Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Petersen's Hunting

“AS YOU’RE UNDOUBTEDLY AWARE, Petersen’s HUNTING is the only national monthly newsstand magazine devoted solely to the subject of hunting. I know many of you are echoing my feelings—that it’s about time. Well, long overdue or not, we’re here. And being here and first you can be assured that we are going to start and remain the best damn hunting magazine it is possible to put together. A quick glance at the contents page will show that we’ve put forward every effort affordable to give you, the hunter, the kind of publication you want and deserve.” Editor Ken Elliot wrote that in the first issue of Petersen’s HUNTING magazine, way back in November 1973. Until that inaugural issue hit newsstands, serious hunters had to get their fix from general interest…

In the cult-like world of serious predator hunting, there are certain truths. Yet some are contrary: Small holes in fur are better than big holes; but a big hole in a dead coyote is better than a small hole in a wounded—and escaped—coyote. Verbal wars about the best cartridge and bullet have raged for a century. Less controversial, but perhaps more important, is your choice of rifle. Are you better served with a bolt action, or a semiauto? Each type has strengths, and each has weaknesses. Which will work best depends largely on the type of hunting you do. Let’s unpack the pros and cons of each, along with some subjective characteristics that can be the deciding factor. BOLT-ACTION PREDATOR RIFLES Turn-bolts are the traditional choice. Historically, bolt actions are…

The thing happened exactly as it might have in a hokey Hollywood melodrama, so help me! One minute the whole herd of cattle was bunched tightly all around us, milling and mooing nervously as they often do at the sound of a predator call. Then, as if on cue, the herd began to part, the nearest animals first and then the rest stepping to right and left, opening a corridor toward the setting sun. And, as the last cow stepped aside, there stood the killer! All we needed to complete the melodramatic effect was a drum roll and a distant flourish of trumpets. Instead, we got a single sharp crack from Murry Burnham’s .244 to ring down the curtain. The scenario had begun a few days earlier when the famed,…

MOST OF US use some sort of call or technique to coax a game animal into range. Voice calls are employed to deceive turkeys, geese, ducks, deer, elk, moose and other animals. It’s likely that the use of calls originated with early native people since it’s natural and logical to imitate the critters we’re hunting. But what about a method that’s so unique the inventor, a savvy outdoorsman who witnessed a peculiar incident, was able to capitalize on what he saw? About 80 years ago, Morton Burnham heard a high-pitched squealing emanating from near a wire fence on his ranch. He rushed over to see what it was and discovered a highly agitated jackrabbit caught up in the wire. Suddenly a pair of coyotes appeared, pounced on the rabbit and…

I applaud your “Stop Doing Stupid Stuff ” in the December/ January edition. Far too many of our fellow hunters have their heads stuck so far up the charging ports of their smart phones they can’t see what kind of damage these posts can cause. I can only hope more people in your profession will bring attention to this stupidity. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how many “likes” you get for your common sense analysis of a social media problem. Keep up the good work. GARY AKERS Warfordsburg, Penn. I just read your article and completely agree with you on the dangers of social media in our world of hunting. Really great way to point out stupid. I do see the good in social media if…

WASHINGTON STATE’S unelected fish and game commission recently created a policy that they will no longer support the recreational hunting of black bears in the spring. This de facto rulemaking came during a commission meeting discussing four potential citizen petitions concerning black bears, which was then followed by a “workshop” meant to discuss potential policy outcomes. The public was invited to submit comments pertaining to the petitions, but at no point did the state insinuate that rule-making would take place, nor did they take comment on potential policies. The commission adopted the policy regardless and, just like that, “recreational” spring bear hunting was removed as a management tool going forward. Such is the current state of politics and wildlife management in the Evergreen State. The majority of the game commission,…

A good seat is of utmost importance when getting set up to call predators, but it also needs to deploy quickly and transport easily. Lucky Duck’s Predator Seat checks both those boxes, and more. This small folding chair features a lightly padded footprint measuring 16 inches by 16 inches, has an adjustable back, clips to easily secure the seat in the folded position, shoulder straps for easy transport and even a pocket on the back of the seat to carry calls and extra gear. $60; luckyduck.com Close-range, quick-acquisition shots occur frequently when predator hunting, and sometimes a shotgun is the perfect weapon for a set. Apex’s Predator 12-gauge loads feature high-density TSS pellets that help maximize lethality. The shells—offered in 4, 2 and BB shot sizes—have more pellets due to…

Do you need a thermal riflescope that likely cost more than your first car? No. But after testing the new Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF Pro, I can unequivocally say you’re probably going to want one. Before you put me on blast for even suggesting anyone should spend several mortgage payments on a riflescope, understand the market for thermal hunting optics has exploded in recent years. There are a lot of hunters spending this much, and more, setting up dedicated rigs for hunting predators, hogs and other nocturnal varmints. No, it’s not for everyone, but for the avid few, the Thermion 2 is worth considering. FIRST IMPRESSIONS I mounted the Thermion on a CZ 600 Trail, a bolt-action platform rifle, in .223. With a Silencer Central Banish 30 screwed on the…

The call screams out as the cold nips at ears, eyes, fingers and other susceptible appendages. Usually, we find ourselves in the pursuit of predators and varmints in the dead of winter when all other seasons have passed. A time when snow and frigid temperatures keep others bundled up inside waiting for the first glimpse of spring, but not hunters. We are also predators, striving for a connection with the wild, a freedom that few know. Chasing a predator, of any kind, takes grit and the ability to outwit the most wily and elusive animals. These cold months offer us an opportunity to truly test our skill. These darkest and coldest of months yield great ad- venture, but winter is not for the faint of heart. Whether you choose to…

BULLET BASICS Designed as a fast, light hunting option for the .22 Long Rifle, the Stinger hits hard and expands a lot—for a .22. Featuring a copper wash to minimize lead deposits in the bore when pushed to 1,640 fps in rifle barrels, the little bullets are expensive, but are considered one of the best killers in the .22 LR realm. Cartridge cases are plated with naturally lubricious nickel to minimize reliability-reducing tarnish and corrosion. TESTING GROUND Here’s where this recovered bullet is unique. A friend used to carry CCI Stinger ammo in his tiny North American Arms Black Widow model revolver while hunting mountain lions behind hounds all winter. Who knows what the muzzle velocity was from the 2-inch barrel, but it sure wasn’t 1,640 fps. This bullet was…

As I’ve said in this column before, there are few things more useful in the outdoors than a rimfire handgun. They’re portable, easy to shoot, relatively quiet and can be invaluable when it comes to controlling pests. My usual choice for this role is a .22 LR revolver, which works well, but there are times when that simply isn’t enough gun—dispatching trapped feral hogs being one example. Sure, I could move up to a larger and more powerful centerfire, but in doing so, I would lose some of those virtues. How about a lightweight, easy to carry handgun that bridges the gap between a .22 and a .357 or .45? I think I’ve found just such an animal. The Walther Magnum Pistol, better known as the WMP, is a polymer-framed…