Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Game & Fish

I still get chills when I remember my first encounter with a bugling bull elk at close range. Hunting northern New Mexico with a muzzleloader, I shadowed my guide, Troy, through the cedars as he occasionally blew a cow call. The day wasn’t an hour old when a bull responded just down a low ridge, and we hustled, quietly with the wind quartering across our foreheads, to close the distance. We had gone 300 yards or so and then stopped to listen. Hearing nothing, Troy hit the cow call again, and the bull screamed in our faces. The response was so loud that it seemed like the bull was standing on our toes. I had heard plenty of gobblers sound off within mere yards before, but this was something else.…

Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past few years, odds are you’ve caught wind of the tree-saddle movement. If you believe even half of what you’ve likely heard about these odd contraptions, you’ve probably been led to believe they are the single-greatest invention since the digital trail camera. Admittedly, I’ve used saddles for a while and, in fact, employed one long before the current saddle hoopla took root. After several seasons using a saddle setup in a handful of states, I definitely have an opinion based on experience. And? They’re just OK. Surprised? Well, I am quite certain my less-than-enthusiastic opinion on them will raise a few eyebrows from the die-hard proponents of saddles. However, that’s just the way I feel about them. In some situations, saddles are…

I rolled into a camp after midnight one season. I pitched a small tent next to my truck and tried getting some sleep as it had been a long drive. About 3 a.m. bugling bulls awoke me. I couldn’t get back to sleep, anxiously awaiting sunrise. I hunted all day and didn’t see or hear an elk. The same thing happened the following night, and again I hunted the area and didn’t see an animal. On the third night I got up when I heard the elk. I followed them and could even see them in the glow of the full moon. I learned those elk were traveling 3 miles every night to feed, returning to their bedding area in the middle of the night. Over the years I’ve scouted…

When fishing most topwater baits, I like to use a 7-foot rod. I find that the shorter stick (most anglers use 7-foot-plus rods) allows me to impart more action to the bait. The Witch Doctor Tackle Shaman 7-foot, medium-heavy crankbait rod ($309.99; witchdoctortackle.com) has a soft tip yet still has some backbone to it, and is my personal choice. I’ll pair it with a casting reel with a high-speed gear ratio (7.2:1), which allows me to bring my line in quickly if bass start busting in another area and I want reel up to cast to that spot. Another rod I’ll use is a Witch Doctor Tackle Kahuna 7-foot-4-inch heavy casting rod ($399.99). I turn to this when I’m fishing plopper-style baits, as the graphite/fiberglass rod helps keep bass hooked…

The greatest game dog I’ve known was Nimrod of the Limpopo. His exploits recovering game and fighting with leopards and baboons made him a legend in South Africa’s Limpopo province. I was fortunate to share the field with Nimrod on three safaris. He was a big dog, a crossbreed with some bulldog, some pointer and probably a little Rhodesian ridgeback mixed in. He was relentless on a blood trail and could bring down wounded game as large as wildebeest. Though I didn’t need his services, I never knew of him to fail when supporting other hunters. Nimrod was a one-in-a-million dog, and I doubt another like him will ever follow a trail. Game dogs the likes of Nimrod are not used very often nowadays, especially here in the states. Even…

Pity the recent hunter education graduates this month, brand new hunting licenses in their pockets and gleaming new shotguns on their shoulders. They are over-ready to use both in the dove seasons that open in 41 states on Sept. 1. Why should you pity these particular humans? Because the dove opener, the day that may send more American hunters into the field than any other day of the year, is so fraught with expectation and disappointment that few new hunters come out of it unaffected. For some, the fast action and communal spirit of wingshooting cements a lifelong passion for hunting. But for other beginners, it’s just too chaotic for their liking, and they associate all other methods of hunting with the cacophony and undirected energy of a dove field.…

As summer slides into fall, September delivers an assortment of outdoor action. Walleyes, muskies, northern pike, bass and even bluegills feed heavily ahead of winter. Hunting ramps up, too, with early deer and small-game seasons opening in many states. Upland hunters especially can enjoy beating the brush for ruffed grouse. Teal also return to the marshes, and hunters get an early crack at these winged rockets. With so many opportunities right now across the Midwest, the hardest decision in September might be what to fish or hunt for on any given day. 1 SUNFLOWER STATE TEAL Pursuing fast-flying, quick-maneuvering early-season teal isn’t the large-scale affair duck hunting becomes later in the season. A dozen decoys work for a small puddle of water, and you rarely need a boat. A…

Autumn is a time of abundance for walleye anglers. As the leaves fall from the trees, cooling water temperatures trigger predictable seasonal movements of walleyes as they follow their preferred baitfish varieties. This is a time when smaller baitfish like shiners and perch move toward shallow structure to feed up for the winter. Like all predators, walleyes are never far from their prey, and the savvy angler can intercept these heavy-bodied fall fish in shallow water during the day or at night. DAYTIME DRAMA Target Areas Walleyes locked into perch or shiner feeding patterns will spend much of the fall in shallow water—and by shallow, I mean 10 to 12 feet deep or less. In stained bodies of water, these fish reliably feed throughout the day, while shallow walleyes in…

