Western Hunter

Mark Huelsing is a passionate bowhunter, freelance outdoor writer, and Elite Archery Pro Staff member. Mark became a hunter by pursuing whitetail deer in his home state…The post Staying on Track in the Off Season – Wilderness Athlete Review appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

By Zach Bowhay To help welcome Zach to the Elk Hunter and Western Hunter blogs, Lone Wolf Knives is giving away their Hard Way Skinner! Scroll down…The post Tools of the Trade – Lone Wolf Knives Review and Giveaway appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2012 issue of Elk Hunter Magazine, but is available now for our blog readers to preview Nate Simmons’ column. Subscribe…The post Backpacking Gear List by Backcountry Editor Nate Simmons appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

Awesome photos and update from Jay Scott from this season. Check out Jay’s blog at www.jayscottoutdoors.com! Colburn and Scott Outfitters had a great 2012 archery elk season…The post Field Update Photos from Jay Scott appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

Our very own photography editor, Tony Bynum took this awesome video. This is some of the best bugling audio you’ll ever hear! Thank you Tony! Learn more…The post Bull Elk Bugling in the Rut – Tony Bynum appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

Things That Make You Go “Huh?†Introducing the new Swarovski ATX and STX modular spotting scope By Chris Denham I honestly can’t remember having this much difficulty…The post Swarovski ATX Review, In Depth appeared first on Elk Hunter Magazine. View the full article

You have got to see this footage of this bull elk coming into the water hole. Watch as he wallows and ends up covering every square inch of his body and antlers with mud. He absolutely cakes himself! View the full article

One of our hunting editor’s, Jay Scott, recently sent us this update from the field, along with some great photos. You can read more of Jay’s adventures on his blog, JayScottOutdoors.comWant to see your adventure on the Elk Hunter Blog? Send your update and photos to webmaster@elkhuntermagazine.com, and we’ll post your update on the blog!September 11thAs I write this post it cant be over 65 degrees with on and off light drizzle of rain. The weather appears to be setting up perfect for this hunt. We have been continuing to have great days in the field scouting for the archery elk hunt. We even were able to help friend Alex Rimsza harvest his first antelope. The elk rut seems to just be steady with not too much craziness yet. I keep hoping they won’t go nuts until the season starts. Lets hope that points stay together through the season. I expect the bugling will increase daily. I haven’t seen any actual breeding yet. I expect to see it within the next week and on into the month of September. Once again our God does not disappoint with his awesome sunrises and sunsets over Unit 9. Enjoy the pictures! View the full article

One of our hunting editor’s, Jay Scott, recently sent us this update from the field, along with some great photos. You can read more of Jay’s adventures on his blog, JayScottOutdoors.comWant to see your adventure on the Elk Hunter Blog? Send your update and photos to webmaster@elkhuntermagazine.com, and we’ll post your update on the blog!September 3rdThe weather is awesome in Unit 9! The smaller bulls are pushing cows around and acting tough. The big bulls have been a little elusive so far but I am sure they are just waiting for the rut to progress. We have had some fantastic sunrises and sunsets. Looking forward to the rest of the month in elk paradise!September 5thThe elk rut is steadily improving here in Unit 9. The small bulls are getting their turn at pushing the cows and most of the bigger bulls are by themselves. Janis, Darr and I have been having lots of fun and enjoying one of God’s greatest creations. Should be another good scouting morning.September 6th It has not rained today which is a first in 8 days since we have been here. The forecast for the next 10 days calls for 20-40% chance of rain. The archery hunt starts a week from tomorrow. Bulls seem to be getting more engaged each day with more and more bugling activity. It is hard to beat Arizona elk hunting for sure. Excitement for the upcoming season is increasing each day. The thought of a 14 day archery season with a good moon makes me smile. Darr and I are in Unit 9 and Janis is scouting in Unit 10. I would say the antler growth is maybe just below average for unit 9. Seems like the backs are a little weaker than usual. Still should be a great season trying to find a big bull!We’ll be posting the rest of Jay’s photos tomorrow, so stay tuned! View the full article

This Arizona bull had approximately 30 cows with him. I crawled in amongst these cows and waited for him to make the rounds and come by me. Fortunately, I had showered and changed clothes that afternoon and remained undetected for nearly 15 minutes before I was able to get a shot.Q & A with Bowhunting Legend, Randy UlmerQUESTION: I’m a bowhunter and it seems like I get busted more often from elk smelling me than for any other reason. What do you actually do on your hunts to minimize your scent? Please give me some PRACTICAL scent control advice.ANSWER: The problem with early season elk hunting is that it is usually warm, and if you’re like me, you’re typically moving (and sweating) a great deal. I have two different scent control regimens I use, depending on whether I’m hunting from a vehicle camp or hunting from a backpack camp. Here are several important points to consider: If I’m using my travel trailer as camp, I carry as many as 14 different sets of clean camo clothes/ underwear/socks. It is prohibitively expensive to go out and buy that many sets of clothes, but I’ve been at this a long time and have accumulated them over 20 years. All this clothing takes up a lot of space, so I carry them in Action Packer bins and store them outside the trailer. I tried to use carbon suits for several years. However, I found them to be too warm and cumbersome for early-season, active hunting. In order for them to work properly, you must remain relatively stationary. As you move, the clothing acts as a billows and the smelly air inside is pumped through the neck, arm and leg holes and never touches the carbon. I bathe as often as possible. I always shower every morning and, if I make it back to camp, I shower in the afternoon as well. I limit the amount of animal products I eat for a month leading up to the hunt and during the hunt. I use scent-free soap and then apply Scent Shield hair and body deodorant gel to all parts of my body. I carry approximately ten pairs of clean running shoes with me and put a new pair on every day (a great deal of your odor comes from your feet). I put baking soda in each of my shoes before I put them on. When I buy shoes, I get 100% synthetic shoes (no leather). You can wash these synthetic shoes over and over and they’ll never shrink. I take chlorophyll tablets each day for a few weeks leading up to the hunt and then each morning during the hunt. I brush and floss my teeth with baking soda at least twice a day. I rarely wear a belt, but if I do, I never wear the same belt for more than a day without washing it. I rarely carry a pack, but if I do, I change it out or wash it if it gets sweaty (I take 3-4 packs with me on a hunt). I spray my bow and binoculars with Scent Shield spray. I don’t carry my wallet with me. It probably smells similar to where it’s usually parked. If you only have a few sets of camo, just wash your clothes every few days. You don’t have to run into town to use a laundromat. I use these same Action Packers as wash tubs. I fill one up with water and detergent, put my dirty clothes in, and let them soak for a few hours, and then rinse them out and hang them on a tree. Remember, you aren’t worried about having your clothes clean – just scent-free. The soaking will get rid of all your sweat and odor. It’s much more difficult to limit your scent production when you’re backpack hunting. When I’m on the trail, I carry body soap, detergent for my clothes, deodorant, toothbrush, floss, and baking soda. I don’t sleep in my clothes and I bathe and wash my clothes in the middle of the day – if there’s a water source. Otherwise, I just try to stay downwind of the elk.Even if you follow all of these preventative measures, the elk can still smell you. It’s my belief that scent control merely decreases the volume of scent you put out and allows you to get away with a little more. When I’m clean and freshly showered, I can often get 100 yards upwind from an elk without being detected. However, if I’m stinky, the elk can easily detect me at 400 yards. As a bowhunter, you often have to slip in as close as possible to a herd of elk and wait for something to happen, so the less odor you produce, the longer you’ll go undetected.The bottom line? Keep the wind right.Randy Ulmer presents his tips and advice in each and every issue of Elk Hunter Magazine. Don’t miss the next issue, subscribe today! View the full article

