yet has found 3 cases of CWD.

The oldest doe checked was aged at an astounding 13 ½ years and the oldest buck was 6 ½ years of age. And, some fortunate hunter bagged a buck with 16 antler points according to Rose Lake information.

For those hopeful hunters that are still pursuing the low-fat venison alternative to supermarket mystery meat, you’ll find the remaining deer to be in a more normal mode of survival without the hunting pressure of last month. However, those adult whitetail does have become educated, having survived the traditional seasons. Good optics are essential to identify bucks with shed antlers from females, although antlerless bucks are still legal (Ouch!). Also, make sure to avoid hanging deer in freezing conditions (or warmer weather, if applicable).

(SMITHVILLE, GA) – From extensive crop damage, to native game and habitat destruction, wild hogs can cost landowners anywhere from several hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Hogs plow through dirt, like man made farm implements, tearing up anything in their path. They will eat everything, including other animals, especially the young ones. Fawns won’t run, when they are only a few days old, and are quickly gobbled up. Clutches of quail or turkey eggs are a tasty treat. Wild hogs are not only competing for the food the native species needs to survive, but actually preying ON the native species themselves!

Hal Shouse, a navy veteran, and founder of HogSWAT, has created a solution to help control the overpopulation and damage caused by these wild hogs.

HogSWAT is a Tactical hog control company located in southwest Georgia that offers fully guided nighttime hog hunts, year-round using the best thermal optics and AR-15’s available. HogSWAT offers their service to local farmers, who are being terrorized by wild hogs…FOR FREE! Read more