Fall bass fishing is great for many reasons. For starters, the lakes and rivers are a lot less crowded than in summer. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the fishing can be phenomenal. Both large-mouths and smallmouths put on the feed bag during the fall to fatten up before the long winter. With this, anglers have an opportunity not only to target big bass but also, quite often, to catch numbers of bass as well. Topwater baits provide anglers with a fun and effective approach for fall bass. You get to see the fish strike, then it puts on a flashy, acrobatic show as you bring it to the boat. Topwater baits aren’t used solely for their excitement potential, though. Sometimes in the fall—whether due to location, water temperature or fish…

Michigan has something other Great Lakes states don’t: lots of gravel-bottomed rivers. In fact, in my opinion, Michigan could have just as easily been called the Great Rivers State instead of the Great Lakes State. When salmon were first planted in the Great Lakes, fisheries managers didn’t know if the Pacific transplants would reproduce in Michigan rivers. They quickly found out they could and would. Today, it’s estimated that upwards of 50 percent of the lake’s entire chinook salmon population is naturally reproduced in Michigan’s gravel-lined streams and rivers. It’s perfectly natural for salmon to return to these natal streams come fall, and savvy anglers are often right on their heels. Most of the best naturally reproducing salmon rivers are on the west side of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Waters like…

Terry Moore and I were working a brushy pocket in western South Dakota. There were tracks going in, and the wind was into the cover. Something was bound to happen. Yep, sure did. I was on the downhill side when the buck exploded. A gorgeous four-by-four headed for the skyline but didn’t make it. I dropped him on the open hillside. An hour later, Terry shot a big-bodied, heavy-antlered three-by-three. We both used familiar rifles built by mutual friend Lex Webernick at Rifles, Inc. Terry’s was in .280 Rem.; mine in .300 Wby. Mag. Neither shot was far. You could say that Terry’s choice was better than mine. I wouldn’t argue, but regardless of chambering, there is never anything wrong with using a favorite rifle that gives you confidence. I…

I doubt we know who first uttered the words, “The .308 is great.” I first heard them from outdoor writer John Barsness. We were in a hunting lodge near Uvalde, Texas, and he was advising a young man on what cartridge to have his first custom rifle chambered in. Since then, I’ve unapologetically stolen those words when offering similar advice. But I’m told the great gun writer John Wootters once wrote something similar in an article about the .308 Winchester. Regardless, those four words are a declaration that is undeniably true. I believe the .308 Win. is the best general-purpose big-game rifle cartridge. You probably don’t agree, and this is partly because cartridge selection is a very personal thing; it’s how we all individualize our hunting tools. Often, relationships between…

I was two days into a seven-day archery elk hunt in the Montana backcountry. On the first morning I had found rubs running along one particular ridge, more than I’d ever seen before or since. The mid-September conditions were hot. By 8 a.m. the thermals were rising, forcing me to keep the high ground above the elk. All the rubs were below me, some more than 100 yards down the hillside. They were easy to see with a binocular in the sparse, young pine forest. I’d hunted the entire length of the ridge, well over 2 miles of it, multiple times. With so many rubs, I moved slowly, calling when it felt right. I never heard a single bugle. After two days of this, I decided to drop down the…

Wiping the sweat from my brow as I sat in the thin shadow of a limb offered little relief from the sweltering autumn heat. Most Midwest whitetail hunts feature frost and colored leaves, not oppressive, summer-like temperatures. Yet, earlier, my truck thermometer read 82 degrees with a persistent forecast of more of the same. Would a buck even venture forth in this jungle-like atmosphere and give me a fighting chance? While most deer hunters anticipate cool weather on hunts, you should always be prepared for the possibility of a heatwave. This happens most often in September, but it could be an irritant almost anytime during your fall hunting season. When the forecast calls for abnormal heat, turn to these strategies as you combat Mother Nature. HYDRATION STATIONS What’s the first…

The western portion of Michigan’s lower peninsula is a hot spot for visiting anglers. As such, there are many fly and tackle shops, as well as plenty of lodging options to fit varying budgets. Baldwin Bait & Tackle (fishbaldwin.com), near the banks of the Pere Marquette River, is a great source of information, lodging, tackle and guides. For additional lodging info, hit up the Ludington Convention and Visitors Bureau (pureludington.com) Anglers visiting the Betsie River should check out the Back Cast Fly Shop (231-882-5222) in Benzonia. For more information on amenities and accommodations near Benzonia and the Betsie River, visit the Benzie County CVB website (visitbenziecountymichigan.com). Those planning to fish the Upper Manistee should stop in at Andy’s Tackle Box (231-477-5737) in Brethren. Lodging accommodations near Tippy Dam can be…

Christensen Arms was founded in 1995 by Dr. Roland Christensen, an aerospace scientist, and initially focused on utilizing carbon-fiber materials to create lightweight, high-strength components for the aerospace and medical industries. Driven by his passion for firearms and a desire to revolutionize the industry, Dr. Christensen turned his attention to applying carbon-fiber technology to rifle barrels. In 1997, Christensen Arms introduced its first carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, setting a new standard for accuracy, weight reduction and heat dissipation. This break-through technology quickly gained recognition and established the company as a pioneer in the field. Eventually, Christensen Arms expanded its product line to include complete rifles based on its success with barrels. These rifles featured state-of-the-art stocks and precision components to offer shooters outstanding performance and accuracy. The combination of aerospace-grade materials and…