I spend most of my hunting time trying to get as close to game as possible, and there’s few things better than a good, dependable 100-yard shot at a trophy bull. However, there’s one little catch to hunting wary bulls – they’d actually just as soon keep that distance significantly larger, and their instincts and wit will often allow them to do just that. In those cases where a well-educated shot at greater distance makes good, ethical sense, having a scope with a great ballistic reticle is a must.For the past three years, I’ve been using a 4.5-14×44 Zeiss Conquest with Rapid-Z 800 reticle on top of my super reliable Blaser R93 .300 Win.-mag. It’s no bull when I tell you that this combo has been an almost indescribable improvement over previous setups.Just this past fall, I used it to take a great Wyoming 6×6 at 368 yards on a late October high country hunt. Before that, it helped with one-shot kills on several trophy mule deer and even some decent pokes at some Wyoming antelope.The nicest thing about the Rapid-Z is that it’s amazingly simple, which helps mediocre shots like me become better shots just by using great equipment. Here’s how it works. First, go to Zeiss.com and navigate to the Optical Long Range Reticle Analysis form. Input all the necessary ballistic information, including cartridge, ballistic coefficient, etc.,and it will tell you what the optimal power is that you should have your scope dialed to in order for the reticle to be “on†at each100-yard interval appearing on the reticle. It’s that simple. All of this is based on a 200-yard zero.When looking at the reticle itself, there are numbered hashmarks for each 100-yard interval starting at 300 yards, with intermediate hashmarks for every 50 yards in between and dots for each 25 yards before and after the 50s. This enables you to be accurate to no worse than 12.5 yards without worry of using interpolation.There are also hashmarks on the left and right sides for 5 and 10 mph winds. So, if you have a bull standing at 400 yards with an estimated 10 mph left crosswind, you can go directly to the 400-yard crosshairs, move it to the left to the end of the line (the 10 mph adjustment) and fire with confidence.While to some this might seem almost too easy, some time at the range practicing these scenarios will help you immensely in using this tool to its utmost ability. This is twofold in importance – 1) to familiarize yourself with the system and be able to use it quickly, and 2) to prove to yourself that it works and give you confidence at crunch time.The Rapid-Z comes in four reticles and is available in both Conquest and Victory models. Here are Zeiss’ recommendations that match each reticle model with the most favorable cartridges:• Rapid-Z 600: Standard hunting cartridges such as .270, .30-06, etc.• Rapid-Z 800: Magnums such as .300 WSM, .300 RUM, .338, etc.• Rapid-Z 1000: Tactical/Long range shooting, such as .308.• Rapid-Z Varmint: Smaller, fast-shooting cartridges such as .204 Ruger, .220 Swift, .223, .22-250.Here are a couple of other interestingnotes:• The reticle is located in the second image plane, resulting in minimal target cover.• It comes with an integrated ranging feature – hashmarks are available above the crosshairs and are designed to determine distance to the target animal. Simply place one hashmark on top of the back and count how many hashmarks down tobrisket, then do some quick math.• All Rapid-Z reticles are designed to be sighted in at 200 yards, except the RapidZ 1000, sighted in at 500.• Non-illuminated versions are available in Victory and Conquest models; illuminated versions are available in assorted Victory Diavari and Victory Diarange models.There’s no question that it takes a bit more effort to use a rangefinding reticle than a simple “point-and-shoot†duplex. However, the simplicity of such a reticle has great limitations. A solid ballistic reticle and riflescope such as the Rapid-Z, with some time and familiarity, will be worth its weight in gold with its return on investment. I know it has been for me.Don’t miss out on the next gear review in Elk Hunter Magazine. Click here to subscribe. View the full article

