From top of the line guns, to once-in-a-lifetime hunts, the finest artwork, stunning jewelry and more, SCI’s auctions at the 2019 SCI Hunters’ Convention offer a variety of items sure to delight any bidder. Everyone is a winner: the bidder is awarded a valuable product or experience and SCI gets crucial funds to help preserve our hunting heritage and enable conservation efforts to occur around the globe.

Below are items you will find at this year’s auction. For an extensive list of auction items and their descriptions, go to https://www.showsci.org/auction/.

Fausti ‘Classico’ Side-by-Side Shotgun

Fausti Stefano SRL has donated a Fausti ‘Classico’ Side-by-Side Shotgun in 20 gauge. The hammer gun has always fascinated and attracted the more traditional hunters and collectors of fine guns. Fausti remains today as one of the few manufacturers to produce these gorgeous guns for their passionate followers. The ultimate model is called ‘Classico.’ It features newly designed external hammers finished entirely by hand as well as the engraving, a mix of traditional and modern pattern harmoniously engraved in ‘bulino’ style and signed by the engraver, the Master Stefano Muffolini. The ‘Classico’ that Fausti has donated for the Safari Club International 2019 Auction is a 20 gauge version, featuring a 28-in. barrel length, improved cylinder/modified fixed chokes, selected wood with rubber pad, oil finished, hand-checkering, bone and charcoal exclusive finishing and leather case. Beauty and harmony, these are the proper words to describe a remarkable example of Italian craftmanship in this Fausti masterpiece. For more information, visit www.faustiarms.com. Valued at $16,000 Read more

MISSOULA, Mont.—How would you like to go on an all-expenses paid elk hunt with public lands hunter Randy Newberg? The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and onX Hunt are sponsoring a 2019 elk hunt giveaway that will allow someone to do just that.

“RMEF is excited to team up with both Randy and onX Hunt so one hunter can take part in an elk hunt that he or she will never forget,” said Steve Decker, RMEF vice president of Marketing. “The experience will also be captured on video and later presented in such a way that viewers can better enjoy elk and our public lands as well as the unique experiences they offer.”

RMEF and onX share an interest in and a passion for conservation, public land and hunting. The onX Hunt RMEF layer on the onX Hunt app highlights land permanently protected by RMEF, access points and current and historic elk ranges.

Randy Newberg is a strong advocate for public lands hunting and volunteers his time to support such efforts in state legislatures and Congress. He also serves as a volunteer and board member for several hunting and conservation groups.

Those interested in entering receive one entry if they have an onX Hunt membership. They receive five entries if they are a member of both RMEF and onX. Read more

Dallas, TX – When it comes to using scouting cameras to monitor that one big buck’s every move or observe the entire herd’s overall health and development, more is definitely better. No other camera delivers more intuitive, worry-free performance and operation for a better price than Wildgame Innovations’ proven and trusted Cloak™ series. Since its inception, Cloak™ has struck a balance of hunter-preferred features and exceptional value, while delivering steadfast, worry-free reliability. These capable, well-built cameras combine remarkable battery life with user-friendly, intuitive set-up to for infallible performance at an amazingly affordable price.

For 2018, the field-proven hunter-favorite Cloak™ Series has been improved once again, resulting in two great new models with even better processors and increased detection and flash range. The new Wildgame Innovations Cloak™Pro 12 boosts image processing and resolution to 12 megapixels, and features an upgraded 24-piece high-intensity infrared flash with a maximum illumination range of 70 feet. The Wildgame Innovations Cloak™ Pro 12 LightsOut™ has the same 12-megapixel processor, but features a completely invisible 36-piece high-intensity LightsOut™ LED infrared flash, with a super stealthy range of up to 70 feet. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Longtime friend, Joe Reynolds, had never taken a whitetail buck with archery equipment in some 20 years afield.  However, he did manage to get a doe with a compound bow and a shot that was so bad it was good.  The fatal shot, which was aimed for the typical kill zone of the lungs, was so far off target that it hit the neck and dropped the animal in seconds.  Apart from that one errant arrow and other missed opportunities, and including a careless moment with his crossbow landing him in the emergency room to get his thumb sewn back on, his archery hunting experiences had been rather uneventful.