Climbing mountains in the most severe conditions, pushing your mind and body to the limit on a daily basis – yes, hunting season is just around the corner. The only true test of our individual performance level and overall toughness comes courtesy of Mother Nature.The road to hunting season is oftentimes paved with the good intentions of getting our body properly conditioned; being human, we often get off course with the hustle and bustle of life, and conditioning can often times go by the wayside.Pushing your body in the backcountry in less than ideal physical condition is hard; pushing a poorly conditioned, dehydrated body is downright dangerous due to increased risk of heart attack and hyperthermia.You can lose as much as 4% of your entire body weight in the form of sweat, causing your blood to become less fluid due to water loss, subsequently causing the blood to become thicker and increasing the workload of the heart, which could potentially result in a heart attack. Proper hydration is critical before, during and after your next trip into the backcountry to ensure that your body will have what it needs for optimal in field performance.What to Consider Before Going AfieldTemperature: The higher the thermometer climbs, the more your body is going to sweat in order to keep cool, causing higher levels of water loss within the body.Relative Humidity: When the air is saturated with moisture, the body loses its ability to naturally cool itself off by evaporating sweat efficiently, therefore causing the body’s internal temperatures to potentially reach dangerous levels that can cause hyperthermia. Water intake is critical in humid environments.Hydration Level: If you enter the field in an already dehydrated state, you’re in great danger of suffering from severe dehydration, hyperthermia, and even heart attack. Before your next trip into the field, drink a minimum of 96 ounces or three quarts of water per inactive day and during days of high activity, double that amount – an equivalent of 192 ounces or six quarts of water per day. In the morning, be sure to consume at least 2-3 cups of water to boost your hydration level.Did you know… If you’re thirsty, your body is already in a state of dehydration. Thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Mild to moderate dehydration can cause sugar and food cravings, especially in the evening, so before you pick up a snack, drink a large glass of water. Mild dehydration may slow your metabolic rate by as much as 3-5%. 80% of people suffering from dehydration have increased back & joint pain. Dehydration can cause daytime fatigue and decreased motor skills, concentration, and memory retention. Dehydration can be attributed to an increased risk of colon, breast, and bladder cancer. Tips If there is water in the area, don’t weigh yourself down carrying excessive amount water. Instead, I carry an ultraviolet water purifier with me, like a SteriPen. These are lightweight and work fast, treating 16 oz. of water in only 48 seconds. By adding Wilderness Athlete Hydrate & Recover to your infield hydration system, you’re not only replenishing fluid loss, but also necessary electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, glucosamine, antioxidants, and metabolic cofactors that power their way into the cells of the body, providing a precisely balanced mineral and electrolyte composition to replenish these vital elements and maintain peak muscle physiology. View the full article

Crisp mountain air, deteriorating daylight, frozen ground, and the rip-roaring bugle of a would-be suitor. Elk hunting is magical and the annual elk rut can never come soon enough. If you have been blessed enough to kiss the elk mountains, then you know challenges that await you every fall. Elk hunting was never meant to be easy, but that’s part of the allure.There are some considerations that must be made before the next elk season approaches. Observe that I say must, not should. I want to outline some of the must dos, but also examine some of the key physical characteristics of an elk and compare them to us. Not only do we hunt elk on their terms, we also play the role as the visiting team trying to rival our quarry on their home field. The goal is to make you better aware of what we’re up against and how we can do our part when it comes to man versus elk.The bones of an elk weigh over 100 lbs. and make up the foundation this mountain athlete and survival specialist. A man has a bone structure tipping the scales at or around a mere 30-40 lbs. The mature bull has a heart that weighs in at 10 lbs. and pumps enriched blood to a network of dense muscle that enables it to maneuver rough and unforgiving country. Man has a heart that weighs less than 1 lb. and in most cases will be taxed as soon as he steps on the uneven ground the elk call home. In fact, most studies show an elk’s average heart rate in the ballpark of 50 beats per minute, while most of us only dip that low while sleeping.Elk own us when it comes humping the hills. Their four legs to our two legs is comparable to a 4×4 and a 2×4 truck. Their lungs are infinitely more efficient than ours. Big deal, elk are built for the mountains, right? Well they also have us on vision and olfactory prowess. Each eye of an elk can rotate independently and their wide-angle lens squashes our view. The elk’s nose has several hundred million receptor sites compared to our paltry five million. The elk that I hunt also have numerous adversaries including black bears, grizzlies, cougars, and wolves.Leveling the Playing Field and Winning the DayWith all these comparisons, it’s safe to say that it’s time to make a simple list of must-dos to better tip the odds in our favor. Must-dos are the items that keep us vibrant, strong, healthy, and of course in shape. Since we all drive to work, drive to the store, and drive some more, I suggest we walk, run, or bike to work once a week. An elk can cover miles for a night of feeding; we walk to our fridge. To combat this, we need a dose of daily activity that I call “winning the dayâ€. You can win the day by waking up 20 minutes earlier for a workout, pumping out push-ups during commercials, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. The little things add up – especially nutrition! What we eat determines how we feel and how many unwanted pounds we might have to lug around in the elk woods. Look below for your hierarchy of food types.Food Hierarchy: Wild Game Fish Chicken Turkey Vegetables Nuts Seeds Fruits Little Starch No Sugar Must-DosStronger Heart: Add cardio training, 20 minutes of intervals goes a long way!Better Vision: Get your eyes checked. Better vision makes you a better predator.Stronger Bones: Supplement your diet with Glucosamine to aid your joints. This can be found in Wilderness Athlete’s Hydrate & Recover drink mixes. Strength training helps combat deterioration of healthy bone and connective tissue.Reduce the Competition: If your elk state permits, pick up your bear or wolf tag and help our elk out!Win the Day: Do something physical every day! Iit all adds up when fall comes around. In closing – Thank you for subscribing to Elk Hunter Magazine. I know the stories and information in these pages will fuel your fire for elk hunting and keep you on the cutting edge for seasons to come. Make your list of must-dos, and don’t neglect the most important piece of equipment you own; your body! View the full article

Swarovski Optik announced this morning a revolutionary line of spotting scopes. The new ATX/STX scopes have a modular, ergonomic design, and allow you to see the world through completely new eyes.The new ATX/STX family of spotting scopes from Swarovski Optik allow you to adapt to each situation without having to compromise on features or performance. Ergonomic design, modular flexibility and user friendliness combine to bring about a real revolution in the history of the spotting scope and set new standards for the next generation. In this new design, the zoom and focusing rings are directly next to each other, ensuring that you can use the spotting scope intuitively and quickly, with only one hand. This reinvented design offers two eyepiece modules (angled or straight) and three objective modules with diameters of 65, 85 and 95 mm, all with Swarovision technology, to combine and provide a total of six different spotting scopes to suit every viewing opportunity.The ATX/STX spotting scopes have an optical quality that has never before been achieved by a spotting scope. With the Swarovision technology, they feature field flattener lenses to produce an image with razor-sharp clarity right up to the edge, without the need for constant refocusing. The HD lenses provide rich contrast, and exceptional color fidelity. They offer extended eye relief, a wide field of view, and are complete with Swarovski’s optimized specialty coatings, Swarodur, Swarotop, and Swaroclean.Stay tuned to Elk Hunter and Western Hunter Magazines for more information about the new scopes. As always, we aim to bring you the most honest and accurate gear reviews. We’ll have more information and reviews for you soon!Features of the new ATX/STX Spotting Scopes - Click HereATX/STX System Details - Click Here View the full article

Well, the final piece of the tag equation has been released; it is for kids that didn’t draw anything. These can be great tags for kids. Make sure you understand the rules of the game and you should be able to get a tag if you are interested.Jason “The New Mexico Sportsman†Amaro—————————————————————————————————————————————–FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 10, 2012:MORE THAN 2,000 ELK LICENSES FOR YOUTHS GO ON SALE JULY 18YOUNG WILDLIFE USUALLY DON’T NEED TO BE RESCUED – EVEN CLOSE TO FIRESMORE THAN 2,000 ELK LICENSES FOR YOUTHS GO ON SALE JULY 18SANTA FE – Young hunters who did not draw a big-game license will have another shot to go hunting this coming season when the Department of Game and Fish puts more than 2,000 antlerless elk licenses up for sale at 10 a.m. MDT Wednesday, July 18.The online sale will be first-come, first-served on the department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. The sale includes almost 1,500 licenses for hunters using any legal weapon and 540 licenses for hunters using muzzleloaders or bows.According to state law, for the first 14 days, the sale will be open only to New Mexico resident youths younger than age 18 who successfully applied but were unsuccessful in drawing any big-game license this year. The sale will shut down for 24 hours at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 and then reopen at 10 a.m. MDT Aug. 2, when the remaining licenses will be available to any youth younger that age 18, resident or nonresident, who did not draw a 2012-13 elk license, whether they applied or not.New Mexico law requires all hunters younger than age 18 to have passed an approved hunter safety course before purchasing or applying for a hunting license. More information and a list of available classes are available at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.Hunters are strongly advised to obtain or review an online customer account, including a Customer Identification Number, user name and password before the sale begins. Popular hunts sell out quickly, although many licenses are expected to be available after the 14-day residents-only period.Here is a list of available licenses:Antlerless elk — Any legal weaponUnitHunt CodeHunt DatesLicenses5BELK-1-401Nov. 30-Dec. 4206AELK-1-402Nov. 30-Dec. 4506AELK-1-403Dec. 26-30506CELK-1-404Nov. 30-Dec. 4506CELK-1-405Dec. 26-305010ELK-1-408Nov. 30-Dec. 43516AELK-1-413Nov. 30-Dec. 47516AELK-1-414Dec. 26-307516CELK-1-415Nov. 30-Dec. 47516CELK-1-416Dec. 26-307516DELK-1-417Nov. 30-Dec. 47516DELK-1-418Dec. 26-307516EELK-1-419Nov. 30-Dec. 47516EELK-1-420Dec. 26-307534ELK-1-423Dec. 26-308036ELK-1-424Nov. 30-Dec. 46036ELK-1-425Dec. 26-306049ELK-1-426Nov. 30-Dec. 45050ELK-1-427Dec. 26-306051ELK-1-428Nov. 30-Dec. 47551ELK-1-429Dec. 26-307552ELK-1-430Nov. 30-Dec. 45053 except CerroELK-1-431Nov. 30-Dec. 46053 except CerroELK-1-432Dec. 26-3060Antlerless elk — Muzzleloader or bowUnitHunt CodeHunt DatesLicenses9ELK-3-406Nov. 30-Dec. 4759ELK-3-407Dec. 26-307513ELK-3-409Nov. 30-Dec. 46013ELK-3-410Dec. 26-306015ELK-3-411Nov. 30-Dec. 47515ELK-3-412Dec. 26-307517ELK-3-421Nov. 30-Dec. 46017ELK-3-422Dec. 26-3060 View the full article

If you have been tracking the entire Big-Game Draw in New Mexico you have probably gathered thatthere have been a few changes. Some major and some that have flown under the radar. Well, it lookslike my radar caught another, non-documented change. I am not sure where this change came from butit is going to happen. I have confirmed it with two sources.For the first 24 hours of the left-over tag sale, which will happen on July 11th (there was a typo, in theoriginal release) will be for residents ONLY. After that it is open to everybody.Again, it is small change but it might impact your strategy when it comes to the left-over tags.Jason “The New Mexico Sportsman†AmaroAuthor, Jason Amaro View the full article

At Elk Hunter and Western Hunter, we’re committed to staying the most reliable source of information in the industry. But we know when you are thinking of making a big gear purchase, you call up your buddies and ask for their advice. While we will continue to write articles and blog posts analyzing the best gear, optics and firearms, we also want to hear what our readers think!Introducing Reader Reviews- Starting today, we will post asking our readers for a review of a specific product, and leave the comments on the blog post open. We’ll keep the post open for a couple of days, and then take the comments and create a new reference page on the site. In the future, you’ll be able to check out our website to get peer reviews on a new purchase.Our first category will be Swarovski rifle scopes. Don’t worry if you’ve never used one; we’ll open up more categories very soon! If you have only used a Swarovski scope once or twice, but don’t own one, let us hear your opinion too!Swarovski Z5 Rifle ScopeHere’s what we would like to see in your comment (feel free to give us as much information as you can!): Which scope do you use? When and where did you buy the scope (if you own it) In which situations do you use it the most? Which reticle do you prefer and why? What are the pros and cons of the scope, in your opinion? Would you recommend the scope to a friend? Anything else you would tell a friend looking for advice about a Swarovski scope! Comment below and see your review published soon! View the full article

Subscribe TODAY (June 25th) to receive the Fall 2012 issue of Elk Hunter. This issue is packed with backpacking tips, a great review of 10×42 binos, Colorado OTC hunt information, wolf hunting in Idaho, AND the new Idaho Pope and Young record (on the cover)!If you haven’t already subscribed, click HERE to do so. Remember, all subscribers are automatically entered to win one of our “End of the World” prizes in December. Click HERE for more info on the giveaway! SUBSCRIBE TODAY! View the full article