As a member of the seasoned-citizen ranks, Joe made the switch to a crossbow, when they were made legal for general use in archery season.  The Parker bow would propel its bolts at 352 feet per second with impressive accuracy, but had yet to be tested on a whitetail deer; late afternoon with only minutes of available light remaining a week ago, that all changed.

The call came over the two-way radio, “I just shot a buck!”  He explained that the arrow had hit its mark at 42 yards and was confirmed with an audible “thwack!”  The lighted nock disappeared, as it entered near the shoulder and the potential prize accelerated in high gear and vanished into the woods.

We agreed to wait it out so as not to push the animal into the next county.  Gathering some flashlights and a field dressing kit, that had been assembled in advance, we set out to solve the mystery at 9pm.  Finding no clues at the scene of the incident, we began to search a perpendicular path of the deer’s flight, where Joe had seen it last.  Again, we found no sign.

Joe had a good idea of the approximate line the deer had traveled, so we used our lights in an attempt to locate a blood trail.  Evidence escaped us, as we continued the valiant effort – the effort to discover that red light at the end of the bolt.  Nearly an hour had passed before that blinking light got my attention on the ground ahead.  We had gotten our first clue.

The bolt had finally worked loose and most likely was separated from the deer in some brush but other than a few drops of blood on the ground, we had nothing else to follow.  We stuck to some well-worn trails and about 30 minutes later found more blood that had leaked from the wound channel.  I began randomly searching with the intense beam of an LED flashlight, when I saw the unmistakable white under-belly of the big buck.

We fastened the drag strap to the tall 8-point rack

Joe Reynolds’ Shiawassee County, Michigan Archery Buck

and began the arduous task of dragging Joe’s first archery buck into the open where it was loaded into the bed of a waiting truck. 

Had crossbows not be legalized in Michigan, I’m sure Joe’s archery hunting days would have been finished years ago.  But, the aid of a lighted nock, a modern crossbow, and a good dose of persistence had translated into a memory that will be replayed through the years.

MUCC has been in contact with the executive office of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and will continue to share information as it becomes available. We will be hosting an upcoming Conservation Policy Meeting on December 8, 2018 at the Chelsea Rod and Gun Club to learn more about PFAS and fish and wildlife. Stay tuned for more information and to RSVP.
“Do Not Eat” Advisory from the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Natural Resources (DNR): Deer in Oscoda Township (Iosco County)
In recent years, experts have become increasingly concerned by the potential effects of high concentrations of PFAS on human health. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are part of a group of chemicals used globally during the past century in manufacturing, firefighting and thousands of common household and other consumer products.
As part of Michigan’s efforts to identify PFAS in Michigan, deer were tested from areas known to have PFAS contamination in lakes or rivers. Today, MDHHS and DNR issued a ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory for deer taken within five miles of Clark’s Marsh in Oscoda Township, Iosco County. The advisory is due to high levels of PFAS chemicals found in deer taken within five miles of the Marsh.
A map of the advisory area and answers to frequently asked questions are available on the State of Michigan’s PFAS response website.
DNR and MDHHS developed this investigation in response to questions from hunters concerned about harvesting deer in contaminated areas. This is the first study of its kind and very little scientific information exists on whitetail deer and PFAS chemicals.
MDHHS and DNR advise hunters to dispose of any deer in their freezer that may have come from this area into a landfill and do not eat it.
If you have health related questions, contact MDHHS at 1-800-648-6942. Hunters can contact the MDNR at 517-284-6057 or DNR-CustomerService@michigan.gov for information about deer tags that were used in this region.