Hurry up and wait that is the next step! The list of “Secondary Sale Tags†has been released and it looks like there are quite a few good hunts left. Most of the tags are deer tags but there are a few Antelope, Elk, Javelina tags left and there is even 1 Oryx tag left over.You can see the list by following this link:http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/documents/UNDERFULFILLEDHUNTS-rev.pdfRemember the tags go on sale July 9th, make sure you have a plan; these tags are going to move quickly.So, there you have it, NO EXCUSES for not hunting this year, there are plenty of opportunities around the state.Good Luck!-Jason “The New Mexico Sportsman†AmaroAuthor Jason Amaro and his New Mexico Javelina View the full article

The Big-Game Draw in New Mexico was full of ups and downs this year; we had a peek into the results via a backdoor issue that caused some to be hopeful and caused others to be scrambling for something to hunt. For those that didn’t draw a tag, New Mexico has plenty of opportunities for those looking for a hunt. The options are pretty straight forward:Youth Encouragement Tags – Offered to NM Youth who successfully submitted any application but didn’t draw. After the 14 days the tags are open to any eligible youth hunter, these are Elk only tags. The list of tags is usually available on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Website – http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/ in July.Left-over Tags – First Come First Serve, the list of tags is usually available on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Website – http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/ in July. One thing to note about these tags, they are left-over for a reason. Some of these tags are in marginal units, so make sure you do your research before purchasing them.OTC Tags - Barbary, Ibex, Lion, Bear, Private Land Oryx Hunting, Private Land Deer Hunting, Furbearer, Small Game and Bird Hunting, these can be purchased from any vendorLandowner Tags – Elk and Antelope, you can find the list of landowners who received tags on the New Mexico Departmentof Game and Fish Website – http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/. Some of these tags can be great but expect to pay high-dollar for the better opportunities.The trick in getting any of the post-draw tags is to keep informed, make sure you watch the Western Hunter and Elk Hunter Blogs- you will be given warning of when the tags are going on sale, but they move quickly so you need to have a game plan.Good luck! -Jason “The New Mexico Sportsman†AmaroAuthor Jason Amaro View the full article

“Dude, I need a breather,†I shamefully murmured to my hunting partner. I was struggling to hike the last load of loose meat and bull bone. Soggy feet, busted boots, and a Badlands Ox clung to my blood and sweat-soiled shirt. My water bottle was empty, we were ten miles from the nearest road, this was the fourth elk I had packed out in the last ten days, and it just about broke me. I was whittled down to five-step intervals followed by a long, bent-over rest.How could a guy who’s in the best shape of his life succumb to complete exhaustion? Maybe it was just between the ears, but I was running out of gas fast. If I’m struggling to pack this elk out, how does someone do it out of shape? Truth is they probably don’t. Right then and there, I promised myself that the next elk hunting article I wrote would not encourage, but demand that all elk hunters train for the mountains.I coach fitness for a career. My uniform is sweats and a t-shirt, and I workout between client appointments every day, prescribing over 1,000 workouts a year for clients… so why was I failing to walk the walk? Barely 30 years old, coming off the best off-season conditioning program, I stood there in the steep huckleberry brush of Idaho baffled at my empty gas tank. Maybe I’m killing elk too deep in the backcountry. Maybe I need to incorporate more rest days when I’m hunting (that will never happen). The mind can really start to run wild with negative thoughts when you’re at your wit’s end. This marked my 24th day in a row of backcountry bowhunting with ample success, yet I was deteriorating fast.My 2011 elk hunting season consisted of 33 days between the end of August and all of September, and I can tell you that to be in shape for the rigors of DIY elk hunting requires a tremendous amount of physical and mental prowess. This is significantly more important than top-notch gear and prime hunting ground.A bull elk can weigh over 800 lbs. on the hoof, and can yield a few hundred pounds of perfect protein to feed your household. I’m a meat hunter first and foremost, so preserving elk meat in the mountains is my highest priority. If you hunt with horses, bikes, ATVs, or near a road, there’s still no guarantee as to where that bull will take his last breath. Compound that with warm temperatures, flies, predators, and limited help, and you can’t tell me that fitness isn’t a prerequisite!I’ve killed many bulls with a bow in the last few years and not one died on or near a road or trail. To prepare for the specificity of this grueling and daunting chore, I’ve trained with heavy packs, ran with a vest, cross-trained, and meticulously calculated my food intake. My gear room has shuffled through the industry’s finest, lightest, and most durable gear in hopes of evolving into the perfect setup for September. All my ducks were in a row, yet I was seconds away from bonking on a hunt I dreamed about all year. Don’t let this happen to you! You want to be an elk killer? Well, you better make darn sure you’re fit as a pack mule for when your dreams come true, or it may quickly become a nightmare.Here’s my first list of Dos and Don’ts as it pertains to being in elk hunting and elk harvesting shape. The Dos:Do hydrate. I go through a tub of Wilderness Athlete’s Hydrate and Recover every September. It adds miles to your boots, tastes great, and makes fluid consumption happen.Do remember to eat. The action can be good all morning long and oftentimes we forget to eat or don’t take the time. Never skip breakfast; make sure there’s something good going into your body in the morning besides just coffee. I slam a protein bar and consume handfuls of trail mix to keep fueled.Do prepare for a kill. We always leave pack frames in the truck, at the trailhead, or hike them in. My Badlands 2200 day pack is always good for the first hindquarter, but it’s nice to grab a pack frame for the second load when back at the truck.Now that the Dos are spelled out, let’s cover a couple of Don’ts:Don’t show up fat. Extra weight to lug around is not only a hindrance, but also can handicap your ability to flank elk herds, negotiate rough terrain, and put up with the daily grind.Don’t “hunt your way into shapeâ€. I’ve actually heard peers tell me this was part of their plan. This is not the right program!Don’t take time off when the season comes to an end. If you dropped a few pounds on your hunt and hiked all over, you probably ought to let the start of a beautiful thing continue.Don’t hibernate. Winter can be long and physical activity can take a backseat to the holidays, reduced daylight, and cold weather. Elk don’t take the winter off; you shouldn’t either.Don’t lose meat. Both of my bulls killed in 2011 died during Indian summer conditions. Always pack game bags, a sharp knife, and parachute cord in your pack. Gutless method is my favorite, and getting that hide off is essential. Find the nearest creek or north-facing timber to hang your meat and be prepared to take some with you on your first trip out.About the Author: Dan Staton has an M.S. in Exercise Physiology and is owner/operator of a CrossFit Gym in Spokane, Washington. He co-owns TrainToHunt.com – a website dedicated to preparing hunters for their sport. He’s also an avid and accomplished bowhunter.Other Reading:Running on Empty? Athlete Hydration and Its Impact on PerformanceLearn More About TrainToHunt.com View the full article

Click here to enter to win.There is no arguing that Swarovski produces some of the finest optics available. However, the majority of us can’t just go out and stock up on all of their top products, short of winning the lottery or receiving some surprise inheritance. But there is an exception to every rule; thanks to the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle and the generosity of Swarovski over the last six years, your chance to get your hands on over $9,300 of Swarovski’s top products is just $10 away.Tickets for the raffle are available on the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle website. You can purchase the Swarovski package tickets separately for $10 or in a package with the hunts available to win. The odds are better than any lottery jackpot you’ve bought tickets for, and the payout is a dream optics package!So what’s on the line here? Let’s look at the details…15×56 SLC BinocularThe SLCs have been the cornerstone of the Swarovski line for many years and with its new design it is bound to hold that station for some time. With a slimmer body and more sensitive rubber armoring, the SLC is better than ever.New SWAROCLEAN external coating for lenses makes it considerably easier to clean objective and ocular lenses. Thanks to improved cleaning, the lenses need less intensive attention to achieve maximum clarity. This considerably increases the longevity of optical products. 3-lens objective lens with high light-gathering power for excellent picture quality, even in poor light conditions. Optimum color fidelity across the whole light spectrum with unique prism coating, SWAROBRIGHT. Optimized roof prism-system with P-coating. SWAROTOP & SWARODUR coatings. Phenomenal depth of field. El Range 10×42 Rangefinding BinocularThe EL Range redefines hunting equipment. A single instrument combines the capability of razor-sharp, top-quality optics with precise measuring. Highest transmission values, low weight, and the widest field of view in its class literally set new standards for optics and precise measuring.PRECISE MEASURINGA steady hand is required for measuring distant targets. The legendary EL wrap-around grip, the low, perfectly balanced weight, and the unique shape ensure the EL Range’s good handling characteristics and the display of the exact distance to the desired target.INTUITIVE TECHNOLOGY Optimally positioned measuring button on the binoculars provides quick measuring results Small reticle for precise measurements for long distances Measuring scope: 33-1,500 yds ( 30-1,375 m) Measuring accuracy ± 1 yard (1 m) over the entire measuring range Display has optional fixed brightness level or automatic brightness adjustment for different backgrounds Simple and intuitive menu operation UNSURPASSED ECONOMICS The EL wrap-around grip ensures binoculars can be held steadily and focus even the smallest targets at a great distance The ergonomic shape provides additional stability and permits single-handed operation PRECISE HITS WITH SWARO-AIMMany hunting challenges are caused by geographic circumstances. Firing an accurate shot uphill or downhill requires precise timing and ballistic experience. Or a precise measuring instrument. The EL Range with SWARO-AIM is equipped with a completely new angled-shot program developed by SWAROVSKI OPTIK, which determines the precise, correct distance and an exact aim – even in the most demanding terrain.Swaro-Aim Calculates the correct bullet trajectory for angled shots on the basis of the program developed by Swarovski while taking into consideration the measured distance and angle to the target. Scan function, also for measuring angles Optional display of angle or corrected shooting distance SWARO-AIM display turns on and off easily as needed Not dependent on caliber 5-25x52P Z5 Rifle Scope w/Ballistic Turret & Plex ReticleThe Z5 from Swarovski Optik is a 1-inch rifle scope with 5x zoom – an innovative combination. Due to its high magnification and its large field of view, it is particularly versatile and eminently suitable for various types of hunting. The Z5 offers exceptional optical performance in a slim rifle scope.With the new 1-inch range with 5x zoom, Swarovski Optik delivers performances that have only rarely been achieved previously by any other rifle scope of the 30 mm class. The slim, compact Z5 rifle scopes are designed for harsh everyday hunting – they are reliable companions in many hunting situations.Optical System 5x zoom in a 1-inch rifle scope Maximum image quality due to completely innovative design of the optic Large eye relief of 3.74 in (95 mm) for greater safety Large field of view for greater overview Reticle in the second image plane: The target observed is magnified while the size of the reticle remains the same. Rapid diopter adjustment Microstructure surface: precisely defined ribbing to prevent residual reflections inside the tube for bright, high-contrast images, even in intense light Function & Design Third parallax correction with 109 yds (100 m) mark for rapid operation, even in the firing position Rectangular adjustment range for greater range of elevation Patented Swarovski Optik 4-point coil spring system for absolute certainty of hitting your target – shot after shot Slim, stylish design Low weight All aluminum outer parts are anodized to be scratch-resistant. Ballistic turret STM-65 Spotting Scope w/25-50x Wide Angle EyepieceExtremely rugged and unusually lightweight spotting scopes thanks to state of the art magnesium technology. The large objective lens diameter enables observation in razor-sharp detail due to excellent light-gathering qualities even at high magnifications. Fluoride-containing HD lenses minimize color fringing (chromatic aberration) and deliver high contrast images with razor-sharp outlines. Ideal for digital photography through the spotting scope. A straight scope simplifies locating and following animals and makes it easier to observe from a hide or car. Weight: 44.6 oz Length: 15.4 in Field of View (Ft @ 1000yds): 138 ft/ 89 ft Eye Relief: 17.0 mm Magnification: 25-50x Wide Angle Objective Lens Size: 65 mm You can check out more info and stories from past winners on the AZ Big Game Super Raffle Blog. View the full article