For those who process their own game, Ranew’s Outdoors Hanging Judge Gambrel allows a secure way to hang, weigh, skin and quarter large game at a convenient height that won’t hurt your back. Ranew’s Outdoor Hanging Judge Gambrel keeps the carcass suspended off the ground to ensure the meat stays clean. That’s only part of the convenience and utility of this unique device.

The heavy duty electronic scale and gambrel combo allows the hunter to measure live weight and dressed weight and continue skinning or processing the animal without worry of damaging the scale. This removes the hassle of raising and lowering the animal to remove the scale between steps. Definitely a time and back saver!

Even if you don’t process your own deer, Ranew’s Outdoors Gambrel and Scale offers an easy means for taking digitally accurate live and dressed weights. In the short term it helps you assess the general condition of your herd. Over the long term you can better judge how habitat management programs like food plots may influence deer weights.

Ranew’s Outdoor Equipment offers the ideal equipment to make your food plot planting easier and more effective. Ranew’s is ready to serve all your hunting and agriculture needs across the USA and abroad. Today, Ranew’s headquarters stands on the original two acre tract acquired for the move to Milner. In addition, the surrounding 30+ acres were acquired over the years and are now the home of three manufacturing divisions, a warehouse, 60+ dedicated employees and a customer base which includes local, state, national and international companies.

WEST POINT, MS – Recent advances in hunting gear and apparel technology have created a new solution to the timeless problem hunters experience: extremely cold temperatures.

Heated clothing is quickly becoming a popular tool for hunters to use because, having on-demand control to instant heat increases hunter comfort, enabling the hunter to endure cold temperatures longer and spend more time in the woods. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Long-time friend, Joe, and I were discussing various hunting strategies before an archery deer hunt this past week.  We recalled a long shot Joe had attempted at a distant antlerless deer years ago.  In fact, the shot was too long.

I was in a blind about a quarter mile from Joe, who was armed with a most-potent .300 Winchester Magnum – a real heavy hitter in .30 caliber.  Joe was also in a blind with his sights set on the deer that was well beyond 200 yards and within my field of view, as well.  I had no idea Joe was about to launch a round at the animal until I heard the report of the rifle.  Unscathed, the whitetail doe scampered off to a wood line never to be seen again.

When we met shortly thereafter, I asked Joe what he was doing and the excuse went something like this:  “Yeah, it was a long shot and I was wobbling around a bit.”  All I could say was, “Then you shouldn’t have taken that shot.”  After some more tongue lashing, he got the point and learned from the mistake by taking a disciplined shot that resulted in venison for the freezer the next day.  The teachable moment had taken effect.

Already this season, I have been made aware of another instance – this time in Kentucky – in which a seasoned archery deer hunter recounted a failed attempt at taking a trophy whitetail buck.  After the shot, the recovery search lasted three hours before being called off.  The hunter indicated that the massive buck would have been easily the biggest deer he would ever have taken but one aspect of the questionable shot gave a clue as to the failure.  He stated that he could only “guess” that he rushed the shot and did not take a careful look at the [shot] placement.

The teachable moment and of the self-critique is that he cannot recall where his aiming point was when the arrow was released.  Think about that for a moment, because it is crucial to any successful shot no matter what equipment is being used.  The most important thing to remember is to concentrate on a small aiming point all the way through the shot.  The concept is to recall exactly where that aiming point was when the firearm or bow was being held when the gun went boom or the arrow was released.  It’s easy to say but harder to do when the mind is racing but the term is “calling your shot.”

“Aim small, miss small” is another common term used to describe the technique.  But, when the animal of one’s dreams is within range, we tend to become overwhelmed with thoughts that distract from the task at hand.  Those thoughts can produce real effects such as trembling, shaking or involuntary shivering, even when a hunter is not cold.  Some call it “buck fever.”

We all practice our shooting techniques to some degree and hopefully to a point where the results on paper will produce ethical conditions afield; to do this when we hunt is the goal.

Concentration is the key.  We don’t want to let our minds rule our emotions.  We must take ourselves back to the basics of doing what we practiced and to take only disciplined shots.

Sometimes the shot not taken is the best one.