Check out this awesome Arizona rifle elk hunt. Hunter Stevi Conolly, family, friends and Arizona elk quide Mike Conway hunt in the AZ mountains for for this beautiful trophy bull. This early rifle elk hunt was filmed in September of 2011. The gang is loaded with the best hunting gear including- Sitka gear, Eberlstock packs, Badlands packs, Firs Lite Merino Wool, Iverson custom rifle, Kenetrek boots and Swarovski binoculars. View the full article

In the course of my guiding career I have experienced a fair share of anxiety, apprehension, and angst on the eve of opening day. But as my son Mark and I stood in the Phoenix airport awaiting the arrival of our new elk hunter David McShaw and his parents David Sr. and Karen, my nervous system was ablaze with self doubt. You see, David (13 years old) is stricken with muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair bound. As the reality of his limitations sank in, my confidence eroded and it struck me just how much I wanted this hunt to be a “hunt of a lifetime.” After a brief prayer I spotted the McShaw family enthusiastically working their way toward our direction and our date with destiny officially began.The events that brought us to this day started just months earlier when my good friend and outfitter Chad Smith, of Vaquero Outfitters, and I were discussing the upcoming seasons. Chad mentioned that one of his clients had drawn an Arizona bull elk tag but due to some unforeseen circumstances would not be able hunt this year. Chad asked if there was any way to donate this tag and avoid wasting it. Coincidentally (I think not!), just a few weeks earlier I had been asked by Terry Petko to be a part of the Arizona chapter of Hunt of a Lifetime, an organization dedicated to organizing hunts for terminally ill children. A quick call to Terry got the ball rolling. Meanwhile, in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, the McShaws had been in contact with HOAL headquarters. They were notified as soon as the Arizona elk hunt became available. Though David had never seen an elk, he jumped at the dream of hearing the bugle of a rutting bull.After navigating the chaos of the busy airport, David and his family followed Mark and me north out of the metropolitan commotion. Since the Savage Arms 30/06 had only arrived a few days before the hunt we needed to stop at the rifle range for a last minute tune-up. With less than 10 rounds the rifle was sighted in and fired a one inch three shot group! After all of our equipment checks were done it was time to head to the home of Chad and Shawn Smith.As a novice elk hunter it can be very difficult to maintain a sense of perspective as you enter the Smith’s home. Shawn’s 2005 bull mount looms over the living room displaying over 400 inches of antler, and gargantuan shed antlers decorate the plant shelves and patio. Huge mule deer, Coues deer and antelope mounts added even more spice to the McShaw’s first day west of the Mississippi. As Shawn served the first of the many gourmet meals, you could see on everyone’s face that the fatigue of a challenging day was taking its toll.David’s first day in the Arizona desert.Chad was born and raised in the Prescott area. His folks still live on the same ranch where he grew up. Chad and Shawn know most of the ranchers in this area and have access to many acres of private land. Before we arrived he had contacted most of them about our hunt, and without fail or a dollar changing hands, every gate onto private ground was opened to us. As the dawn chased the night from the eastern sky of opening day we were listening for the distant bugles on the Las Vegas Ranch.We still did not know how we were going to get David, his wheel chair, and his shooting device with 12 volt battery in place for a shot when a very aggressive sounding bull chimed in at less than 400 yards. We made decisions fast. Chad carried David on his back, David Sr. grabbed the wheel chair, Mark and I split up the shooting system, Karen carried the rifle, and we blitzed down the draw to get in front of the moving bull. We clanged and banged metal on metal but eventually got David set up and pointed in the most likely direction. Chad backed off to lure the bull past our position. The bull immediately answered Chad’s invitation. Could this be happening? The sun isn’t shining yet and we have a bull coming in like in a Primos video? As Karen ran the camera, the six point bull stepped out directly in front of us at 35 yards and stopped absolutely broadside.David’s rifle restThe rifle rest that we used has motors for left/right and up/down motions which are controlled by the shooter with a toggle lever much like a video game controller. A large steel plate, which we affectionately referred to as “the gong” due to the sound it produced when in came into contact with anything, went underneath the seat pad on the wheel chair. After we got David into the chair we would then attach the rest to the steel plate and connect the wires from the battery to the motors. With time we knew we could develop an efficient system, but it wasn’t pretty on our first run!The first bull elk was now staring at us from spitting distance. I could see that the rifle was pointed behind the bull so I whispered to David to move the rifle to right, but his hands never moved. I reached over and lifted the ear muffs and whispered the same line one more time and then another, but David was frozen solid. The adrenaline and shock at having this huge animal so close was just overwhelming his decision making. I reached around him and manipulated the toggle myself, but as the motor ground into action the bull bolted. We all sat in silence of disbelief. The bull was just too close and too soon and we had not had enough practice runs to get the job done. No one was discouraged, it was only the first morning and we now had a learning experience that we could build upon.That evening we watched a water tank on Chad’s family ranch. His dad had seen a bull drink at this source just the night before but he did not show up for a repeat performance which would prove to be a common problem. Arizona was blessed with much needed rain during the late summer and fall. Green feed and abundant water is great if you are an elk, but it created problems for our team. Typically elk will feed most of the morning and at the end of a warm day they will head to a water hole with regularity. With a well constructed blind we could be set up well before the elk arrived, and as an added bonus, there is a road leading to every dirt tank in the Southwest! But with water standing in every drainage, the elk were not married to any particular pattern. Since the elk were not likely to come to us, we needed to be more efficient in getting to them.Chad hit a home run with the very first suggestion. By removing the pack from a Cabela’s Alaskan Freighter frame and using the shelf as a seat, David could sit facing forward and see over Chad’s shoulders. We could not change the fact that David still weighed 85 lbs, but at least he and Chad were more comfortable. The Eberlestock “Just One” pack continued to live up to its name as we cinched up the rifle rest with its outer straps. We would have to take turns carrying the wheel chair on our shoulders but at least we were mobile. To this day, I berate myself for not getting a picture of our human “pack string”, but once we saddled up it was to get moving.With our new system in place we headed to the famous ORO ranch on the second morning. This incredible territory is the largest piece of private land in Arizona and home to some great bulls. As the sky turned from black to grey a bugle of multiple bulls warmed our spirits on this frosty morning. We were able to walk on a good road so David Sr. pushed his son on the wheel chair. Soon the elk and the road parted ways so we put our new system into action. With David riding more comfortably on Chad’s back we moved as quickly as possible through the volcanic rock and junipers toward the always moving elk. We were gaining on them! They slowed a bit as they approached their bedding grounds giving us a chance to close the gap even further. Unfortunately they chose a good place for a mid day nap, plenty of cover and the wind in their favor. We tried multiple times to call one of these bulls back to us but we just could not lure them away from their herd.The group, working on creating a ground blind.After an uneventful evening at a water hole, we headed back to the house for some good home cooked Mexican food and a much needed night of sleep. As I lay in bed my mind was racing with potential scenarios we might face. I was having a hard time even visualizing success, since the elk were no longer making any mistakes. Luck has a role in every successful hunt but we needed more than just luck, we needed help! I am not talking about human help; we needed assistance that goes beyond explanation.Revelry was at 3:30 a.m. on the third day. We all crawled out of bed and injected some coffee with a heightened degree of necessity. As we made our way though the gates of the K4 ranch Chad revealed the plan for our morning hunt. Mark and I were to climb a steep hill overlooking a large valley as he and the McShaw’s would ease their way toward a likely travel route. We were hoping to find the good bull Chad had seen when he was scouting that he estimated would score about 340″. Nothing was going quite right, and then Mark called me back to his position. With a smile on his face and with complete confidence, he said “I found the 340 bull.” Mark has seen a fair number of big bulls for a 13 year old, but that was a bold statement! As I peered into the spotting scope there stood a textbook example of a 340″ bull. It was late morning by now and the bull bedded out of sight. He had about a dozen cows and three satellite bulls surrounding him in habitat that was more appropriate for antelope than elk, so we decided to hold off until the evening.Mark and I headed into Prescott to have lunch with my wife Carla and daughter Courtney who had driven up from Phoenix for a quick visit and shopping excursion. As we recounted the events of the previous days I flogged myself for not handling our opening day encounter more effectively. Carla reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that we just needed to be keep it fun and keep hunting. With a good pep talk and a re-fueling stop at Starbucks we were fired up for the evening hunt.Chad, David Sr., Mark and I climbed back up the hill to verify that our morning bull had not vacated the territory. He was still there with all his friends feeding in the wide open terrain. We decided that Mark should stay on the hill and serve as our “eye in the sky” while the rest of us attempted a stalk. We had no grand plan about how to make this stalk work but we decided to get as close as we could and see what might happen.When we got down on the same level as the elk we realized that was a little more texture in the terrain than we thought, allowing us to move quickly. Within 20 minutes we were about 400 yards from the elk, but we were completely out of cover and if we moved closer would surely be seen by one of the many sets of eyes. We were running out of options so we tried to call the bull to us even though we knew the odds were against him leaving his harem. We got David all set with the rifle rest pointed in a likely direction. To our disappointment we could not even get the bull to look in our direction, but the cows were all ears! This was not the kind of attention we were hoping for.Hoping the elk might reverse their morning route we tore everything down, repacked and moved about 300 yards to a good sniping position. We felt that our effective shooting range was about 100 yards so we needed to be very precise as to where we set up. Once in place Chad peeked around the hill, turned back to us and said “We gotta move again, they are heading toward our last set up.” With reckless abandon we moved our team back.As David Sr. strapped the rifle into the rest Chad whispered “Guys, we need to hurry…the bull is right there.” As all four adults tried to hide behind the wheelchair the lead cow materialized less than 60 yards away. Looking our direction she high stepped anxiously to the right. As she did, the swaying antler tips of the big bull got longer and longer as he closed the gap between us. We could only hope that he would follow the lead of the cow, as she now stood perfectly broadside with her body completely exposed. The bull eased his way toward the cow silhouetted by the setting sun, stopping to amp up our adrenaline rush with a challenging scream. With the lower half of his torso concealed by a grassy mound we could only hold our breath and try not to move. Time stood still and so did the bull. Finally as if on queue the bull took three steps forward and as Chad cow called, the bull stopped right on his mark. With a few minor rest adjustments and some encouragement, David pulled the trigger. The bull staggered at the shot and covered about 50 yards before piling up in a cloud of dust.David, excited and full of emotion after the shot.I will never be able to accurately describe the emotions that followed, the scene was a collage of tears, laughter, screams, high fives, hugs and thanks. As I recall other similar events in my life, I realized that they have all been characterized by two things- the feeling that there was a hand greater than my own at work, and the knowledge that I was changed in the process. Had we taken a bull the first morning, we would not have been able to experience the teamwork, anticipation, and even fatigue that made this experience such a powerful one for all of us. HOAL is aptly named: this was a hunt of all our lifetimes, I am sure.The whole group- David and his parents, myself, Mark and Chad.David, tagging his trophy!David and his family, with his bull.After the successful hunt, David and his family headed to the Grand Canyon. View the full article

The original Jackal by Danner earned a tremendous following among bowhunters and still hunters for its flexible sole and athletic feel. The upgraded version, the Jackal II GTX, will not let you down! As hard as this may be to believe it is even lighter (only 42 ozs per pair) than the original, but does not compromise on lateral stability and traction. The Danner Phantom outsole is tacky, sticking to rock without picking up noisy pebbles that can ruin a stalk. With the 100% waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex lining your feet are guaranteed to stay dry as well. The 1000 Denier nylon upper is extremely abrasion resistant, breathable and dries very quickly.This boot is perfect for the early season hunter, especially archery elk and mule deer hunters who are not packing big loads each day. The thin outsoles allow you to feel the ground under your feet so that you can move confidently and quietly. However, if you are going to be carrying a heavy pack in rocky terrain over long distances you may feel the ground a little too much, if you know what I mean. If that is the case I would recommend either the Pronghorn or the new ICH (Improved Combat Hiker) from Danner. Suggested retail $120. View the full article